When my maternal grandfather was 18, he left Scotland, seeking fortune in the Alaskan gold rush, but on route he was waylaid upon meeting my grandmother in Seattle. My maternal grandmother’s family name was “Mason”, indicating English ancestry. My paternal grandfather’s family came to America fleeing religious persecution in France, and my paternal grandmother’s family left Ireland during the potato famine to settle in British Columbia, from which my grandmother came to Seattle.
Excellent article! It brings into sharp focus what is at play in America (and Europe to a lesser degree) under the current regime. I think we all have been feeling that our "collective prana dharma" is weakening, but I had not thought of it in those terms.
When I think of colonialism the first thing to note is that the colonizers intentionally, systematically tried to break the collective dharma. Much of the time it was under the guise of improving their lives. In Africa, they brought "education", "medicine" and "religion" to people who had deep knowledge, natural medicine practiced by tribal leaders, their own spiritual practices that enriched their lives. Undermining the people's trust in their wisdom, healers and spiritual leaders broke their prana dharma and made it easy to control and subjugate them. And we saw this to the extreme with native cultures in the Americas and Australia with the banning of one's language, changing dress and taking the next generation to "educate" them on the inferiority of their culture.
Knowing all this, it still didn't occur to me that there are those who understand this and are intentionally trying to break our collective prana dharma that is based on universalism and accepting the tired, poor huddled masses - based on equality for all and hope for the future. I thought the perpetuation of the demonization of large groups of Americans was to win elections, but now it appears to me to be so much more sinister than than. It feels like an attempt at colonization. Knowing this, there is only one course of action - loudly celebrate our unity, diversity and love for all beings.
I'm with Peggy here. Iron is strong, but when combined and fused with other elements and minerals, it becomes steel, a substance strong enough to build the foundations and supports for our homes and other buildings. We don't just allow each other's differences, we need each other's differences to build our identity; empathy, compassion, gifts, strengths, skills, passions, dignity, spirit and community. We can celebrate our differences, the best parts of our ethnicities, our cultures. It is an essential part of the American Dream. The American Dream is not just enjoying the freedoms our forefathers gave us, not just the opportunity to become financially successful, but something much more. Within our melting pot are those who make discoveries, innovations, adjustments and improvements, so that we ALL can enjoy and contribute to this nation. We cannot allow hatred, greed and tyranny to become powerful and destructive, and have us go backwards. There are some of us that need to widen our perspective, to see how other people in other countries live so that we can more fully appreciate how precious this melting pot, this country is, and then support it.
Mr. Logan, your words brought me calm and sanity this morning and I thank you. I truly believe that we, all of humankind, have been moving inexorably to a global society. I believe this because today we are connected all around the world to friends that believe as we do and as Carl Sandburg put it and I paraphrase, "one man - all men, one woman - all women and one child - all children". I see the constant moving of individuals from one place to another where they put down roots and merge into that culture. I believe we are fast reaching a point in our existence where "pure" ancestry will be a long time ago. For me, that is a good thing because it means, and correct me if I am wrong, we are universal. For so many that I have talked to about the cruelty and inhumane treatment happening to people right now, the hurt and compassion is palpable. I believe many realize that for America and other parts of the world to survive, we must embrace our universalism and understand that any human suffering is our suffering as well. I am probably not making myself very clear and I apologize. You have answered my question and I truly believe I understand what America's prana dharma is and should be for all Americans. Thank you again, Mr. Logan, for your clarity.
Excellent article! It brings into sharp focus what is at play in America (and Europe to a lesser degree) under the current regime. I think we all have been feeling that our "collective prana dharma" is weakening, but I had not thought of it in those terms.
When I think of colonialism the first thing to note is that the colonizers intentionally, systematically tried to break the collective dharma. Much of the time it was under the guise of improving their lives. In Africa, they brought "education", "medicine" and "religion" to people who had deep knowledge, natural medicine practiced by tribal leaders, their own spiritual practices that enriched their lives. Undermining the people's trust in their wisdom, healers and spiritual leaders broke their prana dharma and made it easy to control and subjugate them. And we saw this to the extreme with native cultures in the Americas and Australia with the banning of one's language, changing dress and taking the next generation to "educate" them on the inferiority of their culture.
Knowing all this, it still didn't occur to me that there are those who understand this and are intentionally trying to break our collective prana dharma that is based on universalism and accepting the tired, poor huddled masses - based on equality for all and hope for the future. I thought the perpetuation of the demonization of large groups of Americans was to win elections, but now it appears to me to be so much more sinister than than. It feels like an attempt at colonization. Knowing this, there is only one course of action - loudly celebrate our unity, diversity and love for all beings.
Wonderful, uplifting article. Universalism IS our culture:
E Pluribus Unum!
E Pluribus Unum. Exactly! There it is.
Jamaica is another country whose national motto expresses this same sentiment, it being "Out of many, one people."
I'm with Peggy here. Iron is strong, but when combined and fused with other elements and minerals, it becomes steel, a substance strong enough to build the foundations and supports for our homes and other buildings. We don't just allow each other's differences, we need each other's differences to build our identity; empathy, compassion, gifts, strengths, skills, passions, dignity, spirit and community. We can celebrate our differences, the best parts of our ethnicities, our cultures. It is an essential part of the American Dream. The American Dream is not just enjoying the freedoms our forefathers gave us, not just the opportunity to become financially successful, but something much more. Within our melting pot are those who make discoveries, innovations, adjustments and improvements, so that we ALL can enjoy and contribute to this nation. We cannot allow hatred, greed and tyranny to become powerful and destructive, and have us go backwards. There are some of us that need to widen our perspective, to see how other people in other countries live so that we can more fully appreciate how precious this melting pot, this country is, and then support it.
Yes, beautifully put. I was moved.
I love your metaphor that likens the effect of our diverse roots to alloyed the effect of the alloyed minerals that strengthen steel.
So beautifully put, Mona! Exactly how I feel! Thank you!
Mr. Logan, your words brought me calm and sanity this morning and I thank you. I truly believe that we, all of humankind, have been moving inexorably to a global society. I believe this because today we are connected all around the world to friends that believe as we do and as Carl Sandburg put it and I paraphrase, "one man - all men, one woman - all women and one child - all children". I see the constant moving of individuals from one place to another where they put down roots and merge into that culture. I believe we are fast reaching a point in our existence where "pure" ancestry will be a long time ago. For me, that is a good thing because it means, and correct me if I am wrong, we are universal. For so many that I have talked to about the cruelty and inhumane treatment happening to people right now, the hurt and compassion is palpable. I believe many realize that for America and other parts of the world to survive, we must embrace our universalism and understand that any human suffering is our suffering as well. I am probably not making myself very clear and I apologize. You have answered my question and I truly believe I understand what America's prana dharma is and should be for all Americans. Thank you again, Mr. Logan, for your clarity.