A Gentler, Kinder World
by Len Bourret
Different is Unique, and
Unique is Good.
In my frustrated childhood,
I was constantly irritated
by the positions that other
people took, which usually
dictated fundamentalist-
conservative policies, terms,
and conditions.
I found such policies, terms,
and conditions to be harsh,
inflexible, and rigid.
In secondary school, I was
asked (by a third-grade
teacher) to draw a church
steeple, as part of a class
project (each student was
asked to draw a different
part of the church). I drew
a non-conventional steeple,
and the teacher withdrew
me from the project (I
found a conventional steeple
to be boring and mundane).
The teacher delegated another
student to draw the steeple.
In junior high, I was asked (by
a seventh-grade teacher) to
participate in an art project. I
could only draw stick figures,
and so I took a white piece of
paper, and painted over it by
using yellow watercolor. My
piece was entitled “The Sun”,
and the teacher gave me an
“A” for my artistic, creative,
and original rendering.
If I was asked to draw a
church steeple, today, I
would still submit an
unconventional, artistic,
creative, and original
piece. But, the steeple
would not look like its
traditional counterpart (it
would not be “triangular”
in appearance). I would
use a non-traditional shape
(a cone, circle, square,
rectangle, or etcetera),
and the dome would have
an observation tower,
rather than a clock). My
design would have people
observing the world as it
really is, rather than time
consumed by relgious
fantasies. People would
be able to see nature’s
gentler and kinder reality,
as opposed to this world’s
harsh realities and shattered
dreams. Man, woman, and
child would be encouraged
to instill an equal amount of
femininity and masculinity in
their lives. Fragile femininity
and macho masculinity would
be discouraged. Charity would
be helping one’s fellow human
beings, rather than financing an
institution which teaches people
to be harsh, inflexible, and rigid.
The concrete would be equally
as viable, as the abstract. And,
the people would not be forced
to believe in concepts they cannot
feel, see, or touch. Instead, the
people would be encouraged to
be open to both the concrete and
the abstract, rather than being
forced into accepting a particular
concept (for example, noone would
be labeled a communist or a socialist,
and noone would be forced to believe
in Buddha, Jesus Christ, or one God).
People would be encouraged to believe
in a concept that is comfortable and
natural to them (for example, Native
Americans believe in the Wind, which
has a definite voice, and speaks to them,
but noone would be forced to believe in
the Wind).
The traditional would be acceptable, but
diversity would be celebrated, and not
frowned upon or considered controversial.
Moderation would be encouraged, and
would be given as much credence and
power as Conservatism and Liberalism.
The Moderate becomes a Victim to the
continual battering of the Conservatives
and the Liberals.
This piece is dedicated to Marsha Hunt
and Dalton Trumbo.