Introduction: The following is the final of a three-part blog that looks at the dangers fundamentalism poses to the Earth. On Sept. 12, 2010, I was speaking at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lethbridge. It was the day of our special 'Gathering of the Waters' ceremony. My talk and this blog plays off of the idea of human beings coming together is a similar fashion. I've divided it into three parts for an easier read and enhanced it with visuals not included in the talk. For your review: Part 1 and Part 2.
In the U.S., plans to construct a Muslim community centre that would include a mosque two blocks from ‘Ground Zero’ in New York City are attacked by opponents who claim it is an insult to the victims of 9/11 and that this is sacred ground.
Sacred ground that is currently home to businesses like the Pussycat strip bar, the Thunder Lingerie and peep show shop, 11 bars, 17 pizza places, 18 banks, 10 shoe stores and 17 salons that cater to women who want their lady parts groomed. That’s according to a survey by the New York Daily News.
All the booze, pizza and porn you could want is acceptable, but don’t let the Muslims in!
What’s an insult to the victims of 9/11 is the number of citizens who seem to have forgotten a basic lesson of kindergarten, that two wrongs don’t make a right, and that freedom of religion is what makes our land sacred.
Fear-mongering, scare tactics and, dare I say out and out lies are used to portray opponents as monsters waiting to destroy your way of life. To vote for them is to seal your own doom because only our party knows what’s best for you and the country.
Really? Only one political party has good ideas? Your opponent never has a concept worth considering? Or does the thought of acknowledging a positive suggestion from the opposition wound the ego so deeply you need to resort to the childish antic of name-calling?
“When I became a man, I put away childish things.”
Where are the real leaders today? Where are the people with an actual vision for the future? Being so focused on the power play limits the scope for an inclusive approach for all of our tomorrows. It limits our thinking.
Carl Sagan once noted: “We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it’s forever.”
Politics and religion. Religion and politics. The two things we never discuss in polite company. Two things that keep us divided into our separate little tribes. Two of the things that hold us down as a species and keep us from the magnificent raison d'être of being the caretakers this planet needs now for a healthy home tomorrow.
Imagine if we could grow beyond tribalism. Imagine a future that sees humanity united at last for the common good. Imagine a world that embraces Sagan’s philosophy, summed up as:
Every one of us is precious in the cosmic perspective. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.
Today we celebrated a Gathering of the Waters Ceremony – to me that’s symbolic of all coming peacefully together as one and that’s really what this world needs on a grand scale.
Look at it. More than 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water. Our own bodies consist of 55-60% water.
Imagine if the human race could come together in a gathering of our waters.
Imagine if for once the common good could wash away the stain of intolerance spread by differences that should be respected. Imagine how that could impact all of our tomorrows.
Maybe that’s overly optimistic. But I leave you with the words of John Lennon that we enjoyed a few moments ago.
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Thank you.
1 comment:
Actually it seems as though the powerful corporate/govt interests of today are steering the ship. It's an illusion of course, because while they make, and break, all the rules they are less and less representative of the people. As new ideas begin to take hold the economy will change as well, that may ultimately be the death knell of 'bigness' as we've come to know it. At least, that's my most optimistic view.
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