I...agree!
 

Well said!
 

I couldn't have said it better.
 

Nice blog Andrew.
 

i with  you on that! good blog.

 

hmm, well, wish I could do that, I'll try and not lump people into the idiot box..;-)
It's a much more civil environment here on myspace, than others I've experienced.

 

We are all spirits reflecting God's Love.

 

Totally agree and very well said Andrew.
 

 

Some beautiful thoughts....
 

+1 (meaning DITTO!)  I couldn't have said it better if I tried.
 

In fact I think that the DIFFERENCE is the only point of contact with something outside oneself, and that the self-prejudice is the most harmful thing what could happen to us when we are toward life. Above all, not just accept the differences of others, but accept the own difference.
 

Excellent post, and totally right on!

 

That is one of the best, most insightful things I have read on all of myspace!  Thank you for putting that out there, Andrew.  I feel badly that it seems that what prompted it was personal attacks on you, but that it produced this piece of true wisdom is certainly a blessing.

I feel right there with you on all that you have said--you are so correct on what it is we all want, and that is not simply a want here in the U.S. but all over the world--to be at peace, provide for one's family and give one's children the opportunity to do better than you. 

We, far too often, lose focus on what it is that makes us all human, and we choose to focus on what it is that make you different from me.  Problems arise when we FIRST look at differences because then we see those differences as threatening and naturally attempt to force conformity.

But, if we can manage to step back and see our commonalities FIRST, what makes us all human--those traits we all share and those things we all want to have...if we can manage to see those FIRST, then our differences because beautiful uniquenesses, for this mass of mankind would be terribly boring if we were, indeed, all the same.

That is what I love about music and art.  When we go to a concert--of any style, genre, type, size, etc--we see a cross-section of humanity enjoying music together and having a good time.  No one is looking at each others' differences.  We are all at the concert to enjoy music and have a good time and we don't care about anyone's social strata, belief system, color, creed, sex, cultural background, etc...  If we can all manage to come together at a concert and appreciate music, or at an art museum and appreciate the same art, or a poetry reading or get together to discuss a popular novel--if we can come together to do those things, then why can that not be a microcosm for what is possible in the world??!!!!

We must change our paradigms of how we see others--the context in which we make arbitrary delineations.  We need to attempt to see the whole first--for then we can truly apply the golden rule to all, rather than first dividing up humanity first and determining which groups "deserve" to be treated with the golden rule!

Your statement:  "I believe that you don't get pure peace by hating war, but by loving peace" is one of the best that I have ever read.  Hate never gets us nothing but bad--hate is a divider.  Love is the unifier.  So, let's come together first and love each other for what we have in common, and then let's be happy at the fact that, despite our samenesses, we are all different and beautifully unique.

Thank you, Andrew for this wonderful blog!

Mike
 

I truly appreciated that reply. Nice, you're completely getting my point.

And it wasn't any particular personal attack that prompted my original statement. I do get them from time to time, but they don't affect me, often they are actually amusing because I don't take these things that seriously. Most people are actually pretty cool. I just see people having these passionate exchanges, and attacking one another personally when their ideas are challenged. I know that, as you've written, if we START OUT highlighting our similarities and then discuss the differences we establish a commonality and then everyone has a chance to gain something in the process...

We're all constantly exploring defining ourselves, who we are. We most enjoy that by finding the things that we agree with. But exploring the things that don't resonate can still help with the process of self exploration. We learn who we are by seeing what we agree with, but we also learn about ourselves by being exposed to the things are NOT who we are.....  I am this, I am most certainly NOT that - all of it is useful information. Best to not then devolve to judging and admonishing the things that don't happen to work for us, unless they are actually physically harmful to ourselves or others....

Bravo!

Regards,
Andrew
 

As I said in the thread that brought me here from Facebook, Andrew...it's time we stop dealing with the issues from a political or socialogical or racial or religious standpoint but from a HUMINATARIAN level...in this Age Of Aquarius, it is up to the enlightened to redefine America & reshape it's future as well as the World's...

Peace brother,
Mitch
 

The whole win-win thing ... I hear bells ringing, and a kindred spirit blooming. Bottom line ... all in the same boat, in the same ocean. Only one earth I hear tell.

......