I consider myself blessed that I did not have to deal with the nightmare many of you did over at Dkos. I find that my spiritual awakening in a culture that is matriarchial and emphasizes the power and beauty of our female counterparts, has made me a better human being. For those of you who did not read my dairy on violence against women, maybe Booman will resurrect it. Prior to my enlightenment, I deemed all human beings with disdain and contempt and especially women as they were easier targets of opportunity.
I will always carry with me the shame of my actions toward women and others in my attempt to increase my own value as a human being.
Today, I know that my value comes from nothing more than the fact I am a human being and that all other’s value comes from the same place.
That Great Spirit has opened my eyes to the splendor and greatness of the human spirit, I will forever be thankful. Am I perfect? By no means. Am I flawed? In many ways. Do I strive each day to offer myself to the world in an open and progressive way?
With every breath I take. I am fortunate that I am married to a woman who is far stronger than myself, one who can see the wonder in others and who sees the beauty within me that I fail to recognize, in myself.
I have been blessed with many great gifts since that fateful day way back on August 30, 1987, when Great Spirit arose within me and deemed that enough is enough. No longer do I live in a doorway, incapable of accepting myself as a human being, no longer do I have to demean others to feel alive, no longer do I have to use violence to make myself feel better than you. I have a long history of abuse and abuser in the 50+ years I have been alive.
I have a shorter history of working to facilitate change in my own life and those around me.
I know that anytime I use language to demean another human being, then I have something within me that needs to be worked through and I challenge myself to clean up the wreckage of my past.
I strive today to recognize that the sexualization of women to promote products and services is a vestige of contempt for women. I have a daughter and son, it is my fervent hope that my wife and I will be able to instill in them the courage to stand up for what they believe, the desire to do the right thing in any situation and the ability to discern good from evil.
I pray that my daughter will have the ability to choose for herself, whether or not she will use birth control, that she will have the right to decide what is in her best interest when it comes to her body, that she will not have to lurk in dark corridors if she chooses to terminate a pregnancy. I don’t know what the future holds, I don’t even want to try to look beyond what is in front of me today. I gave up mind reading and fortune telling when I was released from active addiction.
I want my children to have the opportunity to explore all the glory of being a human being and the wonder and joy that has to offer.
My culture has never referred to itself as Indians.
As far as I know all the American Native cultures have described themselves as the “Human Beings”. I hope that this treatise will help any who desire peace and healing an opportunity to gain them. The culture I have immersed myself within follows the following basic tenets and offers hope and fulfillment within my own life, I hope it offers you many of the same gifts I have recieved in this life so far.
Mitakuye oyasin!
We are all related!
It isn’t too late. We still have time to recreate and change the value system of the present. We must! Survival will depend on it. Our Earth is our original mother. She is in deep labor now. There will be a new birth soon! The old value system will suffer and die. It cannot survive as our mother earth strains under the pressure put on her. She will not let man kill her.
The First Nation’s Peoples had a value system. There were only four commandments from the Great Spirits:
1.Respect Mother Earth
2.Respect the Great Spirit
3.Respect our fellow man and woman
4.Respect for individual freedomWe must all stand together as a force of love. Be united NOW. There is only one way. Communication. Knowledge. Arm yourself with truth, love and perseverence. Extend your family. Join with others in giving. We are all related. People of the earth take back your heritage. I am not speaking of skin color or religion. Our heritage is this earth… Our heritage is also extended beyond this earth into the heavens where the spirit once lived before our birth into this world. You are bound to both.
THE TEN INDIAN COMMANDMENTS!
Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect!
Remain close to the Great Spirit
Show great respect for your fellow beings
Work together for the benefit of all mankind!
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed
Do what you know to be right
Look after the well-being of mind and body
Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good
Be truthful and honest at all times
Take full responsiblity for your actions…..
