The wind doth deceive me and your voice I hear in the tree shrubs
Possessed am I with your eyes
They pierce my womb and into earth's core
I fall to your embrace
عشقٌ وجنون
Smile to me
For you I set my eyes on fire
With the lashes of your eyes
Hide me in the wallpaper
So I can stay near you
Unseen
Friday, November 6, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Malaysia1: Langkawi
Come
Slowly
Like the sun setting in the Indian Ocean
Linger...
In every shade of pleasure.
Slowly
Like the sun setting in the Indian Ocean
Linger...
In every shade of pleasure.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Artemis: Patroness of Jerash
Artemis was born from the union of the nature deity Leto and Zeus, the chief god of the Romans and the husband of Hera. It is said that Leto delivered Artemis without any labor pains. But after she came out, her mother started having birth pangs that lasted for days. In her womb was Apollo, Artemis' twin, waiting to emerge. Immediately after she was born, Artemis helped her mother deliver her brother. A midwife by nature. Later, she was known to come to women in labor to ease their pain, although at times she did that by ending their lives.
At three years old, Artemis asked Zeus at Mt Olympus to grant her some gifts. A bow and arrow to hunt with, hunting dogs, and a short tunic instead of a restrictive long dress. She asked for the mountains and forests to be her playground and to be accompanied by beautiful nymphs. Like the moon, she wanted to bring light into the world, and she wanted to remain chaste, a virgin, uncontrolled by men, un-swerved by their love.
Zeus said yes, and so it was.
Artemis protected the wild animals and the children, but she was harsh on those who offended her; those who transgressed suffered and those who trespassed tasted her wrath. The nymphs of Artemis vowed to her eternal virginity; Callisto was one of her favorites. Zeus fancied her and appeared to her in the disguise of Artemis. She let her guard down and was taken by him; he left her pregnant. When Artemis found out, she held Callisto fully responsible and shunned her out (she couldn't really lash out at god, her father, for causing the problem). Later, either she or Hera turned Callisto into a bear, first on earth then in the sky by Zeus. Artemis disliked weakness.
Artemis had sisterly bonds with women but complicated relationship with men. She killed a few. When Actaeon, the hunter, mistakingly came upon her and her nymphs bathing in a pool, he was transfixed and stunned. His glare upset her, so she splashed him with water and turned him into a stag. She then set his dogs after him.
Artemis also killed the hunter Orion, but there are several accounts to why. In one version, we are told that Orion was Artemis' one and only love. This made Apollo jealous. One day, Apolllo saw Orion swimming far in the water. He found Artemis and pointed out a distant object in the sea and said her arrow would never reach it. Competitive and eager to prove her superiority, she aimed, shot, and proved her brother wrong. When Orion's body floated, she realized she had killed her lover. Bereaved, she vowed to never love again, placing Orion as a constellation in the sky with her dog Sirius to accompany him. In another version, we are told that Artemis killed Orion because he raped her or one of her followers. She sent a scorpion after him to kill him, later placing them both in the sky at a safe distance from one another.
Is Orion guilty of this crime? Perhaps...after all, he had previous allegations against him. It is said that Orion forced himself upon Merope whom he loved. He had wanted to marry her, but the arrangements took too long; he lost patience and did the deed. He was then punished by King Oenopion to whom he provided service. Oenopion got Orion drunk and plucked out his eyes. Orion's sight was later restored when he saw the sun, while traveling to the East with the helper that Hephaestus provided him (Hephaestus: god of the black smiths' fire and husband to Aphrodite). In yet another version, the scorpion just went after Orion, but we're not told why...probably to punish him for something.
Revenge, justice, or jealousy...
Taking into consideration Artemis status and temperament, if Orion raped one of her followers or tried to rape her, then she probably killed him. But was it 'rape' attempted or achieved, or was it mutual consent? Perhaps Orion simply threatened her virginity, perhaps she desired him and did not want to break her vow of chastity, perhaps she broke it and hated him for it. Perhaps she feared loving a mortal man who is imperfect.
The scorpion's sting or the golden arrow
The arrow of Artemis or that of Cupid.
If Artemis loved Orion and he betrayed her by seducing another woman, then she probably sent the scorpion after him. In astrology as well as in myth (like the scorpions of Aset/Isis), the scorpion is known for its tendency to take revenge. To the scorpio betrayal is intolerable, injustice is unforgivable, and there is much possessiveness in love. If he broke her heart, she probably shot his with an arrow, shooting her own afterwards.
Whether it's her brother who conned her into killing her lover, whether it was revenge for being betrayed, or whether it was to punish Orion for seducing her or another virgin..the result remains the same, she vowed to never trust and to never love again.
Artemis
Oh Patroness of women and children, harbinger of light, crescent woman, untamed one..
Huntress
Undo the vow I have taken so long ago- release me
Artemis
Patroness of Jerash in the North
In the lush green of Arabian desert
Allow me drink
I vowed to you but often broke my promise
Damned for my oath
Turned into the plough
A memory
Virgin goddess
One into herself
Complete in herself
Undo the vow I have taken long ago- release me
Like you. I have shot my heart dead in the Sea
Like you, I promised never to love again
I punished those who intruded
And turned them into beasts
But they turned against me
With their sharp teeth
I do not care for war I want peace
I beseech you, set me free
I called to you even before knowing your story
I took your flower as my own
But my soul is running dry and it seeks the nectar
So I ask of you, please release me
Let me go but remain in my consciousness
For you are the independence I seek
You are the strength and the clear aim
You are the mountain range and the open horizon
But in your grip you hold my heart,
It is slowly dying and I yearn to melt
Artemis, release me
Release me from the fear of being loved, of loving, of having an anchor
Give me back the key to my emotions
Let me cry and not hide beneath anger
To be vulnerable like a flower
Let me surrender to the embrace of love
To be light and bring light
Let me go, set me free
---
Readings from:
Encyclopedia mythica http://www.pantheon.org/articles/
Jean Shinoda Bolen, Goddess in Every woman
At three years old, Artemis asked Zeus at Mt Olympus to grant her some gifts. A bow and arrow to hunt with, hunting dogs, and a short tunic instead of a restrictive long dress. She asked for the mountains and forests to be her playground and to be accompanied by beautiful nymphs. Like the moon, she wanted to bring light into the world, and she wanted to remain chaste, a virgin, uncontrolled by men, un-swerved by their love.
Zeus said yes, and so it was.
Artemis protected the wild animals and the children, but she was harsh on those who offended her; those who transgressed suffered and those who trespassed tasted her wrath. The nymphs of Artemis vowed to her eternal virginity; Callisto was one of her favorites. Zeus fancied her and appeared to her in the disguise of Artemis. She let her guard down and was taken by him; he left her pregnant. When Artemis found out, she held Callisto fully responsible and shunned her out (she couldn't really lash out at god, her father, for causing the problem). Later, either she or Hera turned Callisto into a bear, first on earth then in the sky by Zeus. Artemis disliked weakness.
Artemis had sisterly bonds with women but complicated relationship with men. She killed a few. When Actaeon, the hunter, mistakingly came upon her and her nymphs bathing in a pool, he was transfixed and stunned. His glare upset her, so she splashed him with water and turned him into a stag. She then set his dogs after him.
Artemis also killed the hunter Orion, but there are several accounts to why. In one version, we are told that Orion was Artemis' one and only love. This made Apollo jealous. One day, Apolllo saw Orion swimming far in the water. He found Artemis and pointed out a distant object in the sea and said her arrow would never reach it. Competitive and eager to prove her superiority, she aimed, shot, and proved her brother wrong. When Orion's body floated, she realized she had killed her lover. Bereaved, she vowed to never love again, placing Orion as a constellation in the sky with her dog Sirius to accompany him. In another version, we are told that Artemis killed Orion because he raped her or one of her followers. She sent a scorpion after him to kill him, later placing them both in the sky at a safe distance from one another.
Is Orion guilty of this crime? Perhaps...after all, he had previous allegations against him. It is said that Orion forced himself upon Merope whom he loved. He had wanted to marry her, but the arrangements took too long; he lost patience and did the deed. He was then punished by King Oenopion to whom he provided service. Oenopion got Orion drunk and plucked out his eyes. Orion's sight was later restored when he saw the sun, while traveling to the East with the helper that Hephaestus provided him (Hephaestus: god of the black smiths' fire and husband to Aphrodite). In yet another version, the scorpion just went after Orion, but we're not told why...probably to punish him for something.
Revenge, justice, or jealousy...
Taking into consideration Artemis status and temperament, if Orion raped one of her followers or tried to rape her, then she probably killed him. But was it 'rape' attempted or achieved, or was it mutual consent? Perhaps Orion simply threatened her virginity, perhaps she desired him and did not want to break her vow of chastity, perhaps she broke it and hated him for it. Perhaps she feared loving a mortal man who is imperfect.
The scorpion's sting or the golden arrow
The arrow of Artemis or that of Cupid.
If Artemis loved Orion and he betrayed her by seducing another woman, then she probably sent the scorpion after him. In astrology as well as in myth (like the scorpions of Aset/Isis), the scorpion is known for its tendency to take revenge. To the scorpio betrayal is intolerable, injustice is unforgivable, and there is much possessiveness in love. If he broke her heart, she probably shot his with an arrow, shooting her own afterwards.
Whether it's her brother who conned her into killing her lover, whether it was revenge for being betrayed, or whether it was to punish Orion for seducing her or another virgin..the result remains the same, she vowed to never trust and to never love again.
Artemis
Oh Patroness of women and children, harbinger of light, crescent woman, untamed one..
Huntress
Undo the vow I have taken so long ago- release me
Artemis
Patroness of Jerash in the North
In the lush green of Arabian desert
Allow me drink
I vowed to you but often broke my promise
Damned for my oath
Turned into the plough
A memory
Virgin goddess
One into herself
Complete in herself
Undo the vow I have taken long ago- release me
Like you. I have shot my heart dead in the Sea
Like you, I promised never to love again
I punished those who intruded
And turned them into beasts
But they turned against me
With their sharp teeth
I do not care for war I want peace
I beseech you, set me free
I called to you even before knowing your story
I took your flower as my own
But my soul is running dry and it seeks the nectar
So I ask of you, please release me
Let me go but remain in my consciousness
For you are the independence I seek
You are the strength and the clear aim
You are the mountain range and the open horizon
But in your grip you hold my heart,
It is slowly dying and I yearn to melt
Artemis, release me
Release me from the fear of being loved, of loving, of having an anchor
Give me back the key to my emotions
Let me cry and not hide beneath anger
To be vulnerable like a flower
Let me surrender to the embrace of love
To be light and bring light
Let me go, set me free
---
Readings from:
Encyclopedia mythica http://www.pantheon.org/articles/
Jean Shinoda Bolen, Goddess in Every woman
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Challenging Tradition in a Traditional Society #1
There are some traditions that are worth upholding, but many have collected thick layers of dust so opaque that we can no longer see what was once beneath them. We mistake the dust for the essence, incessantly complaining about a'raf and wajibat, the rights and wrongs of our forefathers...but we play along to avoid ridicule and choose the chains of cowardice, prejudice, and misconception. Ignorance.
I am not saying that all traditions are outdated and useless-far from it, in our Arab culture are jewels and treasures, and I am the first to call for preserving them. But let us stop for a moment and consider what we are heeding, rather than following blindly like grazing sheep.
Sheep and goats: I am reminded of kindergarden and a song we learnt in school. The teacher would walk around the classroom singing: Ya Ganamati. And we'd respond: Ma Ma. ...Ghannou waraya : Ma Ma..and so on and so forth. Very endearing, but also very telling. We grow up, Ma Ma-ing until we reach the grave.
Death:
I walk in to funeral to find a herd of women sitting around my aunt's living room. Her husband has just died. As I walk through the door, I feel all eyes turn towards me. They look me up and down. I do not take it personally, this is the norm. Each of us is measured up: Is she wearing the right thing, is she smiling too much, is she sad enough?. I look around and see nothing but bodies, they all look the same. Some are showing hair but most are veiled. I'm instructed by my mother to greet my aunts and cousins. Ma Ma. . As I pilgrim around the room, I am stopped by women I know and others I have no memory of. Shoo, inseeteena? A kiss on each cheek, at times one kiss, then one two three...there's a rhythm to the kissing ritual, but unable to figure it out, I surrender my face. May he rest in peace, I tell those concerned. I am served dates and weak coffee, and seat myself in a chair.
Some women have rosaries in their hands, others are gossiping about the women in the room, whispering this or that. As for the bereaved, they greet and serve the guests who flow in without mercy. This will go on for three days!
I sit in thought:
When I die, I do not want to burden those I love, I do not want to cost them money beyond their means to attend to the demands of society. I would want them to hold a party and raise their glasses in my memory, remember the funny things I did and even laugh.
If a person I love dies, the last thing I would want is loads of people crowding my house. I would not want to surrounded by people who feel obliged to fulfill their duty and who probably could care less about my pain. I would not want to serve anyone coffee or answer questions about where to find the bathroom. I would not want to be clearing empty plates and making sure there's lunch to feed the mass.
If someone I love dies, I would leave the guests and run away, returning only when no one is left. But what would they say about me? Do I care?
If a person I love dies, I would not want to dress up in name brands or get my hair done (which has become customary amongst the 'velvet society'. I hear there's even a special 'funeral hairstyle' nowadays). I would not want to brush my teeth or even bathe...
If some I love dies, I would want to be left in silence, to be with the people closest to me. I would want to be around those with whom I could cry and who would make me laugh. We could look at photos of the one who has just passed, and remember the beautiful days we had. Perhaps we would sit in silence, and maybe even watch a movie.....
But maybe it's just me...maybe there's something in this charade that I'm not getting.
I leave the funeral and return to my home. I tell my father about my day. He says that when he dies, he does not want a funeral, just a burial and that's that. I pray for his long life and say, for this and more, I love you dad.
L;- in Jordan
I am not saying that all traditions are outdated and useless-far from it, in our Arab culture are jewels and treasures, and I am the first to call for preserving them. But let us stop for a moment and consider what we are heeding, rather than following blindly like grazing sheep.
Sheep and goats: I am reminded of kindergarden and a song we learnt in school. The teacher would walk around the classroom singing: Ya Ganamati. And we'd respond: Ma Ma. ...Ghannou waraya : Ma Ma..and so on and so forth. Very endearing, but also very telling. We grow up, Ma Ma-ing until we reach the grave.
Death:
I walk in to funeral to find a herd of women sitting around my aunt's living room. Her husband has just died. As I walk through the door, I feel all eyes turn towards me. They look me up and down. I do not take it personally, this is the norm. Each of us is measured up: Is she wearing the right thing, is she smiling too much, is she sad enough?. I look around and see nothing but bodies, they all look the same. Some are showing hair but most are veiled. I'm instructed by my mother to greet my aunts and cousins. Ma Ma. . As I pilgrim around the room, I am stopped by women I know and others I have no memory of. Shoo, inseeteena? A kiss on each cheek, at times one kiss, then one two three...there's a rhythm to the kissing ritual, but unable to figure it out, I surrender my face. May he rest in peace, I tell those concerned. I am served dates and weak coffee, and seat myself in a chair.
Some women have rosaries in their hands, others are gossiping about the women in the room, whispering this or that. As for the bereaved, they greet and serve the guests who flow in without mercy. This will go on for three days!
I sit in thought:
When I die, I do not want to burden those I love, I do not want to cost them money beyond their means to attend to the demands of society. I would want them to hold a party and raise their glasses in my memory, remember the funny things I did and even laugh.
If a person I love dies, the last thing I would want is loads of people crowding my house. I would not want to surrounded by people who feel obliged to fulfill their duty and who probably could care less about my pain. I would not want to serve anyone coffee or answer questions about where to find the bathroom. I would not want to be clearing empty plates and making sure there's lunch to feed the mass.
If someone I love dies, I would leave the guests and run away, returning only when no one is left. But what would they say about me? Do I care?
If a person I love dies, I would not want to dress up in name brands or get my hair done (which has become customary amongst the 'velvet society'. I hear there's even a special 'funeral hairstyle' nowadays). I would not want to brush my teeth or even bathe...
If some I love dies, I would want to be left in silence, to be with the people closest to me. I would want to be around those with whom I could cry and who would make me laugh. We could look at photos of the one who has just passed, and remember the beautiful days we had. Perhaps we would sit in silence, and maybe even watch a movie.....
But maybe it's just me...maybe there's something in this charade that I'm not getting.
I leave the funeral and return to my home. I tell my father about my day. He says that when he dies, he does not want a funeral, just a burial and that's that. I pray for his long life and say, for this and more, I love you dad.
L;- in Jordan
Monday, February 16, 2009
Take away the oil...
A new consciousness is arising, I can see it everywhere. Individuals and groups transcending boundaries, meeting the other, reconciling with the 'enemy,' and finding shared humanity.
Watching the news, one would think there was nothing but bombings and suicide attacks, hatred on all sides. But there is good news: seeds, children of peace, sulha, friends of the earth, and all nations (1), we just don't hear much about them. There are also people making babies together and others making art. There is beauty. "There can never be too many of us dreaming of peace"(2). We are stronger together.
The Middle East is becoming increasingly polarized: the ultra conservative right and the fundamentalists are increasing in number and loudness. The globe is heating up, the oil is running out, and we are killing each other over it. Meanwhile, the river is becoming a creek.
Take away all the oil, only water can quench my thirst.
Black gold oozes from the dry crust.
We argue over land ownership.
Who are we to claim the earth; at best, we are its hosts, at worst, its rapists. We fight for resources and the copyright on god. Our way is the right way, our word the final word, and our book His truest revelation. And forget her, she's pagan and demonic, even if she looks pretty.
If I were g-d, I would resign,
I would descend from my throne and call the whole thing off
I might reinstate Her.
There is no time to dwell on the past, the future is approaching. Prophecies are coming up, the Mayan calendar is about to conclude, the wall is being built, and people are awaiting the Messiah. Are we about to expire, or shift? People are afraid of nuclear war, a slip of a finger and the end of civilization. Ohers are looking forward to the apocalypse. It's worrisome.
Our myths are dysfunctional: injustice and domination, women left in the middle of the desert with a handful of dates; fathers sacrificing their sons in the name of the patriarch. Deception, exile, domination, mutilation, persecution; expulsion from Egypt, Palestine, Eden; forever in exile, always yearning for the holy city of peace, but never having it.
Orshaleem al Qudss. The reality is sadly ironic, but we set ourselves up for it thousands of years ago with the wives of Abraham. It's in the books. But in the books too is talk on finding water: the promised land, God's kingdom, al-jannah, paradise. Is it a place, a destination, or our highest aspiration?
War cannot bring peace, but dance can.
It is here, it is now.
*
(1) if you know of peace organizations, please add them in the comments, I'd like to start a network of links.
(2) Quote came from the world dreams peace bridge.
Watching the news, one would think there was nothing but bombings and suicide attacks, hatred on all sides. But there is good news: seeds, children of peace, sulha, friends of the earth, and all nations (1), we just don't hear much about them. There are also people making babies together and others making art. There is beauty. "There can never be too many of us dreaming of peace"(2). We are stronger together.
The Middle East is becoming increasingly polarized: the ultra conservative right and the fundamentalists are increasing in number and loudness. The globe is heating up, the oil is running out, and we are killing each other over it. Meanwhile, the river is becoming a creek.
Take away all the oil, only water can quench my thirst.
Black gold oozes from the dry crust.
We argue over land ownership.
Who are we to claim the earth; at best, we are its hosts, at worst, its rapists. We fight for resources and the copyright on god. Our way is the right way, our word the final word, and our book His truest revelation. And forget her, she's pagan and demonic, even if she looks pretty.
If I were g-d, I would resign,
I would descend from my throne and call the whole thing off
I might reinstate Her.
There is no time to dwell on the past, the future is approaching. Prophecies are coming up, the Mayan calendar is about to conclude, the wall is being built, and people are awaiting the Messiah. Are we about to expire, or shift? People are afraid of nuclear war, a slip of a finger and the end of civilization. Ohers are looking forward to the apocalypse. It's worrisome.
Our myths are dysfunctional: injustice and domination, women left in the middle of the desert with a handful of dates; fathers sacrificing their sons in the name of the patriarch. Deception, exile, domination, mutilation, persecution; expulsion from Egypt, Palestine, Eden; forever in exile, always yearning for the holy city of peace, but never having it.
Orshaleem al Qudss. The reality is sadly ironic, but we set ourselves up for it thousands of years ago with the wives of Abraham. It's in the books. But in the books too is talk on finding water: the promised land, God's kingdom, al-jannah, paradise. Is it a place, a destination, or our highest aspiration?
War cannot bring peace, but dance can.
It is here, it is now.
*
(1) if you know of peace organizations, please add them in the comments, I'd like to start a network of links.
(2) Quote came from the world dreams peace bridge.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Children playing in Gaza
Children went out to play during the three hours of ceasefire Israel announced in Gaza. Rushdi Abu Alouf reports for the BBC. It was the first time the children went outside of the building in 12 days. Psychiatrists fear that the children will never recover from their wounds.
In Oakland, riots are breaking out in Downtown. People are out on the streets, setting cars ablaze and burning tires. They are protesting the killing of an unarmed black male by metro police on the first day of the New Year.
There is much injustice and inequality in our world. The constitution says we are all equal, but the reality shows us otherwise. Where, when, and how did we lose sense of our humanity? How can we regain it?
Psychological damage is caused by trauma inflicted on children during war, under oppression, and from the first moment they are born. It does not take a PhD to see the connection between trauma and violence, but it takes a dreamer to believe that the damage is not irreversible. It can be transformed, but it won’t happen spontaneously, and it will take all of us working together. It will take time and patience, but above all compassion.
During the past twelve days of war on Gaza, about six hundred lives were taken, 14,000 displaced, and 3,000 injured. The children who died were perhaps more fortunate than the ones who witnessed their friends die. They have to live with the memory, experiencing the guilt of “why was I spared, am I worthy?” having anxiety attacks about bombs falling from the sky, harboring anger and resentment. This is true for both sides of the conflict. There are no winners in this battle, only casualties.
Enough damage has been done that if there were world peace tomorrow, we’d need at least three decades, if not three centuries, to undo the damage. Undo, unknot, untangle, wash clean….
How many children have been born under the Gaza siege? How many know a reality other than oppression, hunger, aggression, revenge, and victim-hood?
How many Iraqi children have suffered and seen their fathers murdered? How many of them are turned into human bombs?
How many Somali children have been displaced and are starving? How many Kurdish children were not even given a chance to learn to walk? The list goes on, and it goes back, from burning Jews in chambers, to slaughtering native Americans, witch hunts and crusades…slavery.
If we were to let ourselves feel, we would all be sobbing, we would not be able to live ‘normal’ lives…how could we? There is no separation…the pain of others is our pain. We try to numb it, turn off the TV, have a drink, make some money….
In our human history, we have no examples for peaceful civilizations; they appear only in the sunken myths and in the dreams of children...if only we would listen; if only we could give them the chance to dream, to feel safe enough to close their eyes, to wake up and tell us.
Peace is not a political solution, history has proven as much. Peace can only come from within the people, and particularly the children. Peace is the evolution of our consciousness; it is the only way we are to continue to exist, to prosper.
Working towards peace, finding it inside, and creating it outside…that is the new Jerusalem.
The damage is great. The need is greater. How am I working to mend it, how are you?
L;-
1/7/09
In Oakland, riots are breaking out in Downtown. People are out on the streets, setting cars ablaze and burning tires. They are protesting the killing of an unarmed black male by metro police on the first day of the New Year.
There is much injustice and inequality in our world. The constitution says we are all equal, but the reality shows us otherwise. Where, when, and how did we lose sense of our humanity? How can we regain it?
Psychological damage is caused by trauma inflicted on children during war, under oppression, and from the first moment they are born. It does not take a PhD to see the connection between trauma and violence, but it takes a dreamer to believe that the damage is not irreversible. It can be transformed, but it won’t happen spontaneously, and it will take all of us working together. It will take time and patience, but above all compassion.
During the past twelve days of war on Gaza, about six hundred lives were taken, 14,000 displaced, and 3,000 injured. The children who died were perhaps more fortunate than the ones who witnessed their friends die. They have to live with the memory, experiencing the guilt of “why was I spared, am I worthy?” having anxiety attacks about bombs falling from the sky, harboring anger and resentment. This is true for both sides of the conflict. There are no winners in this battle, only casualties.
Enough damage has been done that if there were world peace tomorrow, we’d need at least three decades, if not three centuries, to undo the damage. Undo, unknot, untangle, wash clean….
How many children have been born under the Gaza siege? How many know a reality other than oppression, hunger, aggression, revenge, and victim-hood?
How many Iraqi children have suffered and seen their fathers murdered? How many of them are turned into human bombs?
How many Somali children have been displaced and are starving? How many Kurdish children were not even given a chance to learn to walk? The list goes on, and it goes back, from burning Jews in chambers, to slaughtering native Americans, witch hunts and crusades…slavery.
If we were to let ourselves feel, we would all be sobbing, we would not be able to live ‘normal’ lives…how could we? There is no separation…the pain of others is our pain. We try to numb it, turn off the TV, have a drink, make some money….
In our human history, we have no examples for peaceful civilizations; they appear only in the sunken myths and in the dreams of children...if only we would listen; if only we could give them the chance to dream, to feel safe enough to close their eyes, to wake up and tell us.
Peace is not a political solution, history has proven as much. Peace can only come from within the people, and particularly the children. Peace is the evolution of our consciousness; it is the only way we are to continue to exist, to prosper.
Working towards peace, finding it inside, and creating it outside…that is the new Jerusalem.
The damage is great. The need is greater. How am I working to mend it, how are you?
L;-
1/7/09
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