Contact us at: whispernthunder1@gmail.comWisdom from Granddad
~ Fox Northstar
Good Morning, Class. Today we will have
a discussion which will lead directly to your
assignment for the weekend. The subject
is HOPE! In these days of trials and
tribulations, it is a need greater than any
time in recent history.
“But just what is hope?” you ask. Well, best I can do is pass along some of the teachings from my elders over the decades, and now it is my turn to pass them along.
Hope can go by many names. When one makes a wish, one hopes the wish will come to fruition. Dreams can be another way hopes are expressed by our subconscious. But, it is important to remember the opposite if hope is despair, and that can be as fatal as a gunshot….and just as avoidable as long as we remain alert and careful.
But I do understand that hope is tough to find right now. The invaders still think they are better than ANYone else. They put profit over the planet, want their rightS but none for anyone who is not them. Many of you have heard me go on, and on….and on….about religion and its control over others. However, we are missing the point.
I forget who said it, but “Hope springs eternal.” I believe that, and I will tell you why. As you know, I just love to compare apples and oranges, so here we go.
The wasichu invaders came here for two reasons: money and “freedom.” Those were their hopes, but the dark path they chose led them to the hope of “manifest destiny” over the entire continent regardless who stood in the way….and that was us! Sadly, most of their hopes were realized, but some of their efforts have been reigned in by the politicians….until recently.
So, all of us must keep in mind the fact we are EVEN here is the ultimate expression of hope! And that trail leads to each and every one of our ancestors. Let me clarify: when our parents raised us, they were hoping our lives would be better than theirs. Trust me on this, when you have children of your own, you, too, will hope their lives will be better than yours…as it was for our ancestors.
When the invaders came, our ancestors had hopes, but those changes as we were pushed aside, but they were ALWAYS there. The fact you are sitting here is testament to the fruition of some of those hopes.
I continue…we had hopes we could live with the invaders in peace. We all know that did not last long. We tried to accommodate by moving out of their area. We hoped that would be enough. It was not! The more they came, the more they wanted…and they took it. But our ancestors NEVER gave up hope, even as they ran roughshod over our cultures and tried to extinguish our customs and beliefs. Our ancestors were smart…they faked it on the giving in, and preserved what they could. And we stand here as a result of their hopes and efforts. Granted, we had to go into hiding in several ways, but their hopes kept our traditions alive. Their hopes have born fruit as we now celebrate our traditions openly…and openly share with the descendents of the invaders. Many seem to show some interest, and many dive right in to learn what they can. That is an honoring IF it is done with respect to the teachings.
With all that having been said, I think the best expression of hope was from Londoners during the Battle of Britain in World War II: “Keep calm and don’t panic.” My personal favourite, though, is from the movie Galaxy Quest: “Never give up; NEVER SURRENDER!”
And, as always, do your best to walk in balance….as difficult as it may seem.
--Fox