Rough day yesterday.  I witnessed an email exchange between friends which came to a painful conclusion.  I was a participant, and played a part in the conclusion which at this juncture could entail the end of a relationship with an individual.  I do not know anyone who would abide the disparagement of being judged a racist.  A few do embrace the designation, and approve the behavior which it entails.

Lately there is much racist material available on the net. When one forwards any of this material, and then appears to respond in defense of the position–one is likely to be labeled a racist.

This is the risk that we run to use screen based communication.  A thin sliver of the full bandwidth of the old-fashioned face-to-face communication between individuals is displayed on the screen. The ephemeral, evanescent, written words on a glowing screen are bereft of facial expression, vocal intonation, body language, etc.  All of that remains unexpressed, incommunicable.  It is precisely the body by which we receive cues for and encouragement to express empathy.

Where are we all going?  Is this the road that we want to take?  It is inevitable that we travel this road?  Cause and effect is inexorable, unavoidable, with no exceptions.  We cannot alter the effect of the causes which act upon us, or those which we have set in motion by our words.

Yet the future cannot be predicted. There are many contingencies within us, and exterior to us which are concealed.

My impulse is to pray. I have no “great” idea, no strategy for configuring our institutions which will save us from a melt down, a bloody morning after………

So I offer this song from the 80s

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Kyrie

by Mr. Mister

Kyrie eleison, kyrie eleison, kyrie
The wind blows hard against this mountain side, across the sea into my soul
It reaches into where I cannot hide, setting my feet upon the road
My heart is old, it holds my memories, my body burns a gemlike flame
Somewhere between the soul and soft machine, is where I find myself again

Kyrie eleison, down the road that I must travel
Kyrie eleison, through the darkness of the night
Kyrie eleison, where I’m going will you follow
Kyrie eleison, on a highway in the light

When I was young I thought of growing old, of what my life would mean to me
Would I have followed down my chosen road, or only wished what I could be

Kyrie eleison, down the road that I must travel
Kyrie eleison, through the darkness of the night
Kyrie eleison, where I’m going will you follow
Kyrie eleison, on a highway in the light

Songwriters: John Ross Lang / Richard James Page / Steven Park George