Yogi Teapartiers

Did you ever wonder what might happen if the Teapartiers put Yogi tea bags on their hats?  Don't you think it might lighten them up a little? Here are a few Yogi quotes I really think might be appropriate:

"Strength does not lie in what you have. It lies in what you can give". One would think this would require some deep introspection, wouldn't one?

 "Uplift everybody and uplift yourself" and "Live for each other".  Those might stir up a little soul nagging, right?  I mean, correct???  We don't want to use the "right" word here, it gets way too confusing.

Lastly, "Old age needs wisdom and grace."  Now, surely they don't consider their shenanigans either graceful or wise…ugly, irrational anger is never accompanied by grace or wisdom.  Actually, quite the opposite, don't you think?

Maybe we should take up a collection of Yogi tea bags and send them to the Teapartier's head bagger. We can add a sweet, little note offering our best wishes for true enlightenment along their chosen path. And, on the front of the envelop, we could add one more quote…."peace begins with me." 

Deciding where to go with this is a major struggle.  I like the concept, but am fearful of offending because I am trying so hard to eliminate anger and understand it all in a peaceful and meditave mode.  My soul belief is that if we don’t find a way to interact with each other, we’re, essentially, doomed as the human species occupying Planet Earth.  We can blame Republicans all day long, and they, in turn can blame us.  The reality is, we’re both at fault.  There is a middle ground, and as painful as it may be, it is imperative that the majority of us find a way to meet.  There is no hope for the leftest of the left or the rightest of the right, these people have lost touch with reality.  But, for the rest of us...can we not find a way?  I so hope we can.

So, I’m just gonna put this out there and hope that it may create just one or two ripples...and who knows where the ripples may lead?  Hopefully, somewhere peaceful....

Just Not White Enough

I am just sickened to read the background of the man who walked into a holy place yesterday and killed 6 innocent people.  He killed them because they weren't white enough, Christian enough, and they miserably failed the gun-toting good ol' boy test. 

These people were in their temple preparing for the Sunday service and in comes Mr. America and destroys their very existence. Mind you, these people were not radical, babbling, hate-the-world kind of religious fanatics.  They were of a kinder and gentler origin. The Sikh believe that there is one God and that all beings are equal.  People of all religions and races are welcome and women have equal status in their religious services and ceremonies.  They also believe that human life is precious above other life and that living by God's commands they can attain oneness with his mercy. They are peace loving people and stand for truth and justice.  All these beautiful beliefs they try to practice, all character traits we claim to strive for ourselves, but they weren't white Christians.

You may question my reference to "Mr. America", well, it seems to me that this sick human being represents more and more of Americans.  We've become less and less tolerant of each other.  More and more of us want our country to go back to the 50's when it was all about whites, and though blacks weren't slaves, well, at least they knew their place, didn't they?   They want a white, Christian America and they'll destroy our country before they open their minds and hearts to anything different.

When we ever learn?  Prejudice, hatred and violence have been the result of white America's refusal to stand up for what we could and should be.  I think we need to mandate all schools, public and private, who get tax breaks, to teach our children about other religions and cultures. Despite the tough economic times, we have an obligation to teach our children about the beautiful, diverse world that we live in. 

  White America needs to wake up to what’s happening and join hands with every human being in this country,  no matter their color, religion, politics....whatever.   Until we can do that....until we can learn from the Sikh’s that indeed, We Are One, this tragedy will continue to repeat itself time and time again.  How can that not break your heart?

Yes, Mr. and Mz. America, I’m talking to you.  Ignorance is not bliss.  Ignorance kills.