BEING HUMAN IN THIS WORLD, A personal credo - John Robbins

[Guest guest]

BEING HUMAN IN THIS WORLD

 

 

A personal credo --- John Robbins

 

 

I am someone who works and prays for world peace. Perhaps you are, too.

 

But our society is spending a billion dollars a day preparing for war.

 

 

I believe that inner peace is found when you love the world as it is,

 

rather than faulting it for not living up to your expectations. I believe in

 

forgiveness. I believe in accepting others for who they are. But I am part

 

of a society that is spending far more on weapons of mass destruction and

 

producing far more toxic waste than any other in the history of the world.

 

 

I believe in bringing a positive attitude toward life. I believe that

 

love is stronger than fear. But our country now has more gun dealers than

 

gas stations.

 

 

I have stood with my hand over my heart, pledging allegiance to this

 

country and reciting the words ’ " with liberty and justice for all. " I want

 

this nation to be the land of the free. But today a greater proportion of

 

U.S. citizens are behind bars than any other country in the world. Many

 

states now spend more money on prisons than on education.

 

 

I have been stirred to my core by the words and example of Dr. Martin

 

Luther King, Jr. I believe in this country's promise of equal opportunity

 

for all. But young black males now make up 6 percent of the population of

 

this country, and 50 percent of prison inmates.

 

 

I want to uphold the brotherhood and sisterhood of all people. I believe

 

that how we treat each other says a lot about us as people. But how do you

 

honor the dignity and inherent worth of every human being when shoe companies

 

are paying basketball players $20 million to endorse their shoes, while

 

paying their workers 20 cents an hour to make them?

 

 

I believe that that every child is a precious treasure. I affirm that

 

all children deserve to be nurtured and protected. But in this rich and

 

prosperous country more than 25 percent of all children are living in poverty.

 

 

I have been proud of my country. But today, among the world's

 

industrialized nations, our nation is number one in billionaires and number

 

one in children and elderly living in poverty. Number one in real wealth

 

and number one in unequal wealth distribution. Number one in big houses

 

and number one in homelessness.

 

 

I love the natural world, and do my best to honor the living Earth.

 

Perhaps you do, too. But even as many of us do what we can, the tropical

 

rainforests are being destroyed so people whose cholesterol levels are too

 

high can eat hamburgers a quarter cent cheaper. Rainfall now often contains

 

such high levels of pesticides that it would be illegal to sell as drinking

 

water. And the tallest mountain on the east coast is a garbage dump.

 

 

I draw great strength from my kinship with animals. Some of my best

 

friends have had four legs. Perhaps you, too, have had a relationship with

 

an animal that has enriched you as a human being. But much of our food today

 

come from animals raised in factory farms that resemble concentration camps.

 

 

There is so much pain and death in our times. This is not an easy time

 

to be a person of conscience and feeling. It can be terribly hard today to

 

stay in touch with your deep soul. It can seem all but impossible to keep

 

your love alive. The world has a way of blowing relentless hurricane winds

 

at our little flickering candles of faith.

 

 

This is what I have to say at this time in history. I stand here in the

 

face of the anguish of our time, and I affirm that it is possible to see it

 

all, to gaze fully into the abyss, and yet not become bitter and broken.

 

 

I stand for this. We are not here to be defeated. Our hopes are not

 

empty vessels holding no truth. I stand for this. Our dreams and prayers

 

are rooted in something greater than the forces of death.

 

 

I stand for this. Our despair and fury at the world's brutalities are

 

part of our awakening. There is something mysterious taking place in this

 

world that is part of our healing.

 

 

I stand for this. This world is not a tragic and terrible mistake. With

 

all its flaws, it is still a sacred path to our destiny as human beings.

 

There is horror and agony here, yes, and it can be overwhelming. But there

 

are also infinite opportunities for new life, beauty, and the learnings of

 

love.

 

 

Bitter winds are howling. Let them howl. We can shelter each other and

 

put our little flames together. Maybe then we will find ourselves better

 

able to face adversity. Maybe then we will find that the pain we feared

 

would destroy us rather brings us back to what gives us life.

 

 

I stand for this. There are sources of joy here, and we are here to

 

protect them and cherish them.

 

 

I stand for this. If we meet the world with eyes that do not flinch and

 

hearts that are open, we will find ourselves capable of what is asked of us.

 

 

I stand for this. We who are alive, with breath in our bodies and love in

 

our hearts, have much to be thankful for.

 

 

I stand for this. In our connection with each other we are more than

 

strong and brave. We are humble enough to be human in this world.