Sweetness

by Skald

There is something different about Japanese women, though I cant quite put it into words. "Sweetness" comes to mind, but that doesnt quite capture it. They are sweet: incredibly kind-hearted (for the most part). But it goes beyond that. There is also a sense of grace and poise. A feeling of quiet power.

I sense none of the imbalance so prevalent in Americans (so prevalent in me). Theres none of the anger, attitude, and aggression.

And it IS primarily a female phenomenon. The men are uptight... but the women have something special. A similar phenomenon exists in India. In India I met several (usually educated) women with incredible poise. Grace. Baraka. Something special.

What I find so unique is the combination of confidence and humility. These women embody the feminine power so eloquently described in the Tao Te Ching. Its an incredible experience to be in the presence of such women. Powerful yet soft. Charismatic yet humble. Inspiring but not domineering.

We in the West could learn a lot from these women (as could the men in these countries). In the West we worship aggressive power. Women are as guilty of this as men. Some Western feminists, for example, seem to think that putting women in charge would solve our problems. But women like Margaret Thatcher, Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, and the like are no better than the men they replace. Its not so much females that we need as a respect for the feminine, the soft, the yielding, and the flexible. A tyrant in a dress is no better than a tyrant in a suit.

Likewise, Gandhi illustrated the potential for men to wield soft, yielding, compassionate power. Many men possess these qualities too.

As do many of the women I meet in Japan.

If only they were in charge.....