Heart, Mind, and Soul

As a person who likes to look at the positive side of life, I believe that people are amazing and can do the most wonderful feats with very little other than the power of their own trilogy: heart, mind, and soul. I have trust in the community and our ability to come together and make miracles happen, but it takes a lot of hard work and perseverance to organize and execute a plan to get the desired results.

For instance: I just finished reading 1776, written by Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough, about the first and most important year of the American Revolution. This book is loaded with quotes from American and British people, revealing a very interesting story. Artwork is included for visuals that captured the day. You may think...how dull, but anything beginning with enlightenment on the madness of King George is anything but boring.

Now that we are faced with upcoming elections, it's easy to become disheartened and cynical about people in the government and feel like your voice has no power. This is simply not true. If you read 1776 and see that in the final hours of a major victory, the only saving grace was the "trilogy" of the volunteer army to persevere in the worst conditions and continue forward in the quest for freedom, you will know just how important your voice still is today. The army was a mere handful of people against a massive and well funded British army in addition to a group of animals they hired as mercenaries. Think 300 style and you will understand what I mean.

Why am I saying this? Because your trilogy still applies in issues that matter to you and your community. Yes it's true that the government is a giant machine compared to what it was in the days of George Washington, and it's true that the media can influence our choices, BUT it's also true that people coming together with one voice can be the final influence to the government and media output.

Many laws that are passed in legislation were started by a concerned citizen, i.e. Megan's Law or Amber Alert. Pro-life vs Pro-choice issues are a good example of government concern because the public cares so much about it. We just need more of the same for domestic violence issues, but it will only happen if you arm yourself with knowledge about the politicians you pay to serve you, come together for a cause you believe in, and use your voice and vote. The system put in place by our forefathers and mothers is only broken if we get frustrated, give up and take no action, while those politicians who live off your tax money,i.e. the "political welfare system," do either nothing or make decisions that harm our communities and continue forth unfettered. The power really is with the people to make the world a better and safer place, we just need to remember that, believe it, and get involved and do something.

1776
Origins of Megan's Law
Origins of Amber Alert
Woman Fights for Domestic Violence Law

Change

The world is becoming a smaller place. This is a double edged sword with the Internet. In one hand, the information age we live in has created an interest in knowledge and information sharing that is a marvel. It's way more difficult to hide things from people, which in turn can lead to social changes in otherwise secluded areas or topics. On the other hand, misinformation and power struggles arise when people learn the wrong facts and/or strive for policy changes against a political machine that wants to keep status-quo. We see this all the time--even now with the presidential campaign.

When it comes to legislation, the fight is long and hard. Behind the scenes there are diligent individuals working to push new laws through that will hopefully better our lives as a people. Not only is it a long obstacle course, but there is usually someone in control who apposes the efforts, and many times with very little reason involved. Change is slow.


I've mentioned Rhonda Kamper in a previous posts. She is working on Henry's Law in Utah to pass a first felony offense for animal torture. Unfortunately, Henry's law did not pass. Among overwhelming support by the public and the House of Representatives, the bill was altered dramatically to include only companion dogs and cats as a third felony offense because of fears over treatment of farm animals. (If you want to see what happens to farm animals, check out Peta.) This is a baby step toward positive change and an example of why it takes forever for change to happen.

Another example is one of the volunteers in the Bravery project has been trying to pass the a law that strangulation is attempted murder and must be treated as a felony, not a misdemeanor. For four years, she has run up against a senator, for whatever reason, apposes the efforts. Change is slow.

If you don't know history, you should. There are lots of cool docudramas and fascinating stories to make history more interesting to learn. A common thread you will see is the dogma that sticks to the policies that govern. One of my favorite examples is William Wilberforce, the abolitionist who was a Member of Parliament in England back in the 18th century. At this time, the African slave trade was in it's prime. The UK, Europe, American economy were strongly dependent on the slave labor force, nevermind the unbelievable cruelty involved. William worked tenaciously year after year to pass an antislave trade motion. It took him 18 years. The motion abolished the slave trade, but did not free those already enslaved. This was a giant leap, but much more needed to be done.

Fighting for human and animal rights, for some reason, has always been a long struggle, but one worth the effort and time. In our era, we are fortunate enough to have information tools and stronger freedoms to express our unrest, yet there is still a lot of work to be done for basic and obvious changes that should have already been in place for such a "civilized society."

Be empowered by learning lessons in history; we have no excuse with information at a click of a mouse. Don't give up the good fight; keep the pressure on those stubborn bureaucrats. Get involved and use your voice; talk openly about issues and VOTE this year. Eventually positive changes will happen.


Henry's Law
Amazing Grace
Implications of Historical Ignorance
Herstory of Domestic Violence: A Timeline of the Battered Women's Movement