Dec 06 2008
How To Change The Nation
When wise people fight for what they think is right, they look through a personal view of truth, but more importantly, they see a need for change. That’s why they strive to change minds and provide insight. As a product of the ‘60’s, I grew up seeing people fight for what they thought was right all the time. Women were fighting for their right to equal pay and African American’s fought for their civil rights. Others fought against the war in Viet Nam, so it seemed that everyone was fighting for something. Still, it’s clear to me that the need to fight for what we believe is right is still true today in 2008. Due to a need for change, that’s why once again we went out on a limb to fight for what we thought was right, and especially within the campaign between Obama and McCain. We can debate all day, but unless minds are changed, all we’ll do is fight day and night. That’s why it’s wise to look at history’s wisdom to see how to fight for what we think is right in productive ways that create change.1. Communicate what you debate through a view of hope and faith.
When it comes to the need for change, we’ll be more likely to change minds when we inspire one mind at a time to see our dreams through our view of hope and faith. Minds are changed every day by people who inspire hope and faith rather than those who use negative based ways to communicate. Fear based debates are communicated through a negative view, which tends to make people afraid, but as Roosevelt wisely advised, “The only thing we need to fear is fear itself,” so don’t use fright to manipulate a debate. Instead, keep Martin Luther King in mind any time you fight for what you think is right. After all, he changed an entire nation by peacefully changing one mind at a time through his view of hope and faith. He taught us how to see beyond what made us afraid and changed the strife of race and hate to a vision of peace, hope and faith.
2. Be FOR more and AGAINST less.
History has taught me that wise people fight for what they think is right by being, “for more,” and “against less.” Like JFK explained, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what can do for your country. Instead of being against the government, be for your country by giving something back. Positive people who are for their country communicate in ways that say,”united we stand, but divided we all fall.” That’s why they spend less time speaking of what makes them afraid than they do on what gives them faith. They don’t need to be against a political party more than they need to support the President. Instead of being against the republicans or democrats, they are proud Americans, and they see the truth through a united view of what is best for all.
3. Don’t speak through an anti view.
Mother Theresa expressed this wisdom best when she declined an invitation to attend an, “anti-war rally.” Since she was obviously a peaceful nun, everyone was stunned. When they asked her why she declined, she said, ” I don’t attend rallies that are anti-anything, but hold a peace rally and I’ll come.” Because what we resist will persist, we can end more wars if we choose to be pro-peace. People who fight against things tend to create more negative resistance than those who inspire others to think through a positive view, so instead of fighting against drugs or crime, try changing one life at a time.
4. Be diplomatic.
If you want to fight for what you think is right, don’t create a debate through a self righteous view. If you do, you’ll be insulting the intelligence of others who will feel defensive with you and become blinded to your view. Self righteous people tend to insult others by speaking to them as if they were idiots, which tends to turn others off to what you think is right, so strive to be diplomatic when you fight for what you believe is right.
5. Open minds listen sometimes.
It’s wise to listen with an open mind, because you see, people with open minds are able to open their eyes to the truth that sometimes the other guy is right. That’s why it’s safe to assume that it all begins with you. When you see a need for change, just choose to think through a view of hope and faith, and when you do, you’ll communicate that hope and faith by what you say and do. In the end, you’ll change one mind at a time, like Martin Luther King. With an open mind, we’ll listen sometimes and when we do, you might even find a new and improved insight. After all, it’s open minds who change one mind at a time, which then tends to decrease the need to fight for what is right.
