Friday afternoon (Halloween) I was standing on a street corner with about 15
other Obama supporters on each side of the stop light in Freeland watching
the reaction of people driving by. Many smiles, some frowns, the occasional
down-thumb. And then a big guy on a big motorcycle came by, very slowly
passing right in front of us shouting obscenities about the "f-king
liberals" and the ruination of his America. It was quite a verbal assault,
finished by a roar of his bike pipes and off he went.
It made me think, again, we have to stop this raging at each other. It seems
to me that those on the right feel a sense of entitlement to rage, to
lashing out when threatened--and I am sure there are those on the left who
do the same. And all it does is widen the divide and increase fear.
Walking back to my truck a bit later, holding my Obama sign to my chest I
could feel my heart swell with hope like I have not allowed myself in a long
time. I sat in the truck cab and cried and asked myself, "How will I handle
it if McCain snatches victory from the jaws of defeat?" And it gave me great
empathy for those walking back to their vehicles clutching McCain signs to
their chests.
So the next day, on my way to phone banks and canvassing undecided voters,
when I saw the McCain people out at another corner down the highway I
determined to walk up to every person I see who is wearing a McCain button,
holding a McCain sign, or has a McCain bumper-sticker,and extending my hand
to shake theirs. "Hello, I'm your neighbor, Christina, in Freeland. Deep
down, I believe we have similar values and dreams and come Wednesday, you
can count on me to include you in my vision of America... Can I count on you?"
This is the question. And I invite you to start asking it--for Wednesday
morning is just the beginning of an era of citizen involvement that must go
on for the rest of our lives. This citizen involvement will have many facets
as we learn how to communicate more and more effectively with our elected
officials, and our new president. And it will be sustained at the local
level. You can count on me... And I know I can count on you.
And for the inspiration part: this American Prayer song is a must see--just as this vote is a must believe!
Christina Baldwin
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Where the energy of hope supports the power to bring a better America into being
Welcome
WE SEE AMERICA THRIVING is where the energy of hope supports the power to change the future of America. A restorative place where our hopeful hearts can connect beyond the negative news and collective trauma that surround us these days.
This is the place to gather our voices, nourish our hopes, share what inspires us, restore our spirits, celebrate our successes, reconnect to our resources and revitalize our energy toward bringing a thriving America into being.
Shed your dread. Take stock of the resources you have within you and in your community. Look around at all the good that is already sprouting. We have more solutions in the works than we often realize. Now let yourself feel at home with the better America you believe in.
This is the place to gather our voices, nourish our hopes, share what inspires us, restore our spirits, celebrate our successes, reconnect to our resources and revitalize our energy toward bringing a thriving America into being.
Shed your dread. Take stock of the resources you have within you and in your community. Look around at all the good that is already sprouting. We have more solutions in the works than we often realize. Now let yourself feel at home with the better America you believe in.
What's the Best That Can Happen Next?
* What does a thriving America look like to you?
* What is the hope for America that lights up your heart?
* What is the vision of a better future that gets you through the day?
* What is the motivation that fuels your work in the world?
* What inspires you to reach your own next level of inner growth and outer service?
* Who are the people and what are the projects that stand out as current examples of how good the future could be?
* What do you want to start thinking and talking about as if it were already better, right now?
* What is the hope for America that lights up your heart?
* What is the vision of a better future that gets you through the day?
* What is the motivation that fuels your work in the world?
* What inspires you to reach your own next level of inner growth and outer service?
* Who are the people and what are the projects that stand out as current examples of how good the future could be?
* What do you want to start thinking and talking about as if it were already better, right now?
Share Your Hopes and Visions
Send your vision of a thriving America to america.thriving@gmail.com. We'll share the power of your hopes and the energy of your visions here on the blog. Original contributions are welcome, along with quotes, poetry, songs, videos and images that inspire and sustain you.
We want to hear from all ages! And let us know how you'd like to be identified. We can include such things as first name and last initial, age, location, and occupation or affiliation. We'll put in as much or as little information as you'd like.
We want to hear from all ages! And let us know how you'd like to be identified. We can include such things as first name and last initial, age, location, and occupation or affiliation. We'll put in as much or as little information as you'd like.
Action and Information Links
WhiteHouse.Gov - President Obama has promised to make our government more transparent. Keep up with the latest from the Executive Office and visit the office of the Public Liaison to be involved.
An American Moment - Obama asked you to talk about the issues that matter most to you. Use this link to see what people said. It looks like it's no longer open for contributions at this time.
We Can Solve It - Challenging America to solve the Climate Crisis and Repower America with 100% renewable electricity in 10 years.
Generation We - The Millennials, aka Generation We, have arrived. They have emerged as a powerful political and social force. Their huge numbers and progressive attitudes are already changing America. And the world.
The Girl Effect - An excellent presentation on how to make a greater impact with "change the world" energy ... direct it at girls and women first.
TED Talks - A free archive of the best talks from the TED Conference. The Conference features the world's most inspired thinkers with the mission of Spreading Ideas.
Worldchanging - Founded on the idea that real solutions already exist for building the future we want.
Memory of the Future Project - Check out Sara Lovell's project of creating a map to the future want, consciously creating a better reality.
Resurgence - An extraordinarily beautiful and inspiring resource, edited by Satish Kumar. Forward-looking perspectives on the key ecological and spiritual issues of our time.
Forum for the Future - As sustainability nears the mainstream, this UK-based non-profit has an awesome track record of working with business and government leaders to identify and accelerate needed changes in financial, built-environment, transportation, tourism and retail sectors. Publishes Green Futures magazine.
An American Moment - Obama asked you to talk about the issues that matter most to you. Use this link to see what people said. It looks like it's no longer open for contributions at this time.
We Can Solve It - Challenging America to solve the Climate Crisis and Repower America with 100% renewable electricity in 10 years.
Generation We - The Millennials, aka Generation We, have arrived. They have emerged as a powerful political and social force. Their huge numbers and progressive attitudes are already changing America. And the world.
The Girl Effect - An excellent presentation on how to make a greater impact with "change the world" energy ... direct it at girls and women first.
TED Talks - A free archive of the best talks from the TED Conference. The Conference features the world's most inspired thinkers with the mission of Spreading Ideas.
Worldchanging - Founded on the idea that real solutions already exist for building the future we want.
Memory of the Future Project - Check out Sara Lovell's project of creating a map to the future want, consciously creating a better reality.
Resurgence - An extraordinarily beautiful and inspiring resource, edited by Satish Kumar. Forward-looking perspectives on the key ecological and spiritual issues of our time.
Forum for the Future - As sustainability nears the mainstream, this UK-based non-profit has an awesome track record of working with business and government leaders to identify and accelerate needed changes in financial, built-environment, transportation, tourism and retail sectors. Publishes Green Futures magazine.
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