"It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."
-Benjamin Franklin
I wish I could write about something light and happy, but that's just not where I'm at right now. I woke up this morning wondering why there is so much suffering in the world, and what we can do to change it. Why are we here, and why do we have this life, when there is so much possibility for pain? And why is so much of that pain caused by religion and government? I'm not talking about myself-my life is relatively painless, but the stories I read and the things I see make me think that we might be evolving a little more slowly than I suspected...
When one man questioned the border lines on the map of the Siachen Glacier in the early 1980's, it caused a race between the two governments to climb and occupy as many peaks as possible. The government leaders' obsession with sending their young men to fight in this severely unoccupiable land is nothing short of murder. Thousands of young men dying, mountains of trash, contaminated resources and endless wasted money from both Pakistan and India...for what? Certainly not for the people.
The tragedy of Guantanamo will live forever in our history as Americans, and we may never repair our ties with the Arab people. Some say that valuable information was found through torture, but are we really any safer for it? How many more people hate the American government now because of these unconstitutional atrocities? And how many other times have our leaders broken the rules for the purpose of revenge, (or justice as they like to call it,) or simply for economic purposes?
"Runaway slaves threatened the very structure of the New World economy during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Without slave labor, the sugarcane, tobacco and cotton industries would collapse and rich, aristocratic planters would become paupers. Thus, the most demonic punishments were reserved for recaptured runaway slaves. According to Suriname criminal court records from 1730, 'the Negro Joosie shall be hanged from the gibbet by an iron hook through his ribs, until dead; his head shall then be severed and displayed on a stake by the riverbank, remaining to be picked over by birds of prey. As for the Negroes Wierrie and Manbote, they shall be bound to a stake and roasted alive over a slow fire, while being tortured with glowing tongs. The Negro girls, Lucreita, Ambira, Aga, Gomba, Marie and Victoria will be tied to a cross, to be broken alive, and then their heads severed to be exposed by the riverbank on stakes.'"
Explicit, detailed orders to torture men, women and children because they desire a free, happy life and for a profitable economy? For money??? This may have happened a long time ago, but here is a story that will show you that this problem has not gone away.
War, torture and slavery have corrupted our planet from the beginning, and we all know it...so why do we still live like this? Why do we still place fickle, power hungry liars into positions of leadership, and then turn a blind eye as long as it doesn't affect us? From Genghis Kahn to George W. Bush, from Atilla the Hun to Idi Amin Dada-a man who tastes the rush of power and who manipulates those around him with fear, has the potential to cause destruction for the entire planet. Each leader who allows himself to rise above others and who loses respect for human life should be considered dangerous, not heroic. Why are we still pretending that money and power are the most important things in life? Why are we so willing to destroy the lives of others to make our own lives easier? Why are our leaders so sadly incapable of running peaceful, profitable governments without the exploitation and devastation of the soldiers, the immigrants and the working class? If our leaders truly cared about the people they represent, then everyone would have enough. If countries stopped fighting with each other over geographical territory and religious beliefs, then everyone could enjoy their lives and add to the profit. If only the angry, greedy little people with their microscopic views would just expand their vision to include all of humanity, then they would see how futile their fighting is. Here we are-on this planet, spinning through space. Clearly, we are all in this together.
Nothing has really changed in the human story, except that our intelligence is expanding. We have created more efficient ways of hurting and killing, but our fears, our emotions and our beliefs are still driving us. But now that we have the intelligence and the broad scope of historical events to refer to, we can see that making decisions based on fears, emotions and beliefs is fruitless and possibly catastrophic for everyone. There is more to life than a bottom line, a set of beliefs or a plot of land-there's the freedom to live it. There is more to power than just making sure you and your people rise to the top-there is the future of all humanity to think of. If you are not thinking of the future of all humanity, you are living a meaningless life.
I don't know what we can do to turn our species around, but I have some ideas. First of all, an open heart and mind is the most important thing, so the more we can stay open to each other's stories and ideas, the more we will be able to move forward together. Put "stay open" at the top of your Change the World List, and imagine yourself in the shoes of whoever you fear and hate the most. Find out what they love, what they want, and what their dreams are. They are only human. Maybe they have lost their way, maybe they deserve to be locked up forever, but wish them only healing and growth. Wish them freedom from whatever is making them so hurtful. Wish yourself the ability to accept them. Wishing pain, destruction and revenge on anyone will only make for more and more and more suffering, and the people who change the world will be the people who move on from that.
Also, I feel compelled to somehow let people in suffering countries and devastating conditions know that we feel very deeply for them and that we are sorry. It doesn't matter what side of anything you are on-if you can be a part of the healing process, you will have made a difference. I think it's especially important as Americans that we reach out to the countries that we have harmed and let them know that we are not our government. Every country has its hard times and corruption, but many of us are still in search of liberty and justice.
Last and most important is the idea that silence is just as bad as violence. If you encounter suffering and have an opportunity to do something, then do it. Not just for the well being of others, but for your own integrity, I beg you to be an advocate for all of us. If we don't look out for each other, then what chance have we got? If it were you living in solitary confinement or losing your ancestors' home to loggers, wouldn't you wonder why no one cares? It's just as important as ever to question authority. Ask yourself who you really believe should be your leader, and make your choice with good will and integrity. Talk to your leaders-tell them when they upset you and tell them when they make you proud. Our leaders should be open-minded, stable, decent people, and they should reflect the true heart of our country. We ourselves should step up to lead with the firm knowledge that shining a bright light on this mess and fixing it up will only happen through generosity and love. Nothing but damage will come of the fighting, and this Earth and each person on it is so precious.
I know many people will call me a fool for thinking that the world can change, but I don't care. I know that my world has changed by accepting others, and it continues to develop in depth and richness. I know that beginning to speak up against hatred and violence has given me a solid foundation of integrity that I never found in fighting over politics, in judging others, or in turning a blind eye. I know that if I can change, love and grow, anyone can. I know that the power of forgiveness is worth a million times more than the rot of revenge, and I know that power and money are pointless without honor.
I'm sorry to burden you with these stories, but I also think it's important to hear them. We have to know where we're coming from and where we're at, before we can know how to get where we're going. So where are we going? Envision it. When you think of heaven, do you picture it with wars, slavery and pain? Are there people being stepped on so that others can get into higher kingdoms? No-that's more like hell. Heaven is a place where we can really live. Where we feel fulfilled and joyful, where we are surrounded by beauty. So why do we have to wait to die before we can experience that? Because we have fears and anger? Because we're mad about something that someone did to us? Because we were raised with an idea that some humans are better than others? No. No excuse is big or important enough for the fighting to go on. There are no reasons that anyone could possibly come up with to justify environmental and human destruction. We have the choice to create heaven during this lifetime, here on Earth, and it starts within ourselves. It begins as a vision of peace in our own minds, and then it spills out into our communities, towns, states, countries and continents. The people united are the ones with the power-not the governments divided, and not the greedy, power-hungry, mentally unstable warlords. This is our home, and our planet, these are our brothers and sisters and these are our lives at stake. This world has been through many, many changes and I hope you join with me in creating a new Age. It's time for the open-minded, peaceful people to stand up and create something better. We were given so many gifts, so let's protect and cherish them. Let's release our fears. Let's begin again.
"World belongs to humanity. Not this leader, that leader, or that king or prince or religious leader. World belongs to humanity."
-Dalai Lama
A portrait of Jose Clemente Orozco, a Mexican muralist who exposed the atrocities of the Mexican Revolution and the suffering of the peasant workers of his time.
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