A definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing you’ve always done and expecting to achieve different results. Looking around the world today it strikes me that the human race is acting as if it is certifiably insane.
The response to the perceived upsurge in terrorism is to bomb the shit out of “them”. How is that different from what humankind has done since the dawn of time?
The response of politicians to an increase in immigration is to close the borders to keep “them” out. How is that different from what humankind has done since the dawn of time?
The response of business leaders to shareholder demands for ever increasing returns is to squeeze the most from the most vulnerable while ignoring the social and environmental costs. How is that different from what humankind has done since the dawn of time?
The response to followers of almost all religions is to exorcise and damn the “unfaithful”. How is that different from what humankind has done since the dawn of time?
The response to anybody that dares be different by challenging the sacred status quo is to pillory and shame. How is that different from what humankind has done since the dawn of time?
The response to any challenge to the presumed absolute rightness our cherished (and always made up) beliefs is to condemn, name call, castigate, marginalize, ostracize, punish, imprison and sometimes kill the transgressor. How is that different from what humankind has done since the dawn of time?
The response to the problems facing humankind and life is to blame and say it’s “their” responsibility. How is that different from what humankind has done since the dawn of time?
What if we did…what if you did, what if I did…something different? What if we “pretended” that everything and everyone were connected…not metaphorically but as a matter of fact.
What if embraced the scientific fact that there are no races within human beings? What if we reached out to all with compassion and love?
What if we let go of fear? What if we knew in our heart that fear, not hate, is the opposite of love?
What if we accepted that all viewpoints – truly, all viewpoints – have some basis for validity? What if we taught our children based on science and not on political or religious dogma?
What if we truly tried to live the core values the great masters have taught for millennia when confronted with difficult decisions.
What if we decided that being naïve had merit and that there was nothing and no one we needed protection from.
What if we acted as if we were enough? What if we pretended there was no heaven or hell to aspire to or to avoid?
What if we stopped imposing our values and beliefs on others? What if we actually behaved as if we weren’t being “victimized” by anyone or anything?
What if we embraced the notion that all life matters? What if we pretended we - you and me - mattered? What if "I AM" is all that there is or ever will be?
What if we pretended to be not insane?
