"All beings tremble before violence. All fear death. All love life.
See yourself in others.
Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?"
- Buddha
See yourself in others.
Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?"
- Buddha
The recent election has done a lot of things. It excited and inspired many with feelings of renewal and hope. It has saddened and hurt others that their candidate lost. For many, a sense of let down and what next?. For most a sense of change and anticipation of something different.
What I didn't expect is that in this day and age and time that so many still have so far to go.
What I didn't expect is that there are people in my circle of family and friends that are blatant racists and bigots. For that I am sorely disappointed.
Speaking to them: Frankly, I am a little confused. When you personally know people of another race or heritage and claim to be their friends, does that mean you think it's OK to make racist jokes? Do you think the other person will think it's funny? I am a woman and you claim to be my friend. Does that mean you make sexist jokes when I'm not around? Don't you think that would hurt me, too?
Speaking to everyone: Now is not the time for petty differences. In case you hadn't noticed, the world is changing. It may change for the better or it may change for the worst. It all depends on how many of us can decide we want to be better humans and that being a kinder, nicer, more compassionate human is all that matters. We must be bigger than our differences in order to survive. As the saying goes, "Grow, or die". If you are not growing and changing and evolving, you are in essence going in the reverse. You are dying.
I want for everyone the same things I want for myself. Food, clothing, shelter, security, and most of all love. If what you give out to the world is petty and demeaning and hurtful, that is what you will receive in return. Don't be surprised. If you want wonderful things, then that is what you must give away. Being racist or telling racist jokes keeps you small. I'm sure you want a big, glorious, joyful, happy life, right? Then do things that are big. Do things that are glorious. Do things that bring you joy and happiness. Stop being small, start being BIG.
Speaking for myself: I am living my bigger life and it gets bigger everyday. This is truly the miracle of life! One of the challenging things about that is that sometimes I have to leave parts of my smaller life behind. I am strong enough to stand up for what I believe in. I am also strong enough to tell others that their so-called "jokes" are not funny. I am strong enough to tell others that I won't listen to lies. I am strong enough to say I don't want negativity in my life anymore. As my life gets bigger and better (and, dear reader, hopefully yours too!) I try to impact others by my actions. I want to be the light. Sometimes this means teaching, sometimes this means being accepting and loving, sometimes this means separating myself from others.
Remember, we are either growing or we're dying. Which would you rather be?
What I didn't expect is that in this day and age and time that so many still have so far to go.
What I didn't expect is that there are people in my circle of family and friends that are blatant racists and bigots. For that I am sorely disappointed.
Speaking to them: Frankly, I am a little confused. When you personally know people of another race or heritage and claim to be their friends, does that mean you think it's OK to make racist jokes? Do you think the other person will think it's funny? I am a woman and you claim to be my friend. Does that mean you make sexist jokes when I'm not around? Don't you think that would hurt me, too?
Speaking to everyone: Now is not the time for petty differences. In case you hadn't noticed, the world is changing. It may change for the better or it may change for the worst. It all depends on how many of us can decide we want to be better humans and that being a kinder, nicer, more compassionate human is all that matters. We must be bigger than our differences in order to survive. As the saying goes, "Grow, or die". If you are not growing and changing and evolving, you are in essence going in the reverse. You are dying.
I want for everyone the same things I want for myself. Food, clothing, shelter, security, and most of all love. If what you give out to the world is petty and demeaning and hurtful, that is what you will receive in return. Don't be surprised. If you want wonderful things, then that is what you must give away. Being racist or telling racist jokes keeps you small. I'm sure you want a big, glorious, joyful, happy life, right? Then do things that are big. Do things that are glorious. Do things that bring you joy and happiness. Stop being small, start being BIG.
Speaking for myself: I am living my bigger life and it gets bigger everyday. This is truly the miracle of life! One of the challenging things about that is that sometimes I have to leave parts of my smaller life behind. I am strong enough to stand up for what I believe in. I am also strong enough to tell others that their so-called "jokes" are not funny. I am strong enough to tell others that I won't listen to lies. I am strong enough to say I don't want negativity in my life anymore. As my life gets bigger and better (and, dear reader, hopefully yours too!) I try to impact others by my actions. I want to be the light. Sometimes this means teaching, sometimes this means being accepting and loving, sometimes this means separating myself from others.
Remember, we are either growing or we're dying. Which would you rather be?
3 comments:
Beautifully written!
I thought we would come together as a nation after 9/11, petty rivalries, rasism, party politics, etc. and for a golden halo only a few weeks it seemed it did. I felt a conectedness, looked into peoples eyes and saw family or at least a kinds of national "team" spirit. Soon it was back to petty hatreds as b4 hope it can be real this time.
Thank you for inspiration.
Thank you for clarity.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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