Dedicated to David Shuster:
The Buddha said,
In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.
What animosity just one little alphabet letter can provoke!
Several years ago when I lived in Arizona, a group of aspiring poets gathered monthly at the library to read and discuss each others’ verses. We represented a diverse group of seniors, students, genders, ethnicities and religions. For one session, I contributed “Forgive Me,” my literary swipe at religious intolerance which included this last stanza:
Jews were chosen
even before
Christ was a gleam
in his father’s eye.
“Nice poem, but you made a serious typographical error,” commented one elderly bard.
“I did?” I asked.
“Yes, the ‘f’ in ‘father’ should be capitalized.”
“It should?”
“Of course! You’re speaking of the Lord!”
“I am?”
“Blasphemy!”
I never meant to asperse Jesus with my poem, only to metaphorically highlight how Jews and Christians view Christ’s family tree differently. Yet, that faith-based fracas over the “f-word” mirrors the dogmatic divisions that vex the world today.
Take cartoons. They serve as entertainment, parody, satire, criticism and propaganda. We laugh at cartoons on the comic page but cringe at them in editorials. Cartoons can move us to action -- or lead to violence and death. Historically, cartoons depicted blacks as “sambos,” Jews as Shylocks, Muslims as terrorists, and Dubya as Alfred E. Newman. The celebrated icons of the Republican and Democratic parties, the elephant and donkey, evolved from brusque political cartoons. During World War II, cartoons incited hatred and atrocities on both sides. Cartoons supposedly offer a droll outlook on our world. Unfortunately, too many don’t get the joke.
We view words and symbols through the filter of our own thoughts, experiences and projections. Once, as a child, my family drove through an old Midwestern town, saw an inlaid swastika adorning a building and feared we stumbled upon some white supremacist sanctum. We did not realize that such a hated emblem of Nazi Germany was an auspicious healing ornament for many Native Americans (hence, its placement on the building). Swastika means “good luck” and “well being” in ancient Sanskrit and as such appeared on Buddhist buildings, clothing and temples throughout Asia for centuries before Hitler usurped it. A backwards swastika on food packaging in Asia indicates a vegetarian meal approved for strict Buddhists to eat, similar to the “K,” “U” or “P” signifying kosher foods for Jews.
Likewise, the Confederate “stars and bars” flag represents a Dixie of racism and slavery to many people, both blacks and whites. Not only during the Civil War but during the war for civil rights, that flag commemorated forced servitude and segregation. Some who fly that flag today do so either to flaunt their fanaticism or their affinity for a Dukes of Hazard Bubba lifestyle. Despite the offensive and frequently inappropriate meaning some may bestow on the “stars and bars,” we cannot deny its historical significance to the most tumultuous time in American history and its appropriate place at Civil War battlefields, cemeteries, museums and commemorations.
The noose also represents at hateful symbol to African-Americans, and rightly so. A noose swinging from a tree in Jena, Louisiana or attached to a door knob at Columbia University conveys a message of threat and intimidation. A person who stealthily hangs a noose from tree, poles or doors demonstrates not only hate but ignorance and cowardice. A recent New York law now “ makes it a felony to draw, etch, paint or otherwise display a noose.” A similar, federal action awaits in Congress. Boaters, equestrians, Boy Scouts and others who utilize rope with knot slides and collapsable loops need to take note. Yet, hanging once served as a means of justice around the world, including the US until 1936. The world cheered when Nazi war criminals were hanged. And a noose around Saddam’s neck brought closure for many Iraqis.
A burning American flag arouses anger in many patriotic citizens but proclaims freedom to dissenters. Generations of Americans fought and died for the right of both viewpoints.
Insult lies in the mind of the beholder. How many acts of violence, war or anger precipitated from a misconstrued pronouncement, symbol or action? What may be the sacrosanct “Hook ‘Em Horns” gesture to a loyal Texas Longhorn fan, portends a satanic or death curse in other parts of the globe. President Bush greeted the UT band with a Hook ‘em when it passed by his inaugural viewing stand -- and caused outraged headlines in Norway, where the same hand motion conjures evil import.
We must be less quick to paint others with our own interpretations, emotions, associations and fantasies. One person’s truth probably is someone else’s dogma. A person wishing “happy holidays” may simply want to express seasonal joy to all, regardless of religious beliefs, and not steal Christmas from Bill O’Reilly.
We need to look at ideas and things as they really are. Words, ideas and symbols can become weapons. But weapons merely exist -- neutral objects neither good nor bad in themselves. Weapons may kill or prevent killing. The intent behind the use creates the offense or the justice. “Evil doers” are not inherently evil people. Their assumptions about right and wrong in the world drive them to do evil things. Arrows can make deadly weapons. Or archery can be an Olympic sport of precision, grace, beauty and skillful competition. We just need to aim our weapons at the proper target -- ignorance, hatred, greed, envy, and indifference.