In 1972 we saw this picture of earth from space.
I remember hearing a story of a teacher asking children what they notice about the picture.
After several comments, one child said, “There are no lines.”
Every other map she had ever seen.
Every map we have ever seen…
Has lines.
But if you step back just a bit.
And see with new eyes.
What you will see is that there are no lines between the United States and Mexico or between Israel and the Palestinian Territories or between India and Pakistan. No lines between this country and that country. Between your country and my country.
May we have eyes to see the earth as it is and the global community in which we live.
Marie says
October 3, 2016 at 3:05 pmWe die containing a richness of lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we have plunged into and swum up as if rivers of wisdom, characters we have climbed into as if trees, fears we have hidden in as if caves.
I wish for all this to be marked on by body when I am dead. I believe in such cartography – to be marked by nature, not just to label ourselves on a map like the names of rich men and women on buildings. We are communal histories, communal books. We are not owned or monogamous in our taste or experience.
All I ever wanted was a world without maps.
Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient
Paul Alcorn says
October 3, 2016 at 7:26 pmWhat a great quote. Thank you for sending it. To be used at another time.