We are at a crossroads, an extremely unique moment in history.  You and I have the power to alter the course of events, to give the historians something else to write about besides war.  Don’t believe that you can make a difference?  Read on.

THEN: The past few months have been dictated by people who seem distant in our lives; George W. Bush and his minions known as the administration.  We’ve felt powerless as talking heads on the media tell us the world news.  We’ve lived in fear as the government has told us to “Get Ready Now”.  To ensure our safety we need to buy duct tape and accept the Patriot Act.  We’ve been socialized to believe that security can only be obtained through strength, war, and domination.  That we are not to inquiry about governmental motives unless we want the stigma of a scarlet letter branded to our foreheads reading, “This person is not a patriot”.  We’ve been told to consume, told when to go outside by color-coded orange and red alerts, and worst of all in this liberal democracy, we’ve been told not to ask questions.

THE PRESENT: The success of our society doesn’t depend on distant leaders who make their own personal decisions without a democratic majority.  YOU and I, the ordinary and extraordinary citizens, have more power to affect the decisions being made than we realize.  YOU and I do not need to be living in fear, we should not have to pay for a preemptive war, and we do not need to feel helpless anymore.  Furthermore, new information shows that our “leaders” have distorted evidence and lied to us.  Think about the devastating consequences in the years ahead for us:  corporations are ruining our environment, the economy is in shambles, civil liberties are treated as a discontinued fad, our children are left with an estimated $480 billion deficit, while our veterans’ benefits are being cut.

TOGETHER WE CAN alter the course of history by starting here in our own communities.  Instead of living in fear and anger, we can concentrate on creativity and building positive and respectful relationships with our neighbors.  Take 1 hour out of the week to talk with people at work, at church, in the grocery store about their lives and how current politics are affecting us.  Raise your consciousness by listening to independent media outlets while keeping an open mind to learning about and supporting alternative forms of energy, small businesses and local farmers.  It is just as effective to write a letter of support or disapproval to your state representatives or local politicians as it is to pray for peace.  Demand that the government create a Department of Peace and a War Prevention Fund to promote a non-violent and cooperative substitute for war.  Get involved with a progressive group of your choice that seeks to encourage spending our tax dollars on primary education, health care, and human rights.  Most importantly, try your hardest to be kind and flex your heart muscle with pride.  Genuinely smile as much as possible, aim not to demean fellow human beings even those you disagree with most, and instead, exercise your right to vote by voting them out of office.

YOU and I can affect the course of events that make up history.  All YOU have to do is ask yourself if it is going in the right direction.  If it’s not, YOU can do something about it!