Had a sudden 'knowing' yesterday.
I felt how vitally important
it is for human beings to know
they have something to offer this world,
and to feel that the world values their contribution.
This need surpasses even the need for food and water.
It ties one into the web of life on this material plane,
sparks the synapses between that person
and the community that welcomes her.
Being valued is fundamental, elemental, necessary for life.
So, when one's value is stolen through purpose or apathy,
the breath of life is literally squeezed from that
person's lungs, leaving an empty shell
where once there lived a vital
force of promise and hope.
In this country, an unemployment rate of 6% is considered 'normal'. There are certain groups of people that are sloughed off from our economy and relegated to this 6%...aging, disabled, women, youth, African American, Hispanic...
And then, having stripped them of the opportunity to make valuable contributions to this life, we tell them they aren't worth living. We cut their food stamps. We walk past their outreached hands on the streets. We invent stories about how decrepit or deceitful or unworthy they are. We tell them to 'pull themselves up by their bootstraps', conveniently forgetting that we stole their boots!
I have always railed against this injustice, in this country and others. I have studied it, researched it, written about it, fought for change...and suddenly I realize that I have slipped into the category of 'Other'. I am at the hand of the forces that try to steal your breath and deny your life force.
And, I know...these words I speak are not just an argument of politics.
This is about rising up and accepting our humanity,
donning the amour of love and compassion,
setting foot on the cold, hard realities
that our economic system creates
for many among us,
and reaching our hands and hearts
to all beings, to all life.
It is no less than that.
I felt how vitally important
it is for human beings to know
they have something to offer this world,
and to feel that the world values their contribution.
This need surpasses even the need for food and water.
It ties one into the web of life on this material plane,
sparks the synapses between that person
and the community that welcomes her.
Being valued is fundamental, elemental, necessary for life.
So, when one's value is stolen through purpose or apathy,
the breath of life is literally squeezed from that
person's lungs, leaving an empty shell
where once there lived a vital
force of promise and hope.
In this country, an unemployment rate of 6% is considered 'normal'. There are certain groups of people that are sloughed off from our economy and relegated to this 6%...aging, disabled, women, youth, African American, Hispanic...
And then, having stripped them of the opportunity to make valuable contributions to this life, we tell them they aren't worth living. We cut their food stamps. We walk past their outreached hands on the streets. We invent stories about how decrepit or deceitful or unworthy they are. We tell them to 'pull themselves up by their bootstraps', conveniently forgetting that we stole their boots!
I have always railed against this injustice, in this country and others. I have studied it, researched it, written about it, fought for change...and suddenly I realize that I have slipped into the category of 'Other'. I am at the hand of the forces that try to steal your breath and deny your life force.
And, I know...these words I speak are not just an argument of politics.
This is about rising up and accepting our humanity,
donning the amour of love and compassion,
setting foot on the cold, hard realities
that our economic system creates
for many among us,
and reaching our hands and hearts
to all beings, to all life.
It is no less than that.
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