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The People’s Revolution is not a new socio/political movement, neither is it a call
for change by division, hatred and violence. Rather, the People’s revolution is a movement
for social justice and peace that has been forming since the dawn of
civilization. Regardless of what political system and social reality we find ourselves
born into, we the people of our 21st Century neighborhoods, cities, nations and planet, both
individually and collectively, hold immense power and potential for substantial peaceful
positive change.
In studying the words and lives of effective individuals such as Isaiah, Jesus, Albert Schweitzer,
Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Mohandas K. Gandhi, Helen Keller, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther
King, Jr., Mother Teresa, Cesar Chavez and Jacques Cousteau among many others, it can be readily understood
that, even if no one else in our particular neighborhood or town seems to care much about
peaceful positive reform, nevertheless as one concerned individual, we can begin to encourage substantial
change for the better. While the negative actions of one individual can cause
significant harm, much more so it is true that the positive actions and example of one brave and
dedicated indiviual can create a growing dominio effect of positive political and social revolution
cascading down from generation to generation.
Historically, examples set by one or a very few brave and dedicated individuals have,
by domino effect, created an ongoing positive revolution that continues to recreate and evolve
in our modern theoretical ‘civilized’ reality.
Today we often hear sincere activists use the phrase “peace and social justice”, which is
in actuality, backwards toward solving the lack of Human Rights rampant throughout our planet at
the dawn of a new, far from peaceful and socially just millennium. Without Human Rights
and social justice, there will never be lasting peace and therefore, it is wise to reverse this
often carelessly worded phrase (and consequently, improper thinking) toward the correct order
of first social justice, followed by peace. As Martin Luther King, Jr. underscored,
borrowing from the prophet Amos: May we never be satisfied until “justice rolls
down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Though every rational human being wants and strives for peace, simply marching
for peace and against war will not in itself, solve the underlying problem of political and
social injustice. It therefore makes sense for those of us living in the modern world who
wish to make a lasting positive contribution, to join together under a Just Cause common
banner of Human and Civil Rights. Whether our particular individual area of concern is
world peace, education, environmental awareness and preservation, aid to the sick or poor, minority rights,
women’s rights, worker’s rights, animal rights, political justice, personal and collective
freedom or any of the other important issues found in our modern reality, all such
worthy endeavors fall within the scope of this singular Just Cause.
Much more political, social and media power can be realized and much
greater positive advancement is likely to be achieved, if sincere concerned individuals on
our planet begin to work together toward a common goal of improving the mutually shared
environment of our fragile planetary home. Natural resource waste and destruction
and air, water and other environmental pollution are common problems shared by every man, woman
and child who inhabits Planet Earth. Likewise, war, disease, hunger, economic
slavery and all manner of individual, political and social injustice is just as much a part of
our polluted shared reality as is the filthy air and contaminated water found in our
modern cities and elsewhere. As Mother Teresa said, "you can do some things and I can do
some things". And, as the social activist Helen Keller very correctly
emphasized: “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
The foundation of Human and Civil Rights and all lasting positive transformation, though
set down long ago, has not and will never change nor be improved upon: “Therefore,
whatever you want people to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets”
(sum of what matters). As Gandhi correctly echoed, “we must be the change we wish to
see”. And, as badly as we in the United States at the dawn of the 21st Century may need a
highly coordinated collective march on Washington, D.C. by millions of concerned citizens,
such a unified demonstration for political and social justice and peace, even if strongly
supported by a majority of citizens, will never realize any lasting positive change if we do
not as individuals, first move toward caring about our own immediate neighbors.
The People’s Revolution does not begin with mass demonstration or major political and
other societal structural change. The true revolution begins on an individual level
working outward toward lasting positive improvement. It begins within our own selves
moving toward treating other people in our own immediate sphere of influence, as we would
wish for them to treat us. For in moving away from hate and toward love, we will not
promote war, mass pollution and other injustice; we will not murder, we will not steal, we will
not rape, we will not enslave and we will not otherwise, destroy the environment of our
neighbor’s children’s future.
To begin to promote political and social justice in our own immediate
sphere of influence is to move toward joining the People’s Revolution of love, peace, goodwill
and positive planetary change. People who actively strive to move away from hatred and toward love will begin to positively
contribute toward all of the issues noted above and more. In moving toward love, peace
and mutual respect for other people, thought processes automatically start to evolve away from
greed and self-centeredness toward social and political ideas and policies that have long-term
positive, rather than negative, local to global consequences. Proper political and social
regulation and leaders of positive ideas and worthy vision will consequently, be
supported. Negative ideas, bad legislation and those who ignore poverty, environmental
pollution and the people's health while promoting greed, war and other injustice, will be
peacefully replaced. The idea of loving our neighbor as our self really is the sum of
what matters, for love really does conquer all.
Logically, it is not possible to care about our country and our planet if we do not move
toward caring about our own immediate neighbors. If we do sincerely strive to care about
those we daily come in contact with, it is impossible not to begin to be concerned about the
greater community and nation and shared planetary home that we must all learn to respect
and protect if we wish to continue to survive. And finally, if we wish to live effective
lives of positive change, we must seek help from our Creator, the author and substance of love
and peace. We the people of Planet Earth shall overcome. Power to the people!
FOR MORE
INFORMATION
Revolution
Revolution -- Side B: Notes on the Historical Record
Key of History: Theory of Social Justice and Peace
The Way: A Theory of Root Cause and Solution
Power to the People
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 Slow Train Comin'
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