Bible Belt

A recent study showed that racial prejudice may have played a greater role in the last election than many had anticipated. The study concluded that regional areas that used racially derogatory terms the most (by google search) were the most likely to vote against President Obama due to his race. While I am vague on the details of the study what particularly struck me was that these regions fell within the area labeled the "Bible Belt". This in itself is distressing although not surprising - bible belt - an area where love, forgiveness and looking beyond the color of skin should be practiced in the highest order - sad. This has me thinking of  Mahatma Gandhi and his great love for the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. The Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu holy text that uses q battleground as a backdrop between the young prince Arjuna and Krishna posing as his charioteer. Krishna urges Arjuna to fight as it's his duty as a prince and warrior. However Gandhi knew that the real battleground that Krishna described was in the mind alone between dark forces and the singular force of love. Gandhi took up the battle but his weapon was Ahisma or non-violence and love - and he toppled an empire. As long as we cling to what we mistakenly believe our own holy text maintains for us - we are doomed ourselves to one day be toppled. Our nation has been founded on spiritual principles of the highest order - we stand alone in our principles of tolerance. At all times and all cases we must practice these principles to be the America we are meant to be - free, proud and accepting of others.

Amen,
Eric