So what to do? Where can we turn for comfort? The major religious movements absorb and channel a lot of general discontent and anger. But some religion has also joined the corporate movement via mega churches, a worrisome development. Islam has attracted militant extremists who in my opinion are actually suffering the same political and economic alienation many of us are feeling, the difference being that their comfort lies with bombs and destruction. We do have this in common with bin Laden and his gangs, and that is a deep dissatisfaction with the values controlling the political/economic landscape. The terrorists in the Middle East don't envy our democracy. They are trying to tell us that we are messing up, which we are.
If we are to preserve our ideals, to value all human life, and to create better and more compassionate societies, more caring communities, we have to get busy without delay. We must constantly carry the consciousness that we need to be very proactive as well as reactive in seeking the kind of world we want.
THE BIG THREE RESPONSE
There are three very doable things that will make a huge difference for our future. First, we need to remodel some attitudes starting with ourselves and working onward to our political representatives. To begin with we have to believe that we can make a difference. That confidence gained, there is a whole lot we can do to solve our own problems at home more peacefully and compassionately. We need to act from our highest moral convictions and see that those who represent us do also. Michael Lerner and the Network of Spiritual Progressives have the best handle on this task of bringing about a change in our national attitudes and adding other values to the current mix. Their 8-point covenant [not contract!] is quite comprehensive. The first covenant states: 'We will challenge the materialism and selfishness often rooted in the dynamics of the competitive marketplace that undermine loving relationships and family life.' Rotating shift work would be one example of such a family life destroying dynamic. Further covenants relate to
personal responsibility in caring for each
other as well as for self-development,
social responsibility of corporations,
education that includes teaching the values
of generosity, tolerance, intellectual
curiosity,
health care in a broader context,
environment stewardship with ethical
consumption,
foreign policy with a strategy of
non-violence and generosity,
separation of church, state, and science but
without keeping all spiritual values out of
the public sphere.
When enough of us adopt a program such as this and speak with conviction to power, we will be heard. I believe speaking to power is absolutely THE duty of every person living in this country. If we don't speak up for our values, and shepherd them into reality, who will do it for us?
Equally important is what message we send with our dollars. Actions convey concerns. I don't purchase anything from Wal-mart, and I try to avoid anything made in China or other locations where cheap labor is exploited. I buy food items from as close to home as possible to reduce the major actual and environmental cost of transport and mileage. I don't drink soda with its empty calories and toxic sweeteners. I research alternatives to prescription drugs; there are lots of healthier options and I always request that my doctor talk to me about alternatives. Good food, good diet is of primary importance to our mental and physical stamina and energy, and we will need plenty of both to tame the corporate monster that is controlling the world and devaluing our lives.
Another way to make dollars count is with modest donations to social justice, humanitarian, and environmental causes.
Finally it is critical that we educate ourselves. Fortunately we are not dependent on one source for this. There is a huge variety of books, and most of them can be found in local libraries. Here are some good ones:
The Left Hand of God; Taking Back our Country from the Religious Right, Michael Lerner
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, Greg Palast
Our Endangered Values, Jimmy Carter
American Theocracy, Kevin Philips
anything by Noam Chomsky
For those with internet access, the net is full of blogs. Some examples:
www.truthout.com www.democracynow.org
www.worldcantwait.net www.mediachannel.org
www.grist.org www.gregpalast.com
www.dailykos.com www.alternet.org
www.libertyforum.org www.opednews.com
Or Google 'political blogs'
The real hard core truth is that ninety-nine percent of us feel disconnected from this new world that is rising around us. So why not join together and do something about it? Talk to friends. Invite neighbors in. Write a Senator. Send a letter to the newspaper. Find your voice. Sow seeds. It will make a difference, and that's a fact you can count on.
XXXX
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever had.
It may be necessary to temporarily accept a lesser evil, but one must never label a necessary evil as good.
Anthropologist Margaret Mead
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