Corruption is within us; it comes out of our mouths and other holes in our bodies when we need to release it. But the quality of that understanding can change our basis for those concepts of freedom, order, and the balance between the two.
by Kenibashu Saikaptah
For those of us who imagine and strive for a world composed in a manner that is favorable to the expansion of a free spirit, there is a calling for order and a path that leads to that realignment. The irony in the previous sentence is that the concepts of freedom and order somehow seem to exist simultaneously within the image our mind projects for us, yet sit at a depth of the heart and mind that seems far out of reach. Is it a utopia? Or is there some balancing act that we may be capable of to host that reality at our core, so that the expression of such an ideal can exist in our environment? The yearning for that utopia surely is not enough to manifest it; we need a blueprint that lays the groundwork for us to build on.
At this moment, we exist in a reality where freedom has become an idea that entices the mind with notions of crossing boundaries and breaking down walls so that equality and righteousness can reign. However, at the basis of those concepts, we have to examine their true meaning and how that is relevant to a community of human beings. To make it simple, I ask this question: If we live in a world where political powers speak of uprightness and standing for the good of humanity, what sense does it make for those same people and groups to divide themselves based on the territories that they build their homes? What sense does it make for America to ally with Israel in a war? What is the defining principle of their relationship? Oh, excuse me, I forgot about free enterprise, or the more socially acceptable term we use: capitalism. These are the kind of jokes that are not so easy to laugh at. This small aspect of our life is an example of a system based on what I would like to call “Chasing the Image”. The politicians sell the ideal vision to the public. “I am a person of principle, with moral guidelines and a proper foundation; I know the way, and you should follow me.” The tough part is knowing exactly where you’re following that person to, because promises can be as hollow as birthday balloons. What actually binds that person to the truth that I seek?
