I last wrote about opening our hearts. Once our hearts are open, even if it’s a little crack, I believe we’ll find our minds can also open and entertain the possibility that we don’t have a lock on the “TRUTH” or the only way to see things. It’s easy to see where this closed-mindedness, this “me only” approach his gotten us.
We’ve become a highly polarized society that now acts as anyone not like us is not to be tolerated and storming the castle is the only solution. That and guns. Unfortunately, minorities are all too familiar with the result. Their lives are expendable, their rights not worth the paper upon which the treaties were written. And there was no real profit for anyone. Hate comes with a steep price – wars are very expensive and people die on all sides. And those that survive also pay and keep on paying as unfortunately many of our veterans and their families know.
Opening our hearts and minds is not easy. One way is to look for a new perspective, listen to someone not like you. Search for the truth in unfamiliar places.
There is a thoughtful article, “The Ceremony,” by David Treuer in the September 5th NY Times Sunday Magazine section. He writes about the Ojibwe Big Drum ceremony, “A gathering to mourn, to process grief, [and] to understand loss.” It’s worth the read and here’s the link,
I want to share one take-away from the article. Mr. Treuer discusses his experience with Joe Nayquonabe, a Big Drum member and a Vietnam War veteran. He says, “There’s two words we use a lot at drum, two ideas: wiidookodaadidaa and zhawendidaa. Let’s help each other, and let’s care for each other.” To which Joe adds, “If we did those two things, our community and our whole world would be a better place.”
I couldn’t agree more.
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Ken was a Professor of Mathematics, a ceramicist, a welder, and an IBMer until downsized in 2000. He taught yoga until COVID-19 decided otherwise. He continues writing, living with his wife and beagle in Shorewood, Wisconsin. He enjoys chamber music and mysteries. He’s a homebrewer and runs whitewater rivers. Ken is a writer and his literary works can be found at https://www.kmkbooks.com/
He welcomes feedback on his articles and can be reached at havokjournal@havokmedia.com.
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