The Power of NO

We've got judges telling us we don't have the right to choose what we eat, a secret panel of "senior government officials" can now put any American on a kill list for the CIA to take out, California is giving cops the right to search through your cell phone, and the federal government is superceding 15-year-old state laws and warning all medical marijuana dispensaries in California to shut down or else. Christ, they're even raiding kids' lemonade stands!

It's like they want us to rise up.  At a time when Americans are coming together to voice their anger to power like they haven't since the Vietnam Era, that very power is escalating the assault on freedom at the core of many Americans' discontent.  It's either idiocy on the part of government or a planned maneuver.  Whether the intent is to tamp down an uprising out of fear of further crackdowns or the fomentation of full on revolution so they have an excuse to impose martial law is unknown.

This is no longer America.  It's not the America we grew up with.  It's not the America we were promised as children.  It's not the America we want our children to inherit.  So you can bet your ass We the People are going to do something about it!

It's time we harness the power of NO!  No more.  There are a whole lot more of us than there are of them, and it's time we stop bending to their will and start asserting ours.  It's time to say NO to the erosion of personal freedom.  It's time the citizens united against Citizens United and say NO to corporate personhood.  It's time to say NO to the Federal Reserve.  It's time to say NO to corporate money in politics.  It's time to say NO to expanding executive power and the death of due process. 

Where, When, and How
This is our moment, my sisters and brothers.  This moment.  This movement.  It's time to Occupy Together and find our common ground.  We don't all agree on everything, but we agre on enough to demand and FORCE radical change in America and the around the globe.  The corporations that run this show are multi-national, so it's time to make this protest movement global by making it happen EVERYWHERE. 

Where: I don't know where you live, reader, but I live in Wichita, KS.  The middle of America.  And that's where I plan to make my voice heard.  I encourage you to focus your inner leader and form a demonstration where you live.  Or find one to join. 

When: October 15.  There will be global protests on that day.  Join us. 

How:  Occupy Together.  This website has become the nationwide answer to what started as Occupy Wall Street.  There are protests and outright occupations springing up across America.  Click here to join one or start one in your own town. 



#OccupyWichita

 If you live in Wichita, I implore you to join the demonstration here on that day.  Click here for information and to join.  But you don't have to wait until October 15.  There are daily ongoing Occupations in Wichita.  Click here to learn more.

I think it's important to admonish everyone to remember we have to be UNITED if we truly want to see real change from this growing movement.  Look, you're not going to agree with everything everyone else in this movement wants.  They're not going to agree with everything you want.  We have to have to HAVE TO find - and hold - the common ground!  It's the ONLY way to accomplish anything.  If we waste time focusing on what we don't agree on, we'll be divided and conquered by the powerful vested interests who are truly becoming frightened by the surge in passion and anger. 

So how 'bout it, Americans?  Are you ready to rise up?  Are you ready to demand this country changes the way it operates?  Are you ready to exercise the power of NO?

Survival of the Kindest

I often and repeatedly have debates over the essence of human nature with one or two close friends who (in my less-than-humble view) always err on the side of pessimism.  To be fair, I probably always err on the idealistic and overly optimistic side. 

Their view:  Humanity suffers the inherent flaw of selfishness.  Therefor, world peace will NEVER EVER IN A HUNDRED MILLION GAZILLION QUADRILLION YEARS be a reality.  My view?  Humanity can overcome it's selfish nature by realizing collectively the fundamental and spiritual truth that we aren't truly separate entities but are rather all little pieces of the same intelligence known to speakers of English as God. 

"Hi, I'm God."
"Hi, so am I."
"Yay!  Let's party!"

Want to find supporting material for my friends' world view?  Look...anywhere.  Pull up any news site.  Any.  Read headlines about corporations, entities designed to take from "them" to enhance the lives of "us".  Wars, where we kill "them" to secure security for "us".  At least in theory, although it could be argued that wars are undertaken so corporations could make money.  See corporations above. 

Basically, it all boils down to this:  If we could All just recognize this One Single Truth, that All IS One, then we would realize (REAL-IZE) that there is NO separation.  You cannot harm another without harming Self because there is NO "other".  There is only "I Am That I Am."  You cannot take from someone else because there is no one else to take from.  Conversely, it is impossible to help another without helping Self.  Jesus said, "Whatsoever you do unto the lest of these..." and "Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself." 

All this is just an incredibly unnecessarily long set up to the reason I started this blog entry in the first place.  There's a new book by author Dacher Keltner entitled "Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life".  It explains how my friends' view that, according to a review on feministing.com, "we are wired to pursue self-interest, to compete, and to be vigilant to the bad. Those tendencies make evolutionary sense, they are built into our genes and nervous systems. They are part of human nature, " while perceptibly true, is only half the story. 

The other half?  "Survival of the kindest". 

The proof?  "...Everything from our Cro-Magnum ancestors--who prove deeply dedicated to caretaking and collaboration--to contemporary physiology--so many health problems are associated with being isolated, indicating that close bonds are a foundation of basic human survival. Frans de Waal observed that our closest animal cousins--chimpanzees--become deeply distressed when they see other apes suffering. In Keltner's research of status hierarchies, which emerge shockingly fast even among children as young as two-year-old, it is those with emotional intelligence and empathy that inevitably become head honchos: 'Power goes to those who are socially engaged.'"

So there you have it.  Not only is it clear that Living as One is possible and beneficial to the whole, it's beneficial to the individual.  Also, it's just as much a part of our make up as a species as selfishness and competition.  One is based in fear of the other, the other is based in love of self. 

Humanity does sometimes choose the latter.  We do sometimes choose to act on our better nature.  And so, idealistic and optimistic as it is, it IS possible.

Ergo, so is world peace.