Black or White… and Rainbows

Ninja movies in the 80’s made me obsessed with black. Then during my philosophy days in the early 90’s everyone around me had special affinity with white: white robe, white shirts, white brief, white everything. 

During the International Youth Forum in 1995, I met almost all nationalities. Everyone was proud of their colors and some are prejudicial with the rest. One youth leader, for example, would wear black ALL the time, and would raise an eyebrow to those who wore multicolor. But one student had the courage to tell him, “Sir, there are more colors other than black and they’re beautiful, you know.”  Deep inside I was smiling and admired the kid.

Judith Light  said, “Prejudice in any form is more than a problem; it is a deep-seated evil within our society.” I saw prejudice killed people’s spirits, dreams and existence.  I respect black but I also adore white, love caramel and lust for different colors.

If only humanity would fully understand that colors are just illusion and languages are simply instruments in the grand orchestra of life, there will be no more racism, or ‘colorism’. After all, we are all parts of the same league called humanity.

Where Life Starts

After I got married and had children, I started to forget who I was and what I can do. I settled down in my own secure little world… and I felt so old.  I wanted to be forgotten. But a long lost friend found me one day: “Are you John B whose birthday is on May 29?” That’s the message I received a few years ago. From then on, my life has never been the same again.

Today, I just turned 40, but I felt like I’m just 22 years old ready to go to the battlefield again, ready to risk, ready to conquer ready to win, ready to love. I have no special message for this post except the message of gratitude.

This morning Namie dressed up her dolls, put perfume in them and lined them up to greet and hug me: “Happy birthday, Daddy!”

Thank you, thank you, thank you.