The Compassion Deficit: PostMortem of the Saddleback Forum

I watched the Faith Forum ( or whatever it was called) tonight on TV, and sat documenting the Questions and the Answers. My son asked me” You are not a Christian, why are you watching?” I explained to him that I have watched the Evangelicals put a stranglehold on Issues, and leaders and the last two election processes. (Actually for me at this point I feel like am merely documenting a really bad car accident- merely noting the blood loss and the bandages used.) I explained to my son, I can not control or contribute to the dialogue, but that I can pay attention and note the Answers, because the answers sadly may indeed effect the Future for all of us. He nodded and sat and watched the Discussion as well. Some of the Questions were disturbing, but some were actually thought provoking.

And I thought Obama answered thoughtfully and with clarity. McMaverick pandered, and did his stomp speech and basically tried to convince one and all that being a POW and sharing his tales makes him a better person and ready to lead. Considering he avoided answering most questions it really left me more worried about his mental status. And also what bothered me is that pretty much anything he said recieved applause.He was Militaristic from the very first answer, naming General Betrayus as one of his spiritual heros?

I did also notice that Obama did try to answer honestly as possible and also did indeed try to bring up issues of concern, the economy, the poverty issues and the struggles of Day to Day Americans. He even brought up Issues about Compassion and Empathy being needed to confront the problems we face as a nation.

At this point all of us are seeing daily how bad things are here, from friends out of work to friends losing their homes to VETS coming back damaged and lost.We are witnessing daily why we need Compassion. I have been saying for over 3 years on this blog that we have a Compassion Deficit in this Country. But I also think that if people do not know or realize HOW BAD things are in this Country then the Deficit applies to outside our Country. We have been trying to save our country, and even fight 2 stolen Elections. We have written letters, protested, worked the phones, blogged everything and in great detail. And this Election, yes, we have stomped, knocked on doors, worked phone banks and yes, given hard earned money.And yes, some of us have Watched ALL the debates ( Heaven help us-even the Repug ones )and yes even read all books and websites and educated ourselves and our neighbors.

And yes, we have hopemongered, giving each other support and pep talks.And yes, as a Nurse and a Mom I am very serious about What I am doing with this blog..and why I blog, it is no longer “Just a Blog” or “Just Politics”. And yes, I have friends and visitors from all over who come to this blog, from UK, Spain, Japan,Canada, Asia and Down Under, and Scotland, Holland and Wales, most are supportive and understanding that we are trying our very damnest to save what is left of this battered Country. And most more than appreciate that the Bushco Regime Stole the Last Two Elections. They speak with compassion and hope and share our angst and our sadness that our Country is so battered. They understand the silent huge Battle we are waging as Bloggers. And to them I say Thank You and that I am grateful for your insight and your wisdom and your willingness to look at the issues and what we are fighting, a Corporatized Theocracy (  or is it a Theocratic Corporatocracy?)

I hope and pray that OUR Country does find it’s Compassion and its Moral Compass again…..until then I am fighting back with my keyboard, documenting the damage day by day…And I try to blog with my head and my heart, and I am listening with my head and my heart, because I am trying to make sure there is way to connect all of us and keep our Humanity Intact… and maybe give a better Country and Future to our children. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.” Frederick Buechner quotes (American Author, b.1926)

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“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Dalai Lama (Head of the Dge-lugs-pa order of Tibetan Buddhists, 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, b.1935) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“It is lack of love for ourselves that inhibits our compassion toward others. If we make friends with ourselves, then there is no obstacle to opening our hearts and minds to others.” Dalai Lama

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summertime

as i drove home after dropping hubby off with a buddy for a night of frivolity (aka having a beer or two downtown), i started smelling summer. it’s funny how very much memory is made up of smells- but i am very in tune with odors so i guess that’s why many of my memories are triggered by smells. freshly mowed yards; fragrant flowers; the heat rising up off the asphalt into the night air- and the sounds of crickets. in the morning, it’s birds- but in the evening- crickets. and for a moment, in spite of myself, i enjoyed the moment.

reality has an ugly way of creeping into life’s lovely moments- and it brings me around to what i am trying to teach myself- the four noble truths. which, of course, led me around to the dalai lama’s visit here in the states:

“Things are not black and white. Things are relative. Things are interdependent. When we look at a situation we have to consider all the factors. … “You cannot look in one direction. In order to see reality, (you) have to see in three or four or seven dimensions” and that this applies in the economical field, political field and international relations.”

which of course led me to al gore’s speech and on and on….

which was only part of this post. we are all interconnected. and i think many are feeling this but not realizing it. i believe it is why bush still has a 28% approval rating and congress a 9%. most of the people of america listen to what al gore has to say- and they watch the ice melt and the oceans die- and they see the prices at the pump– and they know it’s wrong; terribly wrong. but they don’t know what to do.

i recently read the terrific book ‘creating true peace‘ by thich nhat hanh (thanks to bz at intrepid flame for turning me on to that) and it is a simple book with a simple message- peace starts within. we have to be the change we seek. engaged buddhism is simply that- engaging with fellow human beings regardless of politics, race, religion, etc. on a basic human level. yeah. there’s always a catch he told me in the book- that i cannot isolate myself but must engage with the community at large- because we are all interdependent on each other as part of the human species. yep. no divisions as human beings. that’s tough for me. he explains it’s tough for westerners because of our culture of division and exclusion. so, i am living in the moment. life is in a state of flux and life is suffering. but we can overcome that and work together in peace to make the planet a better place for everyone. not just the haves.

not exactly the divisive message that the hard right christians and jews are preaching as they seek to divide and conquer the middle east. and there’s no hidden agenda like getting to heaven because life doesn’t really end. and that makes sense to me because i know matter doesn’t die. and that’s comforting to me as face my parents’ mortality and the end of my country as i knew it. life constantly changes- nothing is permanent and much of our suffering comes from our attachment to things- whether they be ideas, people, material stuff, power, etc. the attachment to my mom is a tough one. but she, herself, has told my sister and i that we must let her go when she goes as she will be at peace.

so, the smells and sounds and textures of summer brought many thoughts to my mind.

i know i haven’t given up on politics per se. i don’t believe that we can afford to at this time in history. i just can’t approach it in the same way anymore. i don’t believe in the system. i don’t believe in this current world government nor america’s. i don’t believe in any of the candidates for president and i cannot justify voting for someone i don’t believe has the right view for the direction our country needs to head in. as barack obama heads for the center- he is already too far away from it. he needed to stand up for democracy and for changing the way we do things in america. would he have won? i can’t say but i can say that i won’t vote for him. i can’t. he is just as much a part of the system as hillary clinton and just as disinterested in changing the status quo. al gore forcefully spoke about change. it has to happen. it will happen whether we like it or not. i just wish america would have led the way.

letting go and opening up are concepts that do not come easily for me but i need to find inner peace. i need to find a better way. and i think this buddha guy has something here.

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Compassion

Two monks were talking, one said he was in danger.
What danger?, asked the other monk.
I was in danger of losing my compassion for the people of China.

The monk who spoke of the danger, had spent the last 20 years in a Chinese prison.
The other monk he was speaking with, was the Dalai Lama, who said this statement was profound to him.

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I have hung another strand of prayer flags today, as a prayer for the people of Tibet, China, and all the world, that we may all find compassion.

There has been trouble in Lhasa, Tibet. The official news is 10 people have been killed in protests. Others have reported 70 to 100 killed, and 1000 imprisoned. The BBC reports the protests are Tibetans demanding the release of prisoners.
May strength and compassion prevail, and the path of non violence be the chosen path.

 

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