We see two scenes on our screens today.

In one, masked, combat-armed government goons intimidate, assault and murder innocent citizens.

In the other, 18 Buddhist monks are on a Walk for Peace – 2,300 miles over 120 days from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C.

Some of them walk barefoot. All of them walk swiftly, steadily and smiling through rain and shine, in heat and cold, over mud and asphalt, through cities and countryside.

As they’ve walked through places we think of as deep-red Republican bastions of White Christian nationalism, thousands of people have gathered to greet them, feed them, exchange flowers and hear their blessing.

More than one million people are following them on Facebook.

Over 600,000 follow their loyal companion Aloka the Peace Dog.

Aloka had to drop off for leg surgery, but reports are he’s recovering well. Maybe he’ll walk with them again when they pass through Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh these next few days.

Wherever they go, local law enforcement officers provide a safe escort.

One monk has collected an array of police and sheriffs’ pins on his robe.

The monks don’t preach or proselytize. They spread a message of vipassana mindfulness – paying attention purposefully and without judgment to the present moment, silencing your monkey mind’s fretting about past and present.

As they’ve walked, they’ve touched on a yearning in America, a hope and a hunger that we can turn away from hate, anger and division – and turn toward love, compassion and peace.

As they say along their way:

May all people be well.

May all people be happy.

May all people be at peace.