Right Wing, Left Wing...It Takes Both Wings to Fly

I am not one who is interested in engaging in politics, so please do not mistake this post to be about politics. In fact, it is an anti-politics post. I understand the need to know what your government is up to and who the players are, but knowing is not enough. When we find flaws, that something is broken or someone is corrupt, we must take action, and complaining about it alone is not effective action.


In the United States on November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address (a two minute speech given by the President at the Gettysburg National Cemetery dedication four months after the Battle of Gettysburg). At the end of the speech, he described the U.S. government as "a government for the people, of the people, and by the people."  Earlier in the speech he said, "The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here." 


 In his eulogy for the slain president, Senator Charles Sumner commented on that line of the president's speech, "The world noted at once what he said, and will never cease to remember it. The battle itself was less important than the speech."  If the Senator was here today, I think he would have to recant and acknowledge that the president was right.

I know many put little stock and/or trust in the words of those who run or even created the government. These words, their own words, however, can be used as fuel for the fire of freedom, justice, and equality. The preamble to U.S. Constitution begins "We the people." It's time we hold them to these words. We often complain about those who run the country, but we neglect to include ourselves. We have forgotten our own power...a power that goes far beyond voting.

I recently read a comment on a social networking site on a post about the occupy movements that read, "protesting doesn't work anymore."  What struck me is the puzzling contradiction of the article I had read just minutes before about how the government (White House level) ordered the dismantling of the occupations read article here. This suggested, to me at least, that the occupations were becoming a big enough concern that the executive branch of the U.S. government became involved. I wondered if those who think the occupations wouldn't work might have been too occupied with other things to see the world wide solidarity and attention they had garnered.

It seems that so many are so focused on political parties and left and right wings that "we the people"  are divided. Most discussions I see are about the pros and cons of each side and people become defined and condemned by that affiliation rather than defined by what they think, do, or desire for the world. Those that think that protesting doesn't work anymore should consider one fact; there were occupiers from all walks of life and political parties united for equal rights and justice...the real issues. 

I am solution oriented, so complaining without action or disparaging the methods of those who are acting rather than offering a viable alternative is fruitless to me. It is time we remember that the government works for us. We elect them, we should hold them accountable and fire them if they don't do their jobs properly. It will, however, take all of us collectively to do so. Left wing, right wing...it takes both wings to fly.

The Mean Girl/Bad Boy Attraction

Today I heard a song called "Some Kind of Woman" by Rocker T, that really got me thinking about what men and women look for in relationships.This is a bluesy/country/folksy reggae song (I love fusion style music) in which Rocker T asks "how does a mean hearted woman find such a kind hearted man?" but continues, "You know I work so hard just to keep you satisfied." Now I'll admit, at first this song caused an old question that always brought confusion and dismay to resurface in my mind.  I've always wondered why "kind hearted" men chose "mean hearted" women, and vice versa. But I listened to the song several times and I realized that in part of the chorus he sings, "you must be some kind of woman, I've got to keep you by my side." I thought, she must be, and this must work for some people.

I, personally, like a kind hearted man, but I'm not a mean hearted woman. The real question that arose for me, and always has, is do I have to pretend to be mean in order to attract a kind hearted man, and could that even be sustained? I could be mean, trust me, but it would eat me up inside very quickly to be that way towards someone I care about. I certainly couldn't stay with a mean hearted man for any length of time. I suppose, however, it is not always the case that these different types of people connect, but it clearly happens.

As I pondered what would make a "kind hearted man" (or woman) go out of his/her way to keep a "mean hearted woman" (or man), I quickly dismissed the love is blind theory.  He's not blind to her mean heart, he overlooks it. Perhaps he holds on to the good in her? Once upon a time, I figured these types of women must have a magical (read sexual) hold on these men...maybe they had talents in the bedroom? Maybe they create balance within the relationship, providing something the kind hearted mate lacked or needed. I'm not here to judge or provide definitive answers, but to create dialogue and gain understanding...so feel free to comment.

Different people have different definitions of "mean."  Perhaps a woman is hard to get and even harder to keep and that provides the challenge that a man likes. Maybe what others might observe as "bitchy" or "overbearing" another might experience as encouragement and guidance. Strong independent women often get labeled as mean, even in a world that requires them to be strong and independent. A lot of women like the "bad boy" persona, and some men like the "bad girl" persona. I guess what I've come to realize is that we always have choices, all of us. 

There must be something about that type of relationship that is fulfilling for some. They say opposites attract. I've had friends with "mean" mates, and I've never asked them what the attraction was...so I'm asking you. Do you have a mean hearted woman/man? If so, what makes you work to keep them by your side? I love music that makes me think. Give thanks Rocker T. Peace and blessings.

The Music Inside of You

It is no secret that I love music. I listen to all kinds of music; reggae, r&b, soul, funk, rock, country, classical...anything that speaks to me.  I listen to this music and I allow it to move my spirit, but I am learning to follow the music in my heart. The saying, "dancing to the beat of a different drummer" refers to listening to the beat in one's heart. There is music inside of us, all of us. Our music may not may not always manifest itself audibly in the external world...but it is our song nonetheless.


If you have ever really listened to an instrument being played, you begin to hear it tell it's own story. When I was a child, my mom used to sit with my brother and me by the radio and we would listen to Peter and the Wolf, a composition written by Sergei Prokofiev in 1936 in the USSR. It is a children's story (with both music and text by Prokofiev), spoken by a narrator accompanied by the orchestra. Each character was represented by an instrument;french horn, oboe, flute, drums, etc. Since then, I have always heard instruments tell a story.

It wasn't until well into adulthood did I realize that the one two beat in my heart was telling me my story. Up until this point, I had been dancing to the beat of other people's drummers. I spent far too much time trying to be who I needed to be in order to fit in. I tried to keep up with the latest fashions, learn the latest dances and songs, and even take advice on how to look "sexy." I made important the same things others made important such as making lots of money and having the finest things. But it never felt quite right. I always seemed to be "offbeat,'" just a little.


I wasn't listening to my own internal rhythm, and therefore my song had no melody. Just like there are many different genres of music, and different interpretations within those genres, there are many different ways of life and interpretations of those ways. Most of us put far too much effort into trying to be like everyone else, to be socially "acceptable." If we are all doing the same things the same way, life loses it's flavor. As a person who wore a uniform for thirteen years in Catholic school, I'm attracted to uniqueness. There is a saying, "The less we look with our eyes, the more we will see with our hearts." Our hearts are like the instruments in Peter and the Wolf. Each heart has it's own unique sound creating beautiful music and telling each person's story in this grand symphony of life. Listen to your music. Love and light.