If lucidity teaches us anything, it teaches that it is possible to see beyond the everyday notion of things. Take this topic, for instance.
Some people identify themselves as being a part of a group, largely based on ethnicity, that has been historically oppressed. What does lucidity teach you? How about the limited beliefs that you hold onto when you identify as being someone oppressed. Being of mixed ethnicity, I could choose any one of several groups to identify with, but then I am voluntarily placing myself in a box, something that is fundamentally not real. This is the teaching of lucidity about race and ethnicity; those concepts are largely constructions and to invest energy in them is to live under their limiting yoke. When a black person calls another person the ‘n’ word, some say they are appropriating the language of the oppressor and turning it around to empower themselves, but in truth, they are adopting the social constructions of a slave culture that no longer exists. Those who want to move forward and gain consciousness must realize their uniqueness and not be so quick to place themselves in some arbitrary camp that is the product of the place in which they have been raised. A person of conscience will explore the broader range of cultures and be able to place this one in context, and in doing so they will be above the fray and impervious to the trap.
Lucidity teaches that it is all about consciousness.
Look at the different personas you can put on and take off in a lucid dream. Now which one is you? Isn’t the real question what are you behind all those different masks? You’re not a black woman or asian-american man: you are a spark of consciousness in a sea of archetypal energies in which you swim and attempt to form meaningful relationships with.
The dichotemies of American society are arbitrary and the result of historical processes of the nation. They are as absurd as the dichotemies of any other country, and you can be sure that every single country on this planet has absurd ways to group and categorize people.
There’s no reason to denigrate American or Western European culture or society: name any culture and I’ll be able to tell you about personalities that were as vicious and rapacious as anything in our history. No, all societies contain plenty of dirty laundry. Fortunately, we are pretty good about airing out our bad history, and I think that’s pretty damn healthy.
Affirmative Action is neither good nor bad: it merely continues the tradition of placing people into boxes. It helps some people and gives other people a legitimate reason to be upset. It will never solve any problem. What is required is a cultural and conceptual solution: a solution of consciousness, but that’s very difficult.
Ultimately, the only solution will be after the current society undergoes a radical transformation, which is usually only brought about through intense suffering, not to mention a complete dissolution and rebuilding of a new political structure in North America. Political entities come and go, and that goes for the United States, too… and that’s not a bad thing! Thomas Jefferson said as much!!! But the political component has to be only in the context of a revolution in our consciousness - that’s where the real change happens, and it usually only gets there after great suffering because we’re all too invested in the status quo.
Well, food for thought.