If I knew how to make it happen, the Moody Blue’s song “The Balance”, from their album “A Question of Balance” would play today for all the world to hear.
Given I don’t know how to make that happen, please read the opening lyrics printed here, and pretend you hear the song playing. You might also scroll down and spend a moment with my poem “Gia Weeps” and my art piece, “Gia•Evo”. So my wish for this Earth Day is that we all “Just open our eyes and realize…”
“After he had journeyed,
And his feet were sore,
And he was tired,
He came upon an orange grove
And he rested
And he lay in the cool,
And while he rested, he took to himself an orange and tasted it,
And it was good.
And he felt the earth to his spine,
And he asked, and he saw the tree above him, and the stars,
And the veins in the leaf,
And the light, and the balance.
And he saw magnificent perfection,
Whereon he thought of himself in balance,
And he knew he was.”
Hi Rob… really great post. I found a nice video of this song and I posted it on my blog for you. You can see it here Happy Earth Day… and get the embed code or just watch it there if you want. Really great choice for this Earth Day!
Camille
Camille –
I am so very humbled by this wonderful gesture — thank you!
I want to leave this link above just as you sent it. Anyone who wishes can enjoy this fantastic song, and its powerful and pure lyrics from your site, and then visit you as well.
As I said on your blog, in my comment to your post: this world may be spinning too out of control for people to hear, or perhaps people have become too disillusioned and jaded to hear — but my wish for this day, and everyday, is that someday the people of earth will again be able to hear what the Moody’s are saying.
–and so it goes–
…Rob
I read your post, and followed the link to Camille’s site too – I’ve never heard this song, and identified with it completly – great choice and thought-provoking for this day…
Rachel –
This is one of my favorite songs because it does provoke thought on topics that are so important, even more today I believe, than when it was first released in 1970.
If there was ever a time that it was important for we humans to learn the importance of balance with the all the earth including our fellow humans — it is now, as the earth’s ecosystem rapidly approaches the tipping point, and insanely foolish wars rage around the globe.
Much of today’s society, and many of our leaders now in power, the United States as the prime example — openly scoff at (if not all by their words, most certainly by their actions) the idea of peace, love, and balance.
There is a greed and arrogance the likes of which this planet has never known. The real danger this poses comes from the fact that most of the good people have become apathetic and complacent at best, or at worst, hopelessly resigned to the fact that nothing can be done.
But something, many things can be done to turn this all around, but first we must just open our eyes and realize…
–and so it goes—
…Rob
Rob,
I’m so glad you liked it. I did too.
Regarding your worries about the state of the human condition: It’s true that there are terrible wars and violence and heartless acts going on, but if you look at history, this is sort of a staple of the human condition, BUT, we are becoming more and more humane in our humanity as time goes on and we learn the lessons of tragedy. Perhaps I’m too optimistic, but I think the world is becoming saner with every passing disaster we invoke with our thoughtless acts and deeds. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to wake people up from their survival routines. Listening and doing what we can are the ways in which every little bit will help to build a better place for all concerned. This is my wish for the world… that it will listen and learn.
I’m so happy to have found such a like-minded fellow traveler.
Kindest regards,
Camille
Camille –
I hope you are correct about our becoming more humane. It is a matter of perspective I realize, and deep inside, I’m genuinely rooting strongly for your perspective.
That said, I see the global society becoming more and more desensitized to killing, suffering, the dignity of women, our failing stewardship of this planet, and the value of life in general.
Popular art reflects a culture; it has in all of history. The ongoing proliferation of movies, video games, music, comic books, our dress and personal trappings, TV, even the TV commercials; this all cast a disturbing reflection of the direction a core section of the people of the earth are moving. One might argue that any of these individually is perhaps moot, but taken as whole, it begs to be examined, I feel.
Our children and adults alike, spend hours playing graphic video games in which the sole purpose is bloodletting — maiming and murdering, in the most violent and gruesome ways. There are many wonderful video games, but the breadth and depth of the “snuff†games is cause to pay attention.
The gladiator like fighting cultures that arisen in recent years is something to look at. These are no longer the staged violence of pro wrestling, in itself a bit unsettling – these are real blood for the sake of blood. In Rome, the rise of gladiators was a sign of the accelerating decline of the Roman Empire. We may not be there yet, but what does this current, rampant thirst for blood have to tell us?
Another litmus that has always reflected the culture is the role man’s religious constructs play in the manipulation and repression of his freedoms. I have nothing against the numerous religious constructs man has created. For those so drawn, they are a place for the safety and certainty they require.
However, when core radical religious minorities begin to attempt to dictate and rule the masses, imposing their constructed values and fundamentalism, especially when they claim it is the will of god – we’ve got to take notice.
These are the signs that point to the stripping of freedom of responsible individual thought and personal rights. Today, with the rise of the repressive extreme fundamentalism that we see around the globe, it is akin to the eve of the dark ages. I don’t think we will descend to those extreme depths, but what does it mean when we have so many who would lead us there – even if it were unwittingly?
I applaud your optimism Camille! I embrace your optimism, I champion your optimism — but I cannot and will not turn a blind eye to the signs I see. None of us had better do so. We all need to become proactive for balance. That is the key. Balance the extremes.
To be proactive I have started a creative blog to begin to penetrate the roots of society. I firmly believe creativity is the key to elevating our human species. You can read my thoughts here on my site in “My Perspective on Creativity.â€
I write poetry, speaking in sparse focused voice at times, entertaining lofty and beautiful thoughts at others, and holding a mirror to reflect what is beautiful, or to reflect what I see as troubling — because poetry has the power to penetrate the human psyche to greater depths than any written form.
Poetry actually has the ability to alter people on a level that strict written word often cannot. If I write an essay, I make you think; maybe even alter your opinion. I write a poem, I have the chance to make you feel, in your core – that can alter your hardwired being. I believe this.
I think we urgently need to go to these depths of the human psyche now, to send out these altering sparks, because I think there is trouble brewing on some fronts that could have dire consequence for the long-range future.
I also write poetry to celebrate, to lift up my own spirit, to have hope, to see possibility – to protect my personal sanity.
So let us dance, sing, embrace the beauty and the miracle of life and this magnificent world in which we live, and seek joy and truth – but let us not be Nero. Rome is beginning to smolder.
–and so it goes–
…Rob
This is a really interesting post and series of comments! I love the Moody Blues so thanks for posting some of their lyrics! I persoanlly aim towards optimism about the future of the earth but sometimes I think it is too late, especially for large areas of rainforest, many species of animals and plants, for the overall sustainability of life on the earth as we know it and the full functioning of our ecosystems. But more and more people are putting messages out about human rights and environmental stewardship so there is hope….
Thank you Juliet for contributing to “possibility” of this post. For my personal sanity, I must believe that it is not too late, that there is reason for great optimism.
I find it amazing when, even confronted with overwhelming practical evidence pointing towards the need to take action, we humans can still find a way to remain obstinate, in denial, or worse, apathetic.
At least with obstinacy or denial the individual has some degree of passion invested, some spark of investment. There is motion to passion, to investment. It can be redirected.
Apathy is a type of “death” towards a matter. I have found that reviving the dead is remarkably difficult. But I will continue to rattle and rail to that end, to beseech people to “just open your eyes, and realize…â€
–and so it goes—
…Rob