Who is Our Bobby Kennedy? Where is Our Martin Luther King?

Who is Our Bobby Kennedy?   Where is Our Martin Luther King?   The Search for a New Hero; A Compelling and Unifying Voice for the People     January 21, 2008

Dear Friends, Why is it that when new discoveries are made or ancient information once hidden or previously undiscovered is revealed, we see such profound opposition? The sharing of a mere idea, a thought, or a new way of looking at the world and its inherent mysteries has long been met with massive resistance. The most severe forms of resistance, when partnered with fear, can even result in violent and murderous reactions from those committed to maintaining the status quo. No matter the decade or century we reflect upon, we'll see the reemerging pattern of opposition to change across all cultures.   Today, as we celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King, we are fresh with more recent, stinging memories of change leaders sacrificing their lives for worthy-and on some level-inevitable change and progress. The recent assassinations of Benazir Bhutto and the thousands of massacred monks and regime resisters in Rangoon reveal a timeless pattern present since the beginning of time; one in major need of an overhaul.   Who is Worthy of Freedom? The Fundamental Question   I often wonder when we will become conscious enough of this human propensity to cycle into violent resistance and choose a different path. Jesus, Lincoln, Gandhi, King, John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy all represent globally impactful reminders of martyred change makers-voices of hope, equality, inclusion, compassion and progress-that have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of a humanity divided on the fundamental question that asks; "Who is worthy of freedom?"   The inherent right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has certainly changed in interpretation over the decades. Each culture and religion has fallen into the trappings of a sad historical cycle to resist positive change. Although social progress comes through education, awareness, legal reform and spiritual maturity, we continue to bear witness to both episodic and systemic resistance to change. Maybe today's change makers in the United States have less of a chance of being assassinated physically because we as a society have come up with creative and less violent ways to assassinate characters and credibility.   This weekend, as I watched an incredible movie about the life and assassination of Bobby Kennedy, I was struck with the fact that the very issues he impassioned with the hope and promise of change are, on some level, still alive and largely unresolved within both the American and global cultures. 40 years ago, during the presidential primaries in 1968, Bobby spoke of ending an unjust and futile war in Vietnam (sound familiar?). He spoke to the social responsibility we have to bring true equality to the poor and disenfranchised (sound familiar?), and he became a new, albeit short-lived voice of hope for a generation still reeling and grieving from the devastating assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King.   Interestingly enough, in 1968, a full 40 years ago, Americans also found themselves in conflict of new and questionable voting procedures (sound familiar) and Bobby's focus on human rights also extended beyond the borders of the United States where he fostered greater awareness of the need to focus on the environment and growing concerns of nuclear weaponry, communism and oppressive dictatorships in Latin America, Poland, Russia and Southeast Asia (sound familiar?). Different times, same issues. In his role of Attorney General and enforcement of civil rights laws recently passed in the United States, Bobby shared a powerful reflection that is timeless in both importance and meaning;   "We must recognize the full human equality of all our people - before God, before the law, and in the councils of government. We must do this not because it is economically advantageous - although it is; not because the laws of God and man command it - although they do command it; not because people in other lands wish it so. We must do it for the single and fundamental reason that it is the right thing to do. - RFK   Different times, same issues.   Listen to presidential candidates today and you'll hear the same basic rhetoric. As I listened to one of Bobby Kennedy's speeches yesterday, he spoke of environmental issues related to irresponsible waste, consumption and emissions, and spoke out against a corrupt administration and a war that was killing a generation of our children. I turned to my husband and said, "Interesting; in 1968, RFK's vision and passion were seen as heroic and inspiring. Congressman Kucinich says essentially the same thing today and we label him an idealistic quack and stop inviting him to the debates."   Different times, same issues.   We've all heard the quote, "History makes the man and the man makes history." The question to ask today is what history are we in the process of forming as individuals and as a collective? In the past, we have seen profound examples of this habitual human resistance in the areas of science, philosophy, religion and political, gender, race and social freedoms, each cycle of change bringing energy and heightened awareness to competing levels of consciousness. The history of the human race's resistance to accepting new truths has been consistent; it seems, from the beginning of time.   Who is our Bobby Kennedy, Where is Our Martin Luther King? Who is Our Unifying Voice for Change?   I have been pondering this question a lot lately, wondering who will be the unifying voice for our up and coming generation. We need heroes. We need an eloquent and compelling voice for change. We need to shift from rhetoric to responsibility; a responsibility that extends to the every day person to be, as Gandhi said, "The change we want to see in the world."   Maybe the polarity that continues to exist is a given. Maybe we'll never truly agree on hot issues such as war, foreign policy, equal rights to marriage, education, immigration or health care reform. But, on some level, I really do believe we can agree that we need a new Hero; one who becomes a compelling and unifying voice for change. We need a voice that stands for truth, goodness, good-will and "rightness" over politics, prejudice and greed. We need a force that will foster collaboration between multi-partisan groups so they can creatively, responsibly and synergistically attend to globally impactful issues at the individual, community, and state, national and international levels.     We need a strong and inspiring voice that can help us move beyond the polarizing political, moral and socially competitive arguments that ultimately stall progress and create divisions that prevent synergistic solutions from being birthed into reality. We need a moral call for action that is absent of religiously prejudiced agendas and fear based propaganda; one that comes from a space of decency, deep compassion and empathy, as opposed to judgment and self righteousness.   We need a new hero, one that speaks of liberty over repression, peace over war, diplomacy and cooperation over tactlessness and control, love over hatred, and generosity over greed. "Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and  resistance." - RFK Different times, same issues.   Resisting Truth and Evolution - Where Free Thinking and Will Gets in the Way of Progress   What is it that sparked such fear and opposition when we first became aware that the world being round, or that the age of the planet and its first inhabitants preceded that which was taught in the bible? Why does the scientific proof of evolution or the Big Bang theory threaten the idea of God's existence and role in creation or intelligent design? Why do recent discoveries of other existing solar systems and planets or archaeological findings of civilizations that thrived well over 4,000 years ago meet with such denial? When will be able to honor evolving truth and new awarenesses with wonder, curiosity and awe instead of the tired and ineffective either/or, black and white, all or nothing arguments? Free thinking, conscience and free will are what we see as the unique qualities owned solely by the human race. Yet, have we been responsible with the application?   A few weeks ago, as I listened to the Supreme Court arguments for and against keeping the phrase "Under God" intact in the pledge of allegiance, I was somewhat saddened by a powerful self realization. I find it more offensive to pledge my allegiance to a country whose policies continue to lead from arrogance and greed than I do to pledging my allegiance to a God who has never judged, never hurt, and doesn't love with the same conditions and prejudices as the human race as a whole. Now, of course I appreciate this realization was influenced by my belief in an existence of a loving, inclusive God and through my opinions of the causes of some of the underlying issues here in the United States. I am also aware that both sets of beliefs could, if I am honest, be false.   I wonder if the pendulum of public opinion can and ever will come back to a place that is centered in greater good - a higher state of consciousness that truly aligns with love and equality. I wonder if we can ever stop acting like victims in a world we have co-created and become more willing and curious to ask the really important questions like, "Why has faith become such a source of pain and conflict that we still feel the need to legislate, mandate and subjugate members of our human family?"   I wonder. When we look back fifty years from now, will we see the current polarization between contradicting proponents for changes such as democracy, peace, diplomacy, global conservation, alternative energy sources and gay rights mirroring similar shifts in social consciousness just as we saw in the evolution of equal rights for women, African Americans and Native Americans? Will we deem the occupation and war in Iraq as a worthy movement towards global human freedom? Will Bush be seen as a villain or a misunderstood hero and visionary?   And, I wonder. . .what will be the next generation's Berlin Wall; that monumental, far-reaching, inspiring and defining moment that gave us proof in our ability to evolve and change for the good as a human race? And, will we ever learn from both our past ignorance and the many examples of humanity's violent resistance to change?   The fact of the matter is that our awareness of truth and illusion continues to change. We do evolve and progress. We do mature. And, we do ultimately accept and change that which is no longer working and find a new and better way to be in the world. Occurring at the individual, familial, social, political, scientific and religious levels, we evolve and have seen and celebrated incredible change. Unfortunately, most positive change has come with incredible resistance and conflict. It seems to be a theme that permeates both new discovery and new realization. Any shift in consciousness requires us to rethink our beliefs; beliefs that once formed the very foundation of our lives and our sense of existence being challenged. Releasing illusionary thinking and false beliefs is and has always been the first step in all human influenced progress. Unfortunately the fight that precedes acceptance is often damaging.   You Are the New Hero   As I reflected upon the question, "Who is our Bobby Kennedy and where is our Martin Luther King?" the answer that came was "You are." Yes, I'm talking to you, and me, and all living beings on the planet. You are the new hero. You are the voice of compassion, of change and of promise. You are responsible for standing up and showing up for something good, something important and something needed. Hope. Change. Evolution. Progress. You are the new hero. You are the change. You are the hope for the next generation. You will heal something important (probably a lot of something's) over your life time. You will model a new way-for someone -many someone's-and what you do and say will count. It will make a difference.   The what is up to you. The focus is up to you. Subtle or profound, in the long run, each of us is being called to step up and step out. We are being asked to heal that which is unhealed within our own hearts and histories and become the hero of our own stories, one still in the making. And, one you have a lot more control of than you may currently believe.   You will be an example of who to be and who not to be, depending on your choice and how you share your voice. You will be an exemplar for a greater good that is asking to emerge on behalf of a troubled and ever-evolving humanity. You will dream and you will create. You will fail and you will succeed. You will love and you will grieve. You will change and be changed. You will be impacted and you will create an impact.   And, you get to decide what that looks like and how you choose to leave a legacy - in your life as well as in the lives of others.   And I thank you. On behalf of my lineage, I thank you. On behalf of my grandparents I thank you. On behalf of my children, and their children, I thank you. On behalf of my neighbors, I thank you. On behalf of humanity, I thank you.   Where Do You Begin?   In spite of a common misperception that a worthy cause must be globally far-reaching, in truth we begin to build legacy in seemingly small, yet powerfully transformational ways. We begin within the realm of our minds and hearts and focus on the areas within ourselves that need to be healed. We laser in on that which exists within us and places us in judgment as opposed to resonance and fear as opposed to faith. Usually it begins with an honest and courageous exploration of our pain. Sometimes, it begins with the honest and courageous exploration of our dreams.   No matter the core motivation or entry point, both will open you to the evolutionary opportunities faced by your soul and your human personality, often of which are in serious competition for a voice and presence in day-to-day living. The essence of who we are often becomes clouded in our conditioning. Dig down to the belief level and you'll find the treasures to be unearthed, excavated and cleaned up so you can release that which no longer serves you or the greater good and begin to magnify and even glorify that which does. And, you'll find the pathway to creating the impossible, for healing stifling pain that hides you from your greatness. You will identify and release the very resentments that reveal all that is killing your spirit and shadowing the positive influence you are inherently capable of having when you bring focus to your own unique growth opportunities and path of service. And, in doing so, you will come to understand how you can have it all, and manifest your dreams and greatest desires and be the hero you were meant to be; the one we need and are all searching for.   Copyright 2008 © Anita Pathik Law.   Anita Pathik Law is the author of The Power of Our Way; A Path to a Collective Consciousness and is a powerful voice for conscious evolution, bridge building and personal responsibility.  Learn more at www.powerofmyway.com, www.enlightenedbiz.com and www.divinitymovie.com and sign up for a powerful new program at www.powerofmyway.com/havingitall.html   Reprints of this article are authorized with inclusion of the above byline.

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Comments

[Dona Wheeler]

Hi,
Wow you covered a lot in this, and much of what I have experienced, or thought about in the last 4 years, as I began, ever so slowly to heal. I think I am over the worst, and my root, as an earth Mom, is to work with kids, who younger and younger, are labeled with Bipolar. This has been my thought for several years,and though I am not as far along as I'd lik with my paperwork, and setting up my office, I know many kids need me, and this is one thing I am here for.
Super post, keep 'em coming!

[Parviz Haddadizadeh]

Dear Anita, thank you so much for your writing. I agree with you 100%. I am working to help people in my country ( Iran ) which they are for the last 29 years suffering under brutal and inhuman Dictator Regime Islamo fascism with their sharia law. I believe with you that I can make a difference and as an individual become a hero for change. and stand for Human Rights for people of my country. I love to hear for you, and as always I am thank full for having you in my side.

With love and respect for you, and your work.
Parviz H.

[Jennifer Mannion]

Hi Anita, Thanks for this post and I agree whole heartedly that it is up to US to be the heroes. I am focusing on my 2 areas of passion with writing on natural healing and non violent computer games for kids. I know we all have areas we would excel in and it is just listening and finding that passion. I have JUST started recognizing my own powers and am so happy to be reaching out to others. I hope to encourage others to do the same and so on and so on! I've been working on an invention for years and it is finally coming together because I am using my own set of morals and not relying on some big corp to do it for me. We all need to look within and figure out who we are and what we want and are passionate about and then things come easily.....Your tele-seminars are so important and you are so wonderful at running them. I walked away from the last one I attended with tears of gratitude. Thanks again for this great post. Gratefully, Jenny