As Above, So Below and the Golden Rule
Victoria Hardy
September 05, 2007
As above, so below, that’s what the old folks say and it’s a simple phrase that contains much wisdom. Remember as a child, that aunt, uncle or family friend, I think we all had one, who hugged too tight, pinched too hard or worked to scare the crap out of us at every opportunity? As children we would avoid them if given the chance, but every time this relative visited we’d have to say “hello” and the cycle would be set in motion again.
We’d tell our parents we didn’t like this person and they would kind of laugh, because they remembered suffering through this odd family member’s affection, but since they survived the uncomfortable intrusion, they figured we would as well. So each holiday or get together, we walked stiff legged, braced and prepared, across the room to say hello. And when we had our own kids we also sent them on that long walk. Luckily, now, this person is old and maybe doesn’t pinch so hard anymore, but it is family and we must treat our elders with respect.
The perspective of children fascinates me, perhaps like animals; they listen to their instincts. As children our survival instinct tells us to be wary of this person or that person, relation or not, but our parents, in a perfect example of doing to us what was done to them, override our instincts and demand that we listen to them, not our gut. Ever watch those funny home videos? Ever notice how young children respond when seeing Santa Claus? It’s funny, but disturbing, because most kids are terrified. But then the parents step in and explain how Santa is good and brings toys and once again, a child learns not to listen to their instincts.
I spend a lot of time reading opinions and lately there has been a lot of talk about folks waking up and realizing that we have all been lied to about various truths. Often, upon first waking, these folks are in shock and disbelief at how far and wide the lies spread and they are amazed that so few seem aware. But for me it’s just another example of as above, so below. As we force our children to ignore their instincts and tell them that the frightening man who watches them all the time is safe, our government does much the same thing to us. As we force our children into making that long, uncomfortable, walk to the relative they fear, our government does much the same thing by putting us in uncomfortable situations at work, school and during recreation. They tell us not to fear the men with guns and strange clothes, just as we tell our kids not to fear the man in red with a sack on his back.
Real change occurs on the Home Front, not in the Homeland and perhaps the wisdom of the Golden Rule is something we are all missing. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If we don’t want our government filling our heads with lies and fairy tales, perhaps we should stop doing it to our children. And if we expect our government to listen to us when a policy scares the crap out of us, perhaps we should hear our children when something we consider “normal” scares the crap out of them.
We’d tell our parents we didn’t like this person and they would kind of laugh, because they remembered suffering through this odd family member’s affection, but since they survived the uncomfortable intrusion, they figured we would as well. So each holiday or get together, we walked stiff legged, braced and prepared, across the room to say hello. And when we had our own kids we also sent them on that long walk. Luckily, now, this person is old and maybe doesn’t pinch so hard anymore, but it is family and we must treat our elders with respect.
The perspective of children fascinates me, perhaps like animals; they listen to their instincts. As children our survival instinct tells us to be wary of this person or that person, relation or not, but our parents, in a perfect example of doing to us what was done to them, override our instincts and demand that we listen to them, not our gut. Ever watch those funny home videos? Ever notice how young children respond when seeing Santa Claus? It’s funny, but disturbing, because most kids are terrified. But then the parents step in and explain how Santa is good and brings toys and once again, a child learns not to listen to their instincts.
I spend a lot of time reading opinions and lately there has been a lot of talk about folks waking up and realizing that we have all been lied to about various truths. Often, upon first waking, these folks are in shock and disbelief at how far and wide the lies spread and they are amazed that so few seem aware. But for me it’s just another example of as above, so below. As we force our children to ignore their instincts and tell them that the frightening man who watches them all the time is safe, our government does much the same thing to us. As we force our children into making that long, uncomfortable, walk to the relative they fear, our government does much the same thing by putting us in uncomfortable situations at work, school and during recreation. They tell us not to fear the men with guns and strange clothes, just as we tell our kids not to fear the man in red with a sack on his back.
Real change occurs on the Home Front, not in the Homeland and perhaps the wisdom of the Golden Rule is something we are all missing. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If we don’t want our government filling our heads with lies and fairy tales, perhaps we should stop doing it to our children. And if we expect our government to listen to us when a policy scares the crap out of us, perhaps we should hear our children when something we consider “normal” scares the crap out of them.
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