20th

century

Oc

cavemen

The basis of our civilization's religious teachings can be put in these few words, "Love one another". It does not say, "You shall love only men," to one group and "You shall love only women," to another. It makes no sexual distinction. We are all one: where is that difference of the soul? Where is that boundary line so clearly defined to some and so nebulous to others?

There is no boundary line, only in the eyes of the beholder. Wherever he wants that dividing line to be, there it is. However, from the other side that boundary is always the same. An insurmountable barrier to a complete life. Who among us chooses to suffer? Who chooses to live in an unending agony of fear, hiding and always running from the prying eyes of the world? Surely not you or I, or thousands upon thousands like us.

We would like to face mankind as we really are, command respect and honor for our minds and talents. Show our true faces to the world and cry-"See me, I am no monster, no spoiler of little children. My thoughts are like yours. My body is the same as yours, my blood as red, my nerves as sensitive. Why am I kept inside this wall of prejudice and hate? I am no freak but human as you are human."

We must escape this torture of living by stealth in the daylight and hiding in smokey caves at night. Insofar as our personal lives are concerned we have not advanced beyond the caveman. Every person we meet is an enemy out to destroy us until he proves himself another caveman or at least a caveman sympathizer. We have cultivated a certain extra sensory perception in regard to one another. Always we know our own but to what purpose? We remain divided. Until we can present a united mind to the rest of the world we will continue to live as cavemen with fear and hatred our companions, love and trust our goal.

How does it feel to find love unmixed with hatred, joy untouched by sorrow, comfort undiluted with pain, laughter without tears and trust without misgivings? Would you like to know? I would.

We live in the shadows. Each one of us is like the moon. One side eternally turned to the earth and light, the other to darkness and secrecy. All of us are masters of deceit, lying about trifles, hiding behind meaningless words and artificial smiles.

They say that all the great artists and lovers have suffered. If this is true, who among us is not a great artist and immortal lover? Why should there not be titanic genius among us? Who has suffered more? Surely not the men and women that starve for their Art. They at least could beg for their subsistence or steal if they so desired. Yet we who are just as human must hide our hunger-and it is a great hunger-from every eye, muffle our voices and deaden our heartbeats from a misunderstanding world. Still the voice cries out though silently. The eyes shed bitter, hidden tears and our hearts break. Break at the cruel words and deeds of the civilized, normal world. The laws of the world say we are lost, condemned to the lowest God and man-made hell. Is it a sin to love? Is it sinful to want someone to love you? All civilization frowns on our love. Is this their interpretation of "Love one another"?

Martha McClain.

page 27