From the beginnings of our American Experience we have used and abused Native Americans, we have used African's as slaves with all of the distain and pain of abuse. We have fought against child labor laws, and a woman’s right to vote. We have promised Philippine men who fought with us against the Japanese during World War II that they would receive benefits which we have still not granted them. During World War II we interned Japanese Americans. We fought against providing Negros with civil rights. We have fought against woman’s rights and gay rights. And, now, we are not meeting the needs of our returning service personnel after nearly 11 years of war. Who among us can be proud of such a record of mistreatment against those with whom we have been involved throughout our history?
What this suggests to me is that it has been our ignorance and fear that has created the prejudice and disregard for others that has given birth to such actions on our part. It is time for us to awaken to what has allowed us to behave in this way for so long… to connect with the compassion that lives at the core of our essence and to express that compassion with each person who crosses our path along our journey through life….
Jim Farwell, M.A. / M.F.T.
