I can't figure out if it's the universe that's getting back into balance, or it's we as human beings. The pendulum seems to be swinging more widely back and forth these days. I get a visual of a dog madly shaking water off its body. Wild gyrations, fur and water flying everywhere, commingling in a haphazard and chaotic way. Kind of feels like the energy that is existing in the world right now. Powerful forces pulling us apart and pushing us together. My life feels like a non-stop movie that just keeps speeding up, gradually, yet perceptively.
So many splintered people; violence, fear, terror, coloring the way we treat each other. People trying to murder each other in organized, methodical ways. People trying to figure out if we are the true cause of the way the universe's environment is changing. Some people merely trying to keep on in the face of despair, because there's always this hope that the world will repair itself and we can live in relative peace and prosperity. We treat our seniors and children and infirm in mixed ways. Some benefit from good care and plenty of compassion, while others suffer from the worst we have to offer.
What I dislike most about the human-made climate that exists at this point in history is the moralizing and dictating many people have taken on as their role in governing our actions and behavior. Everyone's an expert! Everyone's got the answer and is busy telling everyone else what to think and do. When I read the magazine the vitamin company kindly sends me every few months, I'm told how to tune up my body to its ultimate level for my age. When I tune into the media, I'm told whatever it is someone wants me to know about the current state of the world. When I read or listen to what our elected leaders have to say, I'm told how I am to live my life and how much it will cost me. The "experts" tell me what to weigh, what to eat, what to wear for my body type, what kind of exercises to do to accomplish my goals, how to do anything better, etc. Alot of bias, and infinitely varying viewpoints all purporting to have THE answer. I am not a robot, and can think for myself. I can deem if someone's expert opinion fits in with my worldview and upholds the values and beliefs that serve me. I am open to changing a viewpoint if it makes sense. Much in today's world does not make sense.
If we truly had this existence thing perfected, we would be experiencing a cooperative exchange of energy with each other. That is certainly far from the truth of where we are as a force on this planet. So much grabbing of power and resources in order to control each other. If we were truly in balance, there would be enough food, water, and shelter for every single living thing that existed, each soul living out its life cycle, and journeying on. Each person existing for self and others, adding his or her imprint to the world in a positive way.
But, that is not the way the universe works. Sometimes, the relative calm is toppled by chaotic forces that are stronger than can be contained and processed, and explosions erupt. There are natural forces that exert themselves in often transformative ways: rockslides, avalanches, blizzards, floods, earthy tremors, you name it. The universe has existed for eons before we existed, and will exist for eons after we are done. To think that we have ultimate control is absurd. I am all for not squandering the bountiful gifts of this place we call home, but let's be reasonable and think with sound mind, and be self-responsible. Let's teach each other how to do what needs to be done to fulfill our basic needs. Let's treat each other with respect for each other's existence. Let's not think that we have all the answers, and push them on each other. We have to walk a mile in another's shoes to know what they are experiencing, and we need to open up the ear within our hearts to hear what they are really saying. No more yelling, no more prosyletizing, no more moralizing, no more killing. Let's just treating each other with dignity and respect.
Maybe that's how we change the world.
Showing posts with label respect. Show all posts
Showing posts with label respect. Show all posts
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday, February 23, 2009
Betrayal and Redemption
Flipping through the channels the other night, I caught a special on HBO called “Right America: Feeling Wronged.” While I have mixed feelings about the show, due to the stereotypical presentations of anti-gay, pro-life Christian Conservatives, NASCAR hicks and proud Rednecks, these people spoke the words I’ve been mulling about in my head and heart this last year. I didn’t see myself portrayed, but they spoke a truth that I couldn’t deny. Hearing their words, I thought: these folks are the meat and potatoes of our country. They are what give America its grit and pride. These people are the real deal.
Our beloved country is about to be stolen from us, maybe it’s already been taken from us, and we’re still too numb to know how to respond. When I saw scenes in the program on the campaign trail of the McCain supporters in many different states, I was buoyed yet also very sad. All of these people believed McCain, and our country, would win. They spoke truths about the terrorist threat to our country that our elected officials do not seem to understand. They spoke truths about the state of the economy, about the impact of illegal immigrants on jobs, resources, and on our society, and asked how can we trust our president when we don’t even know for certain if he’s an American citizen.
Listening to talk radio hosts present their side of the story these last few months, I am taken back in time to junior and high school social studies classes, when we studied the birth of our country and what made it so radical. I am awestruck by how far our society has come from the truths and values of our founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson said, “The government is best which governs the least because its people discipline themselves.” We have dumbed down our society. We have forgotten our true values of responsibility, accountability, and the ability to stand on our own two feet. We have forgotten how to be honest, decent, and courteous. We are no longer disciplined. We have sold our souls. For what?
My upbringing was in the birthplace of the American Revolution, in Lexington, Massachusetts. My father was a Common Cause Democrat until he realized that entitlement gets people nowhere. That in order to contribute to society, one must give back, not take, take, take. America gives people the choice to pursue life, liberty, and happiness, but one has to work towards those goals. People need to use their brains and their muscles and utilize the life God has bestowed upon them. It’s one thing to need a helping hand now and then, but to demand that the hand constantly be there is dehumanizing. It robs us of choices, because that helping hand always comes at a steep price, with strings attached.
I am angry at the way our elders, our soldiers, and our children are being treated in this country. People who have worked their entire lives are facing hardships and may soon be denied medical care because some government body is going to make their health decisions. Our soldiers’ sacrifices are disrespected by our government and by people in this country who don’t understand that we have to fight for what we believe in. Our children are being cheated by parents who have no idea how to effectively raise them, then they are sent off to school where they are expected to memorize “facts” about climate change and the liberal agenda. Why aren’t our children being taught how to think for themselves, presented with all sides of the story, and guided towards expressing themselves knowledgably and effectively?
I am sad, I feel duped, and I feel betrayed. Where are all these McCain supporters now? Where are all these angry, betrayed citizens? How can we come together, and figure out how to reclaim what has been taken from us? Our beloved United States of America is being tested in a major transformative way. How will this all look after the dust settles? Who will survive? Could another Civil War be brewing? This time, it’s going to be a lot more complicated since there are many more opposing forces from around the world that are not exactly on our side. Yet, people around the world continue to look towards us to follow their dreams of freedom, to live in peace and to prosper. Are we still that great promise?
Our beloved country is about to be stolen from us, maybe it’s already been taken from us, and we’re still too numb to know how to respond. When I saw scenes in the program on the campaign trail of the McCain supporters in many different states, I was buoyed yet also very sad. All of these people believed McCain, and our country, would win. They spoke truths about the terrorist threat to our country that our elected officials do not seem to understand. They spoke truths about the state of the economy, about the impact of illegal immigrants on jobs, resources, and on our society, and asked how can we trust our president when we don’t even know for certain if he’s an American citizen.
Listening to talk radio hosts present their side of the story these last few months, I am taken back in time to junior and high school social studies classes, when we studied the birth of our country and what made it so radical. I am awestruck by how far our society has come from the truths and values of our founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson said, “The government is best which governs the least because its people discipline themselves.” We have dumbed down our society. We have forgotten our true values of responsibility, accountability, and the ability to stand on our own two feet. We have forgotten how to be honest, decent, and courteous. We are no longer disciplined. We have sold our souls. For what?
My upbringing was in the birthplace of the American Revolution, in Lexington, Massachusetts. My father was a Common Cause Democrat until he realized that entitlement gets people nowhere. That in order to contribute to society, one must give back, not take, take, take. America gives people the choice to pursue life, liberty, and happiness, but one has to work towards those goals. People need to use their brains and their muscles and utilize the life God has bestowed upon them. It’s one thing to need a helping hand now and then, but to demand that the hand constantly be there is dehumanizing. It robs us of choices, because that helping hand always comes at a steep price, with strings attached.
I am angry at the way our elders, our soldiers, and our children are being treated in this country. People who have worked their entire lives are facing hardships and may soon be denied medical care because some government body is going to make their health decisions. Our soldiers’ sacrifices are disrespected by our government and by people in this country who don’t understand that we have to fight for what we believe in. Our children are being cheated by parents who have no idea how to effectively raise them, then they are sent off to school where they are expected to memorize “facts” about climate change and the liberal agenda. Why aren’t our children being taught how to think for themselves, presented with all sides of the story, and guided towards expressing themselves knowledgably and effectively?
I am sad, I feel duped, and I feel betrayed. Where are all these McCain supporters now? Where are all these angry, betrayed citizens? How can we come together, and figure out how to reclaim what has been taken from us? Our beloved United States of America is being tested in a major transformative way. How will this all look after the dust settles? Who will survive? Could another Civil War be brewing? This time, it’s going to be a lot more complicated since there are many more opposing forces from around the world that are not exactly on our side. Yet, people around the world continue to look towards us to follow their dreams of freedom, to live in peace and to prosper. Are we still that great promise?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Every End is a Beginning
This is a tumultuous time in history. There is more warfare going on than at any other time in my memory. On all of the majorly inhabited continents, opposing forces are hard at work, seeking to restore order as they see it. Every side is working against another--friction, fear, and death are the cries we hear. Polarized nations, civil wars, so much hatred, anger, ignorance, and fear are present.
While technology struggles to stay one step ahead of the curve, there are still masses of people dying of disease and hunger. Though technology reaches many people helping them to live longer lives, it causes a drain on resources as well. How do we change our consciousness in ways that bestows more value on our elders instead of treating them as a burden? In our busy worlds of work where we run around all day like hamsters on a wheel, how does an elder contribute to the world when the body can't quite keep up? And God forbid if the mind goes first. We are then doomed to spend many years locked into an ever-shrinking world. Unbeknownst to us, but painful to our loved ones who have to witness our flashbacks to earlier times that cancel out the other parts of our lives as if we're turning out the lights within each room of ourselves. What do we do with all these people whose lives we are saving?
The end is a beginning. Perhaps that is where we are right now--at a threshold. A big part of me is very sad. I recall more peaceful times when the world was safer and more people died from natural causes than from people killing each other. It's become a place I do not recognize at times--people's lives are stolen from them by greedy, hateful, megalomaniacal, or fanatical leaders, or they sabotage themselves by continued victimization and powerlessness.
What's happened to our values of self-responsibility, decency, respect, and honesty? We are headed for another civil war in this country--there is a divisive force within, threatening to cause class wars and political unrest. The victims of everything and anything will be taken care of by Big Daddy because he promised them he would. Those who have more will be forced to continuously feed those who have less in this bottomless pit of endless needs.
Instead of putting our hand out to receive our hand out, we have to put our hands out to each other. We are rapidly and painfully crashing towards a new world order. There are more people demanding more from our planet's resources. The economy is a force we are unable to tame though we consistently attempt to manipulate it and mess it up to an even greater degree. More people are competing in this global market, resulting in more power struggles and greater chaos.
They say "money makes the world go round" but does it? What power is held in these pieces of colored paper, colored metal discs, and plastic cards? What is this made-up construct of "you give me your energy and I will exchange it for paper with numbers on it that you can use to procure what you need"? What does this mean for us as individuals, and for society to give our life energy for money?
Some people will have more than others, and many of these people achieved more because they were in the right place at the right time and worked hard (luck and preparation). Some peole will have more than others because they came about it dishonestly, or unfairly, trampling on people on their way up. Some people will have less, due to many circumstances out of their control: illness, mental or physical ability, poverty, all play a role. What is immoral is the greed, laziness, or victimhood that is used to bypass the code of human decency in order to "get more".
We have come to a point in history where it's time to grow up. To take responsiblity for ourselves, to treat each other, the world, and our selves, with respect, rather than trying to force things on each other. I am sad about how we have come to treat one another. I'm wondering how this will all resolve. What is the right way to be in the world today? What will survive? What needs to die? How can each of us contribute to this process? How can we be the people we were meant to be? This is our only shot; how do we make it count?
While technology struggles to stay one step ahead of the curve, there are still masses of people dying of disease and hunger. Though technology reaches many people helping them to live longer lives, it causes a drain on resources as well. How do we change our consciousness in ways that bestows more value on our elders instead of treating them as a burden? In our busy worlds of work where we run around all day like hamsters on a wheel, how does an elder contribute to the world when the body can't quite keep up? And God forbid if the mind goes first. We are then doomed to spend many years locked into an ever-shrinking world. Unbeknownst to us, but painful to our loved ones who have to witness our flashbacks to earlier times that cancel out the other parts of our lives as if we're turning out the lights within each room of ourselves. What do we do with all these people whose lives we are saving?
The end is a beginning. Perhaps that is where we are right now--at a threshold. A big part of me is very sad. I recall more peaceful times when the world was safer and more people died from natural causes than from people killing each other. It's become a place I do not recognize at times--people's lives are stolen from them by greedy, hateful, megalomaniacal, or fanatical leaders, or they sabotage themselves by continued victimization and powerlessness.
What's happened to our values of self-responsibility, decency, respect, and honesty? We are headed for another civil war in this country--there is a divisive force within, threatening to cause class wars and political unrest. The victims of everything and anything will be taken care of by Big Daddy because he promised them he would. Those who have more will be forced to continuously feed those who have less in this bottomless pit of endless needs.
Instead of putting our hand out to receive our hand out, we have to put our hands out to each other. We are rapidly and painfully crashing towards a new world order. There are more people demanding more from our planet's resources. The economy is a force we are unable to tame though we consistently attempt to manipulate it and mess it up to an even greater degree. More people are competing in this global market, resulting in more power struggles and greater chaos.
They say "money makes the world go round" but does it? What power is held in these pieces of colored paper, colored metal discs, and plastic cards? What is this made-up construct of "you give me your energy and I will exchange it for paper with numbers on it that you can use to procure what you need"? What does this mean for us as individuals, and for society to give our life energy for money?
Some people will have more than others, and many of these people achieved more because they were in the right place at the right time and worked hard (luck and preparation). Some peole will have more than others because they came about it dishonestly, or unfairly, trampling on people on their way up. Some people will have less, due to many circumstances out of their control: illness, mental or physical ability, poverty, all play a role. What is immoral is the greed, laziness, or victimhood that is used to bypass the code of human decency in order to "get more".
We have come to a point in history where it's time to grow up. To take responsiblity for ourselves, to treat each other, the world, and our selves, with respect, rather than trying to force things on each other. I am sad about how we have come to treat one another. I'm wondering how this will all resolve. What is the right way to be in the world today? What will survive? What needs to die? How can each of us contribute to this process? How can we be the people we were meant to be? This is our only shot; how do we make it count?
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Honor your Parents
In the Torah, we are commanded to respect our parents: "Your mother and father shall you revere and my Sabbaths shall you keep. I am HaShem your God" Vayikra 19:3. The Baal HaTurim quoting from the Talmud also says "Three partners create each person--father, mother and God." A lack of respect for one partner could mean a lack of respect for God. Honoring one's parents also teaches one how to honor God.
There are responsibilities incumbent for each side: parents must treat their children with respect, and teach them how to be in the world. If your parents lacked in this part of your upbringing, due to challenges they faced, it doesn't condone their behavior, but there is still the aspect of what they taught you in how to be and act in the world. Sometimes we learn how to be human in spite of our parents' behavior towards us, but most often, we learn how to relate to the world from their lessons. We all do the best we can!
There are responsibilities incumbent for each side: parents must treat their children with respect, and teach them how to be in the world. If your parents lacked in this part of your upbringing, due to challenges they faced, it doesn't condone their behavior, but there is still the aspect of what they taught you in how to be and act in the world. Sometimes we learn how to be human in spite of our parents' behavior towards us, but most often, we learn how to relate to the world from their lessons. We all do the best we can!
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