[7luminaries]

Now however, though not as extensively or thoroughly honored as one might wish, Life’s universal presence has been sufficiently recognized, championed and consented to so that most [albeit still not all!] social institutions are chartered to respect, protect and facilitate the development of every human being, regardless of sex, age or ethnicity."

DavidSun...I do appreciate your thougthts. Respectfully, though, I would say the above is simply not a true statement of fact but rather a wish list. It would truer to simply say, in some places, we've been trying and in some places, we've made a bit of progress in these areas...and more remains.

Also, whilst I agree it's still critical a critical watershed to even acknowledge principles in writing, words alone are cheap and ultimately meaningless without likewise integrity of intent, thought, and deed. And yet, at this time in our history, even just agreement with those stated principles are under attack. Because both when originally crafted and still at this time, they were not truly intended for all of us. Not yet. Yet the current reality is worth acknowledging because the ultimate good is worth fighting for.

"Darkness is a perfect ‘medium’ for light to shine and be seen in. There’s no reason to be turned off or withdraw from participation in what’s going on because of what is not yet of the highest order. As you encounter ills along the way, keep sight of the fact that resentment is destructive and lamentation wasteful. Choose to embrace positive possibilities which are ever-present. Believe me, when the dust settles and the smoke clears it will be abundantly apparent—our living planet will have become a more gracefully coordinated, qualitatively much more nurturing sphere."

Also, there's a lot here..... But again, I respectfully disagree. Absolutely, it is right and good to draw boundaries and to not participate in certain aspects of our reality, if your liberty and security permit you to exercise your freedom of choice.
Folks have every right and good reason to decide what is harmful and dissonant to them, such that they need to avoid it or disengage with it.

For many of us, the structure of modern normative "partner" "relationships" is, in the main, toxic and exploitative. Ideally it would not be so, and perhaps if we are allowed to continue to exercise our freedom to avoid harm and ill use, then one day they may no longer be such (in the main, normatively). Exercising our free choice on our journey allows us to instead engage positively with those who love and support us authentically (beloved fam, beloved friends) without demands for casual sex and ill use, and apart from the context of exploitation, deceit, and manipulation put forth in pursuit of the casual sex, etc. Likewise, this choice allows us the proper energy, focus, and calibre of spirit to raise our children, to work, and to engage in neigbourhood and civic causes. In all cases, we can choose to engage where our personhood is valued and honoured, and where our unique, individual humanity is accorded its due

That being said, the arc of history is all too slow in 'bending' to suite my tastes, but the fact is that it has bent and will continue to bend in a 'good' direction (IMO), albeit we still have a lot of 'work' to do and a loooong way to go. I recognize and applaud/support the 'front line' work you have done and are doing in this regard by way of your sharings.

Agreed we've a long way to go and thanks for the support. Just keep in mind that nothing (including the "arc of history") is "automatically" progressive. And that no progress is pre-determined, inevitable or in any way guaranteed. What we don't stand for every day, we will surely lose and whatever progress we don't support day-to-day will surely tend to diminish and regress. A lazy, insidious assumption of the inevitability of progress is commonplace yet is also fundamentally wrong and likely quite dangerous, IMO. So, likely we have far longer to go than many may realise, as they are making loads of unfounded assumptions about all this progress.

To Daz...sorry if this bit was is off topic...these are in fact all realisations post awakening so please feel free to comment &/or redirect as you like ;)

Peace & blessings
7L