The author of elegant and feeling essays on the landscape of the West and the effect of environmental policies both personal and political spoke at Michigan State University last night. She read from her newest book, The Open Space of Democracy. Here is the essence of her teaching:
"I do not believe we can look for leadership beyond ourselves. I do not believe we can wait for someone or something to save us from our global predicaments and obligations. I need to look in the mirror and ask this of myself: If I am committed to seeing the direction of our country change, how must I change myself?
"We are a people addicted to speed and superficiality, and a nation that prides itself on moral superiority. But our folly lies in not seeing what we base our superiority on. Wealth and freedom? What is wealth if we cannot share it? What is freedom if we cannot offer it as a vision of compassion and restraint, rather than force and aggression? Without an acknowledgement of complexity in a society of sound bites, we will not find the true source of our anger or an authentic passion that will propel us forward to the place of personal engagement. "
More from the essay is here:
http://www.oriononline.org/pages/om/04-2om/TempestWilliams.html
Posted by Dave at March 15, 2005 09:27 AM