i wondered what i would post about my first real day back online after summertime company. i have managed to squeeze a few moments here and there to read 'mindful politics' and various blogs and sundry online while my outlaws were here- and friends- and the combination of all of these things has been swirling about in my brain. i am reading news headlines that highlight the greed, violence, fear, hatred, etc. of the human race at large- the wars, famines, prejudices that grace our planet and i have been reading ideas on how to counteract those forces in order to bring peace to myself and hopefully, transfer some to the world around me. i have been reading about forgiveness versus reconciliation and how to reconnect (or perhaps first time connect) with myself and my feelings and how to work through them. and i have been thinking about the world as a whole and how people treat others who are different- and how self righteous and puritanical and full of fear and loathing we are as a species. and then, i read other bloggers and i am amazed at myself for having the good luck to come into contact with actual thinking beings in a world ruled by base emotions.
the free slave is an especial favorite of mine because he puts out real thinking posts. i can't do that consistently- and i really admire someone who can. i have some back reading over there to do- as i have been offline- but the latest post is a follow up to a previous one written about whether or not animals should have basic rights. so, of course that got me thinking about all of the other reading i have done about buddhism- and how buddhists believe that other living beings have basic rights that we need to honor. maxjulian makes the point:
"Animals are not exactly like humans, but humans are animals. We are more alike than different. And if you truly look at the nature of so-called human atrocities, their root is in the human atrocities we have visited on animals. And first, in our brains, the divisions we’ve created between ourselves and each other. And animals."
and, i think that point is essential. animals communicate with each other- and with human beings. we are the ones who are unable to understand. we do that with anyone or anything that is different than we are- whether the break down is language, religion, skin color, culture, etc.,- it makes no difference. 'english only' that is reverberating around america comes to mind- or the whole debacle that is the 'obama is muslim' campaign strategy also comes to mind. that particular one 'kills two birds with one stone' so to speak because it slurs people of color and muslims.
anyhoo- please do check out his post. it is my belief that we need to wipe away the veil from our eyes and really see things as they are- and not as we want them to be. human beings are not the superior species. there are many species out there that take in orphans and most don't go to war with each other. they respect each other's territories and communicate that quite well. we could learn much from other species. and the reality is- humans do eat each other up- we also spit each other back out. what a waste.
Children are called the future of an adult world
They are born with spirits so innocent
Til we teach them how to hate
Add to the world's confusion
We teach our kids rules
That we don't adhere to ourselves
Right or wrong
What example can they take
The people we learn from
Forge the ideas we become
Living in a world they didn't make
Living in a world that's filled with hate
Living in a world where grown-ups break the rules
Living in a world they didn't make
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can they take
Our children
Children grow to become our young adults
Problems of the world
They must learn how to confront
Doing drugs and joining gangs to rebel
Colors show they belong
To the social override
Cause they're living in a space
They feel out of place
Living in a world they didn't make
Living in a world that's filled with hate
Living in a world where grown-ups break the rules
Living in a world they didn't make
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can they take
Our children
