‘Community is just doing my part.’
May 16, 2016
pp. 128-129
‘You tell a lot of stories of people you met on the road. And they’re the kind of stories that we’re becoming familiar with. Stories of good people who are working too many jobs and still not getting by. Stories of college students who are carrying way too much to be able to focus on college. Stories of people who don’t have the money to get the care they need and die too young. I am aware in my self and I think all around me, maybe, those of you in this room – – there are so many of us anguished about these gulfs that seem to be growing in our society, in our community, and in our nation. And it’s not that we don’t care. We care deeply. But we don’t know how to connect that care in meaningful, practical ways. To do something about it.’
[…]
‘There are several levels of that. One is the doing something. I sometimes think we, in the United States, think we ought to do something about everything and that it’s my job to fix everything. Well it’s not That’s way beyond us. It’s more important, I think, that we listen deeply to our stories and then see where it leads. And that’s the piece. If we all do our part…’
The alphabet of the heart.
Alphabet of the Heart, by Dr. James Doty, professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University and the director of CCARE, Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education.
CDEFGHIJKL
C=Compassion. Recognizing the suffering of another with a desire to alleviate that suffering…beginning with ourselves.
D=Dignity. It needs to be acknowledged and recognized in every person.
E=Equanimity. Evenness of temperament even during difficult times.
F=Forgiveness. The greatest gift to give to another and ourselves.
G=Gratitude. The recognition of the b lessing that our life is – – even in pain and suffering.
H=Humility. Only when we look at another as equals can we truly connect.
I=Integrity. Intention. Defining values most important to us.
J=Justice. Recognition that within each of us there lives a desire to see that right be done. Seek justice for the vulnerable, care of the weak, give to the poor.
K=Kindness. A concern for others as an active component of compassion.
L=Love. It is love that contains all virtues. It is love that holds our humanity.
Michael Moore…
‘I truly and unapologetically believe that if everyone saw it, it would be President Sanders in a cakewalk.’
(Now available on DVD)