Inspired by Ignorance (my own)

Please forgive me in advance for being a little edgy but I’ve kept my mouth shut for a long time and for all the wrong reasons.

Yesterday, during a dialogue with Chaney Weiner, which can be downloaded at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Anita-Pathik-Law, we spoke of the 7 Fears That Prevent us From Living a Life of Passion and Purpose.

All the while I’m feeling all happy because in my mind (which we also talked about) I’m thinking to myself, “I’m so grateful I’m not dealing with these fears.” Ha! Oh how I love the arrogance of the unconscious…

Anyway, we wrap up the show and I quickly check my email. I’m swept away by a video that is focusing on a subject I am very passionate about. Immediately, I know I am out of integrity. Why? Because I have not written a thing about this subject. Why? Because obviously, as we touched on during the show, I clearly valued being liked much more than I valued what I believed was my number one value; human equality. Honestly, I’ve been afraid. I’ve been afraid of all the things Chaney and I talked about. And, I’m done being afraid. I QUIT!

I will no longer give and live to a consciousness of fear or prejudice…

During the dialogue, we talked about how our behaviors are the truest evidence of our values. We talked about fears of being rejected, disapproved of and abandoned. Clearly I had come into contact with a part of me that has been riddled by self deceit and fear and I immediately felt all of this “stuff” coming up. But here it is. I just can not afford to care about what I’ve obviously been caring about. I can’t afford abandoning something that is core to who I am, even at the expense of being hated or losing some of you to the dreaded “unsubscribe.”

After all, how can I, a woman who feels so passionately about equal rights for all, someone who is supposed to stand for the pursuit of life, love, happiness and freedom for all peoples of all religions, races and sexual orientation for all human beings not say anything?

So, I owe you an apology. I am sorry I was ignorant of this disparity within me. I’m sorry for all of whom may have been supported by me speaking up sooner. I’m sorry, please forgive me, I love you, thank you (a little Ho’oponopono couldn’t hurt about now). I’m also sorry for thinking that you couldn’t handle (or appreciate) a little rant from me on this ever important subject of human rights -one that is our latest distraction (and justification) for “God Loving” people to spread fear and use biblical references and political strong holding (hmmm, sounds like a form of radicalism???).

It was both my own ignorance and the ignorance (of this commercial) that inspired the self-realization that I speak to today. Gay Marriage Rights. There, I said it. Gasp! See, today I received a link to a video to a television campaign that a “Pro-marriage” (a.k.a. anti gay rights) group is airing in

California

. As I watched it, I thought, who would actually buy into the belief that giving all people the right to marry would infringe on the rights of heterosexuals?

I thought, people can’t really be that blinded by fear and prejudice, can they? I’m thinking to myself, how, in the most educated population in the world, can we actually still witness such tactics and arguments work? Heck, we even have scientific evidence that homosexuality exists across all populations, not just of the human variety!

Bruce Bagemihl's "Biological Exuberance," published in 1999 (will morality and science ever support one another?), documents homosexual behavior in more than 450 species. "The world is, indeed, teeming with homosexual, bisexual and transgendered creatures of every stripe and feather," Bagemihl writes. "From the Southeastern Blueberry Bee of the United Statesto more than 130 different bird species worldwide, the 'birds and the bees,' literally, are queer."

Petter Brockman, a researcher on this subject has documented 1500 species and says;

“No species has been found in which homosexual behaviour has not been shown to exist, with the exception of species that never have sex at all, such as sea urchins and aphis. Moreover, a part of the animal kingdom is hermaphroditic, truly bisexual. For them, homosexuality is not an issue."

So, why are we, the supposed superior race; a race that has the unique gift of being conscious of oneself, be in such resistance to what seems to be a natural occurance in the order of things? And why do we humans put so much energy into controlling other people's personal choices?

Come on people, it’s not like our culture is all that honoring of the institution of marriage anyway. Quite honestly, over the years I’ve met very few married couples who are actually happy (that’s a whole other subject). In fact, I tend to hear a lot of sad stories about abuse, infidelity and lack of intimacy in traditional marriages. I’ve witnessed horrific divorces where the children became the pawns in the adult’s unwillingness to be grown up. I’ve known hundreds of people hurt by emotional abuse. Interestingly enough, I hear a lot less of this from my gay friends. Actually, some of the longest lasting, happy, loving, caring and compassionate couples I know are gay.

This is why today, I am coming out of the closet. I am taking off my veil of fear and insecurity. And, not to recruit you to my way of thinking either. I’m not sharing this article or the links to the videos that inspired it for some ulterior motive or political agenda.  I am simply communicating that sometimes, to not say anything is actually saying a whole lot. My only role is to inspire a shift in consciousness for those whom the shift resonates.  I also respect those of you who do not agree on this particular issue. All I ask is just make decisions for yourself. Live according to your own values without imposing them on others by illegalizing a committed expression between two consenting adults who love each other and want to be married.

 

From a civil rights perspective, Dr. Sylvia Rhue, director of religious affairs for the National Black Justice Coalition stated: "Challenging homophobia is the unfinished business of civil rights."

We have a whole generation of young people who are waiting for us to decide what kind of world we want them to grow up in.  They are also growing up wondering if "we the people" will ultimately include them, depedning on who they grow up to be and how they are labled. There will be a day when race, sexual orientation and religion don’t determine who they are friends with, can worship with, marry and love. It’s up to us to look ahead at what really matters. And, as the Beatles famously said…”Love is all there is.” Let love and let live. In the end, how does it really hurt anyone?

 

Take a look at this video and then click on the link below it to see what sparked this article.

 

Here is the link to the ad that depends on people being afraid for all the wrong reasons... https://secure.couragecampaign.org/page/contribute/TurnFearIntoHope