True Believers

[SOteric]

I have long been an admirer of believers, people who have strong faiths and act on their faith.

I'm not talking about suicide bombers or people of that sort, I'm talking about people who take on life's difficulties because their faith compels them.

A woman I knew in Friday Harbor, who shunned what so many modern day women want; a successful career and a happy TV-like supportive family. Instead she opted to home school her children, grow food in her yard and raise animals so her children would be better off. The last time I talked to her two of her high school age kids were taking courses at the local university.

I met another woman recently who walked across the U.S. with a few hundred others in a great peace march in the 1980s. On more than one occasion members of her group were arrested for setting foot on places like the Nevada (Nuclear) Test Site or the Strategic Air Command. They were entirely peaceful in this activity, even though counter protesters hurled insults at them.

I admire the Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, for the things he holds dear and has been willing to be arrested for.

People in the documentary scoffed at the peace marchers saying things like "Do you think that the Russians are just going to give up their bombs?" "Are we just supposed to lay down are arms, what good will that do?" They didn't realize that each of those marchers had an effect on the people they came in contact with on that march, even the stoic guards of the Strategic Air Command, …even the documentary audience watching them these 20 years later.

[DS1]

1. If doing the right thing were easy

the people you speak of wouldn't be very remarkable.

Of course strong beliefs are a double-edged sword, and can be manipulated into masses taking the easy way out, rather than confront the crux of any given problem.

[SOteric]

2. Really intelligent people aren't easy to manipulate.

And contrary to what seems popular belief, really intelligent people do hold strong convictions and deep faiths.

I don't disagree that some of mankind has been manipulated by their values and belief in the history of man. But currently, I think the modern American is more dangerously apathetic to their own beliefs than a people have ever been at any time since the demise of the dinosaur.

The fear of being manipulated has become the rallying cry of the apathetic. No one wins in such a condition. The possibility shouldn't be a valid excuse for not making the effort.

:hi:

[DS1]

3. The really intelligent people

have the ability to question themselves, to explore more angles than 'that guy said so'. You're right as usual, it does appear that the modern American is more likely to say "We're the good guys, I'm down with that", but then that's partly the media reflecting a selective group, seemingly trying to steer more people towards that attitude. With apathy, control is much easier, or in the case of the bottom-line obsessed, cheaper.

[ulysses]

4. belief

I have a hard time with faith these days. Faith in my party, faith in other people, faith that things, in general, will turn out for the better.

I admire those folks too.

[buddhamama]

5. belief in a better world

that peace is possible, in love and humanity
one modern day Lady was PeacePilgrim.
gave up all material possesions and walked the country for peace.

my beliefs are simple
be kind and fair, compassionate
do good, create a ripple effect