Making a Difference
Making a Difference is a new installment in the Muddy Boots series by David Griffith.
“All that evil needs is for a few good men and women to remain silent, inactive, or look the other way.” In our tradition and those of most others, we are asked to respect the dignity of every human being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our founding documents cite that all men (people) are created equal and have the “right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
So, how are we doing, folks?
In my work at ECS we defined the path out of poverty as three things.
- A living wage full-time job.
- A reasonable level of benefits.
- Assets in the bank at a level to cover emergencies.
Living well is about having access to opportunity and the ability to take that opportunity and thrive. Indeed, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Why is our public/private policy so contrary to the above? Why would we not want 30% more consumers in America?
Also, I note that unless you are a native American, we are all immigrants or the descendants of immigrants. Our diversity has been and is a core American attribute that has grown our country and allowed the nation to thrive. I note we need three million immigrants a year to balance our demand for labor.
Finally, the big picture here, folks, is that our planet is rapidly changing. Most of the scientific community tells us we are at the tipping point with climate change. Ask the folks who live in Kentucky these days about climate change.
Given the above, why is there silence or denial among many of our political leadership on these issues, and indeed among many good men and women?
Why is there a lack of support for those who do speak the truth and call for thoughtful and necessary change? Where is the long-term vision and leadership on a national and, I can argue, international level?
Could it be that we only “speak” our baptismal covenants and the equivalent in other traditions? Could it be that we only “read” the words of our founding documents?
My life’s work, be it at Modern, an employee-owned company, or ECS, a regional nonprofit challenging poverty, or as Chairman of the Academy of Natural Sciences, a leader in the study of our natural world, and in particular the issues of clean and safe water through the Patrick Center, has been and is about putting Grandchildren over greed.
I would be the first to say I/we could do more. I think we would all say that. My question is, are we part of the silence that lets evil thrive? I note we need to do more than speak, more than read the good works, or fail to look at our legacy to our children and grandchildren.
I do not view this as a red or blue issue. I view it as a citizen, a son, a father, a husband, a grandfather, a trustee, and a business owner, calling for long-term leadership across the board. Just look at the trends and the real facts. Time is not our friend.
Let us look at the data and make the words of our traditions and founders real. A hundred years from now, let them say we spoke up, we were accountable, and we made a real difference.
No more silence.