Guest guest Posted January 22, 2003 Report Share Posted January 22, 2003 SEPARATE BUT EQUAL ....I first got a good dose of the pain of prejudice when I was about 10 years old, I think, sometime in the early 1960's. In my day, it was generally safe for young kids to wander away from home and walk downtown alone, even a little girl like I still was then. It was early springtime. I had wandered to King's College, a Catholic college, about a 10 minute walk from my home, going into center city Wilkes-Barre. I came across a dark skinned man sitting on the wall alone outside the front of the main building. Somehow I was drawn right to him. I walked over to him and struck up a conversation with him. He told me he was a teacher at the school. I think he was from India. I don't remember all the details, mostly the pain of what followed. As we talked, and he told me he was lonely because he was new here in America, I invited him to come home with me. He resisted and told me he thought that was not a good idea. My parents would not want me bringing home strangers. Stubborn even then, I insisted he was wrong and talked him into going home with me. We walked together to my home. He must have insisted that I bring her out, because all I remember next is being in front of my house. When my mother saw him, she almost fainted!!! I can still remember the look on her face. No it was not ok for me to bring him home. She made me go inside the house and talked to him alone outside. Of course, he was a total gentleman. He left without another word to me...I don't think I ever got to say goodbye to him. That part is hazy. The pain of prejudice is still quite clear in my Heart. I cried so hard and I was so mad at her. She explained to me that he was different and that he did not fit in with our kind. It had little to do with me being a 10 year old girl; she said nothing about danger, only about difference. I still think about him sometimes and how terrible he must have felt, not just for himself but for me. I was so sure it was ok, and he saw me get a good dose of prejudice and a good dent in my innocence. All he wanted was someone to talk to... -Genocide of The Damned...A Child's Prayer for Life- Joyce Jean Sweinberg The Heart Is The Self. The Self Is The Heart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2003 Report Share Posted January 22, 2003 Namaste. Joyce-Ji, don't worry. Even if I am alone in this world with all the others totally eliminated, I will still have my own mirror image to find difference with. That is the curse of separation. Let us, therefore, understand and accept the mother of the anecdote and endeavour to rise above her through advaitic love. Afterall, she is there to educate us - a benchmark. Thanks, therefore, for the quote. Pranams. Madathil Nair _________________________________ advaitin, "Lady Joyce" <ladyjoy@v...> quoted: "The pain of prejudice is still quite clear in my Heart. I cried so hard and I was so mad at her. She explained to me that he was different and that he did not fit in with our kind." -Genocide of The Damned...A Child's Prayer for Life- Joyce Jean Sweinberg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2003 Report Share Posted January 22, 2003 Dear Sri Madathil: I posted my memory in the Holy Spirit of Love, guided to Do That Which I Am Asked To Do!!!. And to Share That Which promotes Understanding. I try to listen. I really do. Even when it is painful for me. These memories are nothing more nor less than symbolic of the separation of which you so wisely speak. Ahh, the separation which we All seek to Dis-Solve. A Beautiful Piece-Me. A Beautiful Piece-You. Beautiful Pieces of All That Is. The cosmic puzzle which encompasses All That Is. All That Is...Is... Namaste, Joyce Namaste. Joyce-Ji, don't worry. Even if I am alone in this world with all the others totally eliminated, I will still have my own mirror image to find difference with. That is the curse of separation. Let us, therefore, understand and accept the mother of the anecdote and endeavour to rise above her through advaitic love. Afterall, she is there to educate us - a benchmark. Thanks, therefore, for the quote. Pranams. Madathil Nair _________________________________ advaitin, "Lady Joyce" <ladyjoy@v...> quoted: "The pain of prejudice is still quite clear in my Heart. I cried so hard and I was so mad at her. She explained to me that he was different and that he did not fit in with our kind." -Genocide of The Damned...A Child's Prayer for Life- Joyce Jean Sweinberg Sponsor Discussion of Shankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of Atman and Brahman. Advaitin List Archives available at: http://www.eScribe.com/culture/advaitin/ To Post a message send an email to : advaitin Messages Archived at: advaitin/messages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2003 Report Share Posted January 23, 2003 Namaste, Yes prejudice is common to all human societies. I always taught my children not to be prejudiced, but it can backfire. For people always think it is White versus the other colours, when in fact many societies are internally prejudiced and externally ethnophobic. I'm afraid Lady Joyce's experience would be the same in bringing a white to another colour of home, or even culture......It seems to be a primitive survival tecnique that has been extrapolated.....ONS..Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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