Is the United States the Greatest Country?

I was sent this video today. I found it compelling. I also saw the nationalism in my own country as well.

What it depicts for me is how our civil societies have changed, how people in previous generations had moral codes and values. There was an innocence during these times as people felt to be honest as they were exploring and at the leading edge of discoveries about the world as science was expanding. What has happened is that greed has taken over society; economy has become dominant as we see by the listings of price indices on television every night. The only debate is about economy not the social fabric from which the world of work has emerged.

The video highlights for me that there is an emerging social conscience across the globe. I heard this as I travelled the world whereby older people told me they were concerned at the changes to the world and the attitudes of the younger generation. They felt that young people have no idea about the scarcity of the depression (little food or work), living through wars, manners that were considered important social codes that revealed respect and space for others. Social and moral codes where there were shared standards of behaviour towards others typically showing courtesy and politeness. Of course there is the reverse side of prejudice, of social norms which restricted freedoms, discrimination, racism, nationalism, oppression, arms trades and environmental destruction without any awareness of how this connects to our support systems and formation of our civilisation.

Thus, this video is really about questioning the myths that are used to frame our societies as greater than others. The truth is all people are equal on this planet, there is no country greater or lesser than any other, there is no religion greater or lesser than anyone, there is no gender greater or lesser than the other. All deserve and are part of the human family where we share the abundance of this incredible and resilient planet and work together to solve problems. Importantly to be open to truth telling and not all go silent but enter the debate and ask questions – why do you think that way? Be open to learning from divergent opinions rather than gathering like minded to ensure you feel secure. It is not about saying your nation is the greatest or your religion is the closest to god, it is about who is the greatest contributor to the greater good. That for me is the sign of greatness. It is found in selfless service not money making.

I send you peace, particularly the Americans. I just visited your country and saw fear on the streets, homelessness, I saw the negative media pumping out sitcoms that take us away from the real world. I also met wonderfully generous people and enjoyed the outgoing nature of some I met. I was hosted by Americans who allowed me to stay in their homes and we exchanged ideas and enjoyed the diversity between us through cultural differences. I learned about the politics and the rising up of women in the US.

Economic power does not make any country greater or a winner, in truth the greatness rests in human nature whereby people are kind, generous, equanimous, loving, caring, truthful and honouring integrity. I always have loved the American ideals of life, liberty and happiness as goals and life processes. That for me, was represented in the Statue of Liberty, which I see as the statue of global freedom which holds all nations as equal and represents the human values shared by humanity that promote unity and happiness, to me that was always greatness.

So let’s question our nationalism and link hands as universal citizens occupying a planet that requires our united effort. Let’s step away from greater than (win/lose) and move towards greatness between where all win (win/win). Let’s start to create social businesses that support society rather than divide it through competition. Let’s find ways of celebrating our success in our freedoms, our limitlessness and shared humanity and see that we are more similar than different and each is capable of greatness and this need not be fame or being the best, it could be in the moment you pass a homeless person you stop and chat, or you offer them a bed in your house. That to me is greatness that gives life, liberty and happiness to others.

I want to add to my personal expression here my own standing up at the Adelaide Writers Festival. Now I made a mistake of not asking a question at question time for democracy is limited to questions. I felt inspired to say in response to the sad story of a Tamil Tigress (female Tamil Tiger) to talk to the audience about my peace education work called REAL HOPE. I am sure some felt it was a cynical exercise at self promotion, yet I felt inspired to talk about my values work, I felt inspired to remind them of the jets that flew overhead promoting a festival and that jets are used to kill people, like in the war in Sri Lanka. I spoke to them and reminded them of our own competition in sports (sacriligious) as teaching children to compete which is the basis of all warfare where underlying this competition is winners and losers and inherent within that superiority. I spoke of the importance of cooperation and working together that in education we value numeracy and literacy over peace education. My statement came from the heart, I found myself looking at the crowd and questioning their choices in our country (reflecting the mirror onto them), how we contribute to violence. Yet they didn’t want to hear it. When some had felt I spoke too long I heard people shouting out – what is the question? I said the question is ‘do you think a culture of peace is possible in Sri Lanka?’. The woman didn’t answer the question directly as I felt she hadn’t conceived of peace. I knew I had few on my side but my heart demanded me to speak. One older woman, who I had heard of who had written books on a better world, did come up to me at the end, she had been a peacemaker and was aroused by my words of ‘cooperation’. She offered to help me promote my work in education. Sadly I didn’t hear back from her, but at least I felt heard by one.

When I watched this video below I felt myself as the unpopular one speaking the words no-one wants to hear. It was my birthday that day I spoke up, it was the gift I gave to myself, to speak my truth and express myself. That is the gift I pass onto you, when you feel the desire to speak up, even if it is against popular beliefs, I encourage you to try if your heart tells you. We may not want to hear it, but we need to hear it. Your contribution is to improve the greater good, it is greatness you display.

With much love and peace to you all. Here is this video depicting what courage and truth looks like. Something we are unlikely to hear on television, thank goodness for the internet.

Be the change….