Growing Belief in the Power of Action

The world of uncertainty that lies before us is daunting. Many of us cling to the tangible forgetting visions of something different that could make life better. Some communicate that the tragedy of society is that too many focus on self-interest and the short-term and not enough on future generations or the long-term and how we are all interconnected.

What we seek is a life that is viable yet there is often a reluctance to maintain stubbornness that could bring forth imaginative and traditionally idealistic solutions to the deep problems that are becoming more and more entrenched in society--problems that could in effect make life unworkable.

On my twenty-second birthday, as I believe all individuals should do, I am assessing who I am as a human being. My reflection involves my spiritual evolution, the actions I have taken and not taken, the effect and impact I have had on others, how I have succeeded and failed to get to a point where I can transition from college into the world after I graduate in May, etc.

What I am finding is more and more I believe in the power of action.

More and more, I am seeing that it is we the people (and those who surround us) who hold the keys to the future.

We ensure the futures that we will get and we harbor fears that will either imperil, paralyze, and smother us or move us to act to rid ourselves of the chains which limit what we are willing to do as individuals.

The political realities that unfold before us demand that we seek to understand how action can be powerful to organizations, neighborhoods, communities, etc especially those who see suffering, injustice, inequality, illogical, and unexplainable policies plaguing society.

Rep. Eric Massa, a Democrat, recently suggested Democrats were "allegedly conspiring to remove him from Congress," described how his opposition to the House health care bill was becoming a "huge thorn," and detailed a situation he had with Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in the shower.

Massa said, "I am showering, naked as a jaybird, and here comes Rahm Emanuel, not even with a towel wrapped around his tush, poking his finger in my chest, yelling at me."

Meanwhile, we have senators like Jim Bunning blocking measures for unemployment benefits to Americans. We have Republicans claiming the health care summits are "setups" while they refuse to offer plans to help Americans.

The Democrats perpetuate this idea that 60 votes are necessary to stop this madness. Sen. Harry Reid & Rep. Nancy Pelosi seem content to kick the political health reform football around as long as possible instead of going after 51 votes in the Senate, a majority, to pass health insurance reform.

Not that it really matters because at this point the reform is sure to empower greedy insurers, entrench in the system the very problems that drove us to allow politicians to inundate us with hoopla on how they are for reforming health care, and make it harder to add additional reforms in the future by increasing private insurance corporations' ability to manipulate the political process.

Of course, our politicians also extend the PATRIOT Act without regard to how it infringes on our civil liberties and haven't the moral fortitude to publicly vote on measures to criminalize extreme forms of so-called enhanced interrogation (Cheney's word for torture) and provide "stiff sentences for intelligence officers or medical professions who engaged in them."

And, Congress doesn't have the capacity to truly take on the reality that war is not a solution to the problems the U.S. has created in Afghanistan.

This is political buffoonery on a scale and level that can only be compared to the buffoonery on display in a recent film nominated for an Academy Award, In the Loop. And, we as Americans seriously cannot be content with leaving the decision-making up to these people.

Not only do they fail to make the proper decisions but they also fail to make any meaningful decisions at all.

If you had asked me at 16, I would have told you a person votes and politicians then go and get things done. At 18, I would have told you that I could now vote and I am glad I was able to help elect a Democrat to Congress. At 19, I would have told you I thought a person should take independent action and vote. At 20, I would have suggested that we need more voices and choices in elections and much more independent action.

And now, as I turn twenty-two, I tell you I believe in bold independent actions that are the product of a seven generations ahead approach to taking on social problems.

I find there is a great need for us to put any and all business entrepreneurial skills to work. There is a necessity to take our skills, values and faith in something greater than ourselves (if we possess such faith) and come together with members of the community, possibly friends or family.

We all have to consider contributing in some way to the formation of structures and organizations that can sustain us locally and also shift the consciousness of people to affect change on a state and federal level.

Consciousness shifting must come from campaigns from community artists and community media makers. It must come from supporting community and neighborhood organizations, places of faith, and even journalism operations that will enrich our democracy.

Action must come from advocates for social justice and people who believe in the history of nonviolence and its pragmatic ability to affect change.

The framework of an image-based culture with megalomaniacal clowns running the show bears down upon us.

Possessive individualism, the cult of celebrity, and unbridled competition threaten our will and ability to think and act outside of preconceived notions of politics.

The capacity of citizens to turn private concerns into public conundrums that a people must collectively tackle is jeopardized and the possibility of turning Americans into those willing to openly confront each other on matters of political and social importance dwindles.

Now, bartender, get me another. I'm gonna be here awhile.