Courage – let kindness win

Don’t Sit This One Out.

Don’t sit this one out. If you’ve decided that the election gave Democrats a mandate, you’re missing the point. If you think you can sit back and let leaders steer the ship, you might be in for a wake-up call.

This election was not so much a blue wave as it was a rainbow tsunami. It was an outpouring of people across many sectors who rallied not to crown Democrats, but in fact to end the authoritarian inhumanity that was ushered in. If elected Democrats fail to honor the will of the people and continue to allow corporate rule and financial ruin for the majority of this country, there will be another tsunami.

And what does the will of the people look like? 76% are against the building of AI data centers, 60% disapprove of how ICE handles deportation, 71% voted to stop the Iran war. The elections of progressives across the country indicated of a movement towards humanity and away from fear mongering. The platforms of caring and community won decisively as younger organizers rose to uplift the power of the people over the money of the few.

Yet we are already seeing the weakness of Democratic leadership in the House as they failed to turn out the critical votes needed to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on war crimes.

Which brings me to the push to oust Senator Schumer as majority leader. Bernie Sanders and Senator Slotkin recently addressed the need for vigorous debate on the direction of Democratic leadership.That argument seems to be gaining momentum as people realize that Schumer’s inadequacies cost the elections of people like Angie Nixon and did little to support winners like Michigan Senator-elect Sayed.

It’s pretty clear he has an uphill battle especially if Senator Van Holland steps in with a plan.

But it’s the “blue” support of Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House that baffles. Either people aren’t aware of his record in Congress, or they don’t care. I suppose it’s the latter. Take time to learn.

Please, don’t sit this one out.

You can take a deeper dive into this moment in time with my conversation with Rivera Sun on WDRT’s Changing the Narrative podcast, The Road Ahead. Rivera is an author and activist and has written numerous books and novels including The Dandelion Insurrection and the award-winning Ari Ara Series. She is the editor of Nonviolence News and the Program Coordinator for Campaign Nonviolence.

She serves on the board of Backbone Campaign and the advisory board of World BEYOND War. You can find her work at riverasun.com

Fire in Our Belly

This is a good day for human beings and the earth to begin again. May this be the moment we remember who we are and find commonality in the most important things in life: to care for one another as we strive for peace.

On the eve of the midterm elections, I found myself in a cabin deep into the cavernous Ozark Mountains without internet. Or so I thought until we read the fine print at the ranger’s station early the next day.

And in the morning light the sweet news of the day told a remarkable thing: We, the people, won. The Earth won. Diversity won. Equity won. Inclusion won.

Tears of joy for all that can be. We have seen the worst of us, now let the best in us prevail. Nothing comes without effort. Tremendous thanks to all of the people who never gave up on “us”; those who refused bitterness or to hide in fear.

To the ones who fell to the most inhuman acts of ICE, may we not forget you. May your sacrifice be the fire in our bellies to carry on.

And to the likes of Hong and Nixon, may you continue with the bold step of reclaiming our humanity by challenging archaic systems with determination and courage. Your fearlessness led the way.

To the new leaders, may you remember daily that you are servants not dictators. That your masters should not be corporate whims and greed, but reverence for the work ahead. Respect the people you serve and do the right thing always. Kudos to the youth throughout the world refusing to accept the inhumanity of the past, those demanding an end to genocides and resource grabs. You are making our dreams become reality. We love you.

The Larger Story

Pay attention. Life is passing quickly and while there may be speculation, there is no definitive answer on how many times we will pass this way. My father always told me if I were to gamble only to do it on sure bets. And this is what I know and how I place my bets: I’m here now, so it behooves me to make the most of it.

However complicated it may seem, however difficult, life is still a luxury. With its beginning and its end, and the wild ride that occupies the middle, it’s easy to forget we’re part of a larger story. That larger story has always been about transformation and change. It’s carried the threads of cruelty, but has also carried threads of things much greater.

The circle of life is worthy of our attention. It’s become trendy to assign definitions to the Creation and Creator. Religion is loaded with our need to believe. If we’re not careful the willingness to believe instead of to know makes the whole ride a lot more tenuous. Beliefs, like clothing, change. Putting all your eggs in the basket of belief will make a good scramble when your basket is tumbled; beliefs are not a worthy gamble. We are worth more than belief allows. We are more capable than belief affords. Belief stifles creativity. It holds us hostage to the past.

It has become quite popular to disavow the possibility of peace and thereby avoid being accountable to it. We speak of fate as if we have never met intention.

Don’t let anyone talk you into believing you don’t belong here. That’s the biggest lie. Find the threads of conviction and love that dwell inside you and hold on for dear life. Because it is.

Withstanding Inhumanity

Withstanding inhumanity is not enough. We have coasted in some naive belief that the ship would miraculously right itself as we witnessed and continue to witness the slaughter of human beings around the world. Too many have chosen to look the other way as our environments are being systematically destroyed by greed. Too many look upon the obscene amassing of wealth with more envy than disgust, allowing systems created long ago to flourish regardless of outcome. Our politics are crippled by ignorance and apathy.

And while the No Kings rallies were a muscle flexed, they were a drop in the bucket for what is needed. We are still at the mercy of inhuman practices because we choose to keep the systems afloat. The systems that are harming us will never change from the inside. That is by design. Transformation requires creativity and vision. It demands courage to end centuries of disorder. Might is right and to the conqueror goes the spoils should no longer be our creed.

The good news is: it’s happening. People are not merely resisting; we are emerging with a sense of purpose and a thirst for something better. And we are finding one another.

Algorithms are created to distract us. AI is stripping away what is left of critical thinking. Take a courageous step away from distraction. Take a step into unadulterated self-discovery. The fruit of possibility lies there.

The concept of seven generations is not quaint. It’s vital. To honor those who came before us and to make ready the Goodness for those who will come after. That is the game we are now playing. We’re engaged in a battle of legacy. Everyone who knows this must rally to it. Shine on my friends. This is our battle to win.

When Kumbaya Doesn’t Cut It

When words land empty and ideals are fruitless; when it’s hard to soothe the weariness aroused by a world gripped in ignorance – I go looking for truth tellers.

So, I listened to the President of Ghana address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly. It’s good to listen to independent media; you find some of the best food for thought there. I heard his speech listening to Joy Reid, and I am grateful for the spark of humanity he championed.

President John Dramani Mahama spoke of the immutable declaration of the UN charter that ‘every human being belongs to the human family’. He went on to say: “No race is superior, no nation inferior” and addressed the need for healing. He acknowledged that the woundedness created by the slave trade must be repaired and noted how that inequity remains embedded in today’s power systems.

He challenged the inequality of the UN security council, noting the lack of African voices and asserted the need for that to change in order to restore the UN’s credibility and survival. And most importantly he challenged the veto power of that council that has been used to hide or validate what we now know as crimes against humanity.

He slammed the archaic notion of “might is right” (which I thoroughly applauded). And he called out the slaughter of 20,000 Palestinian children and asked, when would we act with “decisive moral authority”.

He spoke with the power of humility and a keen knowledge of humanity. He ended the speech as he began, with a wakeup call reminding us of our mutual belonging.

What faces us is not insurmountable; we have the means to make things right.

President Mahama concluded, “What we lack is the political courage to see one another as a part of a single human family”.

His words remind me of the possibility of a better tomorrow. Let us act upon them.

Yes. We all belong.

And another powerful discussion for your consideration. We need more than Kumbaya today.

Empowering Hope to Action – Wisconsin Rising

Politics has not held much weight with me. The game has always seemed too rigged, but something is definitely stirring that may prove to be enough to welcome a new day. The discourse is changing. People across the nation are feeling empowered to hope again.

It is time to remember the old childhood song, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt”. The insults and lies are flying. We have met the supreme insulter in chief and his vitriol has emboldened far too many. But we are taking back our courage and dignity as human beings, and it shows.

We are standing empowered to demand what we want and need. And if you have a mind to vote, make sure you are certain of what and who you are giving your permission toward. Maybe this time we will demand the empowerment of everyone. The bots and AI commercials can’t rock you when you are committed to humanity.

Here are two podcasts from Changing the Narrative. The first is with Francesca Hong. the second with Emily Berge. I give time for people to express their humanity and invite them to express why they are engaged so passionately in whatever they do. These two people are unstoppable and regardless of the outcome in the Aug 11 primary, or the Nov 3 midterm, they will have made their mark on our culture and our politics. And it is good.

Please listen and share.

A Force For Good. Francesca Hong is running as an unapologetic Democratic Socialist on the Democratic ticket to be the next governor of Wisconsin. “We Make Better Possible, ” is proving to be a welcoming, big tent idea.

A Human Being Who Happens To Be a Politician Emily Berge is running to unseat Derrick Van Orden in the Third Congressional District challenging the notion that Washington insiders should pick the Democratic Candidate and has insisted on having a primary for the 3rd allowing local voters to decide.

250 Years

And we are still here…

As the swirl of BS continues and it seems harder to find hints of humanity, compassion and kindness, remember this: The United States was born as a republic led by an aristocracy of white men. Yet the Declaration of Independence offered some of the highest human ideals ever written: All men are created equal and the right to the pursuit of happiness – unless of course you were Indigenous, a Slave, or a Woman. For these lofty ideals to become true for all required that equality, equity and the pursuit of justice would become a relentless effort. Two hundred and fifty years of blood, sweat and tears from some of the most courageous and passionate people brought us tremendous victories.

This struggle made by (primarily) marginalized Peoples must be the pride of this nation, not its castaways. And while the arrogant attempt to erase our history and whitewash our struggles, it’s incumbent upon us to celebrate the 250 years of valiant courage and unbridled wisdom of those who resisted injustice.

The stories of persistent valor that are handed down, whether written or verbal, in song or in art, must be held as sacred and continue to be shared. Teach our children the legacy of which they can be proud. Remind them that our Native siblings are still here despite attempted genocide. Remind them of the resiliency of all who were brought here against their will to be enslaved. Help them understand that socialism, feared by the elites, gave us fire departments, the post office, public schools, unions, better working conditions and so much more.

Let’s stop wasting time on the small minded, the greedy and the power hungry. They have risen from time to time, but have never triumphed. We know their history intimately. We carry the scars. It is time to uplift and honor those who never allowed ignorance to win. However daunting the challenge, we cannot sacrifice the gains that humanity has made. We must persevere.

Let’s come together to celebrate the true victors. The ones who never surrendered their love or their humanity. Let’s begin again. And all that is now being done to destroy human dignity can be undone. Do not despair. We will rise stronger; our light will be brighter.

And let us acknowledge that this country was and remains imperfect, and rather, see it as a work of art, perhaps never to be finished but always available for our love and corrections. We are living in a time of correction. Your voice and your clarity are needed.

Find one another. Humanity is calling.

Transformation

It’s easy to say, “We need transformation’; it’s yet another thing to be actively engaged in it. Transformation, by its nature, implies urgency to move from one state of being into another. Nature repeatedly shows us this. The butterfly is not alone in this emerging. Whether nature’s rapid transformations of insects and amphibians or the slow altering of the seasons, these shifts are essential for survival and the balance of life’s systems. And what are the consequences of not transforming?

Stagnation does not serve us. In traditional Chinese Medicine stagnation refers to restriction that hinders vital energy and ultimately causes pain and dis-ease. That’s why people seek movement in the forms of Tai chi and Qi Gong, to avoid stagnation and to maintain health’s optimum balance. And to a great extent it works.

But when we are identifying disease within our communities, our state and world, movement alone will not suffice. There must be clear thinking and honest assessing of the conditions causing our illnesses – literally and figuratively.

Wisdom would dictate that no single individual should be saddled with the obligation and responsibility of what we have come to know as leadership. Marx had it wrong, following is in fact the opium of the masses, organized religion is only a symptom. The giving away of our individual accountability to ourselves, our communities and the earth has led us to this imperiled moment. Handing our power to a leader brings a stagnation that we can not afford in this urgent time. Cooperation and community where everyone assumes responsibility to the whole is what is needed now. And that will be a transformative step that we have not yet tried.

Many of us prefer status quo thinking and are not prepared to rock the boat. Understood. There are people desperate to crown a new king to follow, both on the left and the right. Tucker Carlson and Pete Buttigieg come to mind in this delusional attraction. But transformation requires immediacy and I would say to you, if this is not your moment to be accountable as a human being, capable of clear thinking and decisive action, please step aside.

There are many brilliant minds and stellar hearts seeking to bring more than hope back to our existence. There are communities of people readying for the transformation needed for all of us to create better ways forward. Look to the ones creating community. Look to the ones invigorating more than resistance; look to the determined, to the unrelenting. The people refusing to accept ‘this is how it must be’. And maybe then you will realize you are an essential part in this massive shift – for all of us.

Waking From a Bad Dream

When the evils of humanity come so close that you can feel the stench of their breath on your neck, you know you better wake from the nightmare. We can no longer wait for the right moment to counter the ignorance that has swept this country. Manipulated from the pulpit and driven by greed, perhaps enough of us have now understood that the “American Dream” has been the world’s worst nightmare, and we are prepared to change the narrative. As the president scores points with gamers on the oil market and the rest of us hold on for dear life, this roller coaster ride of destruction has seemed endless.

But the truth is we can wake from this bad dream. It will not be one action, one march or one election that will stop the tide of delusion. It will require that enough of us, wake to find that we are still here. That our hopes for ourselves and our children are still here. That our aspirations of peace and equity are alive and well. That our love of the Earth is defiantly refusing to allow the continued raping of our Mother. When enough of us realize there are choices that do not include “drill baby drill” or distance ourselves from the threats of annihilation that keep us in fear, we will change course.

We must find strength in our mutual history from those who have defied the lawless laws of corruption and have encouraged us to never give up. The fearless ones, who could see that the nightmare has an end – and worked tirelessly to show us the way. Not any one of us have the solution, but together we are the solution.

Most recently Minnesotans taught the power of “we the people”. May we realign with our humanity however we can.

Ten years after her murder, indigenous leader Berta Cáceres remains a beacon of hope in Honduras

“She Didn’t Die, She Multiplied.”The words and vision of slain human rights activist, Berta Caceres, reverberate throughout this podcast on Changing the Narrative. Bryan Rogers shares his passion for the environment and humanity in his role as Environmental Justice Director for The Webb at Milwaukee’s Walnut Way. The overwhelming number of data centers springing up in Wisconsin require a statewide and organized resistance to protect our water, our communities and our health.

Stand Up

Social media was abuzz prior to the nationwide March 28th rallies. There were legitimate concerns over allegiance with Democratic leadership that still refuses to accept that the vast majority of people want the US to stop funding Israel’s war machine – and to admit we are complicit in genocide. I understand those critiques and agree. In deciding my attendance at the rally, I weighed heavily the pros and cons. Being invited to emcee the Madison No Kings Rally, made my decision for me. I could have my say. And I was impressed with the speakers also invited for that day. The event challenged every nay sayer, in a good way. I am very glad I said “yes”and proud to be among everyone who attended.

Some people have asked to hear my opening – so here it goes. And you can find the full hour of amazing speakers below.

“When our humanity is under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back.

When our dignity is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back.

When our love is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back.

First, I want you to look around and take in the tapestry that we are. Feel the courage and the kindness that we share. There is an attack on our humanity occurring daily. It manifests through ICE raids and separating families; it happens through the incessant war industry that’s always searching for targets instead of working towards peace.

And it is in the destruction of our home, the earth, with unnecessary pipelines, and data centers destroying our health and our communities.

Both parties have created this moment and it is incumbent upon us, “we the people”, to restore human dignity, compassion and trust.

You’re not sheep. I have sheep. I know the difference. Sheep are wonderful, but we share something that sheep don’t have. We have the ability to choose. By being here, you are choosing hope over despair, empathy over disregard, and action over ineptitude.

We are the ones refusing to let ignorance win. You and others who couldn’t be here or are gathering in over 100 locations in Wisconsin, are stepping up to be frontline.

We’re the defenders of our mutual humanity, regardless of our differences. We are here together to show each other how powerful peace can be, and I, for one, love you and thank you for your efforts.

There are 50 grassroots groups, non-profits and pro-democracy organizations participating in this event. Find some that resonate with you and get active. You are needed.

Speakers and speeches from March 28 in Madison.

They include: Paul Smith, United Turtle Clan, Oneida Nation; Sinceree Dixon, League of Women Voters; Ajak Johnson, Badger Collective; and Rev. Judge Everett Mitchell, Solid Rock Baptist Church

Photos from NO Kings Madison

Category: Courage