The Wisdom to Know the Difference

For those of you who read this blog, you know that I've spent the last several months being upset. I've been stuck on the idea that America "should" be leading the world in civil liberties and human rights. I keep thinking the US government "should" stop spying on its citizens and torturing people. We "should not" indefinitely hold people in Guantanamo and other secret prisons. The more I think about the way things “should” be, the more upset I become. In response to my level of upset, I write my blog and take an active role in protesting, but it never seems like enough.

I've come to realize that "should" only increases my level of struggle, and struggle increases my level of upset. Like Deepak Chopra said, "At the level of the ego, we struggle to solve our problems. Spirit sees that struggle is the problem."

Recently I saw a counselor who reminded me of the serenity prayer. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." I have been meditating on this prayer and it has helped me a lot. I am beginning to distinguish between the things I cannot change and the things that I can change. I am still upset about what is going on in the world, but I'm not as consumed as I once was. I guess you could say I'm in the process of recovery, though I've got a way to go.

The question I get to ask myself is, “Where is the balance?” How do I balance between standing up for civil liberties and maintaining my serenity? The answer seems to lie in the “wisdom to know the difference.” Yes, I get to accept those things I cannot change. That makes sense. I have never lacked for the courage to change the things I can change. That’s not an issue. My challenge is in knowing the difference and being determined to set boundaries.

It might sound like a platitude, but I like this saying. “I may be only one, but I am one. I may not be able to do everything, but I can do something.” I feel like that’s my mission, to do the something that I can do and no more. I will continue to fight, but with balance and serenity. That way I’ll be here for the long battle ahead.

High Temperature in the Body Politic

I wish my email inbox had a thermometer. You should feel the heat of the mail I’ve received lately. What did I do to bring on this wrath? I helped organize an event called “Congress is the Decider.”

The intention of this event was to remind Congress that the voters want to end the war in Iraq and to call for Congress to bring our troops home.

Although invigorated with new blood, Congress is still feeling its way toward consensus on a new Iraq strategy. But in order to do that they must overcome three obstacles.

First, there are the obstructionist Congressmen who want to “stay the course” or “increase speed on the old course” or anything else that will allow the President to save face.

There’s also a lack of a cohesive front in Congress. It’s hard enough to get 431 Representatives and 100 Senators to agree on much of anything, but with so many Senators running for the office of President, there are many Iraq plans to choose from.

Finally, Congress must navigate the unrealistic expectations of the American voters. It seems that many voters unrealistically believed that 48 hours after they cast their ballot the troops would be on their way home, the President would stop making ill-advised decisions, and we would all have universal healthcare. Even with the comparative lightning speed of the first 10 bills to make it through the House of Representatives, America does not seem impressed.

With a perceived lack of progress in Washington anger seeps into all things political. As voters, we are starting to turn our anger on one another. Even brilliant Presidential candidates, who should be saving their venom for a rogue administration, have turned instead to tearing each other apart. The few in Congress who could champion our cause for peace are being pasted with the same broad brush of anger which should be reserved for the real scoundrels. The body politic is so hot with rage that it’s beginning to break down.

Which brings me back to the temperature of my email inbox. On the morning of the event I sent out an email asking people if they would join me at the demonstration and rally in front of Rep. Dave Loebsack’s (D IA-02) office. In the email I mentioned that Rep. Loebsack has hit the ground running. He has co-sponsored no less than 3 bills to end the war in Iraq. He has worked closely with the House leadership to craft a unified strategy. He has co-sponsored bills in favor of universal healthcare, energy independence and a livable minimum wage. In fact, for almost every issue that the voters spoke to last November, he has co-sponsored a bill. You can see a list of the bills he has co-sponsored here.

The responses to this email caused my inbox to boil at a fever pitch. I was accused of being a corporate stooge, of being on Rep. Loebsack’s payroll, or worse…maybe I was really a Republican!

At first I was dumbfounded at the level of anger in my inbox; especially since it came from people who agreed with me on the goal of exiting Iraq. All I had done was to suggest that we not throw the baby out with the bathwater. But then I thought about what people were really angry about. They’re ready for change and they’re finished hearing excuses about it. And you know, I’m right there with them.

Here’s my one piece of advice for my fellow disgruntled voters. Let’s continue to find constructive uses for our anger. Let’s find ways to take the heat to the neo-conservative establishment in Washington instead of turning our rage on one another. A body that is filled with rage will eventually begin to break down. If the rising temperature of my email inbox is any indication of the health of the body politic, I think we’re about to reach that point.

So THAT's Where All the Hippies Went!

Last October I wrote a blog entry asking the question, Where have all the hippies gone?. On January 27, 2007 I received my answer. Hundreds of thousands marched on Washington to say NO to escalation in Iraq. This included bus loads of Iowans. We are asking congress to craft a budget that reflects our priorities, which do not include escalating the war in Iraq. Not one more dollar, not one more day, not one more death.

The video can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdNYbJQAZag .