Antoun,

Aren't you the one looking back, studying her face in exacting detail, looking for the ideal Palestinian, among all the imposters and poseurs?

According to my varied dilettante readings, the Eastern and Native American view of time is as the past in front and the future behind the observer, because the past and what is in front are known, while the future and what is behind are unknown.

Which accords with the fact that we observe events after they occur, then the energy transitions to other events and observers.

While in the West, our assumption is of the future in front of us and the past behind, because we see ourselves as these objects walking through space, toward the future and away from the past.

Which ties into our view of the object, the noun, as fundamental and the processes emerging from the actions of these entities, from atoms to individuals.

Margaret Thatcher once commented that there is no society, just individuals acting.

Though that dimple in the middle of our stomach is where we popped off the tree. What would an apple be, without the apple tree?

Consider how much information these little wireless devices can transmit in a tiny amount of light, yet we are bathed in it and are it. We have to first perceive, then feel and sometimes, some coherent concept or thought coalesces and emerges.

All our cultures and civilizations emerge from the varied lessons learned, necessarily the most simplistic lessons the most broadly learned. With much of the following having to support these initial ideas, because we have to drink the hemlock, should we question the traditions too closely.

The resulting edifices are starting to get shaky though. The patches are peeling off as fast as they can be applied.

So, yes, it is one step at a time and sometimes the real lessons are in the journey, not the destination.

A dance not a race.

The steps are keys on the scale.

Resonating among the notes.

Some synchronizing, some harmonizing.

Some clashing.

Carefully,

John