I was contemplating a number of themes while writing this song. One is the equality of men and women. In one place the Baha’i Writings speak about it in this way: ”The world of humanity has two wings -- one is women and the other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible. Not until the world of women becomes equal to the world of men in the acquisition of virtues and perfections, can success and prosperity be attained as they ought to be.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 288).
But it is also interesting to me that, while here on the material plane, humans experience creation as either male or female, the soul itself transcends this...“The rational soul has no gender, and the social inequalities that may have been dictated by the survival requirements of the past can no longer be justified in an age when the members of the human family are becoming daily more interdependent.” (Baha'i International Community, 1995 Aug. 26, Religion as Agent for Promoting Advancement of Women)
So all those attributes that we think of as either “male” or “female” (i.e. nurturing, caring etc. as “female” or aggression, assertiveness etc. as “male”) are actually generically “human” attributes either gender can acquire. However, each soul finds itself manifested into this world through either a male or female biology, with an attendant predominant set of particular attributes in service to a group of historical duties which are reinforced by cultural practices.
The Baha’i sacred Writings speak of this period of history, this emerging of the equality of men and women as being part of a larger process, namely...“...the coming of age of the entire human race and the birth of a world civilization” (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 410)
When I ponder this emerging equality, I think of the needed changes in the minds and hearts of both men and women. In some ways I think it means each gender striving to acquire a greater share of those attributes historically seen as the domain of the other. Also, I reflect on the need for changes to those cultural norms and practices that are clearly outdated, while still appreciating those elements which seem to be inherent in the soul manifested as either male or female - for there is a difference - realizing BOTH wings are needed to reach the loftier goals of humanity
The Players:
Eugene Smith - Drums
Laurel Dewitt - Keyboards & Vocals
Mike Ward - Bass & Backing Vocals
Auberte Campeau - Percussion
Bob Ryan - Guitar & Lead Vocals
Recorded in 1999 at Lightkeeper Music Recording Studios of Penticton BC Canada.
(LYRICS)
Words & Music by Bob Ryan (C)1988
She was listening to the wind call
Call her name
And she could hear the mystery
make its claim
She was listening to the wind.
She was looking out her window pane
But her view was wider
than the misty plain
She was following the wind.
She’s a lady
Who can’t refrain
To break the chains
Of a clinging name
She could feel the world was breathing
all as one
She could see life’s sons and daughters
‘neath one sun
She was causing the wind.
She was now the wind calling to her man
And their varied thoughts were
merging in the land
They were causing the wind
Break the Chains
