01-14-2010, 02:43 PM
This has been an interesting thread to read. In my time here in Hawaii, I have learned that:
1. This is not paradise. What Hawaii (and this side of the island especially) does, it provide an amazing, intense opportunity to connect to the paradise and/or hell that is within all of us. Many aren't ready to face what is within and are thus kicked off the island. Yes, there are some very angry people here. That's a symptom of what is within that they have not had the strength or desire to deal with. I try to have compassion and understanding for such people because god knows I've been there.
2. While there is some racism, the vast amount of "racism" is people developing a victim sense and seeing racism when it is in fact just the other person being an ass and/or you bringing it on yourself and likely not realizing what you did to piss people off because, well, you're a haole. 99.9% of the time when someone looks like they have an issue with me, if I smile, their wall comes down and they smile back.
Why do I love it here? Why do I live here? Well, that would require a dissertation length diatribe and frankly, I don't know all the answers to that question anyway. I'm just going with the flow and enjoying what the island provides. What I do know is that when my mind is especially quiet, this island shares herself in amazing ways.
1. This is not paradise. What Hawaii (and this side of the island especially) does, it provide an amazing, intense opportunity to connect to the paradise and/or hell that is within all of us. Many aren't ready to face what is within and are thus kicked off the island. Yes, there are some very angry people here. That's a symptom of what is within that they have not had the strength or desire to deal with. I try to have compassion and understanding for such people because god knows I've been there.
2. While there is some racism, the vast amount of "racism" is people developing a victim sense and seeing racism when it is in fact just the other person being an ass and/or you bringing it on yourself and likely not realizing what you did to piss people off because, well, you're a haole. 99.9% of the time when someone looks like they have an issue with me, if I smile, their wall comes down and they smile back.
Why do I love it here? Why do I live here? Well, that would require a dissertation length diatribe and frankly, I don't know all the answers to that question anyway. I'm just going with the flow and enjoying what the island provides. What I do know is that when my mind is especially quiet, this island shares herself in amazing ways.