That Lasting Mark – Open Book Blog Hop #536

Topic #536

Here’s a blast from the past – Feb. 2019 to be exact.
What have you done to make the world a better place?

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This could end up a contentious post if I wrote about my activism here. Yet, that said, my writing speaks to it quite a bit. I am not shy on social media, either, openly leaving a mark. You’ll find me standing up for what I believe is right. I speak truth to power and I have paid for it with a lot of anger directed toward me and my family. Yes, death threats.

In my estimation, anyone threatening you with death hasn’t a leg to stand on for their supposedly righteous arguments. What they fear is a loss of control and power. That means, I am doing the right thing. Whether it leaves a mark or not. You can disagree with me on how equality and service to others should be meted out. However, you cannot be disgusted with me for seeing the humanity in others and the need for change away from a bias loaded with hatred. I’ve changed hearts and minds over the years, bringing healing to my connections. That is the only mark I need, and I don’t need it known, either.

Getting braggadocios about such accomplishments feels a bit like the opposite of what I’m aiming for. For instance, when someone’s beliefs turn to violence, through emotional or physical controls, or vile rage they should really question the foundations of their beliefs. What are they in this for? Is it bragging rights? Do they just want some kind of power or illusion of it? A political party should never be your whole personality. Nor should a religion, or fandom, or anything of the like. Certainly, you can be upset about real unfairness in the world, but you should never cross that line into red-faced-vile anger. And, boy, do I understand the helplessness of not being able to help others. But is vileness really the mark you want to make?

That stated, I will never understand the desire for cruelty; the need to see poverty performed and to get a high off of it, because it makes one feel superior. And it makes me so angry! I am not the one to have a discussion with a bigot, whatever level they bigot at. I’m direct and don’t pull punches. Those who enjoy the cover of sidestepping and nuance that could imply they don’t know better or something like that–they don’t like mirrors that show they’re not covering anything up. They explode and threats follow.

I’ve been watching people truly get off on being mean and abhorrent for well over a decade or two. So when I am able to change that vileness into positive energy for change, I make that effort. Sure, I can get in the muck with them and have. They need a good cut to the chin sometimes, despite my not liking violence. Very much, we need good soldiers fighting the violence back. Hatred will take lives and we should protect those we can when we can. Short of violence, good old-fashioned shaming is effective, too. Make people ashamed of being vile again!

You’d think in 2026 we’d be well-passed this. However, where I live there is an active brainwashing to distract from the true culprits of inequality, all based in the fear that they will lose control. Let me be direct: money corrupts and those who love money corrupt others to protect their hoards and enable further hoarding. Whether they ultimately fear poverty the symptoms are always hoarding and the maniacal desire to control others. It mirrors domestic violence, but it’s a club of narcissistic sociopaths overseeing the abuse of the masses. Keep them in-fighting, they won’t see us playing them. Keep them busy struggling, and they can’t think too much on anything else. Punish the thinkers to keep them down and silent, make them seem crazy or dimwitted. The cycle goes on and on and on.

I speak out against the power and control enacted against the many by the few, but I also have spent my life giving back through the day job to the people. I don’t like to talk about this portion of my life, so I will keep it brief until I retire and move on. My work has given back in providing services to marginalized groups and educating others around them, how they can do better by these groups, and improve life for everyone. Vital services in a few sectors. My career has been more meaningful than I often give myself credit! Tooting my horn is not something I am comfortable with, especially when inequality and other problems persist. I just continue the work.

Another way I give back is conscientiously raising my child to be a good human. We can all give back to our broader community by pouring into our little humans the lion’s share of compassion and knowledge. Deep conversations, respecting her humanity, explaining why, and ensuring the programing she consumes is inclusive all, feeds into making a person who will go forth into the world understanding that not color, gender, language, culture nor anything of the like makes someone less than or more than. It just makes them a person. You’ll have to take them each on their own terms.

My daughter, at nine years of age, understands better than many adults my age that some struggle more than others and there are histories that feed into it. The kid understands that she is no more deserving than others simply because she looks a way. She values her education over her appearance, and her self esteem is booming. She is a helper, not a hinderer.

If the only thing I did was raise a well-rounded, compassionate human with the drive to be something of value to humanity–that would be enough. My parents had raised me the same, so I do more because this world needs more. While the Dalai Lama has become a controversial figure in recent years, due to his inappropriate behavior with children. There is a prayer that I have up in my work cubicle that rang true with me prior to this. Sometimes you can’t part the artist from the art, but I think these words can be parted from him. It is a dharmic idea, untethered to him. A long held Buddhist ideology, if you will.

A Prayer of Peace ~ 14th Dalai Lama

May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.

I take these words seriously and always have. Whether they are from the lips of Jesus, Mohammad, or the Dalai Lama, this is how I believe humans must view themselves in their community. It is an idea that spreads peace through service, and prizes giving over hoarding. We were never meant to hoard resources or build control over one another. Until we learn this, there will be suffering, want, and war.

My hope is that I will help turn the balance (leave my mark a bit) in the right direction, arm in arm with the many others who work with me for such a future. Our future generations deserve this. We must learn to rebuild true community and reject individual isolation that makes us ripe for abuse. Yes, be a responsible individual, but see yourself as a community member. The cruel one’s cannot operate in a well-formed community. Leave that mark.

Click on the links in the scroll box below to find out what the other authors have done to leave a mark in their world. I think their books have done a lot of giving, because a good book can do so much for people. It’s healing, for one!

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