• HOME
  • Bio
  • CLIENT LIST
  • WRITING SAMPLES
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT

Blog

Society Sans Any Labels

1/16/2008

0 Comments

 
I loathe labels.

They unfairly categorize and pigeonhole entire groups of people. They also cast suspicion on our differences rather than celebrate them. And they breed intolerance and contempt, which, in turn, feed the ugly beast of bigotry, spark wars and ultimately threaten to destroy civilization.

I’m still trying to figure out why the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds hate each another so much inIraq. But then I’m reminded of countless other regional conflicts around the globe.

Think of the nearly limitless possibilities from the past and present: Arab Janjaweed militias spearheading atrocities against Dinka, Nuba, and Neur populations in Darfur– the latest genocide on record. Serbs, Croates, Albanians and Muslims slaughtering each other in the Balkans. Tutsis and Hutus inRwanda. Hindu Tamils and Sinhalese Buddhists inSri Lanka. Palestinians and Jews inIsrael. Fatah and Hamas factions in the Palestinian territories. Pashtun and Hazara groups in Afghanistan. Blacks, whites, Hispanics and Asians in the U.S. Crips and Bloods onL.A.’s mean streets.

I could go on and on, and if you ask me, it’s beyond shocking just how little humanity is left in this dangerous world of ours.

At this time of year, we hear a lot about the elusive quest for goodwill and peace on earth – timeless messages that underpin the spirit of Christmas, despite always seeming to get lost in the culture’s crass commercialism. These themes should be atop everyone’s personal list of New Year’s resolutions each and every year, regardless of how devout or cynical one might be.

But the trouble is that people generally get too wrapped up in themselves to really care about the dire consequences of continuing to fuel our suspicion of one another based on differences involving race, religion, creed or color. Call it the Age of Narcissism or the Age of Conspicuous Consumption. Maybe even the Age of Denial or the Age of Ignorance, which could apply in both developed and third-world nations.

We’re all God’s children, with far more in common than we might think. Any differences are increasingly meaningless in the Information Age, which takes the Age of Enlightenment a bold step further than anyone born a few hundred, much less thousand, years ago would have ever imagined. Thanks to the Internet, people from far-flung places are just a click of the mouse away from understanding, respecting and even embracing one another’s culture, philosophy and way of life.

The prospect for world peace has never been greater – or more at risk. These are challenging and heady times, but if we’re able to collectively turn our guns toward a war on intolerance (our worst enemy) rather than one another, then we might just be able to enter the Messianic Age.

Now I realize that’s a slippery slope. We’re all terribly familiar with how religious fundamentalists envision their respective versions of Judgment Day when only “true” believers will be rewarded for surviving the cesspool here on earth. It’s bollocks of the highest order.

Eradicating intolerance, war, crime, pollution, disease, hunger, unfair trade practices, unemployment, inflation and any other scourge afflicting the planet and causing untold human suffering is in everyone’s best interest. So for God’s sake, let’s harping on our differences, start recognizing common goals and find solutions for our own damn good. Let’s rock this world and make it a better place for all of us.

I’d like to wish everyone everywhere around the world a very happy and healthy New Year.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2023
    September 2022
    August 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    December 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    July 2011
    February 2011
    October 2010
    January 2010
    October 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    February 2009
    December 2008
    September 2008
    April 2008
    January 2008
    November 2007
    September 2007
    July 2007
    April 2007
    January 2007
    December 2006
    September 2006
    May 2006

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • HOME
  • Bio
  • CLIENT LIST
  • WRITING SAMPLES
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT