One of the strangest things I saw while in Newfoundland was a United cemetery and Anglican cemetery “side by each” but separated by a chain link fence. The Catholics were buried on a beautiful hill in town. Apparently a fence wasn’t separation enough. I was unaware that there were at least three heavens. It got me to thinking about how we draw lines and build fences between ourselves. I’m writing this on a plane at 30,000 feet and there is a curtain drawn between first class and economy. I’m not sure what this fabric blocks out but we weave our differences everywhere we go. We will all put our heads between our knees and kiss our asses goodbye in the event of a catastrophic event. These events seem one of the few times we realize we are each flesh and bone, tears and wind. The rest of the time we we draw lines.
Economy – First Class Protestant – Catholic Albertan – Ontarian
University Grad – High school drop out Child – Adult English – French
Hockey Fan – Soccer Fan Rich – Poor Virgin – Stud
Musical – Tone Deaf Black – White Cyclist – Runner
GAP – American Eagle Classy – Crude Owner – Renter
Near sighted – Far sighted Fat – Thin Swimmer – Sinker
Canadian – American Gay – Straight Married – Single
Rural – Urban Sibling – Only child Pretty – Ugly
Right handed – Left handed Sophomore – Freshman Brunette – Redhead
Military – Civilian White collar – Blue collar Teacher – Nurse
Leader – Follower Literate – Illiterate Funny – Boring
Popular – Outcast Amateur – Professional Punker – Preppy
Tattooed – Ink free Vegetarian – Carnivore Mentally ill – Normal
Politician – Honest
I’m sure one could write a whole book out of the lines we draw between one another. Some provide identity while others simply offer differences. Differences to be judged by and differences we can push one another away with. They are often differences we don’t understand or put into perspective. I love the saying ” we all put our pants on one leg at a time.” Most of our differences are not important enough to actually change us. Most of these differences are simply a way to paint each other into corners where we make the decision of whether to care about each other. But when the ship is sinking it’s a good idea to cling to each other. Death is the decider of difference and when you’re dead none of it will make a difference. As far as heaven for different religions I just hope they are connected like the oceans because there are some fellow passengers I wouldn’t want to have a fence to climb to be with.
Whenever I am on a plane with a dividing curtain between “first” and “second” class I smack it and fairly loudly proclaim that it’s stupid!
I spent my whole flight waiting for the puppet show!
Love it. I’m sure the heavens will have a little chain link fence between them just like the cemetery, for all the difference that would make. 😛
Yes, please put a pair of wire cutters in my coffin.
Consider it done. 🙂