We live in a world where we must teach our children not to
talk to strangers. We live in a world
where women are in fear walking down the street when a stranger innocently says
hello or pays them a genuine complement.
We live in a world where people are forced to hide their true natures in
fear of social ridicule. We live in a
world where corporate profits are put ahead of people. We live in a world where the poor are
penalized more due to psychological practices intended to make the forgetful
remember. We have people living on
streets who have jobs. We have people
who want to work and can find none. At
the same time, we still have builders building near million dollar suburban
homes in areas where no one can afford to buy.
We live in a world where people think only in fear, think only of
getting theirs first, of ignoring the victims because they must be at
fault. We consider that because people
choose differently than we do, they must be wrong, inconsiderate or ignorant. We fear other cultures, different skin colors
and religions. We fear oppression while
we do just that, oppress. It’s a death
spiral of a great civilization.
I’m considered to have come from privilege just because of
the color of my skin but I tell you I have not.
My parents couldn’t hold jobs in the 1970’s and 80’s. For various reasons only some of which were
within their power to control. Were it not
for my Grandmothers, we would have starved on more than one occasion. We grew up rarely going to doctors and I can’t
remember ever receiving but 1 or maybe 2 immunizations as a child. They weren’t necessary because I had already
gotten some of the diseases they would normally protect against…chicken pox,
mumps. My parents couldn’t afford
doctor’s bills. They could afford
cigarettes and alcohol though, the only things that seemed to bring them
comfort. We ate Wonder Bread and Ketchup
or Miracle Whip sandwiches sometimes because that is all that was left after the
food from the food stamps ran out and were glad to have them. I
understand so much, you have no idea how much I understand and can see. The malware running rampant in the psyches of
the world’s inhabitants goes undetected by the thousands and thousands of hosts
who perpetuate the ignorance installed in the human operating systems. They can’t help it until they learn that it's there
to begin with and then strive to understand that something may be amiss because
of it. They have to move through the
layers of obscurity that hides the truth deep within them.
This is by no means a perfect world but we keep traveling
down the same old highways, the well-worn and beaten paths and wondering why
things never seem to change. If we
continue to focus as victims, we cannot break free of the frame. Until we can learn the truth of ourselves, we
cannot break this cycle of fear and pain.
It’s a game where many of us are set up to lose and lose because we do
not understand the rules of engagement.
To top it off is the reality that so many do not wish to learn. We have wealth in this world, unimaginable
wealth and yet, we have people dying of starvation. We have people running around this world
unaware that a virus has entered their minds thinking in frameworks that will
only lead to decay, apathy and death.
We’re so much better than this but we must realize the way. The way can never be found by extinguishing
one single light of another. One flame
can ignite thousands provided you don’t let someone steal that flame or blow it
out. Just one flame is all it
takes. You all have that flame burning
right inside of the core of your beautiful hearts. Maybe you can’t see it but I do. I see it and I pray with everything in me
that your flames are protected and that when you go out into the world with
your daily activities that your flame ignites another and that one ignites yet
others. We can shift the tides through
understanding, compassion and accountability…add to that integrity for just the
right seasoning to create an even greater flavor or taste of life…dress it up
with honor and honesty too while you’re at it.
Clean up your own messes or learn to see that you are creating
them. Seek help. Be vigilant.
Be blessed.
Let us consider whether we can adjust our approach to life
with a new vision, a new plan that does not base its bias on victimhood or that
does not seek vengeance for a past that cannot be undone. Let us open our hearts to understanding and
compassion and paint a new vision of our world, hand in hand, brother to
brother, sister to sister in gratitude and appreciation for our differences
rather than forcing our ways on another out of nothing but fear and
fabrication. We can do this if only
there is a will to do so. Once there is a
will to do so, humanity will find a way and in that way, there will still be
challenges great and small but in the spirit of love, cooperation and
collaboration, we can transform our fears, channel our anger and hurt into
great beauty. If only we could find the
will to want. So, please want. Humanity needs you.
© 2014 Jaie Hart (photo/words)
Wonderful! :)
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