I was hunkered down under several comforters this weekend fighting off round 2 of the flu…round 1 in November was really horrendous, so I must be getting stronger and/or creating a few new antibodies, because I am feeling much better today. I’d prefer to believe that my immune system is rebounding at lightening warp speed due to my diet and exercise regime, but for whatever reason, I was sick and bingeing on the CNN reports about the horrific terrorism acts in France. Having just been in France, I resonated with these events on several levels.
First of all, when I was in Provence, I was really surprised by the large numbers of Muslims living there. So much so, that I wrote about it in my journal. What struck me most was that the Muslim communities were by and large congregated, or perhaps segregated would be more accurate, in the poorest sections of the various towns that I visited. Such as Avignon, where the Muslims lived and worked outside the confines of the city walls, in a somewhat depressed neighborhood adjacent to the train station. They seemed by and large to be completely separate from the French community in dress, food, customs and attitudes. It was so interesting to observe as I wandered the streets in my travels.
Secondly, I was struck by the negative perceptions many French expressed towards the Muslim community in large part due to their failure and/or refusal to assimilate. There seemed to be an underlying feeling of malaise, even distrust from both sides. I have found that this dynamic exists in every country, and most certainly here in the USA. I have worked with the Indian, Black and Latino minorities in LA, Denver and Pine Ridge with very similar energies prevailing. The lack of opportunity in these communities generates an overwhelming sense of defeat and frustration, which in turn generates a level of poverty that drives many to welfare, drugs and alcohol, gangs and/or, in the extreme, like in Paris, terrorism. In France, the problem has been exascerbated by a large Muslim population whose culture has unfortunately spawned its own species of gang sub-culture that has taken violence to a whole new level of global terrorism. At the risk of oversimplifying the problem, because there are surely some very rich jihadist terrorists out there who do not fit this mold, this concept seems to be a recurring theme in our society.
At any rate, despite the tragic deaths of many innocent people, the outpouring of unity that was demonstrated in France by millions of people from all classes, creeds, cultures and countries coming together to promote the values of liberty, equality and fraternity was uplifting and enervating, to say the least. This is the energy that we must all tap into and resonate with consciously, every day, if we are to continue to evolve, let alone survive, on this planet. The energy generated by the French Unity March was incredibly powerful, and manifested with certainty that it is possible for all mankind to embrace unity and love. Nous sommes Charlie, Nous sommes humanite!
Amour et lumiere…
Jan. 12, 2015
Judy Richter 