Add it up!
I am a man.
I am white.
I am tall.
I am good looking.
I am smart.
I am Christian.
I am heterosexual.
I am educated.
I am thin.
I am well-dressed.
All of these things are labels
Can’t define me.
These labels don’t add up to me.
Cuz I am queer —
Yes, I said I am hetero,
But I am queer, cuz I am both.
You can’t just label my private sensibility
of sensuality – my sexuality – like that!
I am hunched over on the toilet.
Because there’s something I have got to get out!
And it’s the middle of the night and my glasses are broken
So I need to bend down just to see the page.
You see I am near-sighted.
But the sight of you has come into focus
Amidst this shit storm
War of words — heaving labels from the trenches
Of society’s front lines.
The problem is compounded
By this persistent thought that’s a double agent- double agent
Whispering falsehoods into people’s ears
While their gazes are fixed on the “enemy”.
He whispers into their minds
“I know you” and too often they believe it.
When all we know is labels in our own heads.
And more and more we have found
Ways to use labels to replace knowledge.
Knowledge comes from understanding.
While all this shit is flying in the face of knowledge,
We can’t afford to be silent.
We can’t afford this time to be silent.
Because time’s up!
Cease your fire!
We spit words of hatred
Only because we don’t understand
What we need are words that heal.
Words that clean up the mess.
Words that open doors.
Words that connect us.
We have words that when put together bring hope.
Bring meaning to this struggle.
It’s time we recognize we are all in this struggle.
Some are rich. Some are poor.
Some are white. Some are black.
Some are straight. Some are gay.
Some “on the right”. Some “on the left”.
But it doesn’t add up!!
It is not a game — this thing called life.
We all need to get T.P.
And get this mess cleaned up!
T.P. is trans-political.
The whole of a person
Is more than the sum of their labels
Let alone a single label!
So, how unconscious it is to think “I know you” across enemy lines.
We need to get trans-political.
And transition from this binary
Where shutting outside of your in-group anyone who doesn’t hold your label
Makes you feel secure, in your trench of media bullshit!
Let’s be the medics.
Recognizing we are all wounded by this onslaught of fighting.
We are all connected, and what unifies us is greater than what divides us.
But we have fallen prey to this idea: “I know you [insert label]”
Though unspoken, it allows us
To know others as little as possible.
When what all of us need so much is connection.
We close the door, instead of saying, “I don’t understand.”
When we seek understanding
It’s an opportunity to learn
It’s an opening into a story, a painting, a poem, a dance, a song, a Life!
We are more than words. All of us are!
None of us are truly contained in a label.
Yet if someone hurls one at you, it always hurts.
Even if the pain receptors are gone
From years of battle or abuse.
I refuse to live in a binary mind.
The power of words must be claimed.
And claiming it collectively we will regain connection.
By saying to each other, “I want to understand you.”
We can begin to recognize our collective humanity.
And maybe start to stop blaming each other
And recognizing the bigger picture.
The knowledge of each other brings out many truths.
Firstly, we are all hurting.
Too many have so little love that they would do anything
To get attention.
Sadly, some lose their humanity.
But humanity is not sitting in the lost and found.
It is the connection to something beyond words that occurs
When we understand something about each other
And to feel each other emotionally.
There’s a crisis of disconnection, where the internet browsing
Takes the place of eye contact
And programmed entertainment
Takes the place of human engagement.
We don’t understand each other because
Humans being have so much to share! So much to become! So much to dream!
Mountains will move when we let our love lights shine.
This little light of mine is not a crutch.
I am strong. I am caring.
Those who know me know this.
And I am seizing the T.P. to start cleaning shit up!
I am a trans-political peace-maker.
That means I do not live entrenched with one side of an argument.
When I let someone fully explain their points of view
That is respect.
There may be opportunities to try to shut them down
Because I don’t believe that or I disagree, or I think that’s wrong
From my point of view.
And maybe it is, but if I do, when is it going to change?
There is something undefinable stepping in between people.
Causing them to fear, and attack.
Maybe it’s the ghost of a dead horse that’s been beaten to oblivion.
We need to stop it!
I say to you in love, “I hear you. I feel you.”
I am trans-political because politics is not of the people
Like it might have once been for intelligent white men
Like myself.
Just sayin’, this is a crisis!
Because the concentration of power has become so narrow
And so evasive, and so divisive
I say “Where’s my country?
“Where’s my government?
“Where’s my representative, in this mess?”
I am trans-political because the avenues of political power
Have been overthrown by money.
I am not rich in money.
I am rich in spirit, and in love with humanity.
I refuse to hate large swaths of humanity, even if they hate me.
Even if they harm me.
I am a healer showing up on the scene.
My assessment is dire.
But I am not just sitting down with a wounded patient.
I am trans-political, which is not less than political.
I am opening humanity by being fully human with my sisters and brothers.
I am speaking up to end this shit storm war of words!
By adding words of love onto the weaponized labels
To confuse the enemy… Not my enemy…
Someone thinks “enemy” and they become an enemy.
Although confusion does not solve this.
It opens a door to asking
“What’s going on?”
And people are starting to know in their hearts
That this shit can’t keep going on like this.
We can transition beyond our labeled identities
Into demystefied casualties of a war we maybe never understood before.
Being brought into the medical tent for a spiritual revival.
We can do it. Yes we can!
We are transitioning to a better world
Where the support system is inherent
In our communities of all walks.
We all know there is a better way.
It starts with ‘not knowing’. I want to know. I want to understand.
Trans-political identities have the opportunity
To let go of the massive insults in our guts.
We can let that shit out!
Then we can cleanse and begin to invite others
Into positive relationship with us.
Without pent up triggers, without emotional illness
Of wanting to kill or silence people who disagree with my perspective.
We can exist in a higher plane of emotional mending
With inspired words of connection.
Instead of these labels creating walls of narrowed identities.
In each other there is always more.
Seek it out and you will discover.
It’s true, that there is always more
Because when we are allowed to be,
Sprouts break through concrete of false labels
Growing up into stronger more
And more beautiful people who clearly cannot be contained by someone’s labels.
Let us be confused…
Feel our hearts beating.
Feel our breath enter our lungs.
Sense the electricity within us.
And start living for the day.
There is a planet to take care of.
And we must activate a whole new thing
To break through this impass.
It is everything, and it’s overwhelming, and it hurts
To try listening to dumb arguments, but listen.
If you do not react; if you withold judgement and simply reflect another
The intensity of disagreement can shift and dissipate.
People get hooked on getting a rise out of someone for whatever reason.
But it stands to reason maturity is about taking a step back.
To let the force deflect. Then turn the other cheek.
And let what is intended be clear
Question the meaning of words.
Open the dialogue in what is the meaning of your perspective.
Reflection is necessary, and choice is crucial.
Choice of engaging with the human being
In their emotional expression, upheaval, confusion.
Know yourself.
Be trans-political.
More than the sum of whatever someone thinks of you.
More than the theories of political controversy and opposition can put upon you.
Always more!
Brighter than ever! Be the sunshine!
Entering the dark alley as day break.
Shining upon the poor soul who has no one to love or be loved by.
There are more wounds in this world than we want to admit.
But it is too late for any more denial, silence, and complacency.
We all rise together as what is possible.
Right now we begin a new world by transitioning out of hate.
By listening to the stranger.
By letting their story be wanted
And the quest is in understanding.
Then we elevate love power together.
wholearts 