Yesterday afternoon my son came to me upset. He had heard the song from the original Disney animated Peter Pan movie, "What Makes A Red Man Red". Well.... I wisely (for once) kept my mouth shut and opened my ears.
He found the entire thing offensive in a way he couldn't quite put his finger on. It bothered him ALL DAY LONG and he was still talking about it when he got in bed. He wanted to know how such a song could be in a movie. He pointed out that it was somehow saying a person could be 'made' a color; that when he thought about the words, they implied human beings are originally something else than 'red' or whatever color... who knows (still keeping my mouth shut), and then something happened and they turned a different color than the original color. Most of all he wanted to know why it matters what color there is at all. Why can't people just be how they are and that's it.
I offered the opinion that we live in a country founded by frightened, paranoid, close-minded, fanatically puritanical murderers - there is so much blood on our hands here, what other option is there but to be racist and believe we are somehow 'superior' - or admit our almost unbearable wrongdoings... We live in our karma here in America. He said it sounds like what Bush says about terrorists.
This spawned an entirely different conversation about religion (could this possibly offend more people?) Again, I listened with my mouth SHUT. And got a completely different perspective than my own. This is what he said:
Religion has torn us from our mother earth. He said that by making people think of 'heaven' and 'future rewards' all the time (not to mention punishment just for being human), we get taken away from the earth that is our home and our paradise. It is easier to wreck the earth because religions teach us that we and it have no true or real value because we're only here for a little while. He says technology is what we have created to destroy ourselves and (his words) feel 'nirvana' but it is a lie. He thinks human beings are very, very destructive and that religion is their number one tool (followed by technology).
I had to ask him to repeat all this several times and explain different things more, because it feels so different from how I thought (or didn't think) about that aspect of religion. Wow. I'm way more naive than I thought. I have been toiling under the illusion that everyone (at their core) is always seeking to enjoy connection and the best outcome for everyone because we are all connected. I mean, I really believe that. To consider religion in this way - that at it's very basis (at least in our western construction of it) is a way of methodically stripping us of our present moment realization that we live in paradise - is shocking. That it teaches us - very slowly and patiently over time, to seek beyond this place we've been given to live, for our fulfillment, satisfaction and (shudder) salvation. INSANITY.
We are here, living on the love of our mother Earth. If you want to use a 'God' construct - there is nothing outside of God. God is Earth. God is me. God is you. God is Everything. Why do we dishonor our mother? We are here - RIGHT HERE - RIGHT NOW! That is truly all there is. There is no 'out there' heaven to reach for. That is not the lesson or we wouldn't be here. Who cares what comes after this? That is not our business! There is no way to know! This is the lesson - be here now. Love. It's all there is. And of course, my desire, my self-given purpose, is to create and experience points of connection wherever it is possible, however it is possible. Take it down to the most 'primitive' points of connection - rhythm, moving our bodies, music, using our voices, story-telling, sharing those simple experiences that the world rushes by and technology (and religion) tell us are the most humiliating, shameful vestiges of being a dirty, 'sinful' human.
But I invite you - take risks, open bigger, connect - you are included. I invite you to practice with me - giving up the need to be right at the cost of everything. To be willing to look (and feel) stupid and silly in order to experience something shining and real. Tell me your secrets - I promise I'll listen. And if you can't use words - there are so many other ways to share. I'll show you what I've learned and you can show me what you have learned! This is where truth and beauty live.
