What Is Wrong with Me?

Issue 113

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If this is your first read, welcome to The Conscious Politics Op-Ed (formerly The Conscious Politics Sunday Newsletter), currently being published whenever possible.

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I am a pacifist and always have been. I align with the war is obsolete crowd by believing that 1) it is such a sad and painful relic of the old, dying consciousness and, thus, b) it is only a matter of time before it is actually obsolete. So when war and violence and dehumanization and allies and enemies and rape and protests and weapons and kidnapping and fear and rage and terror and horror and money, so much money, and soldiers and combat and collateral damage and arms and sides and moral equivalencies and insurgencies and commanders and generals and justifications and “nations united” and what makes a war criminal anyway and all of that crap fill the airwaves and the feeds and the pages, well, I just can’t. Actually, I just won’t.

I’m talking today, however, conscious politics practitioner, about some American responses to all of that. More specifically, I’m talking about criticism of President Biden and his handling of Israel’s handling of its current intention to destroy Hamas — in the name of defense — even though defense is not what that is because to defend is to drive attack away from; it’s to prevent, to protect/shield/safeguard against, which “Mr. Security,” also known as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in cahoots with his radical right governing coalition partners, failed to do last October, but I digress.

I am actually talking today, most specifically, about young Americans whose contempt for President Biden’s apparent unwillingness to call for a ceasefire in Gaza has them talking about withdrawing and/or withholding reelection support from him this November. About this, I am riled up. About this, I am experiencing such profound disharmony, such visceral discord in my physicality that I must question and work out just what is wrong with me. What is wrong with me that I would not align wholeheartedly and unwaveringly, excitedly and enthusiastically with calls that seem to be in service of bringing humanity — and definitely compassion, the linchpin of our practice — to an abject cesspool of inhumanity that, itself, is fueled by a colossal dearth of compassion?

Oh, never mind. I’ve got it. It’s intention, of course. Big surprise! It’s the what and the why. The overarching intention I am personally thinking about and aligning with right now is peace on Earth for all peoples for all time. Like every one of us with an intention, we hold fast to it and measure what shows up against our gut/intuition/feeling. Listen to inspiration. Not voting in November for President Biden risks the former president being back in office replete with Project 2025, all of which would forestall, stymie, and indefinitely postpone our ability to create peace on Earth for all peoples for all time. That’s a lot of discord right there, in my own personal system, but that’s just me and that’s just one aspect of all of this.

What is wrong with me that I would not align wholeheartedly and unwaveringly, excitedly and enthusiastically with calls that seem to be in service of bringing humanity — and definitely compassion, the linchpin of our practice — to an abject cesspool of inhumanity that, itself, is fueled by a colossal dearth of compassion?

I may be of a generation that begins with a b and ends with an r, but I identify with the consciousness of Gen Z all the way. I believe we are/should be partners and so I want to know a whole lot more about what other intentions there are in this big mix starting with whether or not we share the overarching intention/desire for peace on Earth for all peoples for all time. I’m pretty sure we do and will choose to believe it until I see evidence to the contrary. So, then, what are some of the other intentions at play in all of this? Like what might be some intentions for calling for a ceasefire in Gaza? And what might be some intentions for withholding reelection support from President Biden if he doesn’t?

Maybe there’s an intention to change the trajectory of this particular conflict with Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Maybe there’s an intention to infuse something of a respite into so much suffering. Maybe there’s an intention to help children, specifically. Maybe there’s an intention to return the former president to power. Maybe there’s an intention to do war better than we’ve been doing it. Maybe there’s an intention to inspire more/different people to run for office, particularly at the federal level (where decisions about war and peace and foreign aid are made). Maybe there’s an intention to be part of the conversation. Maybe there’s an intention to change how the United States offers and conditions aid to foreign countries. We could go on. But needless to say, some of these intentions produce harmony in my system, others do not — and today they’re all mixed together.

So, let’s talk, Young America. Do you want to 10x your efforts? Or do you want to infinity your efforts by acting on the wisdom of Jiddu Krishnamurti who said, “It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society” and blast humanity into a dynamic, healthy society wherein war is obsolete? A lot of us believe that’s what you and your ginormous, compassionate hearts are here to do. Our numbers weren’t enough before but, with you, they are. All that’s required is that you fully align with the intention for peace on Earth for all peoples for all time and listen to your gut/intuition/feelings for what will be the most effective investments of your precious time and energy. And if that results in withholding reelection support from the President, so be it.

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NOTE: I really enjoyed February’s Conscious Politics Free Monthly Training last week. We reported on current projects, mostly outreach to 18-29-year olds, and also fielded a variety of questions and comments from a number of people about everyday challenges we’re having with regard to navigating today’s political waters. Exactly what we’re there to do.

Trainings occur on the third Tuesday of every month so the next one will be on Tuesday, March 19. Click the button below to make sure you’re looped in to reminders when the time is nigh.