A Modest Proposal May 2006 The Way to Change the World… That’s a pretty bold claim to make , and yet, why not? We’re all equal in the eyes of the One; oh sure, different people have different skills, attributes, and life designs, but under the cover of skin, we are all equal. That’s a lesson that I’ve only recently really gotten that just might be close to the level of wisdom. Now about changing the world… I don’t know about you, but I have shied away from even thinking about huge issues like the declining viability of our environment, the frustrating state of greedy governments, religions running rampant in the opposite direction from God, gross inequalities where billionaires co-inhabit cities with starving and diseased children, and on and on. These are such enormous problems that I’ve simply shrugged and said, “Heck, I’m only one person, and there’s no way that I can make any impact, so here’s a few bucks for a donation. Have a nice day.” Given enough people with that attitude (and I think there’re a lot of us!), things tend to either stay the same or get worse – usually worse - so what can just one person, any person do? My reaction is to throw my hands up and say, “Let somebody else handle it – I’ve got my hands full with my own life.” And y’know, that statement contains the roots of the answer: I do have my own life, so what am I going to do with it? Let’s look at the history of humanity, at least what the recorded distortions tell us. Permanent change (for the time that it’s considered to be permanent) always comes about when it’s from inside, either for an individual, a community, or a nation. Changes enforced from outside of the entity that is changed never last. Change which is not accepted by those being changed will simply be abandoned when the “foreign” agency attempting the change is no longer in control. On an individual basis look at the recidivism rate of people who are imprisoned… the vast majority of them return to crime after their release. The “correctional system” does not correct anything; most of the time it simply makes more effective criminals. The system presents no incentive to change so as soon as behavior is no longer controlled by the system, those who knuckle to it on the inside revert to their initial behavior because there is no internal drive to change. Many historians of the US maintain that the establishment of organized crime in the US was enabled in 1920 by the 18th amendment to the constitution which prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol. The amendment was not supported by the majority of people. It was railroaded through the national and state legislatures by a small, powerful, minority special interest group who impressed their morality and beliefs on the entire population. Criminals organized to deliver alcohol to the majority of people, law enforcement (who wanted booze as well) looked the other way, and organized crime became a potent force in the US as it still is in one fashion or another today. [For you curious ones, the 18th amendment was reversed by the 21st amendment in 1933 having been law for only 13 years; we’re still living with its aftermath today. Remember The Godfather Trilogy and The Sopranos!] The point has nothing to do with the morality of laws or belief systems. It has everything to do with the fact that permanent, effective change must take place internally within the entity for which the change is sought be that a person, community, nation, or planet. That brings us to, “I’m only one person so what can I do about these, huge global issues that nations, much less individuals, are not able to solve?” It really comes down to us individually, and it always has. We just didn’t realize it. There are two phenomena that serve to enable our ability to make a difference. The first one is by example, and the second one is sharing. “Example” is very powerful; in fact, most of what we learn is by the example that others set. Schools do their thing and have an important role in complex cultures, but in the matter of the business of living, example is how we learn. We watch mom and dad do whatever they do, and we start doing it the same way; perhaps not now, but eventually. Multiply that by all of the people that we observe and have contact with over the years and the behavior patterns get set. Dad throws fast food wrappers out of the window of the car, and a few years later, we are doing the same. Observation leads to learning which inevitably leads to behavior. So where does that play on the world stage? If enough people in a community, state, or nation act on their own and independently to set an example, then others will emulate that behavior, and eventually when a critical mass is reached, the behavior (for example not throwing trash out of the car window) will become the norm and fewer people will do it. Laws don’t work to bring about effective change if not embraced by the people to whom they are directed, and the law quickly becomes ineffective. How many people have you seen cited by the highway patrol for littering although all states and many countries have posted signs warning of the penalties for littering? I’ve driven over one million miles in the US and have yet to see or hear of anyone being cited for littering. Legislators pass laws and then pat themselves on the back (probably with another pay raise or other perk) and forget about the law as they toss wrappers out of their car windows. Individuals aggregating into communities aggregating into nations aggregating into the whole world can bring about change because the people want the change and will embrace it whether governments want it or not. Remember prohibition! How then do we know what should be changed? That’s a great question, and no doubt critics of this Modest Proposal will say something like “the will of the people is license for all manner of terrible things.” Well, it’s true that we deserve the consequences of our actions in all things. That’s the defining nature of what it is to be spiritual, much less civilized, but there’s a larger matter: namely doing what’s right in our hearts and not what our heads (egos) tell us to do. Western “civilization” is strongly characterized by a collective head trip by its collective citizenry. This head trip has led to Earth’s northwest quadrant’s monopolization of the world’s resources and wealth. We rarely question how much is enough? When we do, the answer is generally, “We can never have too much! If those folks in the other latitudes have a tendency to suffer, well gosh, I’m sorry but I really don’t care as long as I got mine, and well, if I don’t, that’s a great reason to start a war”… and you know how we love wars especially against a much weaker opponent OK, such much for my ranting… how do we enable our hearts to shape our heads to choose the examples that we wish to set? It’s not that tough… here are a few suggestions.
It’s really simple: Do something! Rather than taking refuge in copping out by saying it’s too big for you to make a difference, be in action. Everyone makes differences every day, either for positive or negative benefit. What do you choose? Sure, the differences are small. A sand storm is made up of small grains of sand. Tsunamis are made up of drops of water. It’s in their union with others that makes them powerful forces. It really doesn’t matter what you do in the matter of setting an example for the common good; it does matter that you do something. Let’s take a look at things that you (no matter what your circumstances are) can do:
My Modest Proposal to you is: Take that first step towards creating your heartfelt, desired change. Each of the next steps gets easier. You’ve just got to get started - somewhere.
Your comments and questions are invited. Please email ron@TurtleWheel.com. To subscribe to Modest Proposals, please scroll down a bit further – there is a link to the subscription signup. As in all things that I (or anyone for that matter) relate, please remember that discernment is everything – pass all that you hear and read through the heart filter for the “OK” or “I don’t think so” test. Whatever answer you get first is the best answer. Paralysis by analysis often results in abandoning making any choice at all. It’s throwing out the baby with the bath water. May
you discern with compassion… This newsletter had its beginnings with my work on the online magazine PlanetLightworker.com. I am grateful for the support of the magazine's staff especially Editor Sandra Sedgbeer. Visit the site for an eclectic mix of spiritually oriented articles, features, and art with a brand new edition published at the first of every month. PlanetLightworker
Modest Proposal text: Copyright 2006 Ron McCray Contact Ron at ron@turtlewheel.com Visit Ron's website, The Turtle Wheel at www.turtlewheel.com To subscribe to the Modest Proposals newsletter click SUBSCRIBE.. The Modest Proposals newsletter supports spam free emailing and requires email validation that you wish to subscribe. If you choose to subscribe, you will be sent an email that you must reply to in order to complete the subscription. Ron cannot complete the subscription for you once it is started. Your email address will not be sold, given, bartered, or traded with any other party. You may unsubscribe at any time by following the link provided in each newsletter. If you have questions, please contact Ron: ron@turtlewheel.com . Thanks... The Sacred Cow cartoon at the top of the page is courtesy of:
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