Philosophical discussions are the toughest to have since they reach beyond the surface and touch the core of a person's beliefs.  These beliefs have been developed via personal experiences (good and bad), upbringing, education, religious exposure, etc.

The recent discussions are starting to hit, what I call "ground truth" on a number of issues and viewpoints.  Nothing worth achieving comes without pain.  I believe it is part of the human condition that to reach resolution, we must endure a long journey.  The twists and turns become obstacles, instead of viewing them as learning experiences to gain more insight.

This does not mean that we abandon the journey or feel helpless lost and wander with no idea of what direction we should turn.  Instead, it is up to each one of us, to examine ourselves in a honest manner, addresses our areas of weakness, gain knowledge in the areas we are not fully educated on and strive to improve ourselves to better the lives of others.

The examination can be painful for many to do and I believe that is what is being seen recently.  The future course is not always easy to see and out of fear, many resist moving forward, but hold on to familiar ideas, thoughts and philosophies like a comfortable old pair of shoes.

I truly believe that Scribe wonderfully stated the current reality - we are all growing up [in many different levels] and growing pains are to be expected.  Do not despair, but understand that we will reach the final destination.

I hope you will continue to challenge us with your words and thoughts.  

We must not continue to cure the symptoms and ignore the disease!
Spiritual Awakening

You say "It is with tremendous sorrow that I see divisions forming that will not be healed."

If you replaced "will not be healed"..with "MAY not be healed", some wiggle room is left for a potenmtial different outcome. We humans really haven;t any clear idea, IMO,  of how much untapped power we have within us to heal even apparently lethal wounds and divisions. We've only just begun to learn of this power we have.  

You say: "In reading the comments and responses in both diaries it is apparent that some will not make attempts to hear what the other side is saying."

This assessment can only be based on the actual words that have been written here, and on how we each interpret them, right?  But we can never know ALL what is going on inside the hearts and minds of the writers. There is no way to know what "seed" was planted where in each of us,  that may be taking root even as we speak, and will bloom later, out of our sight. Maybe you are being heard by many more than every come back and tell you so on this screen.  Maybe those who seem to not "hear" really are hearing our messages on a level they may not yet be aware of, but will remember. We don't just "hear' each other with our eyes and our ears. We hear with our hearts and spirits too.  And yes, there will always be some to choose not to hear us at all. Still, we must keep trying..and trhyinig..and trying..because what is the alternative?

Finally you write: " What were once 'lines in the sand' are now canyons among the readers on this site."

If it is true that energy tends to follow thought, then are we truly powerless over this kind of negative outcome?

I am picturing a huge canyon now, with people standing on opposite cliffs. People who, underneath all of thier differences, all really want to get to the same destination in time. All of whom have pieces of the only map in existance that could get them there, and they know this.

But there is this deep, apparently bottomless canyon separating them, leeping them from being able to gather together all the separate pieces of the map that will take them all to where they wish to be.

These are all human beings: people capable of nearly immeaurable levels of creativity, intellect,imagination who posess indominable wills.

Sally, I just cannot, and I will not believe us (human beings in general) to be incapable of doing whatever we have to do, to figure out how to come together across canyons of all kinds, little or big, to get to a shared destination.  The day I start thinking it IS impossible, for ALL  of us, will be the day I am ready to check the hell outa here once and for all.

I stand by what I said. The passion of the writers on these threads is a tremendow ASSET , not a liability or a "negative" IMO.   It is raw human energy and passion focused on a common destination, that we can choose to channel however we will, including creating  NEW channels and bridges as we go.

IMO, it does MOT "have to" drive us further apart..just because it always has before, or  because we cant find a quick fix to the acute discomoft it is currently causing.

Having said all of that..:)..let me also say I totally understand how it all seems to be, and feels to you right now.  Every one of you. None of you are "wrong". none are  "right", because this isn't about who is wrong or who is right at ALL. It's about whether or not we can stay close enough together to keep sharing, and learning more and more about each other.. in spite of apparent canyons.        

ONward!