I feel that the most important things
are the things that empower people and help in the struggle to find a light in a dark world. That will be my main objective. Everyone that
knows me or even reads me can see that I am a rebel. Everyone knows I have
strong beliefs and opinions. Everyone knows that I abhor the status quo and
detest conformity. And I hope everyone knows if I have a point I will back it
up; if I am wrong, I relish the chance to learn from my error.
But now the time has come to practice what we
preach. The time has come to rise above this insane media and corporate driven
ideology that has permeated nearly every aspect of our existence. It has
burrowed its way into our family, moral, and religious lives. Like a ravenous
leech this detached media-fueled lifestyle has become not just the normal, but
the ideal for most of humanity.
We are in a largely unacknowledged state of modern
despair. Depression, suicide, and violent crimes are at epidemic levels. We
have become a drug culture because people are hurting inside; they are lacking
something that our culture of exclusivity and fiscal success has somehow driven
into us like an iron nail.
We are a
culture of “more is better.” This is another way of saying, “Only those with
greed succeed.” Greed creates poverty; poverty creates misery, misery feeds
crime, crime feeds greed, and on and on…. Greed drives men to sell women and
girls. Greed drives corporate executives to steal jobs from working class
people. Greed allows people in the medical/insurance fields to bankrupt
families for the sake of their lives and health. Greed promotes civic leaders,
sundry politicians, and banking institutions to be self-serving rather than
servants of the people. As the value of money becomes larger in the heart of
man, the value of humanity grows smaller.
We need to step up and forget our petty differences
and collectively shed the skin of the one and embrace the idea of the village.
The greatest achievements cannot be measured in
monetary gain, awards, or accolades; they are measured in the simple (and not
so simple) acts of kindness, charity, and selflessness we commit.
I love the saying that pertains to all injustices,
“I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that, then I realized
I am somebody.”
You are somebody.
