In Venice, Shrines to Peace and Tolerance

In Venice Beach, vendors along the boardwalk now sell toy soldiers toting American flags, while pizza joints tout their 99-cent combo meals as if none of the events of the last two weeks had occurred. But yards away on 19th Avenue, neighbors seem to be fending off both of these images with some of their own. In the middle of the walkway between Pacific Avenue and Speedway, a turquoise Buddha figurine stands watch over the residents of the houses and apartment buildings nearby. It is the focal point of a makeshift multicultural shrine that includes representations of Hindu goddesses, an American flag, flowers from nearby gardens and glass candleholders adorned with images of the “Senora de Guadalupe” and “San Martin Caballero.” A few doors down, a ring of fresh red roses guards an angel statue perched atop an American flag; votive candles, the price tags still attached to their containers, burn even in the light of day.

They are two of the shrines to peace and tolerance that began to appear here a few days after the tragedies in New York and Washington. By the middle of last week, there was one in front of almost every building on the block.

Stephanie Stephens, 32, who works with directors of commercials, lives on 19th Avenue. She hosted a “Proud to Be American” barbecue Sept. 14 and has stapled an American flag to the front of her house. But she, too, has arranged a row of candles out front and participated in a candlelight walk to the beach with her neighbors on the Day of Healing. “I think this has always been a very spiritual community. And this kind of sentiment hasn’t surprised me.” Some people, she says, don’t know how to take these symbols of peace at a time when the nation is poised for war; the Buddha shrine was knocked down the first night one of Stephens’ neighbors put it up. “We were up in arms,” she says. It was quickly rebuilt by neighbors, who have added candles and offerings of their own. In the midst of so much darkness, they are finding consolation in the light.