Everyday People

Change takes courage and self-respect. In the midst of a bloody uprising, Syrians soldiers are defecting. They refuse to follow orders to mow down their neighbors. Add these heroes to the 2011 Annual recording humans across the map of change, determined to be heard and to overthrow their government. History is recording thousands of "everyday people"* taking up rocks, rifles, chants, and Facebook in an attempt to end decades of tyranny. In this latest twist, a truly bold decision is being made by men in Syria, getting paid by their government to enforce the rule of a Dictator. They simply will not shoot innocent women and children, and at the cost of defecting and having to flee across the border, these men have made a huge statement and must now pray that real change will occur or they won't be going home.


In America, there is a complicated dynamic brewing that is, at it's core, a desire and need for change. Major overhauls of systems and programs that have become ingrained since the recovery from the 1929 Depression are required. Revolt and rebellion in the US is currently constructed of finger pointing and loud arguing, occasional noisy protests, and political reprimanding. It is highly charged, often rude, sometimes contradictory, occasionally hate driven, but mostly altercations are limited. But if there are more shocking, violent outbursts, similar to the Arizona killing and maiming of citizens and politicians, including Gabrielle Giffords, things will turn uglier.


In a country that often chimes "different strokes for different folks,"* there is an obvious current of distrust. With the loss of millions of jobs, and devalued real estate, a serious crisis exists for an ever larger segment of the population. Millions more Americans are finding that their dreams and hopes, including retirement, have been replaced with a new reality. It boils down to money, how it is earned, taxed, and spent, and the "haves" and "have-nots" are now farther apart then anytime since the Great Depression.


But everyday people in America are better off, and clearly different, than people in the Arab nations. In a "cushier" society, even with the complicated dynamics of diversity in religion, education, income levels, and opportunities, life is easier. There is so much more entertainment and distraction, including the huge increase in obsessions, filled with peeping, gawking, exhibitionism, and self aggrandizing. As the incredible spirit of humans in far away lands is broadcast on flat screens, most of the attention goes to  Casey Anthony, Anthony Wiener, and LeBron James.


Yes, many Americans are struggling to get through hard times, whether it was created by economic collapse, natural disasters, aging, or serious health issues, but many have family somewhere who chip in. There are non-profit programs providing food, medical care, and emotional support. Other peoples are not so fortunate. How are the surviving? So many thousands of people are seen on the streets day after day. Before they took to the streets, they had so very little. How are they eating? Who is paying the electric and water bill in the dwelling now left to their women and children? Where is the money coming from to pay for bullets, bombs, bandages and medicine for their wounds?

Here is where America's truth and other peoples needs collide. Foreign aid is a big chunk of the deficit, but without it they have even less. Borrowing against America's future to pay for military intervention, nation building, and billions of dollars in unchecked hand-outs spins out of control. While the US stumbles through the maze of change, fumbling down blind alleys, filled with shadows, obstacles, and false hopes, it is complicated by the realities built into the foundation of a nation engaged all over the globe.


Add that to the spirit of a people who spread the welcome mat inscribed with the call, "bring me your tired your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free," who now have almost bankrupt social programs that were created to provide the safety net to stand behind this 1886 inscription on the Statue of Liberty. To maintain this philosophy, the USA has to overcome the truth of mismanagement in public education, medicare, welfare, social security, the military, etc. In Washington and state capitals, the argument is about more taxes or less, and the blame game points at small targets like teacher's unions, fire protection, police, and transportation. The only winners are career politicians and lobbyists from the biggest corporations, financial institutions, drug companies, and the oil producers, who team up to churn out billions of dollars in profits, while controlling the minds and the message. This dims the lights inside the maze to make it even more difficult to navigate a course into the future of change.


While billions of humans struggle, scratch, and help each other, they begin to realize more and more, one decade at a time, that they must be courageous and hold accountable the wealthy and powerful who determine their future. Unfortunately, these rulers, whether elected, anointed, or self-appointed, spend their time figuring out how to add to their personal treasure and just pass forward the big questions and potential solutions. Rebellion and revolt have been the only means for populations throughout history to effect real change. It is a brutal and barbaric way to solve problems, so someone needs to find a new path out of the maze in a hurry.


Its no wonder that at a time of lost hope, so many folks get distracted by staring at the possibility that it will take a supposedly "prophesized" nuclear explosion, earthquake, tornado, tsunami, volcano, comet, and/or solar flare to blow up the maze and take out billions of people with it. I am inspired this week to deliver a different direction: "Stand, you've been sitting much too long, there's a permanent crease in your right and wrong. Stand, there's a midget standing tall, and a giant beside him about to fall."*

*Sly and the Family Stone: "Everyday People"and "Stand!"