I have dreamed of writing a book for a couple of years now and I think my dream may be coming true through these posts! I've been submitting them to ezine articles which is a writers'-community-type site that accepts articles written under certain guidelines. They have graciously approved my ramblings and from time to time I visit the site, and read my posts as if I was reading pages from a book. If you blog similarly to the way I do, I would suggest you begin reading your blog as if it were a book and see what happens. At the same time...Just stop and think about how we sometimes profile another without ever knowing we did. I hear people say, "Well, I 'jewed' him down on his price." Or, "Those children act like wild indians." Or, "I just n*****-rigged it." I will not write the word. It insults our entire society but I think you get the picture. I am a 46 year old (that means I was raised in the 60's) white American living in Montgomery, Alabama, and I have probably heard every variation on the prejudicial slandering of African Americans, Jewish Americans, Native Americans, and just about any other non-white American you can imagine. I now travel extensively and I am sad to say that that sort of unconscious activity is prevalent everywhere, and in every part of this beautiful world. I think I am going to be sick, but the point of this ranting ramble is an attempt to get you to think about it!
Think. About. It.
Why is it ok to say things that allow another human to be put down in the first place? Why do we listen without saying something? We could at least walk away. Do we so lack in imagination and originality that we feel compelled to perpetuate and participate in this mindset without questioning it? Furthermore, why does this sort of conduct ultimately lead us to take part in the act of exclusion? Judgement is a scourge on all of us and the snobbish practices of elitism and exclusivity have increased in there divisiveness it would seem. Polarity between races, classes of society, and ethnic groups all seem to be on the rise in recent times. But wait! Is this really happening, or is it that there have always been man-made excuses created right from the beginning of history that provide license to mistreat others anytime we like, in any way we like? I really think I'm going to be sick now.
I won't drag this out. You can read most any of my posts and fully understand my thinking on this subject, and I hope you do. I hope you will get others to read them. In fact, I hope you will not just read, but do something about it in your particular area of influence. Startle your friends by no longer participating in the old ways. Begin to show them a new way, a way of love and acceptance. It is really much easier to be nice to people than to be mean. We also expend much less energy accepting than we do pushing away. Try hugging somebody... it feels good, and it is so much less stressful to choose to avoid conflict with others than to choose to be offended by them.
We choose.
My friend, you and I are both human beings. The differences that make us unique are perfectly planned to contribute to the splendid diversity that comprises our human race. As soon as we change the way we see our neighbor, our neighbor will change before I very eyes without having to do a thing. We will suddenly see a new world, a world of peace. This world is one that I think is being lovingly, yet silently created in the background, behind the chaos and confusion. It seems to be hidden most of the time by news stories of war and violence, or it is subjected to last page news if written about at all. But there are nice people everywhere making news. You just don't hear much about it.
I think that if we just quit watching the news altogether, and made the choice instead to get up and go outside to visit the elderly widow down the street or the child with Down's Syndrome, we might begin to truly see the good news that is right under our noses. We need not ever look down the afore mentioned facial appendage again. All we need are eyes willing to see the beauty in everyone, everywhere, all the time. It is there if you look for it.
Just imagine a world free from conflict, and free from the idea of separation or division.
Wow! What a wonderful world that will be, a world worthy of the peace it seems unable to realize. I pray for peace. Won't you join me? I believe we can change the world together, and to help get us started I will leave you with some of the most beautiful words ever written:
"Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today... Imagine there's no countries. It isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too. Imagine all the people living life in peace... You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.
Imagine no possessions. I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people sharing all the world... You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one." -- John Lennon
Peace is possible, love will make it happen, and our good thoughts about it will speed it up. -- jb
I hear ya...so many of us cite "tolerance" as an excusing for allowing intolerance. Of course, there's a fine line--I had a friend a decade or so ago who kept making racial slurs. At first I let them go, but then realized in good conscience I couldn't and began to confront him, realizing that my unwillingness to do so was cowardice. So, we had some heated arguments, before I decided I was done with him. And yet, I suspect that was another form of cowardice--that I should have tried engaging him and the things he said more constructively, more lovingly, and kept on trying to turn him around instead of being angry and self-righteous and, in the end, excluding him....
ReplyDeleteP.S.
Good luck with the book and happy birthday!
Hey Jeff,
ReplyDeleteA friend ratted you out and said it was your birthday. Wish I had a friend like that! Wishing you a splendid day. Really love your blog.
May God bless your success. Happy birthday.
ReplyDeleteIs it too much if I say we are heading backward instead of forward. Suddenly hate, prejudice and discrimination exploded into a new level especially since the 9/11. An eruption of fear to each other has appeared. Feeling superior "I'm better than you" has emerged once again to downfall and harass.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where we are heading but sadly I don't think it's going to be pretty.
We need a wake up call. Fast.
Good luck with your dream of writing a book, Jeff.
Regards,
JJ