I’m always struck by the imagery on Google Earth. Especially when the “borders” option is left unactivated. The easily recognizable maps of towns, states and countries fade into a vast globe only divided by blue and green, land and sea.
Based on wars, power, struggle and aggression, armies and officials staked claims across the globe, creating a spiderweb of borders across great continents of land. The thing is, these borders aren’t real. When viewed from space, our world is not a planet divided. The division exists only in our hearts and minds, and has fueled a full myriad of human-on-human atrocities throughout the ages.
Borders do serve a practical purpose, as they aid in the administration of government. But when taken to the extreme, they serve to divide and differentiate in a world so desperately in need of the opposite.
In America, this holiday weekend will mark countless patriotic parades down Main Streets from coast to coast. I celebrate the powerful ideals on which this country was founded. But more than that, I think it is important to pledge our allegiance beyond just a flag – or even what that flag might symbolize. My true allegiance is to my brothers and sisters (wherever they may be) and this magnificent universe of which we are all a part.
When seen from above, this planet is not criss-crossed with borders. With all this talk of borders, nationalities and citizenship, it’s easy to forget that we’re all in this together. But here’s a reminder: We are.
May 28, 2010 at 9:14 am
Right, I suspect that as people pledge allegiance to the flag that very often they are more willing to take care of the flag and not the “country” for which it stands. I think that universal education is a failure if kids litter outside the school and their parents throw garbage out the car window. Sad state of affairs as oil leaks into the Gulf … that’s part of the country which seems to not be preserved and protected by the people and for the people.
May 28, 2010 at 9:14 am
hey davey,
you are now on dan magazine’s official site!
horray!
May 28, 2010 at 9:15 am
sry..is dna….
May 28, 2010 at 9:22 am
well said. i, personally, never really liked saying the pledge. i always felt like i was excluding everyone else, saying “we’re better than you so ha!” and i always liked that option to get rid of the borders. makes everything so much more beautiful without the squiggly lines getting in the way.
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May 28, 2010 at 11:21 am
In some places, the borders are far from imaginary.
May 28, 2010 at 2:44 pm
War is mass murder wrapped in a pretty flag.
May 28, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Well I would probably disagree with the field. While coming up WAY short over the last what?, 15 years, America has been different and has made a difference. Ok, maybe I am vacilating, the last 15 have been pretty bad. Can we turn it around?
May 29, 2010 at 2:49 am
I feel where you are coming from Davey but I support enforcement of our borders. I live here in Arizona at the heated end of the debate of enforcing our laws when it comes to illegal immigration. It is a terrible problem here, there are so many who wish to come here and are paying others to bring them but are finding themselves held for ransom and put in some terrible circumstances to reach our land. Imagine being one of 17 people stacked like cord wood in the pickup of a truck and covered with plywood for a 12 hour drive. Then to make it here and find that those who brought you here will not release you until you pay a ransom. Meanwhile they keep you locked up in a house without running water or electricity. Our country is in trouble and this is just a small portion of the problem. I have friends from all around the world and I appreciate each and everyone of them regardless of their beliefs or practices.
May 29, 2010 at 8:56 am
Marty,
At least with the House passage of the “compromise” attached to a Defense appropriations bill, we may be one step closer to elimination of diabolical DADT policy.
Elimination of DADT will not only secure the rights of gay persons, it will directly help the nations because gays bring many talents (E.g. knowledge of languages) that otherwise will be lost.
May 29, 2010 at 9:43 am
Elimination of DADT and removal of laws against gay Marriage, will help individual gay persons reach their goal to live fuller lives if they choose to enter the military or get married.
However, these two issues have great SYMBOLIC VALUE. Elimination of DADT and securing the right to marry, are part and parcel of the movement toward social equality. Many gays who are personally opposed to the military on principle and many gays who are opposed to gay marriage for a wide variety of reasons, stand up and speak on behalf of eliminating DADT and securing the marriage rights.
The ultimate goal is not only to secure these as legal rights, but to achieve social and cultural recognition that we are full and equal as human beings and as citizens.
GLBT persons in the UK have secured nearly equal legal status with their fellow British citizens. Because a number of their legal rights have been secured already (E.g. the right for gays to serve openly in the military) and because domestic partnership laws are “reasonable,” there has been significantly less political pressure and fighting for gay marriage in the UK than in the U.S.
May 29, 2010 at 10:10 am
I agree with what Davey is trying to get at universal understanding between people all around the world.
However the real issue is what are the various meanings we give to boarders. It is more a question of permeable are the boarders.
It is a sociological truism that groups, must have markers, including boundaries, if they are to maintain their identity and thus participate fully in the world of human life. Regardless of how beautiful they are, were the entire earth covered only with red roses, the sameness would become destructive.
In spite of all the separation, hatred, and discord that physical, political, and sociocultural boundaries have been, a part of, I would rather live in a world that is a multicultural Mosaic than take the chance on a one world characterized by sameness.
May 29, 2010 at 12:02 pm
REPUDIO PARA LA LEY “ANTIMIGRANTE ARIZONA”…
Isn’t it beautiful Mexico!!!
take a look closer and you people will find wonderfull stuff ñ_ñ
July 19, 2011 at 10:55 am
Good Morning Davey Wavey,
you seem to have a very interesting and encourage website. However, i was looking to find the allegiance pledge to the Universe in words…Are those listed on your website?