America craves new direction. Some of our lack of direction (or outright misdirection) is generational. Some is born from stale civic habits and weakened democratic culture. But as we seek new paths, we must reengage our most basic democratic cultrual principles and then begin at the level of our social contract: what do we owe each other? And then we work up to redesign our democratic processes and redesign the systems we rely on ased on new committments and a fresh willingness to discover consensus and take repsonsibility for the civic life we need to thrive in community. This is a beginning.
The story we have relied on as the foundation of modern American life is starting to fray, leaving too many behind, too many questions unanswered, and too much uncertainty about our future. Too many Americans are suffering from a persuasive futurelessness -- a sense that whatever hazy, uncertain future is…
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry We see the possibility of a society that expects and actively cultivates new…
“I'm talking about a love that is transformative, that challenges us in both our private and our civic lives." ~bell hooks Finding the kindness for ourselves and each other that can redeem our past and enable a new commitment to each other’s success.
“Not for ourselves alone are we born.” ~Cicero Our first duty is to each other: we are interdependent. Capacity to collaborate is actually more valuable than capacity to compete.
“The line between sacred and secular is man-made.” ~Sarah Bessey We must revere the sacred spaces that enable, encourage, teach, lead us to meaning, not as rites and rituals or as symbols but as necessary precursors to real human growth, and not as idols but as spaces meant to be…
“The natural distribution is neither just nor unjust; nor is it unjust that persons are born into society at some particular position. These are simply natural facts. What is just and unjust is the way that institutions deal with these facts.” ~John Rawls Our resources must be preserved based on…
“Every scar that you have is a reminder not just that you got hurt, but that you survived.” ~Michelle Obama We must heal what must be healed and create a new definition of health (physical, mental, spiritual) looking forward that is rooted in what we need to thrive, not in…
“Every child is an artist — the question is whether we can remain artists as adults.” ~Pablo Picasso Living in community with a broad and diverse set of neighbors is joyous and creative. When we are safe ad free, the curiosity of others must inprise to new and better ideas.
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” ~Arundhati Roy We are certain that our best ideas will be supplanted by better ones, and therefore expect transformation and rely on systems and policies that expect, encourage, and embrace…