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Tuesday, 11 September 2007 17:47 |
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| Bill Walz |
Where do we go from here, America? Weíre at the end of the reign of Bush, and many are hoping that somehow a new era for America and the world can begin. Republicanism has run its course and run us into a ditch. Democrats have a thin, thin majority in Congress, so theyíre having a hard time getting anything done over the obstructive tactics of the Republicans. But weíre also left with the question of what the Democrats would do if they could do what they want to do. Itís not clear.
Get us out of Iraq? OK, then what for the mess thatís the Middle East, and its consequent issue of terrorism? What about the multiple humanitarian disasters that is Africa? How do we relate to the emerging mega-economies of China and India? What about the environment and energy policy?
These are not only domestic issues but tie heavily into foreign policy.
Can we shape a new set of policies for Latin America that neither
ignores nor exploits? What about corporate dominance of America and its
new aristocracy of executives living obscenely exploitive life styles?
What about how gratuitous selfishness, materialism and sex-violence-and
shallow-sensationalism media are twisting our culture? Democrats offer
no clear voices. What about health care? Democrats seem to think they
are bold to offer universal insurance, a plan to expand the mess we
have now. I have a hard time being enthusiastic about any candidate
that doesnít embrace the common sense of a single-payer universal
health-care system.
Democrats and America lack a vision into the future. Specifically of
worry to progressives is that the Democrats, who are supposed to
represent progressives, are lacking an inspiring vision. They remain
the party of bureaucratic pluralism, mumbling and bumbling, lacking
clarity of focus, ineffective at countering Republican slanders. They
are still completely supportive of an America owned by corporations (as
evidenced by their universal health-insurance plans) and that just
wonít cut it.
While America continues to struggle with the disaster that is the
wave-the-flag, sell-America-to-corporations,
fundamentalist-religion-influenced politics of the Nixon to Bush
Republican era, an inspirational progressive counterpoint is needed,
and the old tired radical politics of the ë60s and ë70s wonít work
anymore. Leftists angrily marching in the streets (or blogging the
Internet) cannot be the progressive politics of the 21st century.
America needs an inspiring vision of harmony between all people, Nature
and the economy. We need a real peace and consciousness movement that
finds its inspiration not in Abbie Hoffman or Huey Newton, but in
Martin Luther King, Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.
A new cultural revolution is needed. A revolution of consciousness
evolution where our sense of who we are expands, getting bigger and
bigger until it includes everyone and the planet itself. The old
radical style was still us against them. It now has to be ìOne planet,
one people, one future.î We must really give peace a chance, and peace
is not about being anti-war ó or anti-corporations, anti-establishment
or anti-anything, while still standing as a firm force in protection
from the harm done by un-evolved selfish and belligerent
consciousnesses. It is about embracing everyone, no group favored over
any other, all given a stake and a level of security that ends poverty
and want.
This new vision has to be spiritual in its understanding that love,
fairness, compassion and oneness need to be the foundation for any
secular/political action. Think about it, then meditate on it. If it
resonates for you, then start the challenging practice of bringing your
own life in line with these principles. One person at a time, this
consciousness evolution can become a revolution ó in the streets, if
necessary ó but embodying peace, compassion and fairness for all,
inviting the country and the world to join.
ï
Bill Walz is a UNC Asheville adjunct faculty member and a private
practice teacher of mindfulness, personal growth and consciousness.
Contact at bill.walz-at-worldnet.att.net or 258-3241.
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