We are all aware of the bloodshed and fighting between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Then there’s Russia and Ukraine, as well as other wars and conflicts taking place worldwide. The mass shootings in America and other areas also come to mind. We human beings do not learn from our mistakes, it seems. We keep on contributing to war and violence.
We need to get to the root of the problem. If getting to the root of the problem makes us feel uncomfortable and annoyed, it doesn’t matter. We need to drop our separative stances (that contribute significantly to why these terrible problems exist). More wars have been fought in the name of religion than for any other reason. That is one big reason why i do not belong to any organized religion. Additionally, i prefer to consider myself to be a global citizen, not just someone who belongs to one country. I’ve lived in various countries during my life. Countries are — whether we like it or not — manmade constructs that are an extension of the divisive tribalism of the past. We are all like the fingers of a hand. The index finger may seem separate from the middle or ring finger but it isn’t. We are all of one whole. Kill another and you are killing yourself.
This outward separation and conflict in the world is a protrusion from the inner separation and conflict within the minds of most of us. This internal conflict must end for the vast external conflict and violence to end. Many people cling to what seems to be “easy security,” by belonging to old, manmade structures; however, in actuality, these very structures are the antithesis of real security and are divisive extensions of the primitive past. This is a very serious thing and anyone who doesn’t want to be bothered is turning his or her back on immense order and goodness. Please be responsible.
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From my own heart I agree with you. Whilst we are so horribly destructive to each other in personal capacities these horrific wars will continue. It seems we no longer understand the meaning of true empathy and compassion. I too cherish living on a planet on which others, who may be different to me, also live. Surely the idea is we learn from one another? The key for me is ‘communication’ whereas the key for many is ‘war’.
A very sad state of affairs.
Yes, Margaret, true compassion and empathy seem to have been thrown out of the window. A lot of it is because we were educated wrongly; we were not educated to see (and feel) the wholeness and oneness of everything.
We construct borders (of all sorts) to separate us from them never considering that we are also them to others.
Yes, exactly, Lou. We fear “them,” we mistrust “them,” we feel superior to “them”… swallowing all the separative conditioning that was poured into us. While the same thing is happening with other cultures regarding our culture. We need more of a holistic, compassionate perspective, not one of separation and a mindset of superiority.
Nice post
Thank you, Sunshine! 😊
This is very insightful Tom – if only this post could appear in an Op-Ed page, like the “NYT” or “WaPo” maybe people would read, understand, absorb these words and act on them. It is a sad state of our world … warring nations, divisiveness and in this country which will intensify as we get closer to the election – for the most part, people only care about themselves and their beliefs. There is no seeing the other side’s view because “my way is the right way” … and so it goes. No compromise – no “wiggle room” just as we have forgotten how to be polite and considerate toward one another. Sure, as Christmas Eve approaches, we are like chameleons and change our ways, become charitable in our words and our actions – then we quickly go back, like a slingshot, to our former ways. The blue wildflowers are pretty and bring some joy to your words.
Thanks very much, Linda. I’m glad that you see somthing here. Yes, your Christmas Eve comment put a smile on my face (because that’s how it is for a lot of people). 🙄 (I just recently gave — by the way — to a number of charities.)
Beliefs are based on words and conclusions. We need to go beyond words and conclusions. It’s words and conclusions that separate and cause endless conflict.
“Whenever you think or you believe or you know, you’re a lot of other people: but the moment you feel, you’re nobody-but-yourself.”
― e.e. cummings
People are hypocrites – most of them anyway, thus the Christmas Eve comment, or the example of those who come out of the Sunday church service and curse at one another as they hurry to get out of the parking lot and don’t care if they cut off other drivers/parishioners to do so. Manners, congeniality … gone from our mindset and our vocabulary.
I like this quote by e.e. cummings … he had it right back then didn’t he?
Yes, Linda, Cummings realized how mechanical, robotic, and full of hypocrisy many people were. Here’s a short poem by Cummings:
open his head, baby
& you’ll find a heart in it
(cracked)
open that heart,mabel
& you’ll find a bed in it
(fact)
open this bed, sibyl
& you’ll find a tart in it
(wed)
open the tart, lady
& you’ll find his mind in it
(dead)
Looks like Cummings was forthright, long before the popular, now archaic expression “tell it like it is!”
Beautifully written! I also don’t understand why do we want to destroy our beautiful earth by war or fighting. Why don’t we think about humanity.
Exactly! Just think of all the good that could be done if all regions just got along and cooperated peacefully. All that money on war could be utilized to actually help people. We need to go beyond leaders and separative, fragmented viewpoints.
Absolutely
Yes, Tom. All true. But how to ‘be the change’ when it’s such a huge globall mess?
Yes, Harini, it isn’t easy to change the conditioned masses. My blog is one thing that i do. I feel that education is a big part of it; that’s why i donate monthly to Brockwood Park (an alternative school founded by J. Krishnamurti in Great Britain). Most schools condition children to belong to a separate country. Not mindlessly waving national flags is another good thing. And just talking to people about the conflict and friction that arises by being mesmerized by separative countries; that also helps. 😉