Be The Change You Want In The World
Ghandi, who broke the British control over India in the early 20th Century through civil disobedience and non-violent protest coined this phrase. The point was to convey to all of those who sought the same ends as he did, that those who seek positive change in the world must lead by example. He was later joined by Dr. Martin Luther King, as he advocated for Civil Rights for blacks in America. Both Ghandi and MLK were the change that they wanted to see in the world and if all of us who seek a return to simple and traditional values were that change as well, there is no doubt that our world would be a better place.
Does their advocating for non-violent protest and civil disobedience mean that they were not critical of those policies that they opposed? No. Both Ghandi and MLK rightly and openly criticized tyranny and the restriction of personal freedoms and liberty. Both advocated for peace, friendship, decency and universal civil rights. Both were wildly successful in their movements and approaches and both were murdered for their ability to achieve change without violence.
Both of these men sought a better and more peaceful world and both used love, respect and decency to get there. They disagreed deeply with their opposition but they did it without being disagreeable. Their path is difficult to stay on and even Ghandi, who largely opposed any violence, said, “where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.” MLK sought the right to arm himself and despite owning several firearms, he was denied the right to carry them. Both encouraged supporters and themselves practiced a refusal to give up natural rights and called on governments to recognize the rights of the individual to basic, unalienable and universal truths.
They looked upon their societies and both found oppression abhorrent. Neither could bring himself to stand by and do nothing while those abuses took place. Rather than lash out against what is an overwhelming task of overcoming widespread bias, they looked instead at themselves and searched for what they believed in and how THEY could encourage and inspire others to join them. So too, must we today, refuse oppression and stand in opposition to assaults on our liberty. A government large enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. We must oppose growing and tyrannical government while improving how WE combat the real and serious problems within our society.
For instance, on the subject of abortion, we can no longer simply oppose abortion, which we know as the murder of innocent children. While certainly that is a worthy cause, it does not address the societal problems that lead often very young girls to the conclusion that murder is the answer. Often, young girls turn to abortion because they do not know or feel like they have any other option. Likewise, young girls often turn to sex because they feel it is the only way to find love, attention and paradoxically, the respect of their peers. We must look beyond the actual abortion itself and address the root causes. Namely, we must advocate to encourage our children to be children but also to teach them dignity, decency and responsibility. Often we see cases of young men and women and young boys and girls imitating pop culture and we rush to condemn the movies, music and TV shows that portray the indecent behavior. The reality is that these TV shows, video games, movies and music wouldn’t be able to influence our youth if we as a society didn’t support them or watch them. That’s not to say that we should call for wide scale boycotts or government restrictions on content but rather that we as parents and influencers ought to train up our children with positive moral values that reject the very ideas that these performers and developers cater to. Each of us, must be the change that we want to see in the world. We should and can antagonistically support positive values, urge our friends and neighbors to join us and speak out against injustice wherever it lives but we should do it with class, dignity and respect. We should do it by living and showing the example to those around us and by that example, inspiring others to join us.
So what’s stopping you? Go be the change you want to see in the world.
I wholeheartedly agree with your post Evan, especially the conclusion. Too many people today go around complaining about the state of our country, bad economy, lack of jobs, poor leadership, bad foreign policy, I could go on, etc., etc., etc. The problem is most of these same people are more concerned about who is on Dancing With The Stars, or American Idol, or Survivor. We have been conditioned for far too long that it is improper or impolite to talk about politics and religion in public, and I believe that is what is holding people back from jumping in and getting involved. If more people would break out of their comfort zone and take action instead of just remaining on the sidelines as a complainer, we would be able to take our country back and restore the traditional values that made the United States of America the greatest country in the world and the only Superpower. We need to get the word out that it is okay, even proper and necessary, to talk about politics and religion in the public square and for people to not be afraid to take a stand for what they believe in, for what is right and just.
Peter.
Welcome to the Public Square…
🙂
Perhaps if the message was… sex? It’s not all that… In fact, it’s pretty boring… know what’s really cool? Someone that loves you so much, so much that they want to grow old with no one else but you… and just being close to a person like that… there is on this earth, nothing like it.
That approach instead of demeaning sex… (you can’t demean sex… that is impossible.).. may give some results… One has to be real. That message won’t stop sex among all children… but it will give those who are uncomfortable with it, and option that allows them to respectfully decline…
Some kids need that.
Noted bridge-burner and documented thug Evan Quietsch citing Gandhi and MLK on nonviolence? Really?
Is this an image makeover attempt, perhaps?
Evan,
Nice job. As I have been praying for the sex trafficing situation, God has been showing me how desperate and insecure the customers have to be…to PAY for something glorious that God has given to be within the context of a loving and supportive relationship (marriage)…and to search out young girls (or boys) over whom you can exert a great deal of control…how pathetic and desperate those lives must be. Only God can fill those lives and heal them. We as the church must seek a deeper relationship with God and with those around us…it is not easy to invite the potter to smush up the clay…and poke and prod within to change us so we can be vehicles of healing…
Thanks for the thought-provoking article.
I’m sorry Anon, when you’ve got enough guts to name yourself, I’ll try to care what you say…
Kavips, this is less about “demeaning sex” as I see it and more about working with our kids to understand that sex has a role and a place and that what movies, TV and music does is to trivialize a vital human interaction that really deservers much more respect than it gets.
“MLK sought the right to arm himself and despite owning several firearms, he was denied the right to carry them. Both encouraged supporters and themselves practiced a refusal to give up natural rights ”
So the inference is from MLKs words and actions that guns are a “natural right.” Huh?
“They disagreed deeply with their opposition but they did it without being disagreeable. Their path is difficult to stay on and even Ghandi, who largely opposed any violence, said, “where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.”’
So disagree without being disagreeable but violence is not out of the question?
“We should and can antagonistically support positive values”
I’m not sure I can even comprehend that one. Does that emphasize the Ghandi quote? How does one antagonistically support positive values without being disagreeable?
While your message has validity, the manner in which you articulate that message conjures images of an objective to be gained through force rather than ideas.
Still your point is taken in saying “We must look beyond the actual abortion itself and address the root causes.” For if you did that you would determine that sex is natural and a biological imperative; that sex leads to pregnancy; for which society resorts to abortion. I imagine that your mitigation would be to counter the biological imperative with positive values rather than a positive means of preventing pregnancy, as if the culture and images were the forcing function for people having sex.
The problem you face is reality. Sure positive values should be instilled in our young. But talk is cheap. If you want those values to be inculcated you have live them and public displays of your values ultimately is just marketing. Wal Mart Americans (those who used to scream about buying American but shopped at Wal Mart because the prices are cheaper) will have to undergo radical adjustment for them to “be the change they desire” Perhaps a reading of Luke 4:23 would help.
“I’m sorry Anon, when you’ve got enough guts to name yourself, I’ll try to care what you say…”
I’ve seen what you do to people when you know who they are. So I’ll pass. Just want people to remember who they’re dealing with as you try to remake your image. Fortunately for me, the Internet is forever, just in case anyone is stupid enough to look at you as some sort of leader.
Dave,
So the inference is from MLKs words and actions that guns are a “natural right.” Huh?
Actually the inference from MLK is that self defense and the right to be able to defend oneself against any threat are natural rights. The 2nd Amendment (as well as Section 20 of the Delaware Declaration of Rights) makes it clear that a person has a right to keep and bear (own and carry) a firearm (in fact the Delaware Declaration of Rights (written 1776) states “A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and State and for hunting and recreational use.”)
So disagree without being disagreeable but violence is not out of the question?
You’d have to ask Ghandi about his quote but I think what he was saying was that HE would choose non-violence to a fault but that he wouldn’t expect that of everyone and that he believed that if you were backed into a corner, violence was preferable to being ostracized as a coward. Don’t go looking for a fight and do everything to avoid it but if they leave you no other choice, defend yourself. That’s what I teach my children and I imagine most people do that.
How does one antagonistically support positive values without being disagreeable?
That’s actually a good question and one that I’m prepared to answer. You can oppose and contend against evil, corruption and negative values with positive values and a perfect example of that is Martin Luther King Jr. He stood quite publicly and quite forcefully for individual liberty and while he didn’t raise his hand in anger to his opponents, he didn’t sit down either. He never sought to attack his opponent but rather to raise his cause as a standard. I think that is what we need to be doing, refusing to sit down and raising positive values as a standard.
In closing, to address the last part of your comment, while sex is natural and biological, we humans are given the ability to defer our impulses and rationalize right vs. wrong. Furthermore, by holding up positive moral values and the importance of sex as something to be valued and not given up haphazardly on a whim to anyone will certainly help us to stop the barbaric practice of infanticide. Women have so many “choices” before they ever get to the one focused on with regards to abortion. In addition, I’m not anti-safe sex Dave. In fact, I promote it. IF you’re going to share that part of yourself with someone else and you’re not ready for a baby, take precautions. With that said, the preferred option should be to abstain from sex until you’ve found the one for you that you are prepared to marry and have children with. It’s certainly not going to be the perfect answer for everyone but the more of us that can carry these values forward, the better.
Dave thank you for the quote, Luke is my favorite.
If I could join in late here, I think we can boil this message down to two words, personal responsibility! These are two words that every conservative should hold dear. But beyond that, even liberals should hold them dear as well, isn’t that what they want when they strive for gay marriage?
Christ taught us exactly that, personal responsibility. We can only come to God through the Son and only after we seek forgiveness.
I can pray that those who are lost will find Christ, but I cannot pray them saved, only they can.
I have come to the conclusion through my faith, that we need to focus on our own salvation and care for our own families and teach our children our own values. If we would spend more time on our own, we would most likely have better results over-all. Evans message is a good one, live that which you seek. Treat others as you would have them treat you.
Read the book ‘Coming Apart’ by Charles Murray and you will see the future of America and it is not a pretty sight.
The disconnect between family, faith, vocation and community is broadening and destroying America.