12-11-11

I don't know how to start this one. Let me just state first that being in here causes people to search for things, almost always to do with spirituality or religion. Myself included. Whether it was Wicca, Asatru, or Satanism. Ooh, the "s" word! But it was for me a sense of self. Self-empowerment, reliance, worship. Sorry, Bruce Lee, but the word "I" does exist in some instances. But I was—proudly—never an ecumenical lemming. Never part of the status quo.

The "big four" religious factions have always had their multitudes of converts, but a new trend has caught my attention. Convert Native American Indians coming to Christ, Buddha, or Allah. But people becoming Indians.

Let me make this perfectly clear: I don't have a problem with this so much that it has me curious. That's all. Just try to follow the course I've witnessed in the past. A white guy, usually a Nazi of some kind, or Mexican gangster and even recently a Black crip. One or all "find out" they're actually Cherokee (usually the white guy) and they start to go to sweats and trade in their street names for more Native fare like Buffalo Hawk or Blood Wheat. Then the tattoos get going. Swastikas turn to dream catches and whatnot. Maybe it's just a prison thing, whatever. I'm not the only one of the few to say anything. And anyone offended reading this has missed the point entirely. Following the road to religious enlightenment is one thing. Trying to convert your DNA is another.

Surely they know what they're doing. I always loved this quote, "Religion is for those afraid of Hell, spirituality is for those who have been there." Unknown to me. I can relate to it myself. I'm hoping that's the case for these guys as well. We're all just trying to survive life without pissing on our own shoes or anyone else's. Cross Crescent or Red Road. Or something like me. :P

"If there is to be an autonomous free man, then God must die."
—Jean-Paul Sartre

Sorry, one last job. Ha!