Don't you see that when you use your upset with one group to point fingers at that group, or as an example to describe your upset with any other group, you are part of the hate and not part of the healing?

Don't you see that to link hurtful behaviors with religion at all is to make the same error in thinking that is behind the wrong behavior?

Don't you see how having the "face of God" pasted onto any conflict's banner makes enough people nuts that no one can act effectively to stop the wrongdoing?

Don't you see that the "face of God" is simply being co-opted by people who long for power, and will use any tool or weapon at their disposal to gain it?

And don't you see how buying into the paradigm-- even enough to criticize it-- divides up people who would otherwise join together to end wrongdoing?

Don't you see that each time we rattle the sabers against anyone, we make it harder for us all to join together on the next, and next, and next thing that must be faced together?

How many Mudcat divisions do we already have, within the broken relationships that weave under and through this thread, that seem more important on a daily basis than finding what can be agreed and acted upon? If people who love music cannot find a way to get along, how can you expect the world to do any better than we ourselves do?

~S~