To my dear friend Liz,
Congratulations! Our man won the white house. I think it’s funny how you tried keep out of politics within coffeetalk, but it still slipped in. I figure anyone who boasts that they are creating a web forum to change the world, could not stay out of politics. Especially at this time. I also read some of your MySpace blogs where you gave yourself some more freedom with your beliefs. I think you have done a wonderful job in both of those arenas. Based on my own experience, I am sure that that there have been times for you that are beyond “challenging” and more “trying.” Where you ask yourself if what you are attempting to do will ever work or succeed. Which leads to questioning yourself, if it is all worth it? Let me tell you something, it is worth it; simply because we have to do it. Unfortunately, it is a job that is never accomplished, there is always more to do. The Putman books puts it correctly, “there will always be a war between authority and reason, between ignorance and wisdom.” I think cops fighting against “evil” for “good” have an easier job than what it is you are even thinking of doing.
This really has brought me to two questions in which I wish to ask you. There are several things, as our relationship has grown, which I wonder about. Yes we are close, but we mostly communicate between emails and the forum-which reveals our direct thoughts and passions, yet remove the day to day; which we are more apart of. So, even though we are close and dear to each other, because we perhaps reveal an “inner side” of selective thoughts (you have no idea that I am a complete ASS when I wake up, which is very difficult to deal with if you have to get grocers at 9 o’clock)have that intimate yet vague understanding of each other. This is a way for me to say that I feel close and love you as a person, but there is a part of me that knows we have kept things from each other; for later, when we feel more comfortable. Anyway that is not the point of my questions; but rather, for the last few months, this is what has been plaguing me about you (because you are one of those people who one question can last several months.)
The Direct Question.
Do you consider this a first step or the final step? You have been active in getting a man elected to president. This election has change the tactics, with an unprecedented method of getting people to work together, on their own initiative to back a man to lead us. We have not elected a man to do the job for us, but rather to lead us to do the job. There is plenty of work, sacrifice, and mistakes to make for each and everyone of us. I hope you are ready not just to carry on, but to do more, you do not the type to quit just now.
The More Abstract Question
Just how do we change the world? Do we just change people towards way of thinking, having them think like us makes us feel better? If everyone agreed with me, my life would be better. I hope that if we truly looked within ourselves, we would be able to acknowledge the desire for that, yet be pragmatic enough to look beyond it. Which still leaves the question unanswered. Do we solve the symptoms of a problem, like “how long can a woman go to term before getting an abortion?” or “what is the age in which a girl should tell her parents?” or find the deeper meaning that “each situation is so diverse to another, along with their personal burdens and potential futures that, no true regulation can possibly define that potential, which leaves only a choice of that of the mother.” You see, when you start really looking at the question it changes from HOW to WHAT. Because HOW only solves the now, we can change someone’s view right now, but what about the next generation? Will it stick? Will someone else have to do our job for us? If we can change WHAT then we hit upon the belief systems that will be taught to their children. This is a simple question to pose, yet quiet complex within its nature and forever moves us farther into the abstract. Despite what we would hope for, we must consider what we as humans are capable of. We have to look at the evidence as to what is within our nature, (I do not hope for peace on earth, it is not with our nature at this time, all I can look forward to is a time when it can be truly within our hope.)
You see, I know the quest you have put yourself on. Although we have been on different paths to arrive at this point, we seek the same goal. Now is the time to look at what that goal really is. Ralph Natter passed legislation requiring Americans to wear seat belts, although several lives were saved-did he really do anything? I think you want to change the quality of life, not by having a name brand in your home, but rather a better way of thinking.
I hope that you understand that these are questions in which you have to answer for yourself, not directly to me. Additionally, that they are not attacks on what you are doing or your success, but rather, a way for you to become more precise and effective.
Love from a concerned friend,
Pete
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