Excerpt #30 from my book, Interconnected, Interrelated & Interdependent, Like It or Not:
WE ARE THIS WORLD — PARTICIPATION
Everywhere, we observe politics that is adversarial, hostile, and belligerent aimed at the destruction of one’s perceived enemy whether it be an individual, political party, or nation state.
It’s behavior — disgusting to witness — that is primitive, ignorant, pervasive, and counterproductive.
When we complain about it, we are complaining about ourselves.
Collectively, we are responsible for the state of affairs that exists.
The quality of our government is exactly that which we have generated.
Its habits are a mirror image of our habits.
Is not a government with a short-term mentality symbolic of a people that consumes its resources with a blatant disregard for its future?
For all of our existence, we have had all of the resources we require for an abundant and secure life.
At crucial points, vital forks in the road, we chose the wrong paths, the ones leading to our demise.
In our individual lives, we can abuse ourselves in whatever manner we choose until finally we succumb.
Collectively, it is the same.
It is not a complex matter to understand—life cannot be violated beyond a certain point if it is to be sustained.
The simple fact is we are the responsible parties.
We cannot look beyond ourselves for someone to resolve our crises.
We are both the perpetrator and the victim.
While we must demand action of those in power, we must mostly look to ourselves and amend our ways which, in time, will be reflected in our leaders.
Each of us is a change agent.
By our actions, we either contribute to or help to eliminate our problems.
“Not in the clamor of the crowded street, not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng,but in ourselves are triumph and defeat.” (Longfellow)
We are not the prisoners of the present reality.
When the errors of our ways shout at us, it is absurd for us to allow them to enjoy repetition.
Under a democratic form of government, we are not only free to participate, we are obligated to contribute our unique perspective as an informed and responsible citizen.
We are the building blocks, we are the institutions, we are this world.
“. . . the energy, the faith and devotion that we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it, and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.” (John F. Kennedy)
The necessity for our active participation surpasses the notion that a person cannot make a difference.
What we face includes not only the restoration of the qualitative aspects of our life, but our survival.
In one form or another, each of us bears the psychological and the physiological costs of the problems we have created as we unravel the web of life.
For our own benefit, and that of our children’s children, it is time to act.
Solving our problems requires the active participation of people from all walks of life.