We have recently elected a new group of "representatives" to go to Congress and engage in the business of "rebuilding" our country. I have recently heard our land referred to as "broken" and "bankrupt", and a long list of accompanying pathologies. The real questions are:
Do our "representatives" communicate with each other the way we (their constituents) do?
Do our "representatives" know what matters to us most? How do they know? How do they keep current?
Do our "representatives" feel as accountable to us as they would if they were employees in our company?
Do our "representatives" feel as optimistic as they wold have to in order to fulfill their promises?
There are so many qualities a "representative" must have to be effective...yet rarely get stressed.
First among them is compassion.
While contemplating the genocides throughout history, it occurred to me that in order to kill a person (much less a race of people) - you first need to overcome a critical psychological obstacle. You need to dehumanize them. You need to erase any possibility of guilt, remorse, second-guessing or hesitation from your mind and soul. You must literally stare at another living creature on G-d's Earth and assume no redeeming value whatsoever.
Here's the rub...
This process doesn't happen overnight. It surely doesn't happen with one huge thought. On the contrary, it takes time to simmer the right mixture of despair, fear, ignorance, selfishness and weakness to blend a fresh batch of hatred.
Do you see it today?
The headline writers (not the headline MAKERS - an important distinction) sow the seeds of discord and disrespect with seeming indifference to the path which has been embarked upon. No joke is made entirely in jest; nor does a jibe or slander exist in a vacuum.
The slights, insults, mockery, and abuse forges the first link in a chain that will bind us all if not checked. The theory of momentum dictates if we do not find ways to stem the tide, come together and mutually appreciate each other in order to use all of our respective talents and passions to make things better...we will have nowhere to gaze but the collective looking glass to find the culprit(s).
Even within symmetrical groups, there are ALWAYS layers upon layers of asymmetry. Jews have Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Chabad and so many others...yet the Nazis were more unifying when dealing with them. Muslims have divisions among them by way of the Shia and Sunni - yet a Quran burning maniac groups them rather uniformly. Christianity has Catholicism, Lutheranism, Evangelism, Protestantism and so many others...yet Christ walked with all men hand in hand.
I've been a Boston Red Sox fan for 34 years. I still didn't appreciate the owner of my favourite team referring to the New York Yankees as "the Evil Empire". Just uncalled for...that's what it was.
Confucius said "not even the fastest horse can catch a word spoken in anger". I believe short-sighted hate speech has driven wedges between humanity in a way only universal compassion can fix. The good news is we have all the tools close at hand to correct things. The human heart is the vault in which the treasure of our species resides. Speaking of "mere words" is like speaking of "mere dynamite". To the young people committing suicide due to verbal abuse and bullying...words are very important indeed. Equally important are the words that inflame the rage of those who commit acts of terrorism that so often take the lives of people unaware and unattached to the dispute at issue.
Gordon Sumner wrote "we share the same biology, regardless of ideology". Why must the divisions and differences rule the day? Why must our corrosive diversion stand in the way of our collaboration and diversity?
The answer is as simple as it is troubling. The answer is laziness. Nothing more...nothing less.
It takes no time at all to hate for superficial reasons. On the other hand, taking the time to learn about another person's burdens, joys, values and talents might actually reveal a special link that binds and benefits us all when fully appreciated.
So many things to share...
Let's take marshmallows, for example. Do you know anyone (allergies notwithstanding) who doesn't love marshmallows? Fluffy puffs of goodness and sweet satisfaction - yummeeeee. I'd wager very few wars have broken out while the combatants were sitting around making s'mores.
Unite, not divide.
There's a wonderful part of the music video for the Paul McCartney song "Pipes of Peace" in which the entrenched World War I soldiers use a cease-fire to start a soccer (football) game between otherwise mortal combatants. Before long, the soccer game leads to exchanges of liquor and mutual admiration of family photos. Shortly after, a bomb (of unknown origin) explodes among the troops, and they all flee to their respective sides. Two of the soldiers are left with the mementos of each others families...and the thought that much of what divided them was more smoke then fire.
The elected officials are not the answer. None of them.
It must begin in the hearts of individuals and spread to their daily actions which will uplift and transform their local groups of friends and associates. This thread of humanity will begin as a stream and collect the momentum of progress which can only be incubated in such an atmosphere, ultimately leading to the ocean of peace which is mandatory for the long term survival of our species.
There is an old saying that humans are the only species capable of blushing...or needing to.
All good in the world flows from above-down, from inside-out.
At one point, Mahatma Gandhi was arguably the most influential human on the planet, yet he held no official title or office...possessed no money and had no legions.
“I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings. My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for unity and love.” - Mahatma Gandhi
Namaste
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