May 24, 2008

• Love is the Answer

  Recently, as I often do, I was consulting Greyfox on an editorial matter.  I was seeking a way to express how I feel about racism.  I knew that calling it “evil” would not serve my purpose, nor would it  be entirely correct to say that I “hate” it.  I was going for some succinct yet accurate expression, and Greyfox came up with one that does the job even better than I had envisioned:

  “Racism is the most efficient way mankind has devised to hold back human progress.”

  ~Wade Greyfox,
  eclectic shaman,
  retail arms dealer,
   2008

  Having gotten the editorial chores out of the way, we went on to discuss the causes of racism.  The most obvious root of the issue is xenophobia, which has been manipulated and encouraged for millennia by priesthoods and other types of political bosses, for their own selfish ends.  There has never been a good phobia.  Fear is sickness.  We can acknowledge danger and use prudent caution to deal with it, without giving in to fear.  I particularly dislike any ideas, in whatever way they might be presented, that increase the level of fear in the world and keep people’s hearts and minds from knowing love.

  The idea that, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” (F. D. Roosevelt, first inaugural address, March 4, 1933), carries within itself an insidious trap.  Fearing fear is dangerous.  We don’t transcend fear by being afraid to feel or express it.  Fear is transcended by acknowledging it, and letting it go.  The Universe does not recognize “no”.  We manifest that upon which we concentrate our attention, even if our attention is focused on avoiding it.  It is more effective to pay just enough attention to the fear so that we can recognize it and identify its desirable alternative, and then focus on that.

  Especially when we are facing other human beings, ones who may on the surface appear different from ourselves, and who may be afraid of us, we are more likely to produce a pleasant and productive outcome if we face them with warm smiles and open arms than if we come with fearful expressions and weapons in our hands.

  One of this world’s most poignant ironies is the way men fight over territory, and in the process of fighting over it, they devastate the landscape.  It happens that way both literally and figuratively, on the ground and in the realm of philosophy and ideas.  There are those who try to ignore the differences between races or religions or cultures, just as there are those who see only the differences and ignore our common humanity.  We don’t have to ignore our differences, nor do we need to glorify them or celebrate them, to get along.  We just need to recognize our Oneness.

  If you hear the song we sing
  
  You will understand
  
  You hold the key to love and fear
  
  All in your trembling hand
  
  Just one key unlocks them both
  
  It’s there at your command

  Come on people now, smile on each other
  
  Everybody get together
  
  Try to love one another, right now

  Get Together
  ~Chet Powers
  AKA “Dino Valenti”

  I am you and you are me and we are all together…
  John Lennon
  I am the Walrus

  The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear.
  Mahatma Gandhi

  More verbal tools for dealing with fear, HERE.

  

  • 6:19 pm
  • 9 Comments