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.
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). More
I have a smart friend who is socially liberal, considers himself generally libertarian, and also a total cynic. Another friend is 100% progressive and has never felt represented in America in his 60+ years. A lifetime having no political representation can do that to a person, and I’m sure all of us can relate. Their attitude is something like this:
“the two major parties are corrupt pawns of the wealthy. If voting changed anything it’d be illegal, and, there’s never a genuine progressive/liberal on the Democratic ticket. The Republicans have all gone crazy. If I vote for a third party, I’m throwing away my vote because they don’t have the money to win a national election. So instead I’ll not vote, and just complain about the rising fascism of the reich-wing and the damage they’re doing to the poor, minorities, women, our environment, and the middle class.“
Well, There is ONE reason that voting Democratic could make a huge difference: Lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court.
The next President could pick several new supreme court justices – either judges who support the rights of CITIZENS – OR judges who are CORPORATISTS like the current 5 GOP appointees who brought us Citizens United AND ARE TRAMPLING CIVIL RIGHTS FOR THE REST OF US. More scary stuff about Romney’s extremist reich wing picks for the court are at http://romneycourt.com/
I thought this video captured the spirit of community and vision perfectly. It is populism, but more than populism. It is fairness, but more than just fairness. It is environmentalism, but more than environmentalism. It is love. Easy to say, but challenging to articulate. You know it when you feel it.
Some will naturally say that such a world is impossible, but I say that such a world is not only possible, it is essential.
The old way is no longer viable. The old way is isolating, painful, and destructive. We can see the fruits of the old way in our filthy air, in the dead dolphins washing up in the Gulf of Mexico, in strip mines that poison neighborhoods, in the mass species extinction that is happening right now as you read this.
Human lifespans are short. What are we doing with our limited time here? We could be creating, dreaming, building a beautiful society that empowers each individual to be their very best. What we have now, my friends, is simply not working. This dog-eat-dog philosophy and lifestyle does not inspire awe. It’s not fun, it’s not life-affirming, and it’s unsustainable. Is this unfulfilling outmoded style of society worth clinging to? Imagine a new paradigm.
The new society is being born, and there’s no stopping it. Imagine the possibilities, and silence the programmed voice within that claims that change is impossible. Imagine it.
“The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the state because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government.” –Theodore Roosevelt U.S. President (1858-1919)
“The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly. The rich have always objected to being governed at all.” –G. K. Chesterton
1. DIGNITY: Proclaim the natural dignity and inherent worth of all living beings.
2. RESPECT: Respect the life and property of other beings.
3. TOLERANCE: Be tolerant of others’ beliefs and lifestyles.
4. SHARING: Create a healthy culture where all beings, human and non-human, have their basic needs met. Share with those who are less fortunate and assist those who are in need of help. More
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