TIME OUT: LISTEN TO FREEDOM
As a foreigner living here in the U.S. I can assure you that you have something special where it concerns freedom. My family and I lived in many countries across this world to know this on a deep level. Yet, I am experiencing a deep concern as to the narrowness this freedom in the U.S. is looked upon and the danger that this precious jewel of U.S. identity might even disappear through our own doing.
Restlessness in Western countries, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, shows a humanity on the lookout to make life more bearable. Many seek a higher level of control, be it a different approach on immigration, dealing with refugees, political responsibility and communication, preservation of lands and just economic transitions. Sadly some seek domination.
The Statue of Liberty, in the U.S., stands as a symbol for immigrants and refugees seeking freedom and tolerance. It’s a vastly different story than nationalism. It represents each immigrant, who came to U.S. soil seeking religious freedom, escaping wars, injustice and freedom in general. That, to me, is the identity of the United States. That’s the arena where I feel I can contribute, where I feel alive. However freedom, narrowed through the eye of nationalism instead of identity, has the potential of breaking apart people’s life and many political systems here and abroad.
The U.S. signpost of liberty has countries modeling themselves by that example of governance. This liberty is a collective responsibility carried by a U.S. people who for better or for worse are on a spiritual path. Let’s not deny that. There are more churches and banks in towns across this nation than I have seen anywhere else in the world, well except in my country of birth, the Netherlands, where Catholic churches disappear and mosques take their place. But that’s another story.
On the dark side this Statue of Liberty was planted on the soil of the original inhabitants, the Native Americans, living here for millennia. They experienced genocide by those who settled on this land seeking land and dominion. Immigrants almost succeeded to abolish Native American culture and spirituality and with that a deep connection with nature. We continue to do this through unchecked capitalism, just google the Lakota Pipeline Standoff bulldozing their spiritual connections with their land.
Most of the world’s populations are guided by a religious and spiritual compass. Religions point to the dimension of compassion, freedom and love. However, for centuries now, control is a dominating factor in religion as well. Many a faith likes to have the upper hand economically, politically and spiritually. Specifically, elements in the Christian, and Muslim fundamental beliefs are making sure we are kept on our toes. Not ungrounded. Some, under the banner of religion, attempt to dominate through terrorism. Members of ISIS ignite fear and war in their own Muslim regions. The West is accused of dominance and became a target beginning with 9/11 and through attacks in France, Belgium and other countries. On top of that, we now are coming to a scientific reality that we as a species — humanity—might soon not be able to make it on this planet. What is missing?
Bede Griffith in his book Return to the Center, mentions how the world’s disintegration began around 500 to 1500 AD. He writes how the body and soul were released from their obedience to the inner law of the Spirit and given their autonomy, just as the economic and political orders were gradually released from their obedience to the law of the Spirit and given their autonomy.
The moment it turns inwards to it Source and knows itself in its Ground by a pure intuition then it knows the truth of its own being and the being of the world, and then it becomes really free.
Humans in centuries past began a process of disintegration. Our challenge today is to connect to this inner source and slowly recognize and begin anew the integration process. We have to recover the sense of the sacred, the inner meaning of life, which has been lost.
Griffiths takes it a step further: Poverty, chastity and obedience —the renunciation of the world, the flesh and the ego — are the basis not only of all religious life but of a human life.” “Detachment is the universal law. You cannot enjoy anything until you have learned to be detached from it.
Excitement comes when initiatives created for the sake of wholeness, freedom and harmony unfold. This takes time, deep thinking and commitment. The U.S. as part of the West is ready for new universal symbols. We need signpost that clarify our history, identity and destiny.
The flame of liberty and the beacon of freedom it stands for demand and deserve a cooperative shared responsibility. It is strengthened by one immigrant at a time. Immigrants of all levels: physicians, surgeons, professors, teachers, lawyers, business people, artists, restaurant owners, administrators, workers/employees and much more. Each have a family and are caring. Like you we come from Mexico, Iraq, Germany, Israel, Guatemala, Norway, India, Vietnam, the Netherlands, and Ethiopia to name a few. Foremost we are part of the human race. Let’s not forget that the only non-immigrant Americans in the U.S are the Indigenous.
Capitalism as part of our identity is ready for change. Pope Francis warned about the unfettered pursuit of money and called it the dung of the devil. We cannot sustain a continued materialistic view of always more and better.
Unchecked globalism and the challenges that come with the transition into Robotic technology in a world community are at hand. A reset on the infrastructure of this nation is necessary yet it is a temporary quick fix for the challenges we humans face. We are waking up through the current administration. But what is our nation’s history, true identity and destiny?
Certain politicians in the U.S. and abroad speak in a vague language of feelings, emotions and judgments. Internalizing on that level creates desires in those who listen, which in turn makes for shallow thinking and actions. "It's sad, terrific, it's going to be great!" or "They are thugs, criminals or it’s their fault." Pretty soon you believe this and are talking, acting and thinking in this manner yourself.
Time Out! Wisdom and Freedom are found within – take a listen for the sake of liberty for all.
As a foreigner living here in the U.S. I can assure you that you have something special where it concerns freedom. My family and I lived in many countries across this world to know this on a deep level. Yet, I am experiencing a deep concern as to the narrowness this freedom in the U.S. is looked upon and the danger that this precious jewel of U.S. identity might even disappear through our own doing.
Restlessness in Western countries, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, shows a humanity on the lookout to make life more bearable. Many seek a higher level of control, be it a different approach on immigration, dealing with refugees, political responsibility and communication, preservation of lands and just economic transitions. Sadly some seek domination.
The Statue of Liberty, in the U.S., stands as a symbol for immigrants and refugees seeking freedom and tolerance. It’s a vastly different story than nationalism. It represents each immigrant, who came to U.S. soil seeking religious freedom, escaping wars, injustice and freedom in general. That, to me, is the identity of the United States. That’s the arena where I feel I can contribute, where I feel alive. However freedom, narrowed through the eye of nationalism instead of identity, has the potential of breaking apart people’s life and many political systems here and abroad.
The U.S. signpost of liberty has countries modeling themselves by that example of governance. This liberty is a collective responsibility carried by a U.S. people who for better or for worse are on a spiritual path. Let’s not deny that. There are more churches and banks in towns across this nation than I have seen anywhere else in the world, well except in my country of birth, the Netherlands, where Catholic churches disappear and mosques take their place. But that’s another story.
On the dark side this Statue of Liberty was planted on the soil of the original inhabitants, the Native Americans, living here for millennia. They experienced genocide by those who settled on this land seeking land and dominion. Immigrants almost succeeded to abolish Native American culture and spirituality and with that a deep connection with nature. We continue to do this through unchecked capitalism, just google the Lakota Pipeline Standoff bulldozing their spiritual connections with their land.
Most of the world’s populations are guided by a religious and spiritual compass. Religions point to the dimension of compassion, freedom and love. However, for centuries now, control is a dominating factor in religion as well. Many a faith likes to have the upper hand economically, politically and spiritually. Specifically, elements in the Christian, and Muslim fundamental beliefs are making sure we are kept on our toes. Not ungrounded. Some, under the banner of religion, attempt to dominate through terrorism. Members of ISIS ignite fear and war in their own Muslim regions. The West is accused of dominance and became a target beginning with 9/11 and through attacks in France, Belgium and other countries. On top of that, we now are coming to a scientific reality that we as a species — humanity—might soon not be able to make it on this planet. What is missing?
Bede Griffith in his book Return to the Center, mentions how the world’s disintegration began around 500 to 1500 AD. He writes how the body and soul were released from their obedience to the inner law of the Spirit and given their autonomy, just as the economic and political orders were gradually released from their obedience to the law of the Spirit and given their autonomy.
The moment it turns inwards to it Source and knows itself in its Ground by a pure intuition then it knows the truth of its own being and the being of the world, and then it becomes really free.
Humans in centuries past began a process of disintegration. Our challenge today is to connect to this inner source and slowly recognize and begin anew the integration process. We have to recover the sense of the sacred, the inner meaning of life, which has been lost.
Griffiths takes it a step further: Poverty, chastity and obedience —the renunciation of the world, the flesh and the ego — are the basis not only of all religious life but of a human life.” “Detachment is the universal law. You cannot enjoy anything until you have learned to be detached from it.
Excitement comes when initiatives created for the sake of wholeness, freedom and harmony unfold. This takes time, deep thinking and commitment. The U.S. as part of the West is ready for new universal symbols. We need signpost that clarify our history, identity and destiny.
The flame of liberty and the beacon of freedom it stands for demand and deserve a cooperative shared responsibility. It is strengthened by one immigrant at a time. Immigrants of all levels: physicians, surgeons, professors, teachers, lawyers, business people, artists, restaurant owners, administrators, workers/employees and much more. Each have a family and are caring. Like you we come from Mexico, Iraq, Germany, Israel, Guatemala, Norway, India, Vietnam, the Netherlands, and Ethiopia to name a few. Foremost we are part of the human race. Let’s not forget that the only non-immigrant Americans in the U.S are the Indigenous.
Capitalism as part of our identity is ready for change. Pope Francis warned about the unfettered pursuit of money and called it the dung of the devil. We cannot sustain a continued materialistic view of always more and better.
Unchecked globalism and the challenges that come with the transition into Robotic technology in a world community are at hand. A reset on the infrastructure of this nation is necessary yet it is a temporary quick fix for the challenges we humans face. We are waking up through the current administration. But what is our nation’s history, true identity and destiny?
Certain politicians in the U.S. and abroad speak in a vague language of feelings, emotions and judgments. Internalizing on that level creates desires in those who listen, which in turn makes for shallow thinking and actions. "It's sad, terrific, it's going to be great!" or "They are thugs, criminals or it’s their fault." Pretty soon you believe this and are talking, acting and thinking in this manner yourself.
Time Out! Wisdom and Freedom are found within – take a listen for the sake of liberty for all.