Articles arranged by date - Shaman Ross Bishop

THE MIDDLE EAST
A Postscript

by Ross Bishop

When two nations lock horns, the result is generally a military confrontation. It is very difficult for groups to back away from their core convictions. Also, leaders cannot be seen as weak and or perceived as selling out the franchise that brought them to power. It is like leading a street gang or a wolf pack. Appear weak and the other wolves will do you in. It cost Anwar Sadat his life.

In 1850’s America, pro- and anti-slavery forces were at each other’s throats. Neither side would or could back down, so we had a Civil War with 900,000 casualties. The American Colonists and King George III had irreconcilable differences that led to our War of Revolution. This was also true in France in 1789, Russia in 1905 and Viet Nam in the 1960’s and a hundred other wars before and in-between. It has been that way for a very long time. Sometimes a psychopath takes charge of a country and the only way to stop him is through military intervention. This was certainly true of Hitler and The Taliban.

There have been a few instances of real peacemaking - Northern Ireland and South Africa for example, and they do give us hope for the future. But in regard to the Middle East, it is very difficult to see Dick Cheney and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran getting together to go quail hunting.

When a client comes to me for healing, they have gone as far as their present beliefs can take them. They know that they need help, but cannot find a way out of the morass of their own thinking. If they could resolve their own conflicts, they wouldn’t be in my office. My job is to show them how their present beliefs block them from seeing the larger truth about themselves and the situation they are in. No one likes to hear that, and no one likes giving up their old beliefs, but it is necessary if they are to heal.

The same thing is true for nations and their leaders, but it is very difficult to hold a world leader accountable for much of anything. There was a time when spiritual beliefs had some influence, but we have seen how easily corrupted those can become when they are mixed with politics and political ambition. But this must be our source of hope if we are to have a future, and that future begins with you.

It is not the people of the world who are the problem. If we could sit and speak with one another, we could resolve most of our problems in short order. After all, we all want the same things. But when it comes to leaders and politics, it becomes another matter altogether. We can if we choose, become the conscience of our society. The fact that you are reading this puts you in a small, select group who care about what is happening. That is a special responsibility.

Yes, there are political things you can do. Share your views with your Congressman and Senators. Get active in the mid-term elections this fall. But, although this is important, that is not where the real change happens. Real change happens in your kitchen, your TV room, the supermarket, the gas station and in your office. Every action you take, every decision you make, every thought you have, has consequence. Yes, perhaps it is tiny and it seems inconsequential, but taken together, the impact is massive. Each act is like a wave on the ocean. Individually they mean little. But taken together, they can move an entire continent.

We have to decide whether we really want change, whether we are willing to make changes in ourselves, or whether we just want to sit and complain. Our compassion, our respect for others, our love for ourselves and for the planet is what will make the difference. This is said so many times, I’m sure you are tired of hearing it, and yet very few people seem to get it: Peace really does begin with you. Politicians don’t create change, people do. Politicians follow. Don’t look to them for leadership, you must show them the way by example.

What to do?
1. Look in the mirror and start loving yourself. If you are not able to do that, get some help. Take better care of yourself, get some exercise in the fresh air, and lose that extra weight.

2. Show your love for others – especially those that are close to you and the people you work with. When is the last time you told one of them that you loved them? Go out of your way each day to help a stranger or show someone a special kindness.

3. Care about the planet. Politicians don’t like to tell people this, but the source of global warming is in your garage. It’s also in the trucks on the highway. Consider your consumption. Recycle, re-use. Take bags to the store. Walk when you can.

4. Buy organic. Quit buying processed foods. Take the time to cook and bake. Grow your own. We must break the hold that the food corporations have on our agriculture and food supply. If you knew how little nutrition there was in today’s supermarket fruits and vegetables, you’d start buying organic in a heartbeat.

Will that change the Middle East? In time yes. In fact, it is probably the only thing that will. It will change America and that will change the world. How badly do you want it? How important is it to you?