that little voice

When will we say “ENOUGH”?

When will the American people, the world’s people be pushed to say “Enough”?

Enough hatred.

Enough greed.

Enough disparity.

Enough violence.

Enough oppression.

Enough divisiveness.

Enough acceptance of the unacceptable.

What will it take for society to raise their voices, their arms, their wills and demand justice for all, decry disparity, embrace differences, and reclaim our souls from hatred?

Perhaps the world is awakening. Perhaps the masses after years, decades, centuries of fear, war and ‘one-upmanship’ have had enough.

A white man’s knee on a black man’s neck. A rich man’s knee on a poor woman’s neck. A ‘have’s’ knee on a ‘have not’s’ neck.

Mass gatherings, burned buildings, loud outrage, public demands will not erase deep-seeded bias’, but may be what is required to say ‘ENOUGH’ in a voice that will be listened to and acted upon.

What actions need to be taken? Whose voices need to be heard? What changes need to be made? How do we fix the problems so starkly exposed and displayed for us all to see?

Or, after days, nights, weeks of violence and unrest will we settle back into complacency, talk about change, but drift back into avoidance and acceptance of the past?

Change is going to require more than talk. It is going to require discomfort, new rules, new behavior, new ideas, and lots of action. It is going to take a new generation of leaders, not in age but in openness and risk taking.

Mistakes will be made, but our planet and all societies need to take a breath and be willing to do the hard work it will take to abandon the selfishness, jealousies, greed, and fears that keep us separate.

We are saying ‘enough’, now how do we make our desires into reality?

Our future is going to require leaders...real leaders...not despots spewing separateness and hostility. Rather women and men offering options cloaked in hope, inclusiveness, and the willingness to shift our core beliefs from ‘I deserve more than you’, and ‘I am better than you’ to how do we live equally and fairly in this diverse universe?

The way forward is not our past, but a painstaking venture into the unknown. Just as the founders of our nation embarked on a journey not traveled before, we must forge ahead with all voices heard, all willing to make the changes that will insure a new world.

The leaders will be each of us. The future will be determined by what I do, what you do, what we individually and jointly commit to.

And the questions become are we the leaders we want to follow? Do we have a fair and inclusive plan for our lives? Are we willing to change?

If not, why not?

It is time for our answers and our ideas.