Hear the Words of John

(From Do As One/Facebook)

 Truer words are seldom spoken.  And we need to hear them, and share them, now in a big way.

 

There's a fear epidemic growing like an especially aggressive cancer on the hearts and minds of Americans.  We've learned—yes, learned—to be afraid of other humans.  Humans who don't look like us, are not familiar to us.  We're afraid of our own shadows (which in most cases are less benevolent than those "others" we fear.)  Americans are buying into the fear being ginned up by the NRA in its effort to sell more and more guns.  There's no moral compass guiding their marketing tactics, nothing noble in their motives.  Seems they are willing to say and do anything to make a whole lot of money.  Right-wing television, talk radio, and internet sites do more than their share of fear mongering, as well.  And state legislatures pass laws like "Stand Your Ground"— providing any aggravated gun-toter with an alibi for taking the life of another human being for, say, playing music "too loud," then claiming self-defense; the killer can say he feared for his life and get away with murder.  Literally.  A shooter kills a stranger in movie theater,  a father—for texting his child during advertisements.  Others feel empowered to shoot because they don't like the way another person looks or drives or chews his food.  They don't feel threatened, just entitled.

 

You think I've gone off topic, moving on to examples of anger and hate.  To me, anger and hate are fear dressed in different costumes.   The opposite of love is not hate.  It's fear.   We fear people whose skin is a different color, whose religious practices are foreign to our understanding, whose political views are different—all of "those people" are part of this country's rich diversity.  We could be celebrating our cultural differences, learning from one another, rather than arming ourselves against them.  What fools we can be!  What total fools of fear,  seeing the gifts of other humans in our orbit as nothing more than a threat or annoyance. 

 

More than ever, it's important to repeal "stand your ground" laws, starting with Florida.  It's  important to join with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.  There are chapters in every state, making a positive difference for gun safety.  https://www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction. 

 

I believe the bottom line for change is unlearning fear.  That's where transformation of our society might begin.   But how can we unlearn fear?  Where do we begin?  I don't know the answer, but I'll continue to think about it.  I do know it's important to live with compassion, to speak up for  kindness, and tolerance.  I think the words of John Lennon are well worth contemplating and sharing.  If we can fully love ourselves, open our hearts to our own goodness and imperfections, then we will become more capable of embracing others in their fullness.  All beings.  We cannot fear what or whom we love.  Fear and love cannot exist in the same heart space.  When we fully love ourselves, we will be better able to model the peace and compassion we want to see prevail.  What better time to begin than with the next in-breath?