A number of months ago I was in a large retail establishment looking for some pajamas for my son. I searched up and down the isles without success. “Where are all the Yoda pajamas?”, I asked myself. It was easy to find sleepwear with images of Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, Stormtroopers and the ever, self-serving Boba Fett. But NO YODA! Please don’t tell me that Goodness has gone into hiding and that the rapidly expanding taste for The Dark Side has reached our children’s sleepwear options. Do people now send their tots to bed dreaming of dastardly deeds rather than the Power of the Jedi?
Is there no longer respect for discipline, worthy achievement, or those who stand for Truth and Justice? Are people now convinced that if you are loud enough, you can change reality, redefine social norm or discard common decency? Has the daily distortion and pervasive distractions become so normalized, that adults can no longer discern fact from fiction? Will this ongoing chaos confuse our children to the point of constant questioning of self, others and their overall reality, ultimately leaving them void of trust in their world?
I believe that it is our social responsibility to remind ourselves and those that have been entrusted to us, that Universal Truth remains. Daily distractions cannot erase long held definitions of right and wrong or deafen that inner voice that resides deep within each of us, the voice that guides our decisions and forces us to look in the mirror and face our choices. The choices that make us better, not at the expense of others, but the ones that allow us to live up to our potential. Not to exploit the unfortunate or shame the disadvantaged, but to uphold the greater good. This is not about politics, it is about humanity.
I fear that greed has surpassed compassion and that the quest for power has replaced the importance of wisdom. I want to wake from this horrible nightmare, where people turn a blind eye to hate and cruelty and falsely label it strength. When will we put down the selfie stick long enough to see the suffering? My hope is that we begin to listen with our hearts before judging with our heads. To give one another the benefit of the doubt instead of reacting out of fear. I hope that it is not too late, that we can come together, seeing our similarities, celebrating our differences and remember what it is that gives us value.
Maybe I’m naive, but I still have hope. My family and I decided to see a movie in the park one evening last summer. We had to trek across town on foot to catch one of the latest stories about a galaxy far, far away. My son was walking to the silver screen in full costume; light saber at the ready, cloak trailing behind. A twenty something hipster heading in the opposite direction caught a glimpse of my kiddo. Just as he was about to pass us, he calmly announced to his nearby friend, “oh look, there’s a Jedi”, as if it happened every day. I chucked and thought, well, maybe it does. I guess you just need to know where to look. Thanks for the reminder.
May your continued search for wisdom bring you peace and understanding.
-KAKW
I would very much enjoy your comments, but please ensure that they are respectful and productive. If your comments do not meet these guidelines they will not be published.
Where are all the Yoda Pajamas? 
I enjoyed reading every word of your blog. What a gift it is that you are sharing your experiences and thoughts that you express so eloquently and visually. It reminded me of our many long conversations in your research office that I will forever treasure. Many of our talks have helped shape who I am as a person, professional, wife, and best of all, a mother. I miss you dearly and love that you are, always have been, and remain to be true to yourself and your beliefs. I can see it vividly in your writing and I can’t wait to read more. Thank you for sharing. You were always destined to write.
LikeLike