New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
| Memorial Day (observed)
Walt Whitman, American poet, was born on this day in 1819. A deist, Whitman considered all religions to be equal, and in his famous "Song of Myself," he speaks numerous times of the equality of religions and people: I do not call one greater and one smaller, That which fills its period and place is equal to any. In "With Antecedents," he says: I adopt each theory, myth, god, and demigod, I see that the old accounts, bibles, genealogies, are true, without exception. Since it is also Memorial Day in the United States, this is a good day to resolve conflicts and to examine and criticize our prejudices and biases (no matter how justified we may feel they are). Take time today-and after today-to meditate on the idea that while we may differ in culture, religion, and circumstances of birth, we are all equally deserving of respect and consideration. |
