I AM Part of the Resistance (by Thomas J. Gray)

UPDATE: I’ve received notification by Thomas J. Gray that he is the author of this piece.  By the time I had seen it on facebook, it had been added to – so I am updating this post to more accurately reflect the original wording.  I liked much of what had been added, and I understand that in the passion of those first horrible days, many felt similar feelings and simply added their own parts.   This phrase was added:

The survival of our democracy and our way of life demands that we stand and resist. So I will Resist. I AM part of the Resistance, and I AM proud of it.

Here is the original, by Thomas J. Gray:

A New, Delicate Balance of Activism and Love

Those who are paying attention are aware that the US government will be taken over by true fascism come Jan 21. A pro-torture, pro-war, racist, white nationalist, anti-immigrant, anti-woman, anti LGBTQ, anti-civil rights, anti-free speech regime has committed a coup (with the help of far-right elements within the FBI and Russian hackers). According to the NSA, the 2016 elections were hacked and manipulated  — even though the majority of citizens are repulsed by their ideas.  And even though their opponent has, at this writing, about 1.5 MILLION more votes, and counting.

Those in government and the press have accepted the results and are readying us to comply with the new fascism.  But we will not.

We are now being called to walk in a very specific state of consciousness: we who are loving, caring, people cannot allow ourselves to be drawn down into the hate and violence of the tRump regime and  his “brownshirt” supporters. But neither can we just hope that meditation, staying positive, and remaining centered will protect the defenseless.  History shows us that all our beautiful energy cannot always stop monsters.

Living and Evolving in Interesting Times

There is an ancient blessing, “may you live in uninteresting times”. The obvious meaning being that peace and happiness do not make for the kinds of adventures that become the great myths, songs, and stories of the ages. Quiet and happy lives with their small dramas do not make the history books.

And we DO live in interesting times.

The dominant culture into which we were born, is dying. The economic, social, ecological and political systems that were part of the narrative of our reality are now revealed to be clearly unsustainable.

And as much as we may want to ignore this change, it is happening all around us.  Now.

Sandy, Climate Change and Another Wake Up Call…

If you are seeking shelter right now, Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area.

Today we are witnessing one of  the largest hurricanes in recorded history.  Cuba has been hit terribly hard, Haiti has

Lower East Side, Sandy

been devastated (again), and as of this writing, New York and the Eastern Coast are being battered by Hurricane Sandy which has joined with two other weather systems to create a huge and problematic storm affecting 50 million people

“Approximately one-fifth of the US  population is in the path of this terrifyingly massive storm.  We watch helplessly as  wind batters, rain drenches, flood waters rise, fires rage and electrical power goes out.”

Occupy volunteers set up this amazing tool for other volunteers to register services or request help, and supply a variety of ways for virtually anyone to get involved in any capacity. It is highly ironic in these times of “Enemy of the State” and “Domestic Terrorism” accusations against activists that when the proverbial shit hits the fan, we step forward, unpaid, to perform civic duties in true demonstrations of patriotism and humanitarianism. .-OccupySavvy.com

When you take shelter – please, please, take your companion animals with you; Pets are welcome at all NYC hurricane shelters.  (Please have them leashed or in carriers.)

And be safe.

Meanwhile… perhaps this will put the words, “climate change” back into the conversation.

The alarm keeps going off.  We open one eye, then hit snooze and doze off again.

It’s time for us to Wake Up, and Grow Up.  It’s time for us to take responsibility for the environmental damage we’ve done, and take a  clear eyed look at the consequences we’re beginning to reap.  And it’s time for us to make big changes.

And by the way, allowing a vulture capitalist who vows to end FEMA and demonizes unionized government employees — thousands of whom are risking their lives to save strangers tonight — is NOT the way to go.

We Are The People…and We Are Awake

The illusion is hopelessness.  The illusion is lack.  The illusion is control. Poverty.  Lack.  Loneliness.  Limitation.

The dark ages still reign over all humanity, and the depth and persistence of this domination are only now becoming clear.  This Dark Ages prison has no steel bars, chains, or locks. Instead, it is locked by misorientation and built of misinformation. – Buckminster Fuller

From the moment we enter this world, we are shaped by our upbringing, indoctrinated by society and schools and religion, programmed by corporate media…and taught to be small.

But that is NOT the truth.

We Need YOU

We are just starting to get it… love is everything.

Humanity is a young species, and let’s face it: we have been children for far too long.  We have not taken responsibility or understood the consequences of our actions, and like pubescent children, we have trashed our home planet.  We have not understood how to respect our fellow beings with whom we share this Earth.  We have often been violent and unkind to one another.  We have caused untold damage due to our ignorance, but that’s part of being a child.

It is time for us to grow up.

The Story of the Boy, the Starfish and Our Evolution

You’ve heard the parable of the grandfather walking on the  beach with his grandson after a storm.  Countless starfish had been washed high up onto the sand, and then were stranded there when the water receded.  The boy was dismayed that the starfish would all die so far from the water, but the grandfather looked at the sheer number of starfish and said “There are too many, there’s nothing we can do to make a difference.”

At this the child gently picked up and carried one starfish back to the sea.  “It made a difference to THAT one.”

In my imagination, the story continues…

Happiest Countries – progressive ways of measuring quality of life

Three new studies of happiness and quality of life for citizens of the various countries reflect our changing world and increased understanding of which factors actually contribute to genuine human happiness.  These reports all reflect the growing awareness that quality of life and personal happiness are far more important than GNP, which used to be the measurement of “success” in the old paradigm.

Happily, progressive awareness permeate each of these reports as a new paradigm takes shape based upon more genuine factors of human happiness and satisfaction, such as quality of life and relationships.

Children of Bhutan

Back in 1972,  this kind of thinking was considered revolutionary when  Bhutan, a tiny Himalayan nation became something of a social science experiment by started to track and promote its Gross National Happiness (GNH). 

Reclaiming our minds from corporate media

In a previous post, we’ve discussed the monopolistic corporate media and their all too effective brainwashing techniques.  We listed the big 5 corporations who control nearly everything we see and hear in America.  We understand that corporatists are using their power to shape our thinking and thus control the conversation or muddle our minds.

So, what can we do to reclaim our minds?  Here are a few ideas:

A New Declaration – for the 21st Century

So you say you want real change?  Not just an election in which politicians are simply chess pawns of the rich?  Tired of being unrepresented?

Take a look at  A  New Declaration …Continental Congress 2.0

I am providing a shorter version here because it is so vital and well-presented.  Please visit http://www.the99declaration.org/full_text to read it in its entirety.

WE, THE PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in order to form a more perfect Union, by, for and of the People, shall elect citizen Delegates between June 1-7, 2012 to attend and convene a NEW CONTINENTAL CONGRESS the week of July 4, 2012 in the City Of Philadelphia. The Delegates shall then deliberate, draft and ratify a PETITION FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES to be served upon the United States Congress, Supreme Court and President, prior to November 6, 2012.

What  follows is a fantastic suggestion of progressive, life-supporting, sustainable ideas for everything from an effective  jobs program  to human rights, breaking up monopolies, campaign finance reform, protecting our environment and quality of life, repairing the economy, and more.