Mister Ishmael ~
Just to let you know, this is my favorite chapter to date.
As I reread, the blustery November winds howl outside my own window. I read of everyday men doing everyday jobs in an everyday way. This chapter speaks of already sung heros and then it emplores the reader to think and remember the multitudes of others, the unsung heros. The men, women and children, who throughout history have everyday taken the next appropriate step--think about what they have done, what they have made, what they have produced, what they have invented or created, what they have protected or taught and how they have toiled to keep
everyday working well. But what does that really mean?
What does it mean to do a job? To show up ready for whatever presents itself?
This week has seen the long-time careers of several thought-to-be wizen lion-headed men tarnished in world-wide multimedia and television broadcasting frenzency. Why? because they knew something was horribly wrong and they failed to act strongly enough to stop the abuse. They instead choose to pass the football to someone else to handle the situation. They had direct knowledge of an abusive situation, a grown man with an under-age child, and they did nothing to ensure that it never happened again. They did not fix the problem. They did not handle the situation well, in fact, they did not handle it at all--they allowed the grievance to continue. And now, years later, what has happened? All the good they had done, and the future good they could do, was washed down the drain because they knew of even one "something" and did not fix it.
There is no statue of limitation when correcting a terminal wrong.
It was their watch and they failed.
This week has seen the decampment of several locations of the Occupy Movement. Police in Norfolk in a heavy-handed, short notice terminal end date, trashed the personal property of the peacefully-assembled citizens--who were speaking out for all of us, whether or not we have the good sense to understand that--in a show of televised "we are in charge here", which is becoming the typical brutal governmental fashion. Message:
Who is in charge? Not the people. Are you afraid yet?--well you should be. Where are you and the other citizens of the world? Not awake.
Gatherings of people of more than 30 are prohibited. Did you know that? Thirty is the size of a classroom. Thirty is a very small number. In Norfolk there is one cop for every 1200 people, armed with weapons, pepperspray, bullet proof vests, and helmets. The ultimate bullies on our dime, our wages paid through our taxes. Who are we but the nameless insignificant little people who pay the bills but who do not have a say in our own town's policies or brutalities. Do you feel safe in your home? Well, you are not. The rowing military, or homeland security is ultimate move toawards another fiascos regime. Who is really at the top of this pyramid? We have not one face that is recognizable. Is that face another paranoid Berry Goldwater, J. Edgar or George W.? Are we really willing to be lead by anyone? Are we really that dumb?
Have you looked around the American streets of your towns? Where are the people? In my town the sidewalks are hugely devoid of people in public spaces, and there are very few parks. I have been uncomfortably noticing this strange and eeire devoidment of human life for several years now. Unlike when I traveled abroad, and there were people everywhere (cafes, shops, train stations) living life. In America we are in houses, offices, private cars; inside and off the streets.
No loittering, no sitting, no standing, no parking, no soltiting, no nothing. Our very towns have been taken over by overly-restrictive legislation which we have approved and sanitioned. Did you realize that? In a move to legislate safety we have eliminated life.
It was our watch and we have failed.
What does it take to spotlight that something is seriously wrong here? How many arrests need to be made on this land before people, who know something is seriously wrong, unite and proactivily step up and fix it, instead of passing the growing bad policy-making and potenially harmful society issues off to others for them to handle? Whatever mis-alignment, whatever abusive situation, whatever mis-handled potenially damaging event is before you, is the piece that you are to handle, that you are to bring to light, that you are to champion forth to a better future which we have to live together.
It is important to personally discern what your job on earth is. Not what you are being paid to do, but what was your purpose for being born. What is your job here on earth and the reason you were born. What is your Moby-Dick? Are you doing that job well?
It is your watch are you going to fail?
Like whalemen in the 1800s
#, whom had no advocate, yet continued to do their job everyday, day in and day out. Like every worker in every job, paid or unpaid, continue to do the job, this is what keeps our world some place that we would want to live. Really, it is easy.
The government is a business.
It is your busniess.
It is your business.
It is your life.
I have heard people ask, "What can we do?"
Well, I would suggest that until your last dieing breath you figure out the answer to that question.*
This is your watch. It is our watch.
Happy (I hope we never have to produce another veteran) Veteran's Day.
10:01
Trust Your Journey (tm)
~ ijil Rainbow Hawk Giver
* original statement, quote, word or phrase coined by ijil RHG
# until Herman Melville wrote this book, Moby-Dick
