We should do our best to establish 'gossip-free zones'

To the Editor:

The recent show on Oprah with Goldie Hawn where Goldie spoke of her project of establishing "Gossip Free Zones" really impressed me. I think each of us have been on the giving and receiving end of gossip and are all too well aware of how hurtful the receiving end can be.

Baha'u'llah, the prophet founder of the Baha'i Faith, tells us to "Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be ..." And Christ, when he encountered people casting stones at a oman accused of adultery, said "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone."

Why is it so hard for us to remember these admonitions in our day-to-day lives? Gossip has become so prevalent in our world that we have forgotten how destructive it is. Even our young children are developing this harmful habit.

The only person we can really change is ourselves. We seem to have forgotten the purpose of why we are here in this world, which is to know, love and serve God and to develop good qualities such as kindness, forgiveness, patience, understanding and love, for each one of us has been created by the same Father.

Things we can do to create "gossip free zones" are to guard the words that come out of our mouths, help our friends in a loving way to talk only about the good qualities of others, stop buying gossip magazines and even encourage stores to stop carrying them, and help our children in overcoming this hurtful habit.

Won't you join Goldie in her very high goal? We do have the power to make our world a better home for all.

Sandy Jasnau

Hardwick