Rise Up and Do Something!

Ok. I'll admit it. I'm angry and I feel comfortable talking about it to you because mainly I am angry with myself. What I'm angry about is my lack of action; my lack of commitment; my unwillingness to make the necessary sacrifices. A couple of podcasts ago, Starlette Thomas told me to "show my work" and put "flesh on the word". The other day, I heard myself utter the now seemingly trite "thoughts and prayers" offering to someone. Don't get me wrong, I believe strongly in positive thoughts and offering prayers, but I had to admit that sometimes those words are place holders for real actions that I might or should take. Rise up, Raleigh! Do something!

I remember in my therapist training how it was reiterated over and over that every citizen has the responsibility to report it when they even suspect that a child has been neglected or abused. We are required by law to do something because that is just how important children are especially as they are often unable to protect themselves. Now here we are with reliable news stories of hundreds of instances of child abuse being much more than just reports of suspicions but of actual occurrences on American soil (as if where the soil is makes it better or worse). 

As we recorded this particular podcast on hedonism, I heard myself raging at those who are using their power, influence, and money to do as they damn well please, as long as they get what they want or get to do what gives them pleasure. But my outward raging masked my inward struggle. Why is it that all I can conjure to do is yell about it?

Have I become too comfortable with my own wealth and pleasure? Have I fallen prey to the notion that I did my part through all those years of trying to help people and that has earned me a free pass to the sidelines? When did it become so easy to offer condolences and outrage but then fall back into the easy and self-congratulatory patterns of my retired years? Why am I not in some way holding accountable those who actually have power to get off their self-serving back sides and do something! 

Yes, I know. Part of the problem is that the system has convinced us that we really are powerless and that there are no straight-line actions that seem to make any headway. But maybe that is just part of the self-protective measures that they have set up to keep us quiet behind our own wealth and comfort. I don't know. I really don't. But I tell you that if nothing else, I am growing increasingly aware of my own hypocrisy and inertia. Yea, that's sort of like that thoughts and prayers thing but hope with me that my growing discomfort will eventually lead me to RISE UP AND DO SOMETHING!