Slave Mentality-Rodney D. Coates-gctid25478

[olufemi_baina_ayo]

My brothers and sisters,  

If, in order to build up your religion you must tear anothers down, then what is the value of your religion?  

Is religion merely about the destruction of others beliefs.  

What is  truth?

... from a religious perspective
... it is that which one believes.  

Everyone knows that Christmas  
is not celebrated anywhere near the birth of Christ ....... but, the Mass for Christ, as celebrated by Kmtyws and Blacks, is less about its date, as to its  
meaning and significance for their own lives.  

I would hope that those
who consider themselves "True Belivers"
of whatever religion, can get past religious ego.  

This EGO, for too many, has become their GOD....  
and hate their message.  

This does not do justice to any of the religious teachings. Whatever times that are set aside by various religious denominations to celebrate their origins, prophets and teachers, great moments  
and teachings....... this should be respected by others who may not believe.  

The God that is EGO, however, refuses to let others worship, in their chosen manner and would have them do it their way or else be cast down and out....  

This goes against the tenents of all religions....  

Again, my brothers and sisters,  
we can get bogged down in putting down  
other beliefs, customs, teachings,  
and religion....  

Or we can be about  
elevation,
uplift, unity.......
..
What shall it be?  
War or Peace?  
Division or Unity?  
These are our choices.  

As an asside, when I visited Ghana, this past summer, I observed a startling phenomenon:  

..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christians, Muslems, Jews, Kmtyws worshipping side by side
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--their churches, mosques and temples literally across from each other.  
In the market,  muslem,christian and jew doing business along with various indigenous religious groups.  

My brother belongs to the NOI,  
A cousin is a Catholic Priest,  
My grandfather was a Baptist Minister,  
Another cousin is a Black Jew.  
My father was an Athiest, and I ....  
Well, I believe in the Eternal One!  

We long ago decided to love each other,  
because we were family.  

While we do have heated debates,  
love within our family never is forgotten.  

Are we a family of misfits?  

Can we learn to love and  
express that love?  

Or must we squabble among ourselves,  
regarding religious correctness,  
the deification of ego,  
and the total abandoment of our common  
enemies, struggle, and purpose.  

In the words of Malcolm X....  
  ..
..I have no permanent friends,
I have no permanent enemies....
all I have,
is a permanent agenda.
..
-- Brother Omowale
   aka El Hajj Malik El Shabazz
   aka Malcolm X
  
..
  

Again .... the bottom line is ....  
a house divided shall not stand ....  

We either learn to accept our differences  
and unify or we shall be crushed .......  

A slave mentality is one in which we destroy each other faster than our enemies!  

A slave mentality is one where we take the whip from the massa and beat our own!  

A slave mentality is one where we eat our young!  

A slave mentality is where we are instruments of our destruction!

rodney d. coates, c//96  
..  
..  
..  
.. ?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Only when lions have historians,    
 will hunters cease being heroes.    
 --Kmtyw Proverb    
....    
Without struggle there is no progress.    
--Frederick Douglass    
....    
The most potent weapon of the oppressor,    
is the mind of the oppressed.    
--Steven Biko    
....    
yours in the struggle  
umoja, rodney d. coates