« minimalist superstitious regret blog of the day | Main | where i am, part one: 14 miles »
you say you want a revolution...
January 03, 2005
When I was a child, everything I saw in my dreamed life was about changing the world. I wanted to be an astronaut for much of my life, my steady childhood diet of Star Trek instilling in me not only a desire for adventure, but the belief that I could help carry the best traits of humanity into space. Plus, there was apparently an unlimited supply of babes out in space.
Eventually, bad eyesight and a bit of disillusionment at the faltering of our space program, plus the realization that I would have a difficult enough time with earth babes, disabused me of that dream.
Even before I envisioned myself as an astronaut, though, and straight through to the present day, music and writing have been even stronger constants and passions in my life. The motivation and significance has never been that different from the reasons I wanted to be an astronaut. I saw the opportunity for adventure and the half altruistic/half megalomanical impulse to be someone who moved humanity forward.
From a very early age, I realized the power of making people feel. For the sake of efficiency and self-protection, we keep our hearts silent through much, if not all, of each day. To break through that, just for the space of a song, a story, a movie, or the moment of seeing a picture, has value. Art has the power not only to entertain, but to keep us in touch with our better and truer selves. Deep down, I always felt this was how I would best change the world.
It did not happen. A few years ago, I visited Mr. Bolton, who had been my supervisor at a job I held while in college. He was a renaissance man, full of knowledge of and passion for music, writing, art and science, all complemented by an unbounded compassion. He was without a doubt one of the great guides and influences in my life, and he showed a tremendous amount of faith that those same traits and abilities were in me.
When I saw him again, the first thing he asked me was, "have you changed the world?" I laughed and said "not yet," thinking he was teasing me about youthful idealism. He wasn't laughing. He just asked me, "Why the hell not?"
I still believe that I was meant to change the world. Looking at where I am and what I haven't done, at my own seeming inability to change my own life, I often have a tremendous sense of waste and loss. There are many ways to impact the world, and they're all necessary, but law was not my right way. I remember meeting a for-real space shuttle pilot at a party a few years ago. We talked at length, and when he asked what I did, I was ashamed to tell him I was an attorney. Seeing live music, hanging out with musicians like I did tonight, it's really hard not to feel an immense sadness and a certain disconnectedness.
Only in the last year have I seen that it's not too late yet. The law failed to completely squelch all of my creativity. I've been surrounded by people who think big, who still see the possibilities in themselves, in the world, and in me.
There are a lot of different ways it might all play out for me, individually, but one opportunity has opened that embodies the spirit, means, and scope of ideas. It's an idea that's only formally a few days old, though like most ideas, like most revolutions, it's been simmering for some time.
Julie, who I've referred to quite a bit here for practical reasons but more so for the inspiration and support she's lent, has been going through the process of finding her own best, most meaningful path. The result is that she's decided to throw a revolution, and she's inviting others to come and help. It is called, tentatively, "The Revolution Project."
Julie is much more adept at explaining the genesis of the idea, where she sees it going, and what it needs to work, so I won't even try to rehash all that. But the point is, it's based on the ideas of empathy, of inspiring people to believe they can create positive change, and to provide the resources and support for people to actualize that belief.
So much social activism, critical as it is, is preaching to the choir. There's plenty of political and philosophical debate out there, but it seems to largely involve people who are already intellectually entrenched in their politics and beliefs. That entrenchment even derails activism that merely attempts to raise awareness. What Julie proposes is different, because it goes straight to the heart. It bypasses the academic and intellectual and begins with one of our greatest natural impulses - empathy.
The clear example of empathy at work is the world reaction to the tsunami disaster. The scale of the tragedy on the other side of the world last week had impact on people worldwide. But, clearly, the images seen and stories heard were even more effective in stirring people to care and to respond. I believe that many people donated money or volunteered time out of some primal recognition of a connection to those people on the screen, and a desire to maintain that connection.
Then it was a matter of letting people know what the needs are, and telling them how to go about it. Empathy and connection were developed, then backed up with information. And that, as I understand it in its early formative concept, is how the Revolution Project would work.
So, maybe this all sounds sort of wacky. But the world has gotten pretty fcuking wacky, hasn't it? Our lives, the modern way of life, the media, politics, all have us at least several steps removed from our hearts so much of the time. I hate to sound like a prophet of doom, but every day, the wheels are turning, further widening that gap, and some of our grand artificial constructs are growing unchecked by concern for the implications for humanity, for our souls.
It seems more wacky not to have a revolution, to meekly submit, to lose something of ourselves. It's a grand idea, its manifesto broad, even in its infancy. What's the focus, you ask? Whatcha got?
Most people don't start revolutions because of fear of failure, doubts of whether they can lead, doubts as to whether enough will follow. While charisma and knowledge are important, what makes a revolutionary is an idea, and a matter of will. Julie has the idea, and the will, and the charisma and background and support, to boot. The same is all that's required of anyone who decides that it's time to really push for a change. People aren't born revolutionaries - they become revolutionaries by taking part in revolutions.
So, check out what she has to say. Go back a bit and look at the entries that led up to this moment, and see if anything resonates with you. (At the top of the entry brought up by this link, there are links moving you forward (right) and backward (left). Go right.)
There are so many ways to play a part, whether you take up this particular path, or choose instead to make some small change in your life, or to dedicate yourself to continuing the good, compassionate work many of you already do. But regardless of what you choose to do, or how you choose to do it, do something. Stay conscious, stay feeling, because the revolution begins and ends in the heart.
Posted by Rob at January 3, 2005 02:09 PM