It’s about ALL of us

Life is not just about one of us or a few of us, it’s about all of us!

Throughout our various historical pursuits of wealth, power and “righteousness,” we, the people of humanity, have never actually grasped or fulfilled this notion.

Sure, we’ve heard it from religions, governments and wise leaders…

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28, King James Bible

“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.” – United States Declaration of Independence

“The earth is the mother of ALL people, and all people should have EQUAL rights upon it.” – Chief Joseph, Nez Perce Native American Tribe

“PEOPLE ARE of two kinds, either your brothers in faith or your EQUALS in humanity.” – Imam Ali (AS), Cousin of the Prophet Muhammad

… But as a global community, we’ve failed miserably in delivering upon our own (or even worse for some, on divine) principles.

This may or may not be immediately evident in our everyday lives depending on our vantage points, but if we step back and look at the bigger picture of injustice in this nation and throughout the world, it becomes abundantly clear that humanity as a collective does not deliver on promises of equality.

It’s time for that to change!

There’s no reason (besides perhaps lining the pockets of the wealthy and powerful), why the people of this nation or our world should be so divided, or that certain people should be subjugated to mass abuse for the benefit of others.

So what can we do to make it right?

Here are some thoughts to consider:

• • Recognize that we, without question, are ALL equal – We don’t get to choose where we start life. We don’t get to select our bodies or brains. We don’t get to pick our families. As youngsters we are swayed by influencers who are selected by circumstance, some good, some bad. However, we come into existence entirely equal… No one more or less perfect, or deserving than others. We need to stop treating each other as different, or with indifference.
  • We’re here together for a reason – From those who rejoice in divine creation to those who gravitate toward evolutionary theory, this is a principle that must be appreciated on a daily basis. We need each other, and anything we do to the detriment of one another is counterproductive to our life experience. Let’s welcome others with compassion and respect, and not push them away due to perceived differences.
  • Command and demand accountability – We must hold ourselves accountable for our own actions. Celebrate the goods and OWN the bads. Moreover, we should hold family and friends accountable for their actions. It doesn’t have to be aggressive, but when you see a loved one doing something shitty pull them aside and respectfully call it out.
  • Everyone needs a purpose and equity to thrive – It’s EASY to say those who don’t appear to be trying to better themselves are lazy and pitiful. It’s much more difficult, but extraordinarily honorable, to have an understanding and compassion for the disenfranchised and suffering. Think about what our system, mental illnesses and other stressors have done to foster conditions that lead to destitution. Then think about how much better we could be doing if we ALL had the means to thrive. We need to lift each other up.
  • Just because our global systems may work doesn’t mean they’re perfect – My favorite quote is from Mark Twain, who said “Loyalty to a petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul.” Resting on our laurels and accepting the status quo gets us nowhere. It’s time to innovate and evolve in ways that promote equity and sustainability.
  • Stop buying into the rhetoric – Instead of believing that figures in higher positions of power and wealth are more intelligent than you, or that they have your best interests in mind, be skeptical and approach them with scrutiny. They only have the power that we allow them to have, and “we” together are much greater and infinitely more capable than “they” alone.
  • Slander egos, greed and deceit – We will never achieve equality or equity without dismissing the self-serving actions of the vain, the wealthy and the powerful. This is particularly true when those actions are perpetrated through the exploitation and suppression of others. Excessive egotism is a mental illness and should be treated as such. It’s irresponsible for any of us to enable it… Even worse to encourage it.

If each and every one of us puts just a little effort into bettering ourselves for the sake of one another, then we can make this world a more wonderful place for everyone… Driving toward our greatest human potential!

Please offer your thoughts in the comment section below…

In order to leave comments you will need to register… The link is at the top of the page. Requiring registration helps keep spammers out of the conversation.