Thoughts about Susan Boyle

[sabrinamari]

OK, I just had to give an opinion, and it's a little different from the popular one.

I did watch the clip, although I really hate reality shows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-KiGva9dV4

And it's true that the audience behaved badly, and the judges were cruel, and yes, the first part of the video showcased the audience's ugliness.

But there were other things in that video, too. Susan didn't just show them all. She brought a moment of transcendence and understanding to a group of people stuck in a terrible, bad place: a stunted place, an ugly place.

She brought healing, and understanding, for just a moment. And many have pointed out that this one moment will probably be insufficient to change who people are. There will still be meanness. There will still be cruelty.

But how do people change, except through many moments of understanding and transcendence strung together? How else can transformation happen?

It is easy, and even comforting, to express your anger at the people who treated Susan so badly. And it's good to speak your truth.

But let me ask you honestly...

Who among you has never been so cruel?

I have. I have been desperately, heart-wrenchingly, horribly cruel.

I have.

When I was small I remember standing in a ring with other children, taunting a poor little soul, sad and bereft, standing alone in the middle. We tormented her with the chant," You're mother's ugly! Your mother's ugly!"

And I remember with perfect clarity her face collapse, and her quiet, shaky voice say, "I know she's ugly."

I remember what I did and I will never, never forget it.

That moment has been a huge part of shaping who I am. That little girl was my teacher and my mentor, and at the age of 5 or 6, she set me on the path to becoming a minister and a Priestess at great personal cost. Partly because of her, I am a person trying every day to learn true compassion.

Have mercy, too, on the cruel. They are all of us.

Comments

[sligoe.livejournal.com]

I've been on the receiving end of cruelty all too often in my life. People who are too quick to judge because of appearance, because of pre-conceived notions about who and what I am or what my hopes and dreams are. I chose not to let it make me bitter, or become cruel in turn. I've worked at developing patience and a slow tongue, even though I have a terrible temper. I'd rather walk away from conflict and be seen as weak, rather than cause damage by indulging my nature.

This has not been an immediate process, and it's still in progress. But I understand, all too well, what cruelty does, and I try to avoid it and show compassion for others as well as myself.

How many will remember the lesson taught? Sadly, I'm afraid not many. We just have to keep trying.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

{{{sligoe}}}