Dear Paul, One of my dearest friends often sends me the same message..... take care to open up to ALL voices, even those with which you disagree. I agree with him and with you. It is only by listening deeply to all voices that we will ever understand all that needs to be understood.
Some on this list have talked about the three arenas in which we operate: thought, word, and deed. I hear Florian and Birgitt and others inviting us to operate from the arena of thought. This is the most powerful and elegant arena that is available to most of us, especially when we aim our thought on ideas that can be shared by all and therefore amplified by all. The one thought capable of being shared by everyone is love. For many of the rest of us, the dialogue is about whether we should operate in the arena of word or deed. I think the discussion you and I are now having, Paul, is that one. From those who choose the arena of deeds, of physical retalitation, I hear many ideas with which I agree: compassion for victims, a desire to protect and nurture, a desire to prevent future harm. When I listen deeply for the truth coming from those who would retaliate, this is what I hear. I respect and admire those who care so deeply for so many. Others on this list have talked about Einstein's comment that we cannot solve problems at the level at which they occured, that we must move to a higher level. The problem in this case manifested in the arena of deed, culminating in the death of the physical bodies of thousands of people. If Einstein was right, we need to move up a level. To the arena of words, and to the arena of thought. And how can I resist, Paul, this comment from you: > I am saying this because one of the premises of Space Invaders is that those > excluded had Hate in their hearts. Now, you may have reached a point in your > personal development where you can shift someone's Hate, assuming it is truly > Hate.... I find myself smiling, even though the topic is so grim. I don't have the power to shift anyone. But sometimes I can open myself wide enough to see what is already there. When I'm open enough to see the good and reflect back what I see, the good becomes stronger, better, wiser. Julie * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
