Undying Love

Courtesy of Jaywah

It’s a peculiar time in my country. Everyone’s fighting someone for social or political mileage, and certain topics are becoming taboo for some. You want to clear a room fast, just start babbling some partisan politics and watch the room air out like a tear gas canister exploded. But the interesting thing about all these rivalries is that the most unlikely person in the crowd can bring to light an interesting issue like; what’s with all the self hate? 

It’s becoming quite a struggle to be comfortable in one’s own skin in a world that’s afraid of letting people be as powerful as we are destined to be. First we fight among ourselves ‘that doesn’t represent who we are?’ or other times we dip so far into others cultures that we can’t find ourselves anymore. 

We want to look strong and also enjoy what other cultures have forgetting to give ourselves the space to make mistakes, which also means doing things that others won’t find appealing. And what about shining a light on the things we sweep under the rag? 

So long have we brushed aside and rationalized away issues that in reality if dealt with would bring us closer together. How do we address these issues then? Do we attack them raw with no filters, forgetting the niceties and like rescuing an animal stuck in a mud puddle, allow ourselves to get dirty in the process when dealing with such issues as social injustice, misogyny and corruption.

Photo by Evanseye

Nothing is as exhausting as always wanting to appear perfect, righteous and unblemished. As much as I say this I have always despised the idea of loving one’s warts. There is a thin line in loving ourselves even after a mistake, as opposed to loving the mistake and one’s self for the mistake.

My question is then; why do we become so uncomfortable with someone else’s un-criminal expression of self to the point that we see it as an assault to our collective oneness. With all the ‘them vs. us’ arguments around, all I see are people trying hard to box themselves and others to what they think should represent or be equated to the collective whole. Sound’s hypocritical right?

Looks like we’ve flipped one of the oldest and greatest commandments ‘love your neighbor as you love yourself’ to I’ll dislike my neighbor just as much as I dislike myself, when what we should exercise is an undying love for ourselves and others; an undying love for others that does not change because of our differences in gender, race, tribe, religion or political affiliation. 

So here’s what I think we should do: 1. Stop being quiet and accepting injustice either towards others or self, and 2. learn to be fluid in our thoughts and allow for other’s perspectives to enrich our knowledge base.  We have voices and stature in life there is no better time than the present to use them, either in the arts, music or the political scene. You really don’t have to go far to start. The person staring back at you in the mirror will do, whether it’s changing how we speak of/interact with others or our beliefs; just a simple change can have a profound effect at creating an environment conducive for camaraderie. 

As Bachir “Chiren”Boumaaza aka Athene says “The question is not whether our beliefs are right or wrong, but whether or not being emotionally attached to them is more or less likely going to benefit us. There is no such thing as free choice while being emotionally attached to a belief system. The moment we are self aware enough to realize this, we can truly work together to figure out the real odds of what will benefit us the most.”

So remember to love and Happy Holidays!