“…Come, my friends.
‘T is not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,–
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Ulysses, Alfred Lord Tennyson
We discuss infant ages in terms of months, not years. I propose that all life be considered in terms of months. If 960 months or LXXX years sounds too cumbersome, let’s settle on Four Score. That appeals to my sense of getting older and is so Lincolnesque. (Better than “octogenarian” or “superannuated.”)
As a senior member of living earthlings, it is only right to pay homage to our real seniors, those who initiated the genus “homo sapiens” some 2 million years ago. Question: “Had you known what evolution would do to your progeny, would you be pleased?” (Not sure I want that answered.)
Since no one that I know can answer that question, please allow me to reflect on my relatively short time in the universe while being gravitationally quarantined on planet earth.
All of us are earthlings.
What separates us from other mammals might be the fact that we are considered as truly “advanced” mammals. Our intelligence plus self-recognition, awareness, toolmaking, evolution, etc., have far surpassed what other mammals could ever be or do. As earthlings, we are all considered members of this human race.
By design and geography, we have established various groupings, tribes, or nations that are designed to support and protect. Above all, humans are driven to maintain and continue the human species. As in the “common good.”
To use the terms like black race, white race, yellow race doesn’t make a lot of sense. Better to name – if you must – sub-categories we might refer to as different nationalities, light skin or dark skin, and so on. Even applying the term “North American” to citizens of the United States is arrogant. By last reports, Canada and Mexico are still in North America and are North Americans.
There have always been those who would artificially divide humans into “less than” or “more than” categories because of physical or other differences like religions, languages, and cultural norms. Through ignorance or self-interest, these dividers speak or act in ways that are contrary to the common good of humanity.
Who am I and how did I get here?
My evolution happened over the past four score as I meandered from childhood to adulthood to where I am now. The first 18 years set the foundation and core values that became indelible stamps on my humanity. During those years, the greatest sources of influence came from family, religion, community, and media.
Family
Without questioning, challenging, or re-routing my pre-ordained path, I stuck close to the map laid out for me. Fortunately, my parents were morally and ethically principled while teaching me about kindness, humility, and respect for others. Concurrently and unfortunately, their shortcomings and prejudices also became part of my persona.
Religion
Having been born and raised in the Catholic tradition, it was usual to be indoctrinated to believe that this was the only true, valid faith practice. Other religions were false and their followers were doomed. Atheism was even worse.
Community
My community was largely based in Braidwood, the small coal mining and farming town of roughly 1,200 people. Unlike surrounding towns, Braidwood’s population was diverse to a degree. African American and European descendants lived in town where neighbors were never far apart. Community social/cultural norms were prescribed and applied without much resistance on my part.
Media
Other subconscious cultural manipulators on me were movies, religion, magazines, books, and television. They penetrated and saturated this young human sponge. Examples: it was usual to see movies with Black people only being servants or slow. Magazine advertising seldom included any people of color. My cowboy heroes were Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. Never saw an African American sheriff until “Blazing Saddles.”
In all respects as a young adult, I thought in terms of black and white, right or wrong, and few gray areas. Pretty much in those first 18 years, I accepted the world that was fed to me. The unhealthy residue of that world will never be completely dissolved except through acknowledgement and reasoned rejection.
The” Truman Show” might be an extreme example of my life for the first 18 years. Clearly, the movie would be a caricature of a small-town boy living in an unspontaneous world while he is molded by his family, friends, and community. One of my favorite lines comes from director of the show, Christoff, who states that, “We accept the reality of the world with which we’re presented. It’s as simple as that.”
How will we deal with the current world?
If we continue to accept our early “reality of the world,” never questioning or “re-calibrating” to address earthling concerns, new knowledge, and injustices, our human development will shrivel and die. In order to counteract that death track, I, like so many others, continue to question, read, think, and learn as much as possible. Not only learn, but act.
The common good of all earthlings is what we are about. If we remain to be what we were back then as youngsters, we will have failed. Change is difficult but not impossible.
As granddaughter Lily might ask, “What did you do, grandpa, to make my future world better?”
Braidwood Beginnings 