PASSIONS

 Passion is an extremely strong emotion. It can drive people to heights or depths. To despair or elation. For many onlookers these strong passions are a puzzle, for one can feel it deep within the soul. An onlooker can stand alongside, can even understand or feel the righteousness of that passion, yet remain impervious to its depth and intensity. 

Passion at high speed and great intensity can even drive one to an insanity overwhelming, all else, particularly if the fulfillment of that passion is frustrated, not allowed to blossom or bloom as one might wish. The strength of that emotion elicits praise or condemnation, depending upon the viewpoint of the others standing outside that circle, looking in, shrugging shoulders in amazement and not feeling it, or smiling in agreement, or aghast at the thought of what that passion can cause.  

These passions can induce an oxymoronic mixture of love and hate. One might not desire to be caught by it but cannot help it. It bores itself within and can wage an internal war upon the resistance of the believer. 

But those with strong passions and beliefs have moved humankind through the millennia, both positive and negative in manner. Perhaps it is not even a choice that they can make, but at some time there must be a choice, for nothing happens, good or bad, unless someone makes a choice, moves on with that choice, driven, willingly or not to scratch the itch of that all-encompassing passion, at times blocking out the reality of others not so involved.

 Oftentimes, there arises a split, a breakoff, a new sect, giving rise to change and adjustment, welcomed by some and resisted by others. Variations of the original document or theory or set of rules and expectations, new passions, arise, welcomed by some but not all. Some might feel a glow, happy with the changes, but within others, it can begin to rot, inevitably leading to a split. The split can be peaceful, but it often is not as passions remain, though not on the same channel and focused on different realities. 

The cracks grow into chasms which cannot be bridged and combat arises. Discussion, compromise, understanding, tolerance and wisdom fall by the wayside, the passions now become bitter, and opposing words turn into opposing laws and blows. War raises its ugly head, drawing others into the fray and all new thought and change become criminalized. The passion has gone sour as the sects, the old and the new, wage civil war upon each other, criminalize differing views, imprisoning, even executing some.

That which was good, that which induced the passion, can fall on either side of the line. The impassioned ones can work for humanity with noble ideas. They can lead people to the creation of inventions, to brave schools of philosophy, pathways for humanity to move forward. However, it can change quickly, swerve or hang a Uey, and disillusioned or tired or even originally tainted, they can and will bring back the old status quo or even worse. 

Passions, like most emotions, can have two sides, one beneficial and the other not. What is a positive moment of history can quickly turn rancid. Too often, the societies affected stand silently by and even encourage the fruits of the good tree to wither on the vine, on the branches, to fall down and rot on the ground. It is up to those who know and understand to guard society against that which would harm it, which will harm it unless we all stand guard against it

As usual, it falls to us and only us. We can determine our own path, the path for the world. In fact, if we do so, champion the path which moves forward, not the one of selfishness and anger and Hate so high that one feels as if drowning in it, if we persevere and hold strong against those who wish us harm, take a look in your mind at what could be. Should be.

Take a look at your nation today. See where it is. Think where and what it should be. Think how we can improve it. Think how much better our reality could be. Think too of what could be if we stand aside and do nothing or even advocate for the bad, the selfish. Is that what we wish for us and far more important for our children?

It does not matter the time, be it yesterday, today or tomorrow. Responsibility is the same. The danger is the same. The blessings and the curses remain as well. It is our choices that will move humanity forward or backward. 

Which do you choose?

More tomorrow.