A Way

Leave the void, to create a way away.
Be yourself. Dislocate time.

Are right and wrong, just hanging there, light and dark. And is the truth like the sun being just beyond the horizon? Or is there another way to get there, something that connects us, a vehicle to reveal our interconnectedness? Let us begin.

“Let the bare feat be the last sound that they hear.” - Our Lady Peace

This is about getting even. Getting an even flow going. This is about getting through. Getting through the discord. American political discourse has become increasingly difficult. More than simple party lines divide us, there is a generational divide. This bars us from really (easily) understanding each other.

This is more broadly about the myth of superiority, more on that to come.

But for now I want to share a recent discussion I had, which is a tragic example of just how hard it is to come to a sense of understanding these days. This is why we find many youth don’t do much talking, they don’t seem so interested. Here, let me show you:

1st Post:

A former US President becomes UN Special Envoy to earthquake-stricken Haiti. A born-again neo-conservative US business wheeler-dealer preacher claims Haitians are condemned for making a literal ‘pact with the Devil.’ Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, Bolivian, French and Swiss rescue organizations accuse the US military of refusing landing rights to planes bearing necessary medicines and urgently needed potable water to the millions of Haitians stricken, injured and homeless.

2nd Poster:

And AMAZINGLY it all happened under the watch of ... that's right ... the Glorious Barack Obama. Who'da thought?

1st Poster:

But it's the system, not "the enemy."

2nd Poster:

Actually, it is both. Obama is the most clear example of EVERYTHING that is wrong with "the system." If I were to explain Obama and everything he stands for to one who never heard of him, all I would have to do is recommend "1984" and "Animal Farm" and the person would have a crystal clear picture. Want to fix the problem? Take a HARD right turn and you'll be headed in the correct direction.

1st Poster:

"Dream a dream of other men, you will be no one's rival." No one's rival...

2nd Poster:

Albert Einstein wrote: "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it"
I guess that pretty much sums up the problem. By not opposing evil men, you are aiding them. If you will not stand against evil, it will not be long before you are kneeling before it.

1st Poster:

"Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights." and for your love. I won't kneel before an antagonist, but I won't stoop to a lower level. We need progress from it all, the politics and the problems. We all need progress, a helping-loving hand, rather than the brute force of predatory politics. So I'm saying, let's try to find a systemic solution, rather than blame. Plus, I'm no fan of making devils out of men. I'm more Zarathustrian, Hyperborean, "we all have our vices, we all have our flaws, we all have our anger, WE ALL HAVE OUR LOVE."

2nd Poster:

The problem is that the people you learned that nonsense from (and really, that stuff could fertilize the Sahara) elected a "Messiah". HE, the extreme ideology he personifies, and the sheep following him, IS the current problem. The solution is not some utopean acid-trip. The sooner you, and others, realize that, the better.

1st Poster:

Haha... What's so fucking hilarious about this, on my phone, I don't even know what topic we're talking about because you've made no mention of it, only terribly devisive comments. Also, there's a reason it says I'm a "deconstructionist" under political affiliation: I'm not a party follower. And... JESUS. Quite the utopian shit-stinking hippie, wasn't he? Guess that's all crucifixion gets you in the end. Haha. What the fuck man?

2nd Poster:

Ahh, the Left (or whatever you want to call it -"deconstructionist"? did you say that with a straight face? really?). When rationality fails, shift to profanity ... and don't forget to throw a completely incorrect understanding of Jesus in there for good measure.
Wouldn't want anything like a rational argument. It's always entertaining to see how right I am about you guys. Maybe someday you'll disappoint me and actually respond with rationality, or recognize when you are "up way past your bedtime" in a debate and just stop talking, but it looks like today just isn't that day. Lucky me!

1st Poster:

P.S. I don't mean to be offensive, but, I find it incredible how far our political discourse can go... Without touching on the bloody issue at hand. Hence my sarcasm.

: )

I could kiss you.

2nd Poster:

not twice

1st Poster:

But we've only just begun! Don't you see we still haven't addressed the issue at hand! Whatever I posted that started this, hasn't been touched. You just came in like a frothing dog! I'm trying to calmly guide us back... But again... I'm away from my computer and don't have the original post at hand. Don't you have a little faith that I was being sarcastic and not trying to explain Jesus to you? Come on man! Give me something.

And talk about not being rational? Well, I am sorry about our circumstances about the topic not being addressed. But, what's there to be rational about if your debate hasn't even started yet? If you're just winking and nodding at select members of the audience? Good god.

2nd Poster:

Anyway, as much fun as it has been to listen to you pretend to have something intelligent to say, I really don't have anymore spare time. Your original point was about how poorly Haiti has been handled and I pointed out that this was handled by you buddy Barry. You then went into some sort of irrational surrealistic nonsense with no basis in reality. I know that short-term memory is a casualty of your lifestyle choices but in the future try to keep up or go back to the kiddy table. Anyway, as fun as this has been, there is really nothing else to say about the topic and the more you talk the more you prove that I'm correct in my initial assessment that rational discourse is beyond your current capacity.
But the Bob Marley quote was a nice touch....

1st Poster:

This isn't amusing. It's sad and you're being highly offensive. You walk with me, talk with me - for one step - finally, about Haiti... ...and then you take 10 steps back and stab me in the back with vague and faceless attacks about my character. "My lifestyle choices..."? Good god, I don't know if I have the patience for this much longer. I'm assuming you mean related to drug use and abuse, which, I had a problem with a few years back. But I've been pretty sober and careful... and respectful of life... since. Maybe I made a fucking pact with the devil. (wink wink, nudge nudge) I'm trying to work things out now.

...end...

...now, a conversation like that, even though each was trying to understand the other, just goes to show us how hard it is sometimes.

And we need to just be ourselves. Be honest with each other, to move on together. Take this small, personal conversation as a microcosm of the national discourse on a tragic event like Haiti’s earthquake. It shouldn’t be this hard to just get things done. Our political affiliations, our religious backgrounds, our “lifestyle choices,” shouldn’t be preventing us from interacting on an empathetic, good-willed, and loving level.

And this is how we dislocate time, this is how we solve the generational discord in our discourse. Just get up, stand up for what’s right and following our first lesson from “A Void,” act regardless of who might be watching, or what they might be thinking. Be yourself. Don’t stop believing in your capacity to connect with others as you are, you don’t have to shyly modify your true thoughts and passions or keep them secret from those who you think may oppose you. Now, be respectful. The rule of thumb is, “no man is an island.”

I didn’t need to post anything about Haiti. I didn’t need to participate in this conversation. I already donated. I already expressed my concern with my friends and family. I already tried to get connected to it by being alert, aware, and involved. You don’t need to do anything to prove yourself to anyone. Be yourself. Then allow yourself to be there for others. Try to hold on, when they’re trying to tear you apart. Try to stand up for yourself, in order to be there for others.

This is all a way to traverse the earthsea. To get past our differences and distances, and to find a global community, we must find a way away from our discord and disharmony.