I recently received from a friend this very good, short essay, “Knowledge for a Revolution,” which speaks the language of my thought.
“Immense changes are rapidly underway, but unfortunately in order for lasting change to occur the old way of thinking and being must cease to exist. As Thomas Paine once said, ‘We have in our power to begin the world over again.’”
Nothing truer has ever been said: "If it's to be, it's up to me." We truly can be the change we want to see in the world. This is my message, the message of Barack Obama, and of Dr. Gregory Damato.
New ways of thinking are required.
Knowledge for a Revolution: Unity Vs. Divisiveness
by Dr. Gregory Damato, Ph.D., citizen journalist
One of the most efficient ways to rule a populace has been through the surreptitious and unconscious creation of dissension amongst its people. Modern society has been inherently established and subsequently reinforced to create an us versus them mentality which continually focuses on individual differences at the expense of individual similarities. Historically, dividing a population has been a very potent and successful psychological weapon as many nations subsequently use this tactic to justify war, malnutrition and death through the inculcation of fear and divisiveness.
In order to create a sound revolution, one based on love and unity, we must come together and begin to see fellow humans not as a threat, but simply as brothers and sisters, fellow earthlings with similar values, beliefs and motives. We must learn that we are much more similar than we are different; in fact we are the same. This belief goes against all of our established patriotic teachings and inculcations of nation versus nation, regardless of where we are in the world. The Olympics is the quintessential example of how a near uncanny test of physical skill, endurance and psychological mastery can be turned into a medal counting competition among nations. Instead of marvelling at how each athlete has physically practiced over 10,000 hours for such a competition, we are programmed to only seek out and praise winning athletes from our own nation. In order to revolutionize the minds of the world this psychological distinctiveness needs to be consciously transformed into a marriage of individuals on earth based on true similarities instead of fallacious misrepresentations, unfounded teachings and distortions. Realizing how our attitudes and beliefs have been unconsciously wired from birth is an epiphany for the masses who have been asleep and opens the door for immense changes to occur. For it is knowledge that acts as the true catalyst for change, a proverbial powder keg awaiting a match of information to ignite the suppressed majority to action.
Ways to facilitate change through unity include: seeing the good in all people instead of the negative because darkness is only an absence of light; educate the masses, regardless if they are ready for the inherent truth of the information, stay true to your self and your beliefs, spread love and light to earth and manifest the change you wish to see in others, help others in need as one day you too will be in need, learn to respect and love all unique creations on earth and understand that no population has the right to dominate or own any other living creature on earth. We are all in this world together, we can choose to live a life full of fear, greed and hostility towards others or we can choose to live a life of love, gratitude and passion for all living creatures on this planet.
Awareness to unconscious societal pressures and false ideologies is a major step towards true change. Society is beginning to understand that we are in this world together and fighting each other is the same as fighting ourselves. As we think of the earth as separate from ourselves we can rationalize its poisoning and looting, and then wonder why we too are poisoned and robbed of our health and well-being. Immense changes are rapidly underway, but unfortunately in order for lasting change to occur the old way of thinking and being must cease to exist. As Thomas Paine once said, "We have in our power to begin the world over again".
