Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Lions Tigers and Bears
The Sudanese lions, Sri Lankan tigers, and Russian bears have all manifested terrifying attributes in the images and imaginations of English-speaking peoples, but larger-than-life human monstrosities and mythologically-constructed caricatures of these frightening political creatures have never contributed to constructive relationships or resolutions.
While the world is indeed fraught with dangerous diversions and treacherous traps for the innocent, the perpetuation of scary tales is nearly as destructive as heroic myths of chosen peoples and manifest destinies. In the end, all these cruel illusions create are terrified children and horrified adults incapable of dealing with a world that is undeniably charged with psychological hazards they are unprepared for.
Amplifying these anxieties or denying these deviations only renders them helpless.
While the world is indeed fraught with dangerous diversions and treacherous traps for the innocent, the perpetuation of scary tales is nearly as destructive as heroic myths of chosen peoples and manifest destinies. In the end, all these cruel illusions create are terrified children and horrified adults incapable of dealing with a world that is undeniably charged with psychological hazards they are unprepared for.
Amplifying these anxieties or denying these deviations only renders them helpless.
