I See, Said The Blind Man
Posted: Thursday, July 26, 2007
by David Tanguay
Ever since I was a child I would hear my father every so often say “I see said the blind man." being young when I first heard him say this I kind of took it like it was some kind of joke, and really didn’t give it that much thought. My father died in 1985 today when I look back in time and ponder on those words my father spoke all those years I tried to unravel the phrase I’ve heard so often.
Hey, I’ll be the first to admit I am guilty of this conduct. I remember at the age of nineteen as I walked through villages in South Vietnam I actually looked at those people living in grass huts eating their daily and customary diet of rice and living a very simple life as being ignorant. Who am I to judge? What I was guilty of was being blind at the time and not looking under the surface to see these simple people I considered ignorant had a heart just like me or perhaps a bigger heart than mine at the time. I believe they were the intelligent ones looking at me as being the ignorant one. This was true I was too blind to see the truth.
Oh sure it’s only in our human nature I suppose to be attracted to attractive people. We like to look at handsome men or beautiful women and comment on their looks. We say he is handsome or she is beautiful. Many stars become stars because of the reason they can capture an audience with their looks.
It’s only natural to present to the world what we want them to see, and not what is hidden inside of us. Is this factor the reason we have always had wars or heated arguments with our neighbor? When we yell at someone are we trying to say “hey I can see the real you" but rather than being candid and revealing what we see in our neighbor perhaps is because the reason we can see this hidden characteristic is because we too possess it.
“Very few people really see things unless they've had someone in early life who made them look at things. And name them too. But the looking is primary, the focus" Denise Levertov
Michael Jackson had a # 1 hit in 1988 titled “man in the mirror" here are a few of the lyrics:
Man In The Mirror lyrics
I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .
As I, Turn Up The Collar On My Favorite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See Their Needs
A Summer's Disregard,
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere To Go
That's Why I Want You To Know
I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change)
(Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah)
I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish
Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No Home,
Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not Alone?
Michael Jackson (his “bad" album) I believe we could all learn a great deal if we looked at the man/woman in the mirror and say to him/her “hey there let’s get it right."
(A personal note from the author not related to the content this article) "I don't believe any of the accusations made against Michael Jackson are true."
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Great article, David. None of can change others; that is an impossible task but we CAN change ourselves. I hope that throughout my entire life I continue to learn because life teaches much to us, huh? Thanks for your wise thoughts, Mr. David!Please log in to respond to this comment.Judi, if you believe we can change ourselves than why can’t we “not change” but rather show others the mistakes we made in life? Isn’t that what it’s all about? a lot of people want to change their lifestyles, that’s why they go to rehabilitation classes, AAA meetings, that’s why they try to get clean from drugs. They want help. By helping others we help ourselves. I believe if we can change the world then we will naturally change for the better.Please log in to respond to this comment.
I think you're reading too much into it mate, it's just a funny saying.Please log in to respond to this comment.
hi david, i was just talking to my Reflexologist about the same concepts today. until you've walked a day (mile) in someone else's shoes, you shouldn't prejudge, nor should you judge at all. i don't believe my Higher Power created me to make fun of all His other creations. it's all a test! thanks for a good article. dittoPlease log in to respond to this comment.
Nick, it might be just a funny saying but if you really look into it its so much more.Please log in to respond to this comment.
that is so true never thought of it like thatPlease log in to respond to this comment.Thank you for commenting anonymousPlease log in to respond to this comment.
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