Power, Politics, Possibilities?
From trance to trying
--- Dotted are the lines between --- personal --- psychological --- philosophical ---sociological --- political --- spiritual ---
Wielding
To think one knows all
can hurt many, do much harm,
when wielding power.
When wielding power,
it behooves us to speak truth,
be fair, act wisely.
Wounding
Said some Ukrainians:
We were attacked in our homes.
And now we’re fighting.
Said Palestinians:
We were pulled out from our homes.
And now we’re dying.
Said some Israelis:
We were kidnapped from our homes.
And now we’re captive.
Said some Mexicans:
We were pushed out from our homes.
And now we’re drowning.
Said Salvadoreans:
We were scared out from our homes.
And now we’re hiding.
Said some Ethiopians:
We were forced out from our homes.
And now we’re starving.
Said Humanity:
We were lured to shut our hearts.
And now we’re crying.
Said some wise sages:
We can heal, it’s not too late.
We’ll keep on trying.
Well, yet ...
What When?
What is there to do
when Lady Liberty cries?
Breathe, reach out, hold tight.
What is there to do
when Lady Justice gets hacked?
Breathe, reach out, join hands.
What is there to do
when the Christ’s Cross gets hijacked?
Breathe, reach out, claim back.
What is there to do
when Old Glory gets kidnapped?
Breathe, reach out, make plans.
Will we?
It’ll take gathered faith
to mend huge holes, remake whole
battered Old Glory.
Flag, faith, family
are not private property,
they belong to all.
Our patriotism,
our speech, our liberation,
are not to be sold.
Wronged
Most deceived, some not,
vote fear, not freedom, forward.
Duped, drink drowse Cool-Aid.
‘Good old days’ longing
make us hurt, harm, stay asleep.
In a tragic trance.
Zombies do this, that,
moved by fear, greed, ignorance.
Hypnotized, off-track.
Ideas, words, deeds have power, influence, and consequence.
Willing
Scared by greed’s cruelty,
saddened by fear’s silent freeze,
we dare to cry, loud.
With muscular hope,
serve as vital vitamin,
not as guillotine.
Watchful
When in distress, doubt,
inward gaze and outward grace.
Vice versa too.
Given that we’re here,
we might as well look for, hear
what there’s here to learn.
Well-wishing
May we learn our lessons,
so that we don’t repeat
the faults and failings of our history.
May we keep turned on our shared light,
shining through the clouds, and the smoke,
and the dogmas.
May it light the path for us,
the large, all-inclusive
we-world us.
Will-working
We shall talk and walk and work
for justice in our governments,
equity in our policies,
truth in our media,
clarity in our vision,
discernment in our choices,
restraint in our outrage,
wisdom in our judgment,
good faith in our actions,
and good will in our deals and dealings.
Well-digging
We shall ...
Act in the present towards the good possible.
Alleviate the suffering of the grieving.
Lighten the burden of the oppressed.
Hasten the pace of the slothful.
Protect the vulnerable,
by prompting, pulling, pushing the powerful
to use power for the greater Good.
Weatherproofing
We shall well prop up
our selves, each other
in warmongering winds.
We shall not give up
our power, nor our peace
to the powerful, to the politicians,
to the profiteers, to the puppeteers,
to the pundits, to propaganda,
to powerlessness.
What if ...
the political is personal, occupational, transpersonal and transcendental?
civic participation has political, physical and metaphysical power to promote the greater good?
we choose to interpret every experience as pregnant with promising prospects and productive possibilities?
we believe that power can be constructive and instructive, even if destructive?
the power of life, light, love energizes fervor, strengthens valor?
in power outages we claim the power to turn our outrage into courage?
Worthwhile
How to exercise
duty and power,
responsibility and authority,
fairly, wisely?
Proposed political participation:
Perk up > Ponder > Peruse > Probe >
Praise? Protest? Persist. Persevere ... Sages say deep time
and the long arc of justice
favor what’s fair, kind.
Watering Hole
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Thanks for reading Pausing for Ponderings and participating with your perspectives.
such important ponderings! Thank you for filling my pausing with wonder ♥️ 🙏 🤔💭
Marisol, this piece is incredibly thought-provoking, as always. It's sparked a question in me that I've been wrestling with for some time: If power, as you suggest, can be constructive and instructive, even if destructive, where do we draw the line between these two faces of power? Is it possible that what appears destructive in the short term might actually be constructive in the long run, pushing us to change and grow? Or are there certain acts of power that are inherently destructive, with no redeeming qualities? It's a complex question, and I don't pretend to have the answer. But your writing makes me wonder if we sometimes judge power too harshly, focusing only on its negative aspects and overlooking its potential for positive change. Is there a way to harness the destructive face of power to force change, and then redirect it to a positive and constructive path?