This poem came to mind after returning home from Feast yesterday evening. I've known so many wonderful Baha'i men most of my life. I also think of the Black Men's Gathering, which, being neither black nor male, I don't have the privilege to attend, but which, if you listen to their recordings, reflect some of these qualities.
The poem is not to imply these qualities are not found in people of other religions or no religion, or that Baha'is are superior in any way. Practicing the principle of gender equality seems to make people more whole and balanced. Spiritually focused people, however you define that, tend to be more whole, more alive. Knowing them is such a gift.
For some reason, when I wrote the last line, I burst into tears.
Baha'i Men
Baha'i men--
They are lighthearted,
They take nothing lightly.
Baha'i men--
They laugh out loud.
They laugh with their wives,
They don't laugh at them.
Baha'i men--
They pray, play music, cry,
Write poems, camp out, sing out,
Build fires.
Baha'i men--
They bring their children
Home.
Showing posts with label gender equality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gender equality. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Life Experience, Ethnicity and Gender
I was just reading the news that critics fear the new Supreme Court nominee will make opinions "based on her own life experience, ethnicity and gender rather than on the law."
Snort.
THEY ALL [Supreme Court Justices] make opinions based largely on their own life experience, ethnicity and gender. But nobody notices because most of the justices are of a majority ethnicity. Nobody notices the screen we each look through in forming our thoughts about the world. But when we see someone of a different ethnicity and gender from our own, we assume that "they" have ethnicity and "we" don't. They are "different" and we are not. The statement from the critics is based on an assumption that their own way of seeing the world is completely impartial, entirely neutral, just because it is what they are used to, it is what they see as of the majority; the "normal" way of seeing the world.
I am here to say that, contrary to the beliefs I unconsciously formed while growing up, Caucasian is not "normal." Male [in a role of authority] is not "normal." "Conservative" is not normal. "Liberal" is not normal. Human is normal. Variegated is normal.
Unity in diversity: the watchword of the Baha'i Faith.
Off Soapbox.
Thank you.
Snort.
THEY ALL [Supreme Court Justices] make opinions based largely on their own life experience, ethnicity and gender. But nobody notices because most of the justices are of a majority ethnicity. Nobody notices the screen we each look through in forming our thoughts about the world. But when we see someone of a different ethnicity and gender from our own, we assume that "they" have ethnicity and "we" don't. They are "different" and we are not. The statement from the critics is based on an assumption that their own way of seeing the world is completely impartial, entirely neutral, just because it is what they are used to, it is what they see as of the majority; the "normal" way of seeing the world.
I am here to say that, contrary to the beliefs I unconsciously formed while growing up, Caucasian is not "normal." Male [in a role of authority] is not "normal." "Conservative" is not normal. "Liberal" is not normal. Human is normal. Variegated is normal.
Unity in diversity: the watchword of the Baha'i Faith.
Off Soapbox.
Thank you.
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