This random linking epidsode, combined with some screaming protesters on the street at Union Square last night make me thing that one of the problems with our country, and maybe even the world, is that we spend way too much time criticizing other people and debating issues and not nearly enough time actually creating positive change in our immediate lives. How much money was donated to political campaigns this year by people who have never given a dime to any charity in their lives before, or even worse, never having given any of their time to any charity. I try to help people around me... that's why I want to write the book, that's why I do these mentoring programs, and that's one of the reasons I like the Boathouse. Not everyone has to spend time in a soup kitchen for it to be a worthwhile charitable endeavor. Just treating people right would be a start.
Ask yourselves what are the last three selfless things you did for other people? Stuck for an answer? What about the last time you criticized someone or attacked them personally for their political views?
Now, that's not to say you can't have views and support politicians that represent your views, but the level of derisiveness that we've sunken to has to stop, especially since so few of us are doing our part as quality human beings. This is not a glass house we should be throwing stones from, people. Go spend more time with your family and close friends. Be supportive of them. Go do something nice for someone... go show your appreciation for someone. Give of your time to a charitable, as oppossed to a political, cause. Helping people is the most non-partisan activity you can take on, and there's not enough of it. Was John Kerry going to save the world? End homelessness? Comfort the sick? Take in the tired, the poor, yearning to breathe free? No, and neither will George Bush. Its up to each and every one of us individually to, as Ghandi says, to "be the change we want to see in the world." I'm so sick of everyone being so negative and critical. And I do it, too, so I'm not saying I'm perfect. One of my new goals is going to be to encourage people to find positive solutions to as many simple, immediate problems as they can find. Let's not waste any more time debating this bygone election. Neither candidate was a great man, and I'll debate that with anyone. We don't have enough great people around because it seems easier to knock people down than to aspire to be great.
Who is a great person that we can all get behind? Is Barak great? I don't know. Sein seems to think so. I honestly don't know enough about him, but his blog is on my FeedDemon. He's holding town hall meetings and he's asked for commentary on his site. I think the most important comment was simply, "Thanks for asking." I never see my local counsel people except for election time. They're supposed to be representing me, but I don't see them asking me what I think. I'm trying to get Fordham to do some polling or town hall type things to see what the alumni base is thinking. Feedback. Great people are great because they ask a lot of questions and strive to inform themselves about their constituencies. Great marketers know their audience, and great politicians should be spending half their time in their own districts just talking to people.
I think I'm going to try and make an appointment with my local counselpeople just to talk and see what's on their mind, find out what they do, etc. I think that would make for interesting blogging. Let's see what our representatives are up to.