InnerSelf.com

The United States of America, as I as well as many others perceive it, is out of touch with its original vision. But I also know that out of death, resurrection is possible -- it is my hope and prayer, that this nation be reborn with its "first principles" once again the guiding force.

When Jefferson wrote that all men have the inalienable right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness," by the right to "life" he meant the individual right to have food, clothing, a home, and work; by the right to "liberty" he meant the right to think and speak freely as well as to hold religious convictions of any persuasion without fear of persecution; by the right to "the pursuit of happiness" he meant every citizen's right to find meaning and purpose, and thereby a deep and abiding joy. All these rights were to be "inalienable," that is to say they "cannot be taken away." The Declaration of Independence is a spiritual document meant for all people everywhere, not just for Americans.

America has lost the connection to its founding roots. It is floundering in a rising sea of Chaos caused in part by corpocracy, and increasingly creates the cancerous growth of an endless stream of irrelevant product choices and mindless distractions while engulfing and devouring individual liberties. Our government is being controlled by corporate interests through lobbying, Political Action Committees, and heavy campaign contributions. Federal agencies, whose responsibilities are to serve the public, often act to benefit the companies they are supposed to oversee. Former government officials find executive positions with defense contractors or become lobbyists, reaping great financial wealth, because of their taxpayer-subsidized previous employment. This, in a much abbreviated version, is America's corpocracy.

With five percent of the world's population, we are consuming upwards of 40% of the world's resources because of our addiction to consumerism. This penchant for economic growth is supported by the sacrifice of the eco-system, including the ozone layer; the rape of natural resources; the obliteration of indigenous cultures; the monopolization of products and services in the name of the free market which ironically requires exorbitant capital to enter into and engage with the control of the communications media by a few behemoth corporations; the absence of ethics in the applications of capitalist principles where "the bottom line" and quarterly dividends outweigh human values; and the on-going purchase of political largesse by corporate interests at the expense of the people's "life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." In short, we Americans are aboard a rudderless ship led by a crazed captain (the corpocracy), whose sole guiding principle is economic expediency without regard to the implications for future generations. It is a rampant tyranny of the future. It calls to mind Jefferson's eloquent statement, "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

I recognize in myself the need to speak out and to reveal the fact that the emperor has no clothes, that the foxes are in the hen house, and that the whole enterprise is a house of cards, begging for a recovery of meaning and purpose, a return to the spiritual underpinnings of American democratic ideals as set forth in 1776 in the Declaration of Independence and later in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is time to move beyond blame and judgment, all the while not ignoring the dangerous erosion of civil liberties and personal freedoms that has occurred during the past quarter century and continues unabated. Compassion and kindness are the actions required to overcome the lack of consciousness that has allowed this erosion to occur. At the same time, the age of leaders is over -- each of us must now avail him- or herself of the leader within. Working together from the deepest center of our hearts and intelligence, we can transform the present malaise and perhaps, in the end, realize the true attainment of a government and a nation created of, by, and for the people.

These are perilous times. The tragic events of 9-11 have given us an opportunity to recover our bearings, to revisit the founding principles of this nation, which were inspired by the Native peoples of this land. It is time to recover those principles and to create a world that works for all. President Lincoln expressed these guiding principles very eloquently at the dedication of the Gettysburg national cemetery: "That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth."

Since its inception as a nation, America has served as a beacon of freedom and democracy to oppressed people throughout the world, inspiring a steady stream of immigrants to come to its shores. So, in the last analysis, the present reality turns us back on ourselves to what each of us as an individual can do to make a difference in our life. As I change, the world changes. At the same time as I work on myself, I must do everything I can to effect a difference in my sphere of influence. We're all interrelated in mysterious ways. Whatever inner wisdom I may discover needs to manifest through my external actions. The times require an activist spirituality that engages the challenges we face in the world.

Besides the communication and broadcast work I do, here's how I am addressing the deteriorating American dream and the challenges of the post-9-11 world.

Specifically, I

• stay politically active in my local community in a variety of different ways -- for example, I helped start the local community radio station in Mendocino County, served on the county-wide Self-Esteem and Personal Responsibility Commission, and have supported creative activities for young people;

• stay abreast of legislative activities affecting my community, state, and nation and write, where appropriate, to my local, state, and federal legislators regularly (personal letters are demonstrably more effective than e-mails or faxes);

• speak out, in both personal and public situations, wherever and whenever appropriate, hopefully without being a bore;

• scan and read various publications such as The New York Times, The Nation, The Wall Street Journal, In These Times, Business Week, Z Magazine, Fortune Small Business, The Progressive, Bottom Line/Business, The Washington Spectator, FAST Company, Business Ethics, The Christian Science Monitor, Utne Reader, Yes! and The Sun;

• financially contribute to various organizations working to positively affect America and the planet;

• vote in every election;

• write letters to the editors of various publications on behalf of important issues;

• critique the blatantly negative stories as well as praise the media when they report a positive story;

• pray.