It has come to the point where Disney is the guiding voice of reason, which is very scary to say. While scrolling through Youtube covers the other day, I came across a pop version of “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas and immediately saw the entire song in a new light as it perfectly lays out the issues we are facing today. In case you don’t believe me, let’s go through the song and apply some of the principles to today’s political and social debates.
“You think you own whatever land you land on/ The earth is just a dead thing you can claim/ But I know every rock and tree and creature/ Has a life, has a spirit, has a name.” As Pocahontas begins her song lesson for John Smith, she is also calling to the people of today. From today’s Americans perspectives, the United States is the all-powerful nation that can only help and never hurt those it enforces its will upon and thus, the United States should be able to enter and “aid” any country or peoples of its choice. Pocahontas goes on to point out the faults in this logic as every living thing in the area which is conquered or helped will be influenced by the actions taken by the United States. If people are not willing to acknowledge that there are people just like them being hurt and tortured by the decisions they are making from afar, then no one will be able to live in peace.
“You think the only people who are people/ Are the people who look and think like you /But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger/ You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew.” This has been one of the main problems with the election process this year as character slandering and hate have taken the place of debates on real topics. People are no longer willing to discuss the issues, but instead lash out at anyone who does not share the same exact values. By instead considering the perspectives of both different opponents and allies, multiple ideas and compromises can come about. However, if people are only willing to see their own struggles and successes, they will never be able to bring together a successful nation or establish a welcoming country to everyone that needs the same opportunities that those lucky enough to be born in the United States are now entitled to.
“How high does the sycamore grow?/ If you cut it down, then you'll never know.” Trying to stop progress and change because of fear will help no one and will hurt almost everyone. The only way to see how much better things can be is to allow for the nature of change to take its course. It may not always be easy to accept, but nothing can be learned if change is not allowed to take place. Inevitably, the growth will occur either way, and it is best to learn to grow as an individual as the community grows together.
“We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain/ Need to paint with all the colors of the wind.” Everyone’s voice matters. It does not matter where a person is from, what she looks like, what political party she identifies with, or what you think of her. She has the right to express her opinions just as much as you do. If you do not accept others as they are and acknowledge every other person as a unique human, you need to take a step back and look in the mirror. We all need a voice. We all need justice. We all need peace. We all need someone to stand up and tell us that the hatred we are spreading is wrong. So, stand up and start talking, or start singing, just like Pocahontas.
