Bring it on.

www.sojo.net

Wow, a friend gave me the above link many moons ago, but for some reason I never took a look. Thanks, Bryan, and I'm sorry I keep forgetting the y.

I think it's vital that any peeps who express an opinion about the world's affairs do more than grumble about how things would be different if they were in charge. Remember the tenets of democracy, to which we pay homage every election and/or attempt to blow up something abroad? Well, since we have a government that is for the people, by (some of) the people, and of the people, let's all try actually (gasp!) doing something productive for our funny little, roughly spherical blue orb we like to call Earth.

So, how does one become involved?

Educate thyself! Read, listen, and discuss today's issues, both local and global.

Take a stance! Decide just what it is you believe and want to support, based on Truth. Remember-- truth is not, never has been, and never will be relative. I'm not talking he said/she said antics. Real Truth, by its very existence and definition, is unwavering. And, while it's okay to change your mind about an issue ("Why, I DO now believe that the seal pup cull in the Arctic regions is/isn't a good thing!"), please don't sacrifice or distort Truth (which could be the simple statement, "There are ongoing seal overpopulation concerns.")to please the masses. Don't be a milquetoast. There are, really, only differing opinions about Truth, not different forms of Truth. We cannot always see the whole of Truth in a given situation (e.g., exactly who it was who shot the 2 people tonite in the apartment down the lane from me), but that doesn't change the fact that this murderer did in fact commit a crime. In addition, we may not always like Truth ("What? I can't believe that Edgar Ray Killen, a part-time preacher down in Mississippi, actually helped to murder 3 civil rights workers in the 60s!"), but, there it is (guilty as charged!). Okay, enough of the Kerry brand of philosophical meanderings. C.S. Lewis writes a very simple, readable bit on this subject in one of the first few chapters of Mere Christianity.

Do something! Maybe go to a meeting, lecture, rally, whatever. Pick up trash with the Sierra Club. Volunteer at a battered women's shelter. Adopt a dog from the SPCA. Certainly donate to your causes, but remember that time also equals money, and organizations rely upon the efforts of volunteers to function, not just bling.

Tell others! Share what you're doing with friends and family, and heck, even that bicycle messenger in the elevator. Show people that you care and are striving to make a change. They'll be potentially challenged and see that they can also apply themselves to a cause they support. Don't forget that others are always watching, and will see what you do, where your priorities lie, even if you never mention them. No one has to be a Pat Robertson or a Bono to create an impact.

Stick with it for the long haul! It took years for California Condors and the American Bald Eagle to increase in numbers following conservation efforts, but increase they did. Even when things look desolate, miracles can happen. Take the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker as an example! Heck, Strom Thurmond actually admitted that his profoundly racist leanings were wrong. Who'd of thought that a member of rock group Korn (or Jane Fonda or Deion Sanders) would ever come to know Jeusus? A few years ago, Angola openly allowing the Gospel to be shared would have been as likely as rounding up all of that country's land mines. Apartheid was finally toppled in South Africa, a feat that took the perserverance of many to right a despicable policy of several hundred years... and how amazing that the nation's first truly open elections, held just 10 years ago, were peaceful. My point is that people and situations can change when enough good pressure, attention, publicity, hard work, prayer, lobbying, blood, sweat, and tears are given to struggles and issues in our world. Remember the adage that nothing worth doing in life is ever easy. And, as I like to say, it all builds character and/or grows hair on your chest.

Now you know, and knowing's half the battle.

Goodnite, must sleep before zoo trip and, as it's plain to see, I'm pretty wired right now. Tally-ho!