More Gulf, Less Golf

It is one thing for me to look at my husband and think.." Don't you care about what is going on?" when he is out doing his normal things...but it is another thing concerning the President and BP. Shouldn't we to hold them up to a higher standard? So when we, the public, read or see a news story about how they are spending their time, it does make one wonder about just how much they do care and how serious they are taking this.

I have thought about this a lot in the past few months. I want to be a person who is proactive, that speaks out against what is wrong and does something, not just sitting back quietly, complacently. The question is what is one to do? One feels so small and powerless... there are stories of small people making a huge difference for the good. I think part of the answer is a mental answer... we have to be eager and courageous to act to further the good that we see in the world. That potential is inside all of us, and we just need to find the way to wake it up.

How do we nail this down? Yes, you are so right, and sometimes we feel we are existing in a sea of neverending problems, just look any day in the newspaper, and some of these things are utterly abhorrent, and others, maybe we feel we could have some input, or feel the impulse to do something, to sign a petition, to write, or just do something in our own small lives that is positive, for another. I think it's so hard to judge sometimes how to respond, and we feel so often, who is listening? How can I personally make a difference? I know that not doing anything feels wrong for me personally, a kind of impotence, a helplessness in the face of feeling this is so WRONG. As in the Gulf Disaster. And I do see a widening "gulf" between those who care about the environment and those who do not take the time to think, to analyze deeply the pain, the suffering, to the earth, the inhabitants of the ocean, and those who make their living from the seas. I do what I can do. I write letters on behalf of environmental initiatives. I bypass the boiler plate and I write something from the heart, something personal, something that uses my language skills and engages heart and soul. And so often I feel, why do this? Who is listening? Who reads any of this? But I believe in the ringing words of a great Justice whose name was Brandeis and he said, we must live as if we each make a difference, and he believed, deeply, in "the power of one". And so must we all. Golf? A "whole in one"?

1. Pray... 2. Listen to HaShem & wherever possible take appropriate right action. Sometimes "no action" is the right action... 3. If you are lead to do so, do not be afraid to speak out... Shalom... Keith.

I think the complacency angle is interesting, but not one I would have connected with the complaints. My understanding of Jewish tradition is that even if one can do nothing to prevent/mitigate an ongoing situation it is still incumbent on that individual to act in a manner that shows the situation bothers him/her. For example, there are numerous stories of Rabbanim who did not sleep on a pillow/bed during recent wars since they were showing a concrete way of expressing their pain at the situation. During the recent bombardment of Israel I know many regular folk who gave up fancy desserts or something else in a meal to show their life too was impacted - not in the same way as those going through it, but at least not to be completely enjoying themselves as though nothing was wrong. Golf is viewed as a sport of leisure, not as a form of "working-out" - and I think the complaints reflect that.

If we can't be there on site, we can certainly join media war... as seen during 'flotilla crisis'... we can present facts on various forums, signing petitions, uploading videos, share info... never let enemy mute us by their shouts of hatred.

As we hear on the news regarding the BP oil spill, the Flotilla incident, etc., it all depends on how we proactively respond to it...Now, would complacency be a form of coveting, even though the 10th commendment says "Thou shalt not covet"? It is easy to feel embittered and covet when the president and CEO's have leisure time during a crisis. However, change and progress almost always happen with one's self, and every little bit counts such as sending tzedekah to charities we believe will help with whatever situation we are concerned about, either regarding the environment, feeding the poor, recognizing Israel's right to exist, etc.

In an ideal world, everyone would tackle all problems quickly, and work at the issue or problem till it was resolved. In the real world, it is not necessarily an issue of complaceny if we tackle a problem, but also turn our attention to other things, whether those things are other major (or minor) issues, or leisure activities. Should an issue or problem "rule" us 24X7? In general, most people do their best thinking or analyzing away from an issue or problem, dealing or focusing on other activities. Is it really an issue of being complacent if temporarily, we accept the status quo while working on ways to resolve an issue? It is only an issue of complacency if we accept issues or problems by putting our heads in the sand and neglecting the problems or hoping they will go away by themselves.

I keep putting off something I feel I have the responsibility to do--helping out a case in which first year law students put hidden cameras in a girl's bedroom, bathroom, and car. I feel like if I ignore it, the mess that was made of it will go away. So far, it hasn't. I don't think anyone will help her but me, but I can't seem to bring myself to do anything, and I keep just going on with life like it will all just be okay on its own.