“Is this the profile of a fashionable woman with a feather in her hat or is it the face of a witch?”
This is the question I ask at the beginning of my talk, Origins: Angels and Us, which I have given to various clubs and groups over the past few years.
I ask it because there may be skeptics or non-believers in spiritual matters in the room and I want to challenge them to expand their perceptions on the origins and meaning of life and existence.
The response to this question always amazes me. Yet, in most cases, the audience has been fairly evenly split as to what they perceive. But, when I tell them the answer is both, some will dispute that fact.
However, once I outline how it could be either, I take a scientific approach to what is and isn’t known about Earth’s origins, as well as our relationship to the Moon in order to open even the atheistic members of the audience to the possibility of other dimensions and the meaning of our existence.
I choose this image, now, because I see it as a metaphor for what has taken place in my Country during our recent election.
Though, the majority vote has normally been consistent with our system of rules, 4 years ago, our system of rules allowed those with the minority views to hold the reigns of power despite the majority vote.
Now, even though our majority vote has more than doubled the previous election’s vote over that of the opposition and has, again, become consistent with our system’s rules, I find myself trying to understand the reasons behind the vastness of the opposition’s vote, despite the fact that, as a teenager, I held many of their tenets.
I start with the fact my nation was, originally, formed by castoffs and outlaws from monarchical societies, as well as sheer adventurers, i.e., the type who don’t like anyone telling them what to do.
I did and do hold with this latter group, insofar as its ethic was tempered with the Native American ethos, as shared with the Country’s forefathers, that all men are created equal and our equally endowed with certain rights and liberties, as well as the fact this ethos was not frozen in time so it could mature to include the same rights and liberties for all women, all non-landowners and all races, as well.
Unfortunately, many of our adventurer-types have not accepted this maturation process and think of current immigrants as potential freeloaders, when, in fact, they are only trying to do what the adventurers’ ancestors did…create better lives for themselves and their families by doing even the menial tasks the current citizenry was not capable of or did not wish to do.
And, yes, there were and, today, are those who may take advantage of rules and laws to freeload, but they are less dangerous than those current citizens, who manipulate markets, develop Ponzi schemes, overcharge for their services and cheat on their taxes.
It’s just a fact of nature that the sheer volume of humanity demands that some of the old ways need to be tempered.
My own perception is that we must temper the ethic espoused by the Chicago philosopher Neil Crane in the 1950’s…”It takes a heap of sinnin’ to learn what sanctity is,” by, perhaps, limiting it to “just a bit of sinnin’“ as well as tempering the 1960’s ethic of Hanover, New Hampshire philosopher Sleek Kreikos …”You can, if you want to,” with the wonderful expression of an unknown professor from New York ‘s Union Theological Seminary…
“Remember that Word…
The one from the manger…
It means simply this…
You can dance with a stranger.”
The Word, of course, was and is “honor.”
By honoring others, we will honor ourselves, create a great nation and become a model for all nations.
The world awaits the return of honor.
What’s your perception?