You make very excellent points and honestly appreciate your
analysis.
Yes, I was being excessively flippant about my potential to
influence change. Complex systems are one of my fascinations and
for me to say "it is out of my hands" or "not my job" really
wasn't 'me' talking; but was more of a knee-jerk response to a
You-Have-To-Take-This-Seriously-Before-Its-Too-Late... which is
kind of what my post was all about.
Here's the thing: I'm not escaping. I'm a part of this system.
But I am contributing to the balancing of the system by
remaining where I am and doing what I do.
There's always a third way with any two choices.
Analogy: Have you had an opportunity to vote yet? Well, for me,
I vote when the opportunity arises because I believe in the
process. If I don't, I don't, but I believe it's important to
participate.
I can't complain much about a system I'm not participating in in
some fashion, is how I look at it, although I really don't
complain about politics, because it's not my thing.
But, I vote.
When presidential elections come by, I've nearly always voted
for the 3rd party if there was one. I can't BEGIN to explain the
RAGE that would ensue from people when they find this out.
"YOU VOTED FOR H-ROSS PEROT!? WHY YOU COST BUSH (sr) THE
ELECTION! THE 17% OF YOU WHO VOTED FOR THAT LUNATIC IS THE 17%
THAT WAS MISSING FROM BUSH'S VOTE AND NOW WE HAVE A DEMOCRAT".
Idiots. I wouldn't have voted for him again anyway. People get
really stupid with statistics sometimes.
Anyhow, my point is: Yes, I can effect and enact change in ways
that's bigger than "me".
I believe in participation. I believe in opinion. Notice
something: I've BEEN expressing my opinions. I'm BEEN
participating.
By taking a stand of, "I take care of what's in my DIRECT
influence", I'm not bowing out. It's impossible to bow out of
the systems. Even when we die, our bodies are a part of SOME
system. Our molecules recycle, etc.
If all of humanity were to perish and only our plastic waste
remained, red ants took everything over, I'm fine with that.
I feel no extra-special bond with humanity.
It just happens to be the species I was born into. I could've
been a roach. In my way of seeing things, out of my hands.
Maybe it's not out of my hands. Maybe I *did* birth myself. But
I probably didn't.
Point is, I'm not bowing out. I'm taking a stand: I'm utilizing
my strengths.
Now: Tell me what I'm *NOT* doing right now that perhaps I ought
to be doing.
