Sunday, February 18, 2007
He who steals my purse
Long ago when I was a free-spirited teen, I spent some years among the Onondaga Indians. Their method of salutation and communication was apparently different. Their reason continues to confound my rationale of proper etiquette.
“White people are always stealing energy,” my friend Kim would accuse. Kim worked at a construction site on the campus of Syracuse University. When he spoke he rarely made eye contact with anyone. Our first introduction was not met with a handshake. It was never a comfortable relationship. As a white person I expected Kim to look at me when he spoke. He did not. I was insulted when he made no effort to shake my hand when we were introduced.
As our friendship grew he explained how people steal energy from one another. He reminded me that we are nothing more than energy. He said that white people are quite aware of their efforts to steal energy through hand and eye contact in order to grow in self-power. He pointed out that many Asian people bow when introduced and never make eye contact for the same reason Indians do not. Kim explained that touch was something shared with people one was able to trust: wife, children, etc. because energy was restricted to the circle. “America is strong because its leaders steal energy,” he’d accuse. Energy thievery, is it possible? And if mine were to be stolen would it be akin to the contents of my purse? After all, it is widely known that he who steals my purse steals trash.
“White people are always stealing energy,” my friend Kim would accuse. Kim worked at a construction site on the campus of Syracuse University. When he spoke he rarely made eye contact with anyone. Our first introduction was not met with a handshake. It was never a comfortable relationship. As a white person I expected Kim to look at me when he spoke. He did not. I was insulted when he made no effort to shake my hand when we were introduced.
As our friendship grew he explained how people steal energy from one another. He reminded me that we are nothing more than energy. He said that white people are quite aware of their efforts to steal energy through hand and eye contact in order to grow in self-power. He pointed out that many Asian people bow when introduced and never make eye contact for the same reason Indians do not. Kim explained that touch was something shared with people one was able to trust: wife, children, etc. because energy was restricted to the circle. “America is strong because its leaders steal energy,” he’d accuse. Energy thievery, is it possible? And if mine were to be stolen would it be akin to the contents of my purse? After all, it is widely known that he who steals my purse steals trash.
# posted by Bite Me Kissimmee @ 8:42 AM 
