My rack is full, is your field empty?

OK...OK..   I will admit that the title of this blog is a twisted take on the Biblical verse:


"My house is full. my field is empty."


When choosing life's day-to-day experiences, I firmly believe in a full spice rack - the spice of life -  rather than one flavor.


There is an open letter to Dr. Laura Schlessinger that has been floating around the internet for a few years.  I was going to 'copy & paste' the letter here, but it is somewhat bulky, and would override the original intent of this particular blog.   For a clear view of my opinion and perception of the 'Bible situation', please read this memo before continuing with the remainder of this blog:


http://gaybury.blogspot.com/2007/05/should-i-smite-them.html


Personally, I share beliefs with Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, Muslim, Jewish, Christian (and a few others!) friends.


Due to technological advances made to means by which we travel (trains.... planes...and automobiles!), and those made to communication devices (telephones... then cell phones, the internet, etc), the size of our planet Earth remains constant, but travel and communication has never been made easier for us.  I know. You are asking, "Where are you going with this fable, Aesop?"  I will answer you:


"The gaps that once separated purist groups of people are now more than ever being rapidly closed."


"In the not-so-distant past, there was a large, unadulterated group of American Indians, for example, on the North American continent.  In the middle east, there was a group of Egyptians in Egypt that was a purity unto themselves, and a little farther east was a group of Romans in Italy that was untainted.  If you continue our quest still farther eastward, you will find Japanese and Chinese blood lines that have been pure for thousands of years."


If we apply no other reason, mode or consideration, our increased capabilities in traveling and communication, alone, will account for the edges of those pure groups to become mingled.


Please do not misunderstand the purpose of this blog.  Tina Turner, Mariah Carey and Eartha Kitt are just a few prominent examples of several races coming together to create an abundance of poise, talent and unparalleled beauty.  (Every one of those ladies have 3 or more races in their blood lines.)


The less obvious combinations would be the very popular combinations of Caucasian genes.  (How many of us are German / Irish, Scottish / Swedish, Italian / Greek, and the possible combinations can continue indefinitely.)


(Fasten your seat belts...we're approaching the runway - we're going to land this jumbo jet!)


My major point is this:


Since many people on this planet have such motley backgrounds, and they live varied lives, why not partake of more of the world around you?  Let's face reality:  There are no Amish people reading this blog.  They won't allow themselves to enjoy ME, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying THEM.  I love their food, and they are excellent craftsman.  Another example would be my Indian (India) friend, Prathibah Vasudevan.  She has lived in the United States of America for 11 years, and the only American food she will eat is from St. Louis Bread Company!  Bad for her - GOOD FOR ME!  I wold go over to her house, and she would cook me the best Indian food I have ever eaten.


While I would encourage people that live untainted, 'purist' lives to OCCASIONALLY venture outside their restrictive bounds, and sample the world around them, I, by no means would be an advocate for them to make permanent changes in their lives.  To do such a thing would most definitely result in a bland, muddled world, and frankly speaking, we already have enough of a bland, muddled world!


Since the remainder of those us us that share this planet (the largest portion of the population - including you!) have no link to a minority lifestyle, to NOT enjoy the sacrifice made by those who DO live minority lifestyles is both a wasteful and lazy action.


Another benefit to peeking into the lives of minority groups is an increased understanding of the people that share this world with us. Not only does it help us to understand and enjoy them, but it also helps us to understand ourselves.


"Peeking" includes sharing their cuisine, their music, their clothing, their customs and beliefs.


"Peeking" does not consist of eating a piss-poor, watered down American version of Chinese or Indian food, for example, but should include food "as they eat it."  To continue with this example, REAL Chinese food is vastly different than the Take-Out American Chinese food.  That isn't Chinese food, people.  REAL Chinese food is very different from American Take-Out Chinese food.  That is the stuff that the Chinese make for sale because they know you will buy it!  I will readily admit that I like Crab Rangoon and Sweet & Sour Chicken, but I also know, on the other hand, that I consider them 'guilty pleasures' and that this is not real Chinese food. Knowing the difference is, well - knowing the difference.


Could you imagine how boring this world would be if everybody was exactly the same?  I don't have to imagine such a thing, because I see it running rampant all around me, and every day of my life.

One quick, easy way to remember to sample the ENTIRE world is:
"I want 'this AND that', rather than 'this OR that'."


I, for one, am extremely thankful that I have the energy, the curiosity, the knowledge and wisdom to view and enjoy the ENTIRE world, rather than just one small corner of it.  I will close with Mark Twain's famous quote:


"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. "


Mark Twain wasn't talking to himself when he wrote that quote.  The unfortunate fact is that the people that need to see and understand that quote will be the same ones that will fail to do so.


- Michael