Mickey Z. -- World News Trust
Nov. 5, 2013
“I don't even call it violence when it's in self defense; I call it intelligence.”
- Malcolm X
Let’s say you’re a handy man/woman/human and you get hired for a job. I’m guessing you’d bring your full toolbox to the worksite. After all, you can never be sure what might pop up and it would be illogical to decide beforehand that certain tools are off limits.
Lesson: Keep all your tools at your disposal -- even if some remain untouched -- just in case.
Some Tools
Perhaps, as citizens/consumers/taxpayers in the most culpable nations, we can begin by accepting reality: Due to our compliance and/or silence and/or inaction, we’ve played a role in bringing our planet to the brink of social, economic, and environmental collapse. But remember:
In the book (and movie), The Grapes of Wrath, the Tom Joad character ponders something along these lines: “Maybe we’re not all individual souls, but maybe we’re all part of one big soul.”
Incredibly basic, yes… but within that simplicity lies what I see as the secret: If we were to view all living things -- along with ourselves -- as part of one collective soul how could we not defend that soul by any means necessary?
By the way, Utah Phillips also sez: “The earth is not dying. It is being killed, and the people killing it have names and addresses.”
The 4 R’s of Defending Our Collective Soul
To be taken as literally or metaphorically as you personally choose…
Reality and Reaction
Readiness
Repeat
Face Up to Your Fears
Participating in sustained activism and/or direct action is not a popular choice. It could put us at odds with our friends, family, and community. It could jeopardize our careers. It could even lead to direct conflict with law enforcement officers. Scary stuff, for sure.
But ask yourself this: What frightens you more, being judged for getting arrested for disorderly conduct or comprehending that 80 percent of the world’s forests are already gone? How will you answer when future generations ask what you did to defend all life on earth?
There are good reasons to be afraid. There are better reasons to be bold.
Let’s not opt for the illusion of safety over the quest for justice. Let’s not be afraid to accept that we’ve been lied to and manipulated and that much of what we’ve been taught is no longer or ever was relevant or real. Let’s not be afraid to open our hearts and minds and start caring like we've never cared before. Let’s not be afraid to find out what we’re capable of.
#shifthappens
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Mickey Z. is the author of 11 books, most recently the novel Darker Shade of Green. Until the laws are changed or the power runs out, he can be found on a couple of obscure websites called Facebook and Twitter. Anyone wishing to support his activist efforts can do so by making a donation here.
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