Hello Linda,
I like the intent of your quote, but I think its not just about winning and loosing, but that Nature has as many rights as corporations and people so that future generations will have positive choices!... and be able to dream about happiness for future generations.
jp

Well I agree with you wholeheartedly Linda, but having been engaged in an extended spiritual sabbatical recently exploring the concept of 'not knowing' I've come to appreciate how caught-up we can become even in our well-meaning visions. Living to the best of our abilities is all we can ask of anyone, while hoping, perhaps, that we all can listen compassionately to struggles others encounter...
Thanks for your sharing!
jp

Blessings to you Linda also for all the sharing! Question is, how do we encourage others' to join in the dialogue?
Ciao, jp

Hey, all:

Hey, Linda: I read Paul Goodman's quote as a more specific restatement of Gandhi's "Be the Change..." message. Granted, Goodman's is also reversed from Gandhi's, since for Gandhi the change in individual behavior comes earlier, which helps bring about the result of improved societal behavior ("revolution"). And Goodman envisions a revolution and then the change in behavior. I would say your title here falls squarely in the Gandhi camp.

Gandhi's approach is very appropriate for me, and it ties in well with the goal of this group of creating happiness. I may have millions of things I have to do, but every morning when I wake up I can look out my bedroom window and see if my wind turbine has gotten enough wind to start turning. Sometimes I can wake up and hear it softly whistling without even looking. I can also look up and see if there are shadows outside, because then I know the PV panels are collecting sunshine and turning it into electricity, and my solar water heater is working. These are forms of happiness that 'being the change...' relates intimately to, and that are hard to describe. I have had people come out who know nothing about the way I live, and they must think I freeze or swelter (more likely) in the dark, and eat mud. (Well, I 'm here to tell I quit eatin' mud years ago.) Many who feel this way are transformed in their thinking. For many others, at least the seed is planted--it may grow next week, or maybe never. I have had people come out not knowing much at all, and when I casually note to them I don't have any utility power lines stretched to my home, they have suddenly SPUN around to discover there aren't any! I almost always tell the story that after I first raised my turbine tower and it started making power I used to stare at it for hours at it--just looking up at it--even got a lawn chair and sat in the shade. Invariably, after I tell people that story I can catch them, staring up at the spinning turbine.

I don't think it matters which sequence is followed between Goodman and Gandhi, and in fact both are probably essential. Regardless of the sequence, there are many who should, even must be examples ("Be the change...")--the more the better--to show others what is possible. Then the revolution will have better support and more complete success, and then Goodman's question, 'How would you live..." is much easier to answer. Taken together then, both are necessary.

There are still many things I want to do personally, so believe me I am not yet satisfied. I do agree there is much hypocrisy, and a lot of suspending our principles ("flying to Stockholm..."), and a lot of "straining out gnats and swallowing camels" (that's directed at the Fundies). Much of what we do is for emotional comfort and reassurance, but it still has the potential for permanent practical benefit.

DRGS, I don't think it is necessary to choose speaking either spiritually or pragmatically, in fact I am guilty of both in this very note. I think both have their place. I am not sure if you are making this point or sharing a perception that society might have, but in either case I think most us dwell in both spirit and pragmatism. Please tell us more about this.

Regarding joining the dialog, I am afraid I have no other advice but making the best of time, creativity, opportunities, patience, persistence, etc. This might very well be for our children, or even their children, to complete. Sadly, I definitely see things getting worse before they get better. We will say Goodbye to the polar bears in their natural habitat. Desertification will continue, at the same time coastal flooding worsens, both due to the same complex climatic forces. Tropical forests will be cleared to support overpopulation, and the topsoil there will wash away. And this is just the wildlife biologist talking. (Gee, maybe this should not be in the dialog--I get depressed just thinking of it.)

Please excuse me, I need to go outside and watch my turbine spin. My best to you all.

David
Messages done with sustainable energy, with Wind and Sun!