If only....

In my career as an Architect, I worked in many remodel or salvage projects; some were historical buildings where the City or the County very much wanted to bring back the glory of the old.
Sometimes, as demolition progressed we found it was not salvageable, and total replacement was the call. Sentimental value attachments made it difficult to convince that the old had to go, as it had become unsafe and unusable.
Sometimes sentimental attachments, or fear of losing the memories of times past were obstacles that could not be overcome. The solution was to walk away and allow time to bring common sense and healing.
Being an Architect was not just about buildings, it was a metaphor for human expressions of culture, religion and divisions, as well as the universal need for respect and comfort.  Without understanding of the values and cultural issues, we create resentment and division.
I heard this morning on NPR, about Iranian Americans in Los Angeles expressing their fear of animosity against them by non Iranians because of the tensions going on now between America and Iran.
I met many Iranians in the past, they came here after the Shah was deposed. They could have gone somewhere else in the World, but they chose this Country as their new home. They were wonderful people, with rich traditions and a beautiful energy. But now  the times are different. Now, there is division, fear, fueled by ignorance and lack of acceptance of diversity.
I lived in many places on this American soil, mainly because Architecture depends on the health of the economy, so when a recession hit, I had to find a job somewhere else, sometimes another state. Some states do not openly embrace someone that comes in from another place, or an outsider as I was referred to. They viewed me with suspicion, questioned my motives for wanting to live in "their" territory, and shunned me from their circles.
In Yakima, WA, for example, I interviewed for a job at a small company owned by three Architects: a Southern Baptist, a Seven Day Adventist and a Born Again Christian. During the lengthy interview they asked me questions about my family of origin, religious beliefs, etc. When I told them the story of my Russian Jewish grandmother fleeing Stalin persecution and being sent to Brazil, the three men stiffened and said: "we are Christians here, and have strong family values." As if Jewish people don't have family values? I had to swallow and smile, as i needed the job, but also had to endure a couple of years of comments like "you are not one of ours, you don't get invited to sit at our table for Christmas..."
The list goes on, but I don't want to list them here.
This whole thing came back into my mind today when I was told by the Beings from a Far Away Galaxy of the upcoming changes for this planet, and how I cannot stop them. I realized then how polarized and divided this planet is. We are at a point where no one is willing to pull up a chair and listen to each other, and only a catastrophic demolition of all the barriers, and entrenched beliefs, would allow us to embrace each other as a fellow Human and start all over from scratch.
As much as I don't want to accept this reality, Humans are mostly beyond shedding the layers of fear, beliefs and ignorance that led to where we are now. They are so firmly entrenched in holding on to their prejudices and defending their territory, that the only solution, (which in Architecture is called leveling out to make room for the new), is called by the Beings as a total cleansing.
I can't be rosey about it, there is no sugar coating the ugliness of wars, hatred and divisiveness.
Trust me, I'm a Healer, I create harmony and new life wherever I go, so either the Beings are being extreme in their messages, or I'm in denial. I'd rather believe a total cleansing will not be necessary if only people woke up and took the first step towards living in peace with each other and this planet.
If only.

---