(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . THE RAINBOW ISN’T ONE COLOR [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-06-01 [NOTE: While some of the following references will be Biblical, I’d like to invite those readers who are agnostic, atheist, or from other religions and beliefs to step out of their normal “box” to read between the lines for the message. Thank you – you are wonderful!] It’s June 2024 and Pride Month, but I want to address several angles for re-interpreting rainbows, some of which have been long forgotten and that need to be resurrected, even reexamined again as well. First, let’s go back to the first description of the rainbow’s significance to humankind and its meaning. In Genesis 8, verse 13, we read: Here, after the Great Flood, God set the first rainbow in the sky as a visual reminder to both God and humankind that he wouldn’t demolish the earth again. A covenant is a promise. But this promise is one of hope for the future, a better tomorrow. With everything facing us these days in our country and worldwide, a reasonable hope is something to strive towards, because the challenges of climate change, economic instability, inequality in so many forms, and political unrest are as daunting as they seem. Second, the rainbow has been interpreted as a portent of good fortune, as well as a sign of spiritual enlightenment. In this context, the rainbow takes on two more applications. When one thinks about the arch of the rainbow, consider that you start “at the bottom” with dreams, aspirations, and goals towards which you strive and pursuing these goals, you potentially can arrive at the highest peak of the arch – and keep in mind that these goals are going to be different (higher or lower) according to each individual’s unique abilities (i.e., not everyone will become a famous neurosurgeon but they might become the best car mechanic). All things are possible if, in the wise words of Marcus Aurelius (paraphrased), you “learn to ignore the good opinions of others.” The second application of rainbows I found particularly meaningful from traditional Navajo teachings in that the seven colors of the rainbow represent the ways the Holy People communicate with their children. I think that is a wonderful concept, as Nature is an excellent teacher if we take the time to observe and listen to Nature’s lessons. The third and current rainbow is often derided these days by homophobes as “appropriation” of the colors of the rainbow from its original meanings (by the same homophobes who fail to grasp the meaning beyond the LGBTQ+ community). I lived in San Francisco in 1978, when the gay artist and civil rights activist, Gilbert Baker, made the first rainbow pride flag as a response to an anti-gay community that was using the pink triangle used by Nazis to identify gay individuals. It flew proudly over the Castro District and was an impressive sight to behold. It, too, was a symbol of hope for a better future. So, what’s the point of this diary? In the title, “The Rainbow Isn’t One Color”, therein lies the message to all the homophobes (who mostly happen to be white and straight, like I am, but I possess a colorful inner spirit. :) ) The rainbow has many colors . It is NOT all one color – not all White, or Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, or Purple. But I’d like to challenge people, gay or straight, to embrace diversity. And to all the Evangelical Christians who have a problem doing that, I’d like to ask them a simple question: If the God of the Universe that you profess to worship, who loves diversity by virtue of all the gazillion different types of species of plants, animals, and especially humans, that were created can do it, why can’t you embrace diversity of other human beings – gays, POC, disabled, different religions, etc., etc., etc., i.e., “different in any way”? Think about it. It is and it isn’t simple. The challenge is to keep hoping for and striving toward a better future for everybody against some serious odds and obstacles. I think that if we don’t do this, that time is running out for us as a species. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/1/2244236/-THE-RAINBOW-ISN-T-ONE-COLOR?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/