Hikaru means Light

In my universe, there is no such thing as a "wrong side of the road." As a White Anglo-Saxon (or perhaps Yorkshire-Hessian) Protestant American male who grew up as a "gaijin" (foreigner) in Japan, I am very comfortable with simply accepting the paradoxes of the great big universe. I understand that the Americans I know who thoughtlessly speak of the "wrong side of the road" in places like Japan or the British isles simply display the limitations of their experience.

Balance and understanding are my motivational watchwords. I may sound relativistic with my bemused observations about people with a small world view. But I might also come out with absolutist comments on a human need that does not seem to get the attention it deserves: developling a healthy ethical sense or conscience. I could easily unload a curmudgeonly spate of "what is wrong with" diatribes. But such an appeal to Principle needs to be balanced by an appreciation of Personhood. Law needs to be balanced with Love.

I also seek to balance my three "halves" - my English "half" from my father's heritage, my Swedish "half" from my mother's heritage and my Japanese "half" from my upbringing. I also struggle with balancing strong characteristics that tend to pull in different directions - creativity and idealism on one side, organization and pragmatism on another. How do I do this? To adapt a well-used paradigm, “balance” is journey, not a destination.

Understanding comes into play as I keep working toward the balance. I seek to understand the principle side: what principles, rules, mores, expectations and so on might be considered as standards for evaluating “rightness” and “wrongness” and how or why they are considered and used. I also seek to understand the people side: what varieties and vagaries of experiences, memories, cultures, feelings, thoughts, perceptions motivate people to do what they do, say what they say, live how they live, love whom they love and whatnot.

Most of the time, I am like most human beings, caught up in my own world, my own joys and pains, hopes and anxieties. But on the whole, I consider myself a balanced and understanding person. I hope I convey myself as such in my h2g2 experience.

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