Brian’s Reflection: Thursday, Jan 29, 2009

 

 

Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. 

 

- Oprah Winfrey, media mogul, one of the richest women

  in the USA, born on this day, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi

  I’ve read many of the things that Oprah has said, and many of them I agree with. (I have never seen her TV show, by choice.) But, I chose this comment of hers in order to disagree with her.

 “Excellence” is someone else’s criterion for acceptance. But:  acceptance, the recognition of one’s humanity, the accordance of respect, the recognition of equality, the granting of equal justice  -  these are things that are due to every human being by virtue of their humanity. My own experience in the path of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ has unequivocally taught me this. As well as my understanding of all the great teachers of the World’s history or of Mythological reality.

 No human being must be “excellent” to ward off prejudicial or discriminatory treatment, be it racist or sexist. You just have to “be”. The Gospel teaches that all are “God’s Children”, that “God” has no favourites.

 In my opinion, most religions have lost their way. They have been corrupted by the “World”, by Evil, or by Ignorance. It is time – and I call adherents to it  -  for the rank and file followers to take back their original principles from those who have seized it and twisted it to their own desires for power and control. Disciples, arise!

 The best deterrent to racism and sexism is for each human being to live proudly, authentically, self-respectfully, and courageously as “themselves”. It has nothing to do with wealth, with talent, with education, with “class”, with status of any manner. If your religion or your culture or your nationalist “teaches” you differently, you have been seduced by the Evil One.

 Brian+