At Every Endpoint Is A New Beginning

New books keep coming out titled “The End of … (history, science, culture).” I wonder why. This may be only the beginning of history. We’re now moving into space, the universe. The authors refer to “the end of history as we know it,” as the world becomes one market, one labor force and one gene pool.

The “end of science” seems even more baffling because science of the mind is just beginning. We are learning how we think. Authors of “The End of …” books are referring to the belief that physical laws of nature are now known, and the mind does not intrigue them in the same way. The “soft sciences” are so much more difficult.

The “end of culture” is perhaps the beginning of wisdom, a culture based on knowledge and values rather than power. We are approaching a time when no country or individual can dominate a region, economics or another group. Far from the end of culture, we may be facing a dramatic shift in what we define as culture.

Despite the misinterpretation of words like “multiculturism” and “village” and the resistance to any equalization of culture, maybe we are, for the first time, beginning to understand life and its deepest connections. The bonds between us and our earth supersede history, science and culture. It is through these bonds we will find wisdom.

Dear Jennifer:

I read your response to Rhonda in the Aug. 11 Sunday (Seattle) Times, regarding African-Americans. Some comments:

The earliest term European-Americans used for kidnapped Africans was “Negro,” which is simply Spanish for the color black. That original descriptive term was corrupted into a variety of terms.

There is a logic to the term African-American. When my African ancestors were forced onto these shores, they were strictly forbidden to speak their own languages, worship their own gods or to even keep their own names. Members of the same culture (e.g. Yoruba, Ashanti or Mandinka) were carefully separated to enforce this stripping away of culture, heritage and, ultimately, pride.

Most “Aframs” alive today do not know the original culture or language of their ancestors. We only know what is most visible to us and others: our African heritage. Even though nearly every Afram family tree has plenty of Native- and European-Americans, it is our African heritage (albeit unspecified by culture or nation) that defines our experiences in America.

The term “African-American” opens our hearts and minds to connections with Africa, its history, culture and people. We cannot rightly call ourselves Ashanti or Ghanaian-Americans, but we can appropriately call ourselves African-Americans until we decide to define ourselves differently.

Sincerely, Jackie

Dear Jennifer:

I lived in Northern California for more than 10 years when the term “African-American” became widely used; the term “Asian-American” also came into usage then for families originating from Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, etc.

I liked the term and employed it because, to me, it showed a step toward respect and equal status/ footing in society beyond “Oriental” or “Asian,” just as “African-American” was a step up from “black.”

It wasn’t until a friend, whose husband was Asian-American, referred to herself as “European-American,” that I began to see a further step in the linguistic path. To my way of thinking, referring to any group of people by the continent of their families’ origin (Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia) is a great step in recognizing our equality and common bond in America’s melting pot. It goes along with “Native-American.” (Following this line of thinking, I would call someone from South Africa - even though they were white or Caucasian - “African” to make clear it’s the continent of origin, NOT race.)

I hope we can someday describe ourselves and others without labels. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to describe a person by pointing out their character qualities - sense of humor, shy smile, etc. - instead of physical features? Someday we will all see past the physical to the inner, spiritual nature of each other. Then there will be no prejudice or racial, economic, social levels of society; just true, pure, brotherly love.

Sincerely, Melinda

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Jennifer James The Spokesman-Review