Shannon Larratt is Zentastic

Clive (Rookie) and Kay (Tankgirl) are getting married today! The last link is a link to the event, if I wasn't prepping for the BBQ and the NY update, I'd be there… Anyway, I wasn't going to post this until it went on the site, but given the event, I'll include here the draft introduction to my New Year's article:

Since this is my first column of the new year, it's probably fitting to begin with an appropriate message. Many people come to find BME not just because they are into body modification, but because body modification is a “symptom” of finding themselves on a path of self discovery. I'd like to quote from Be Here Now by Dr. Richard Alpert Ph.D, better known as Baba Ram Dass.

Christianity: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is Love.”
Confucianism: “To love all men is the greatest benevolence.”
Buddhism: “Let a man cultivate towards the whole world a heart of Love.”
Hinduism: “One can best worship the Lord through Love.”
Islam: “Love is this, that thou shouldst account thyself very little and God very great.”
Taoism: “Heaven arms with Love those it would not see destroyed.”
Sikhism: “God will regenerate those in whose hearts there is Love.”
Judaism: “Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and thy neighbor as thyself.”
Jainism: “The days are of most profit to him who acts in Love.”
Zoroastrianism: “Man is the beloved of the Lord and should Love him in return.”
Baha'i: “Love Me that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can no wise reach thee.”
Shinto: “Love is the representative of the Lord.”

There aren't many truths that universally bind us together. Body modification is most certainly one of those truths, but it is a symptomatic truth. The underlying foundation that makes it all possible is Love — if anything is remembered in 2003, please let it be that.