a piper too

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Nigeria Village Square

The world is our village: All people are created equal members of one human family.

I come to you from a place far away, but through the wonders of the modern world and the internet, present here with you, sharing, as it should be. Our lives may take different courses, and present different challenges and opportunities, but under the skin we are all the same.

I am interested in things philosophical like all of the above, and have collected wisdom from many sources since my completion of my "Peace and Harmony" artwork in 2002. This was fueled by the rage (passion) I experienced when confronted by unexpected issues which happened soon thereafter.

What I have collected should be, I believe, accessable to all - to the religious - or not - of all colours and persuasions, for it contains what I consider the best of inspired quotations from around the globe, including those from the 3000 year old Wisdom of Solomon, and from the revered books of many religions and cultures. Wisdom (truth) presented in small, easily digested, self evident, and truthful bites, such as "All people are created equal members of one human family", "There is no hate in Love", etc. are pretty simple, and I'm sure, easy for all to understand, unless we are above ourselves.

Having pondered these maxims for a long time (I'm now over 60 years of age, and a family person - as indeed we all are), and having looked at these issues from many many, if not all, angles, one new thought came to me (which apparently has sprung from my artwork): that all of us are both male and female inside.

From this thinking, the "outside" is merely the wrapping which hides the complexity "inside"; for we are all uniquely created. If this is the case, male = female, just as black is white, and the end is a new beginning.... And we must honour the inside, as well as the outside. No judgment by an outsider is required. Parents are for nurture, pure and simple, not for whipping and stoning.

Just how religious and other leaders (who were created to serve the people, not just to puff themselves up, through dogma) have responded to the challenge of my artwork is revealing. Unfortunately, their response has not always been to their credit, and reveals the truth that loving adults are raised in loving homes. Anything less fails a parent's duty of care, and damage is done. Anything less than love is not holy.

I have just heard about Nigeria's ongoing debate about same-sex relationships, and your looking for a just and equitable solution, to find a "win/win" way forward for our future, to what is but a normal living variation, like skin colour, hair texture, height, weight, etc.

By accepting that "all people are created equal members of the same human family", and allowing same-sex attracted and same-sex loving couples the same rights as everyone else, we "give love a chance". This, I believe is the crux, the very heart of the matter. Hate melts in the arms of Love.

I have also recently summarized many of the sayings of "The Muslim Jesus", according to a recent book of that name by Tarif Khalidi. This Jesus is referred to time and again as "Spirit of God", or sometimes "Word of God", and is reported to have commended the Golden Rule: Love your neighbour as yourself (page 146). I have identified 136 variants of this saying collected from the writings of all religions, and none (from my 5555 wisdom quotes), the final entry being: "Your wounds are my wounds".

I have also been encouraged recently to read from Islamic sources that "the highest aspect of jihad is to speak the truth in the face of tyranny". But I am also aware that forgiveness and generosity must be nurtured, from each home outward, for the love of truth to thrive and grow in community (which literally means common unity). That is why I have joined your online community, and to support our world today.

Balance, peace and harmony can be ours too, when we see ourselves in all others...., and allow ourselves, from many, to become ONE.

With best wishes from �a piper too�