...I'm not here to rant and rave, or preach, or change the entire world. I'm here to change my world. Perhaps the first step towards that would be to quit watching the news.
This is a song from the Disney movie "Pete's Dragon" -- one of my personal favorites. The words to this song really mean something to me and they hit on something that I've been thinking about a lot lately.
=-=-=-=-=
There’s room for everyone in this world
if everyone makes some room
won’t you move over and share this world
everyone make some room
even a dragon deserves a place,
a wide open space with no reigns,
no chains
he wants to play games, dance with you,
give him a chance
to sing his song
he only wants to belong
there’s room for everyone in this room
will everyone makes some room
spread out while Elliott gets uncurled
fly on his back and zoom
rock him and ride him
and line up beside him,
you’ll see how quickly you blend
a dragon is just one more stranger in search of a friend
from an ant to a bird to a buffalo herd
let them walk and fly and roam
step aside, let them live, it’s simple to give
like us, they just need a home
there’s room for everyone in this world
back up and make some room
let’s all move over and share this world
everyone make some room
just think of how far out the ocean goes,
the whirling wind blows shore to shore,
door to door
think of the valley’s and mountaintops,
the earth never stops,
so deep, so high, with miles of sky
we all have part of the pie
there’s room for everyone in this world
will everyone make some room
love given freely can spare this world
let friendly feelings bloom
just give an inch, give a yard, never flinch
when the time comes to offer a hand
so let’s all make sure we give everyone somewhere to stand
just the way God planned it,
just the way God planned.
=-=-=-=-=
Sometimes I look around this world and I see fences and barriers and lines that "shouldn't" be crossed. It seems like differences are all too easy to find, and to blame...their skin color is different, they don't believe in the same religion I do, they are affiliated with a different political party, they love differently than I do, their diet is different from mine, they believe in aliens...the list goes on and on.
Walls keep others out. They also keep things in. I know I would be missing out on some amazing things if I stayed in my box and only associated with others who had similar boxes. It makes me sad to see the hurt in the eyes of people who are discriminated against and hated for being who they are.
I don't believe in a supreme race. I don't think you can stand two strangers side by side and determine which one is better on looks alone. Good qualities don't discriminate. They exist in everyone.
I believe in a real and loving God. I believe there are no requirements for being a child of God. It is a gift that has been given to every member of the human race, regardless of religion. This means that President Obama, Marilyn Manson, the homeless guy outside of Home Depot on 2100 South, the lady that cuts you off on the freeway, the gay couple that walks hand in hand, and even the writers for "Big Love" are all children of God.
When it comes right down to it, I believe that there is truth in all of us. I believe that “good” and “bad” are more influenced by personal perception of the truth than perhaps what actually is. For instance, a person who make the decision to be a terrorist for Bin Laden perceives that the United States is the enemy, and we are a terrible country filled with terrible people. That is his truth. Or a person who is a rigid Republican perceives that our country will be drastically shaped for the worse because we elected Barack Obama to be our president. That is their truth. Or the stay-at-home mom perceives that letting her five year old son play with the Catholic boy across the street will distort the religious views she has been teaching him. That is her truth.
What would your truth be if you stopped to look into the eyes of the person you perceive to be bad?
I choose to form my opinions carefully, based on my own studied truth. I choose to learn for myself. I choose to open my mind to new possibilities and new understandings. I choose to be a person of compassion instead of contention.
I choose this because I know that I am different. I know that there might be a day when people choose to see me for my differences instead of for everything else they know of me. I choose this because I hope that when I need it, people will choose to show compassion and understanding to me. I choose this because I believe it is important to embrace what we have in common and to rely on each other for strength.
When I read the words to this song from "Pete's Dragon," I replace the word "dragon" with a word that is recognized sometimes as "less than."
A Spurs fan deserves a place...a Democrat deserves a place...a Lutheran deserves a place...a gay person deserves a place...a Hispanic deserves a place...a vegan deserves a place...a senator deserves a place...
a dragon is just one more stranger in search of a friend.
Ethical Dilemma
9 years ago
2 comments:
Hmmm...this can be a touchy subject for people. Although I've never worded out my own ideas on the matter, I can honestly say that I do agree with you. Sure I'll occasionally crack a joke, that hinges on the stereotypical acpects of different races, in certain circles, but I'm also very tolerant of other people's opinions and jokes about classes that I belong to. Mormon jokes apply to that category. Being able to view myself from another's standpoint and laugh at myself for the things they find ridiculous isn't easy, but it goes a long way towards keeping a certain situations non-violent. On the flipside of that, yes, there definitely is a line that shouldn't be crossed, but I believe that being tolerant of people's opinions, views and beliefs is not about forcing yours on them. It's about listening to what they have to say and learning how it defines them as an individual and as a part of their community. It's about letting them do their own thing...so long as it doesn't cross that line that offends you. If that happens then the solution isn't violence, although it too often ends up that way.
Your comments certainly give a person a lot to think about. I am glad you are comfortable expressing your opinions to whom ever might read your post. That would not have been the case a few years ago. Love you lots!!
Post a Comment