As a society we depend upon the most unrecognized and
unappreciated among us.
We rely on those who grow, process, and package our food,
monitor and tend to our water supply, oversee our energy
sources, pick up our garbage, mine coal, plow streets, clean sewers; you get the idea.
Our physical health and well-being is
literally dependant upon
these people.
And yet,
we do not recognize this.We do not recognize it and further, we do not hold our relationship to one another as a collaboration; as a relationship of cooperation, collaboration, and equality.Instead, we set up hierarchy.
Better than. More than. More valuable. More worthy. More important. Smarter. Richer.
Bottom line?
It doesn't really matter if we have the best neurobiologists,
nuclear physicists, engineers, computer programmers, or hedge fund managers in the world...if we don't have people raising our food, digging coal, picking up garbage, plowing the streets, or monitoring our water supply...
every day.Day in, day out...day after day.
We don't have to become communists or socialists or Ayn Rand
fans to acknowledge the value and importance of those on "the bottom," versus those on "the top."
We don't have to change our government, our politics, or join
the teamsters union...
we simply have to change our perspective. We have to "change our mind."
Those "on top" can recognize - with their hearts, as well their
minds - that there does not exist any need for people on
"the top" without those who faithfully serve our most basic
needs at "the bottom." They can acknowledge this in how they recognize, accept, and embrace the dignity of every single
person they come in contact with...every single day.
Those on "the bottom" can recognize that indeed, to some degree,
everything is poised atop
the foundation of service they provide. And they can - with their hearts and minds - fully claim their intrinsic value, self-worth, and dignity.
Building a better society can begin with a shift in perception as simple as this. One-by-one, day-by-day
we can create change.
Think of it this way...if God forbid, a disaster were to befall us
tomorrow and our lives suddenly became predominantly about
our
simple, physical survival...who would be of the
"greatest value" then?
It would be the expertise of the coal miners and food growers,
the snow plowers and the garbage collectors that would be of the
greatest value to us each and every day. The nuclear physicists
and neurobiologists - the hedge fund managers and computer
programmers - might not seem so important anymore; armed
with our new awareness however, we'd probably choose to treat them well anyway.
Social security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc...I'm pretty sure most of these programs were created with our
interdependence in mind. Granted, these programs could use some major overhauling. But not supporting people on "the bottom" - while people on "the top" behave as though they're not
genuinely dependant upon those people - doesn't seem wise.
You don't have to be a "bleeding heart liberal" to recognize that when push comes to shove,
there won't be any need for the people on "the top," if we don't take care of the people on "the bottom"
who do indeed, take care of us.It's not "the Christian thing to do," it's not the "right" thing to
do, it's not politics...it's common sense.
(For more about the concepts in this message, go to "Energy: the science &
spirit of you" & "Redefining Relationship: love, acceptance, freedom," "The Parenting Partnership: you & your child" at www.kellygracesmith.com.)
Copyright © 2011 kelly grace smith All rights reserved.
