Choose one: Angry, worried, depressed, fired up

(Above, youth celebrate their victory before the Indianapolis City Council and their support for the Climate Recovery Resolution.)

Never before in my lifetime has the culture clash in America been so strident. We’ve never been a homogenous nation but there was a time when the “Golden Rule” (Do unto others as you would have them do to you.) was generally accepted as the standard of human behavior. The “Rule of Gold” (Follow the money) has always been around but mostly it has been regarded as an aberration of the cultural norm.  Maybe it still is a minority view. Maybe the majority civil, compassionate voices have simply been muted of late.

It does seem, however, that there is a drift toward “me” first, privatization, deregulation, drill baby drill in national parks, cut them trees, “you’re fired - sorry it’s just business”, tax cuts for the rich, health care for those who can afford it, and any job, any policy is okay if it grows the economy.

The Earth Charter stands in stark contrast to this “new normal” trend. “The choice is ours; form a global partnership to care for Earth and one another or risk the destruction of ourselves and the diversity of life.” (Preamble to the Earth Charter)

Fortunately, more and more people are getting fired up e.g. Black Lives Matter and Women for Change. Youth and elders are speaking out with results. Scientists are preparing for an unprecedented public demonstration on April 22 and a People’s Climate March in D.C. is set for April 29. The North Dakota Pipe Line brought together a surprising number of determined multicultural water protectors.

All is not lost but all is a risk. Assuming Monday Memo readers want to live in a world inspired by the Golden Rule and the Earth Charter, let’s own our anger, worry, and depression but most of all let’s get fired up.

For our children’s children,

John Gibson