Wednesday, April 22, 2009

World (Part 6 in a series.)

The largest possible Family available to us – so far! – is the World. Countries do join together in mutually beneficial partnerships that not only further their own interests but also yield benefits that are far greater than either party could on its own. This is no different whether those joining together are countries, communities, families, or, on the first rung of the ladder, two individuals. The result, in a successful union, is the same: added benefit for all.

Is it possible or even desirable for all the individual families of man to join together into a single mega-Family? Yes, and probably yes. Within individual families, members grow up to become artists and athletes and farmers. Some can turn out straight, some gay, and some are largely solitary by choice and comfortable with that choice as right for who they are. In successful families, all of these differences are acknowledged and embraced, and the Family is inevitably strengthened as a result.

As a World we could eventually reach that point, but we aren’t close to doing so yet. Too many of our families are dysfunctional, and do not accept or respect the differences of their members. A parent will insist upon disowning a gay child. One religious Community will fight against another for failing to believe correctly, or insisting upon believing at all. Interdependent communities squabble amongst themselves for access to mutually necessary resources, often to the detriment of both. Country fights Country, often for no better reason than they can, or worse because they always have.

None of which are reasons to give up the struggle. All of us, whether born in the United States or anywhere else have the right to enjoy the pursuit of happiness. So long as we continue to exercise that right, and insist that it not be hindered, we are moving in a right direction. It would be presumptuous to declare any particular direction as the right one, as so many are available and the eventual outcomes of any particular path largely unknowable. As long as we keep moving in a direction, we are likely to get somewhere. And if we don’t like it when we get there, nothing prevents us from moving on again.

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