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As I lay in bed listening to the chorus of birdsong this morning, a thought occurred to me. The reason Progressives keep failing in our mission to create a more humane world is simple. As Progressive people, we have a well developed sense of empathy, we really want a better world for everyone, regardless of gender or ethnicity or geographic location. The reason we keep failing in this effort is that the majority of our brothers and sisters have allowed themselves to be ruled by the politics of fear. Fear does terrible things to the mind, body and spirit. When you live in fear, all you can think of is self preservation. It clouds everything you do.
I have been quiet recently on the writing front, as my life went through some fundamental seismic shifts and my mind intent on self preservation. But chaos does not prevail for long as Mother Nature moves quickly to fill a vacuum and I have emerged, hopefully victorious over my fears. I have moved suddenly, a relatively short distance (a raven could fly between the two locations easily) yet a world away. I have stewardship of a meaningful piece of property, a stones throw from my Grandfather’s homestead. There’s a healthy, salmon bearing stream running through the back of the place and I have the most beautiful little log cabin to call home.
It was a traumatic transition and happened all at once, in the final days of the federal election campaign. I heard of the results via cbc radio the following morning. It did nothing to calm my chaotic mind.
My son landed in Kandahar two days ago. Oh, the conflict this has caused in my heart! I am so proud of the man he has become, the tears roll down my cheeks even now. Anyone who has read my previous posts already know that I am dead against our participation in this conflict. I make no secret of that. But he is a man now, and a soldier. I respect his need to do his job and his dedication to his Country. I know that he believes in the mission and believes in the outcome. As his Mother, I must bear that, knowing differently. Which brings me back to my original point.
If we are going to survive the global Corporate takeover as a species, we have to evolve. That’s were you come in, because I know that if you have read this far, you have what it takes, Empathy. It’s up to us to show or brethren the way. Gentley as possible, knowing that they are ruled by fear, we need to make them care. The survival of our entire planet depends on this. It is time for humanity to end it’s constant state of war, including the war on the environment and the war on human rights. State Governments worldwide refuse to do this, because they lack legitimacy in their mandates, being little more than shills for their corporate masters. It’s up to us and we have no time to lose.
We all have aquaintances, even friends and relatives, who either voted Harper back in, or simply refused to vote. If you are anything like me, you tried to engage them in meaningful debate and/or coax them to do their civic duty. Judging from the election results, you all failed as miserabley as I did to enlighten them. They don’t listen to reason, perhaps they still believe that we live in a democracy, that the press reports true stories and that the police are here to protect them. One person actually told me she knows about the corruption, she just doesn’t want to think about it. She just wants to protect her own family and stuff (material possessions). She says she’s happier that way. As appalling as this sounds, I think that about sums it up for most people. That is what we are up against. Apathy. It’s a knee-jerk reaction to fear. Like a deer in the headlights, frozen in fear, unable to act. Just how the powers that be and their bankers and masters like it.
The only thing that’s going to wake up the electorate is love. Love for their children. Love for their homeland. Love for their rights and freedoms. That is the only thing that can overcome this mass hypnotic state that has overcome the middle class. We have to make them see how powerful an emotion Love is. They already know how to love their children. It’s up to us to show them how to extend that power to all humanity and beyond that to that other World Wide Web, the flora and fauna we depend on. You remember the concept of ”paying it foward”, where people would go out and commit random acts of kindness? Same concept.
I once read a novel called The Fifth Sacred Thing, by Starhawk. It had a profound effect on me, because it was the one futuristic novel or story that I can recall having a very positive overall message, in an Avatar kind of way. The author laid out a vision of a green revolution in the best Pacifist tradition that really gave me something positive to visualise, in stark contrast to Hollywood’s vision of our possible future. If you are looking for inspiration, please look this novel up.
I am not a religious person, but I have come to think that if we can hone and evolve our sense of empathy and the concept of Spirit as an element and if we can spread those values, then we can overcome the fear and hatred that is subverting our goal, a better world. I believe that we are at a crossroads, our choice, evolve or become extinct.
Peace.
As Roosevelt knew and said, ck,all we have to fear is fear itself.
ck Reply:
May 16th, 2011 at 8:46 AM
I didn’t write the post, Kim did. But you’re right…
as always, oping for the best for your so, Kim. Lovely post.
whoops, “hoping”
Indeed Owen, we come from people who were brave by necessity, we have it in us to tap into.
Kim, this is simply an awesome post. I’m glad for you in finding your new (to you) place by the salmon stream in the midst of the insanity we are in and the even greater insanity I fear is to come. You must feel a bond with that mother (I keep having senior moments with names these days) of the Bush casualty in Iraq (or was it Harper’s War in Afghanistan) who spent a summer camped at Crawford (Bush’s ranch) and took on a prominent Dem in 2008 or 2006 in Northern California.
I am a veteran of the war AGAINST the Vietnam War and in the process had to take on my own US Navy by tradition family (kinda like the McCains) as well as the Selective Service and DOJ. In the end I kicked ass on the DOJ, rendered the SSS irrelevant in my case, won most of my family over to my side and as a side benefit discovered Canada where I have chosen to live ever since, not because I have to but because I choose to. Partly because it seems to have more people per capita like yourself than the failing nation of my birth – as hard as it may be in a province that elects people like Gordon Campbell and Crusty Cluck Cluck and a nation that elects however minimally and hopefully briefly Spiteful Steve.
Your post above is the most refreshing to my spirit (I guess I could have said inspirational) that I’ve read in awhile. Thanx
900 ft Jesus, thank you for the kind words. Please hold onto that hope for all our sons and daughters.
Kootcoot, this place holds magic for me, I have tapped into my roots in this forest that go back more generations than Canada as a nation. This will enable me to muster their strength, courage and vision. My line in the sand.
We have many distinguished citizens who came to Canada for refuge from that war. It’s a source of pride to me that we welcomed you and that you found solace here and inspiration to stay.
Now we need to stand up and join hands and hearts for this beautiful and awesome place. This is worth dying for.