As a writer, my greatest hope is intelligent reader response.
When I read a recent letter entitled “Israel The Victim” in a recent issue of Victoria, British Columbia’s alternative news publication Monday Magazine, the words: “Open your eyes and see the disparity” inspired me to respond.
Chloe’s letter is brilliant. She connected historical and political dots and made it clear that in many cases, government revolves around the “bully cycle”. With no one to stand up to him/her, the bully takes over and inspires others to do the same.
Globally, the problem is this: We are allowing history to be written by bullies.
Bullying enforces the idea that the only way to get what you want is to take it, and — with money-focused corporations as our leading big brother bullies — by any means necessary.
The idea of getting whatever one wants is incredibly enticing to one who feels powerless or bullied.
Unfortunately, by giving in to our bullies (obeying out of fear), we are practicing apathetic slavery.
Many people are feeling confused and scared in the face of understanding the truth. The truth is that we have been easy prey for the power hunting bullies. This is what needs to change: Our attitude about what we are allowing to continue to happen. We can choose to stop the bullying.
We have evolved from total freedom in the ocean and trees, to surviving on the land, to reasonable comfort in towns to disproportionate luxury in cities. Where we are going to evolve to next is entirely up to us.
We “the free” must stand when our fallen brothers and sisters cannot. When the people and the planet upon which we live is communicating with unbelievable vehemence and violence, we must pay attention. We have the ability to change everything. We have the ability to help others. We have the ability to communicate without violence.
We have become masters at controlling others but is it now time to master control of self. By communicating effectively — as opposed to forcefully — we will stand up to our bullies. We will show them that we are not inspired by their lies and terror anymore, but instead, by our own non-violent assertion of controlled self.
Remaining silent about Israel (or anything involving terror and bullying) perpetuates the juvenile delinquency that is — in large part — the backbone of American politics. Those most responsible for our dying planet — who coddle their ignorance like a baby, who bed down with money like a lover, who are bullying our planet to death — must be stopped.
Communication is the key. We must listen and respond intelligently. The outcome of human history depends on it.
Photo Credit
Gaza Strip, AP Photo
[…] Lesson #2 has been inspired in part by Mary Rose’s post on Bullying (Victims and Bullies:The Destructive Cycle of People and Politics). To read Hippie Lessons #1, click […]