The Origin of Love (June 26, 06)

Collective Noun:
The Origin of Love.

"... human nature was originally one and we were a whole, and the desire and pursuit of the whole is called love." -- Plato

One of my favorite movies, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" examines this basic concept: humans are not whole. We are all tiny pieces of people and we may only become whole when we find our other parts. Therefore, were are constantly searching and, according to Plato, loving.

I love this quotation. However, I'm struggling with it tonight. Maybe I'm feeling overly contemplative, or feisty, or... maybe I don't want to admit that I need someone, my better half, in order to complete me. I have had a full & satisfying life.

But the truth is: idowantlove.

So I'll use a different perspective:

I wonder if Plato meant (like Hedwig alludes to throughout the movie) that each couple was one soul, and in God's wrath, we were separated and have been searching for "the one" to make us whole again? This can't be the only answer. In fact, I think that Plato was speaking more generally: humanity was one. I suppose this goes against Genesis 1, and the creation of man.

But this is what I know:
Every time that I have experienced love, I did feel more whole, individually, and part of the larger collective "we". I'm not talking about romantic love. I'm referring to any kind of connectedness with humanity. I'm referring to the friends, family, lovers, co-workers, neighbors, peers, students, pets etc. that make me and the world more whole. I'm referring to the community of socially-responsible people that reach outside of themselves to experience love. Imagine if the leaders of this fine country had that kind of ability to love, if they could use their power for positive social change instead of avaricious gains.

The act of love in search for our (the entire fucking world) whole self.