I understand how frustrating it is to know that certain people can get away with just about anything, and the rest of us must be held accountable. We all know who these people are, they are individuals with lots of money and power. As unfair as this seems to us, we must accept the fact that our judicial system and our government as they stand and operate today allow for all of this behavior to continue. To feel victimized by this unfortunate reality, however, will not help us establish the justice and equality we seek. Perhaps we need to remind ourselves that we must continue our efforts, regardless of the selfish intent of some. The idea that certain individuals believe they do not need to comply and cooperate with the majority may indeed be their problem alone, not ours. We need to remember that a certain level of acceptance must happen first before we can do anything at all. Having said that, there are ways we can and do hold each other accountable. The reality is that we must if we hope to create a world in which all may benefit from the equality that is ours. Let’s consider the following.
To Support or not Support
Although the law is not always on our side, we may not need it to be. If we understand that the majority must eventually have the final say in all matters, we need to make it so through our own consistent action. We decide as the majority what our value system is. If our business and political leaders do not reflect our values, we can no longer support them. This is real power. Without our support, they cannot and will not survive. We must never forget that. To give our support, or remove our support, is what creates change. What we often fail to recognize, is that we need to speak up and express what it is we want to happen. The only way to accomplish this is to show up and vote. Complaining, writing our Congress people, marching in protest, these are only relatively effective. Electing our local and state representatives is more important now than ever. So, we are going to stand in the rain or heat, all day if that’s what it takes this fall. We cannot be stopped if we take the action necessary.
The Business Sector
There are many businesses that are doing their best to be responsible. They pay their employees reasonable living wages, provide insurance, and provide to us relatively high-quality products and services at a reasonable cost. These are the businesses we must support. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the majority of the corporate world. The only motivation here is huge profit. The quality of their products and services do not matter. Their employees do not matter. We, as consumers, do not matter. These are the companies we can no longer support. We must realize that it is their greed that keeps us powerless and inhibits our survival. Without our support, they have no money. Without money, they have no power to influence what happens in governmental policy. The power is returned to us. Now, for those of us just barely getting by, we need to shop at Walmart, don’t we? That’s ok. Let’s be realistic. We can still stand up for our values and demand change while doing what we need to do.
The Government Sector
The only way to create the changes we need is to elect political leaders who reflect what we want and need. If our political leaders create laws and policies that do not support our values, we can no longer support them. They ultimately must support the majority view if they wish to maintain their position. They cannot do whatever they want, but they will if we let them. We have the power. These are the most critical times humanity has ever faced. It is true that a movement forward into positive change comes with occasional attempts to move us back into the past. What is happening now, however, is so substantial that we may reverse our course entirely. There are a few who fear change and a loss of power to the extent that they intend us to slide backwards 100 years or more. All the rights and freedoms we have worked so hard to acquire for ourselves will be taken from us. If you find yourself in one of the more “privileged” groups within humanity, it would be wise to not assume you are safe or exempt from this potential reality. Your money and power will not protect you. Your race will not protect you. Your religion will not protect you. We all must be willing to make the sacrifices required in order to make the world better for everyone. We need to remain aware that there are a few among us who have only greed in their hearts and an insatiable lust for power. They do not simply desire some power, or even a lot of it. They will not stop until they have it all. This possible new reality isn’t just affecting the United States, but the entire world. Every human being is responsible for the welfare of humanity and the world we’re living in. We can begin by understanding that we cannot have everything we want. We must choose to support the values, views, and policies that benefit the greatest number of people. If we do not agree with the majority, we must accept the possibility that we don’t understand what is best for us overall. It is our fear of change that allows us to oppose it without giving it time to take hold, so we can experience the positive results within our everyday lives.
Minority Status
What we see happening in the U.S. government today is of course an attempted reversal of the inclusion of various minorities in the political process. Given a close enough look, we could all find ourselves in some minority. You don’t have to be black, brown, female, Jewish, or gay to be a target. Our rights can be removed at any time. What is so interesting is that it’s white men who are the minority, and they always have been. Their ability to have complete power, regardless of this fact, is what is under threat. I will ask all women if they wish to have a full-blown patriarchy become the established norm once again. Are you less than human? To my black, brown, gay and Jewish friends, are you less than human? Do you wish to be hung from a tree outside Birmingham? Do you wish to be tied to a barbed wire fence in the Wyoming wilderness and left for dead? Do you wish to have a man you either know, or do not know, rape you and there is no accountability? I’m afraid we have given certain men far too much power they clearly have not earned. In order to have a sense of value and purpose, do men have to have all the power and own absolutely everything? Again, I’m afraid this only reveals a level of insecurity that is truly dangerous and unacceptable. Any person with such high insecurity is capable of anything. This becomes a real possibility for us if we do not elect men and women with loving, responsible action as their foundation.
The Only Accountability that Matters
Ultimately, we are only accountable to ourselves. Whatever our current values are, we must show them to be true and valid by living our lives accordingly. If our beliefs and values are based in reality, they will bring us peace. If they do not, we must be responsible and correct our thinking. What may be even more important, is that our beliefs and values must bring with them a sense of security. If this security is sufficient, there would be no need to force them upon others. Being able to apply what we believe to be true in our life is enough. When we try to control or decide for others, we have lost our way. Even though our values may not match the majority, we must be mature and humble, and let that be ok. If we are to demand our individual rights and viewpoint, it must be across the board for everyone. This is accountability.
Are these words today harsh and scathing? Perhaps they need to be if we are to pay enough attention to what is going on and take this opportunity to be guided in a different direction. We are painfully aware, there are those who do not wish to go along with the majority. We must understand that what the majority of us want will have a positive impact for all, eventually. If not, we can and will make necessary adjustments. Those who do not want to cooperate, we cannot say, “I hope they get over it”. Compassion is ours. Our intent is to educate those who do not understand what they need in their lives. We need to remember that if someone else isn’t safe and protected, this may also be the reality for us some day. If certain groups among us are unloved and suffering, it could become true for us as well. The majority must have the final say if we are to move into a future which benefits all. Folks, we are accountable by exercising our right to vote. This is how we care. We make things happen!
All my love and support, stay safe and be well