To Do More
“To do more, you must become more.”
-- Dr. Rubin “Hurricane” Carter to H2O Man; 1976
If one were to watch politics play out in 2016, they might objectively conclude that there were conscious efforts to exploit divisions within the public. That is distinct from the often compulsive -- hence, unconscious -- behaviors of those who unwittingly added to the toxic atmosphere, by angrily arguing for one thing or another. Indeed, one would be safe in concluding that the election of Donald Trump is the direct result of the manipulation of the anger, fear, and rage that motivate such a large, and unconscious, segment of America. And that is unfortunately not restricted to the recent elections, nor to the rabid republicans.
Our society at a strange and dangerous time. Our nation isn’t merely dipping its toes into deep, dark waters -- many people have taken the plunge. And so, for much of the summer and fall, I opted to retreat from both face-to-face and internet contact with most of the people I had been communicating with. Not everyone. Of course, I attempted to stay informed and active on the conflict at Standing Rock. But I also spent a lot of time sitting out by my pond, trying to figure out what the heck was going on in the United States.
Certainly, I had also engaged in expressing negative thoughts on a variety of political and social issues. An example that comes to mind is my serving, at the lowest of elected positions, on a community board. There was a conflict that involved not only the law, but what I believe are ethical -- or moral -- values. How does a community keep its children and youth safe? I resigned, and then brought important documentation to the District Attorney. Sometimes, to increase focus on an issue, one has to remove themselves to avoid being a distraction.
The conflict at Standing Rock involves issues that are actually providing common ground to an at times surprising range of people. There are, obviously, people who support Energy Transfers’ attempts to construct the DAPL. But it’s becoming a much smaller group: the “energy” executives; some brutal police; the mercenaries from Tiger-Swan Security (an offshoot of Black Water), and some local citizens who despise the Sioux.
For a number of reasons, the issues involved at Standing Rock allow people to think. We see more tribes uniting, and sending powerful messages to the non-Indian public. Other traditional peoples from around the earth, such as the Sami, are actively supporting the Sioux. These are humanity’s elder siblings speaking to us. How powerful is their message? I think that the 4,000 military veterans who traveled to Standing Rock -- men and women who took an oath to protect this country from all enemies, foreign and domestic -- provide a pretty good indicator.
Plenty of soldiers took place in the wars on Native Americans, and not only in the distant past. These veterans made the choice to serve this nation by participating in a non-violent campaign. They made effort to listen to, and learn from, the Sioux. This helps define the difference between the unconscious soldiers, at say Wounded Knee years ago, and the conscious veterans at Standing Rock.
It takes conscious effort to become fully human, in the best potential. It involves being willing to let go of hatreds, even those that seem most justified at the time. But that also applies to those frequent, though relatively minor annoyances we feel, when we encounter unconscious people.
The same energy being put into Standing Rock, including by supporters in small towns and large cities across the country, is what can turn the tide …..and not just in Standing Rock. It is exactly the same force that we must apply in other, usually related, situations.
Peace,
H2O Man
= new reply since forum marked as read
None of this will be easy, but then it never has been.
Nice to read you again!
Welcome back
