All social economic systems are created by human beings. Politics, in simple terms, is the ostensible non violent means by which people navigate through the intersections of personal needs and wants. Governance is a man made systematized platform created by people to navigate the intersection of personal, community, organizational and cooperate needs and wants. How these needs and wants are treated i.e use of violence and force, discrimination, equality or other means is determined by collective values. The tension between values based in Love and fear is reflected in our day to day politics as well in the politics in our local community and on out to our global community.
May the values of Love, Peace, Humanity, Compassion and Kindness be the driving force behind social policy, not fear, nor the man made horrors used to perpetuate fear. The important question is what do you value? Do you value your own humanity? Do your value others humanity? The even deeper question is what do you fear? And what has fear led you to choose in you life? Living close to the bone of ones values is often a challenge. Social policy is what we choose collectively. Collectively we face the same choices.
When we examine social policy, we can ask the same question stated above, is this policy based in fear and the perpetuation of fear or is it based in Love, aimed at promoting the qualities of Love. There is no doubt the choices we have made of fear as individuals bore painful consequences, likewise for the consequences of social policy born of fear. Social policies created in name of fear/ absent of values based in Love, have set in motion many forms of governance which historically and presently oppress, suppress, violate and harm human beings, animals, and the earth. This violence sets in motion a vicious cycle of retaliation, whereby the oppressed become the oppressor and the violence continues. A choice for the higher values based in LOVE is a way to stop this.
It is important to state that starvation and hunger quite often result from fear based social policy. Furthermore it has been suggested by many authorities on the subject of hunger and war, that hunger often lay at the root of many wars. “The world’s poorest countries are disproportionately likely to be at war. Studies suggest that poverty and economic stagnation cause conflicts, and conflicts, of course, aggravate poverty…”6” The Economist Navigating the needs and wants of so many is indeed challenging to think about much less implement. Others have suggested that hunger is one of the threads associated with what is taking place in the Middle East. Ultimately social policy will reflect what we collectively value, or what we collectively fear. And maybe a little of both!
This post is not to instruct readers on what politics they should embrace, rather purely seeks to invite an examination of ones true values. When you arrive to what is true for you in this moment then the next challenge is living those values in deed and action. Deep self examination of ones own values and heart is the only way to be authentic in ones politics. The good news is that politics can evolve as the individual evolves. Indeed this aspect of our lives is a complex area for all! And it is the area where compassion and understanding is most needed.
Finally, engaging in deep self examination is both courageous and essential to how we will live or not live together, in peace or war. Remember all socio economic systems are created by you and me. So, Imagine what we can create if we were motivated by the love of mankind with a fearless value in the potential for great good!!
Interview with Author and Promoter of Peace and Justice: Parker J. Palmer
