Tuesday 30 March 2010
The Fundamental Challenge of Change
The irony of power is that those who have it possess the strongest ability to bring about fundamental change combined with the weakest inclination to do so... especially when it comes to changing that which requires it most urgently: The need to change the system by which they got there: The need to change our ability to change.
"Development" in the Sustainable Sense
When will we finally savour the authentic challenge to ourselves that reaches beyond the ephemeral and ridiculous pursuit of amassing of slips of paper exchangeable for control over material goods? How can we "develop" in such an environment?
Are we not yet bored with the idea that he who commands the most money wins? Has this poorly designed and silly game not shown itself for what it really is: ethically contingent and irrelevant to the authentic pursuit of the good life? At the very least, it is unchallenging to so many of the untapped realms of human skill.
We have seen what material and energy development does for us. And, as proud as we have been at our many technical powers, we are now familiar with both the vaccuity and the real harm of the endeavour.
The challenge of our age will be the development of our subtlety and sophistication in the sublime faculties of life-enrichment on a personal and social scale: where listening for silence drowns the cacophony; where taste can discern the elements; where the nose can apprehend the flowers a field away; where the hand can see the patterns of the breeze; where musical, poetic, narrative, dance and relational creativity spellbounds; where we reserve our highest recognition and appreciation for each other and the simple and abundant gifts of life.
Are we not yet bored with the idea that he who commands the most money wins? Has this poorly designed and silly game not shown itself for what it really is: ethically contingent and irrelevant to the authentic pursuit of the good life? At the very least, it is unchallenging to so many of the untapped realms of human skill.
We have seen what material and energy development does for us. And, as proud as we have been at our many technical powers, we are now familiar with both the vaccuity and the real harm of the endeavour.
The challenge of our age will be the development of our subtlety and sophistication in the sublime faculties of life-enrichment on a personal and social scale: where listening for silence drowns the cacophony; where taste can discern the elements; where the nose can apprehend the flowers a field away; where the hand can see the patterns of the breeze; where musical, poetic, narrative, dance and relational creativity spellbounds; where we reserve our highest recognition and appreciation for each other and the simple and abundant gifts of life.
Demoneycracy
Most modern democracies hold themselves up as based on Jefferson's "self-evidence" of each person's equality and the idea of "one person - one vote." Yet, we are all increasingly aware that it is much more like "one dollar - one vote." Power resides primarily with those who can influence policy-makers with their money (the current proxy for power and control over others and the earth). This is merely another form of the all-too-familiar exertion of one's will for its own sake. It is self-evidently illegitimate power, based as it is on the contingent and ethically vacuous proxy we call money.
The urgent priority of our time is for those who have this power to divest themselves of it in favour of finally realizing the robust dream of democracy.
The urgent priority of our time is for those who have this power to divest themselves of it in favour of finally realizing the robust dream of democracy.
Ways Without Means
In this age of increasing distance from our social and ecological foundations, we have more and more good ideas (with solid supporting evidence) of how to better ourselves and our world. Yet, these ideas remain frustratingly beyond our grasp to accomplish as a species.
Just as "continuing to do the same thing while expecting different results" is one concise definition of insanity, to know what is better for us and NOT to do it suggests that there is something outdated in the way we govern ourselves.
This is the ultimate challenge of our age: to resolve the means to collectively move forward on that which we know full well is both required of us and achievable.
Just as "continuing to do the same thing while expecting different results" is one concise definition of insanity, to know what is better for us and NOT to do it suggests that there is something outdated in the way we govern ourselves.
This is the ultimate challenge of our age: to resolve the means to collectively move forward on that which we know full well is both required of us and achievable.
What matters now?
What matters now? What matters now remains the same as it always has been: to become what we are and can be... rather than to remain what we have been.
Injustice: Always External
Fault and vampires share one feature, they are invisible in mirrors.
Injustice is ubiquitous, except in here.
Injustice is ubiquitous, except in here.
The Essential Triad
Time, space and energy are the essential valuables we have to frame ourselves, our relationships, and our societies. One can usefully estimate "wealth" by the manner in which we allocate these three.
This triad provides a perspective on which well-being can discerned and nourished. Looking around us: Is time, space and energy squandered or is it distributed equitably, respectfully and lovingly? Do we use time with gratitude, space with respect, energy with foresight? These questions provide guidance toward well-lived lives with robust and resilient priorities.
This triad provides a perspective on which well-being can discerned and nourished. Looking around us: Is time, space and energy squandered or is it distributed equitably, respectfully and lovingly? Do we use time with gratitude, space with respect, energy with foresight? These questions provide guidance toward well-lived lives with robust and resilient priorities.
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