change

i can't help but be taken by will.i.am's eloquent words and moving video from the previous post. the power of one. he said,

"because words and ideas are powerful..."

and he's right. because words and ideas lead to change and action. or they can when harnessed and used correctly. we have all seen words distorted and misused (faux noise anyone?) we all know that statistics and words can be taken out of context and slanted.

but when words are spoken with truth behind them- those words can move mountains. and defeat armies. and break down barriers. and tear down tyranny. consider these words:

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

consider the ramifications of those words. or these:

"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value."

we are facing a crisis unlike any we have faced before. many of us are immobilized by fear while others are working hard in whatever way they can for the common good. i don't know what the future holds but i do know that folks are aware that there are massive problems to work out- to say the least. awareness is step one in rolling up the sleeves and getting dirty. there are days when we look at the world situation and think it's so hopeless and then there are days when we have someone to pick us up and dust us off- and give us hope. we have to do that for each other. one person at a time. oprah is a powerful lady. she has money and she has influence. whatever one thinks of her show- or her- she is wielding that power to reach out and influence folks for the greater good. i give her credit for that. she can reach millions of viewers daily. not all of us have that luxury.

my small blog doesn't reach millions. it doesn't even reach hundreds. but i have conversations with folks from around the globe. if one person reaches out and talks to another, and then talks to their friends and family- then that one person + knows that there is at least one person in america who has been fighting against the last 8 years. that is power. i know that the folks in britain are investigating tony blair and i know that australia booted their bush loving admin in their elections. i know that folks in southeast asia are as concerned about global warming as i am. that's power. we can harness this and create a bigger power. i think obama is trying just that. at least he isn't entrenched in how things get done- i don't dig the power structure.

anyhoo- just some musings about waffling between hope and despair and doing what we can.