CAN PREschool teachers save us?

​It is no coincidence that Deep Creativity is emerging at this crucial juncture in the history of our nation and our world. Today, more than ever, we need to understand the enormous creative power at our disposal so that we can leverage it wisely. Either we act creatively to bring about a new era of peace, sustainability, and balance on this planet, or we bear witness to mass extinction, the destruction of livable habits, and the collapse of human civilization,

Many of us who took part in Tucson’s All Souls Procession last Sunday encountered the intriguing sign shown here. Certainly, the sign is provocative. But is there any truth to it? Could it be that that 2017 marks the end of our nation as we have known it? Here are three reasons to think that this great democratic republic has come to an end:

1. The nation is no longer united. These contentious times have allowed us to become divided on the basis of party affiliation, skin color, gender, religion, and most certainly economic class.
2. The nation is no longer sovereign. Foreign powers and special interests seem to have meddled in our elections and compromised the results.
3. The nation is no longer free. Most of us are working so hard to stay afloat that we have failed to notice the tyranny under which we are living.

Yes, that’s right. Tyranny has replaced democracy in our country. We are now living under the rule of profiteers. This did not happen all at once. But now the tyranny is fully in place. Profiteers are in control of our nation—at least for the time being.

What is a profiteer? It is anyone who places profits above all else, including the common good, the welfare of others, and the concerns of future generations. We now have a government of, by, and for profiteers. The evidence is everywhere:

Q: Why do we not have a national healthcare plan?
A: Profits are being made from every illness and injury.

Q: Why do we not have a ban on assault weapons?
A: Profits are being made from every act of violence and terror.

Q: Why do we not have limits on carbon emissions?
A: Profits are being made from the poisoning of our atmosphere.

​The takeover of our government happened in stages. You can tell the story as well as I can. Now that the profiteers rule our country, they are dismantling every form of government regulation on their financial dealings and profits, including: consumer protection, fair housing, public education, and food safety. Meanwhile, military spending goes up, because injustice and inequality have to be enforced somehow.

I am not proposing that we treat profiteers as the enemy. They are most certainly an adversary in our efforts to create a positive and productive future. But I see them as small children that have only limited moral development or foresight. A misbehaving child must be treated with both compassion and firmness. We adults are the ones who have to set reasonable limits on their behavior. It is also up to us to model the behaviors that they will need to emulate. This means abiding by the Seven Keys: detachment, compassion, serenity, unconditional love, humility, forgiveness, and selfless service (see The Chanter’s Guide for more details). It could also mean taking The Pledge. Like good parents, we seek to be authoritative but not authoritarian. There is a big difference.

I envision the preschool teachers of the world to be the saviors of our species. After all, who knows better how to engage the attention of little children run amok and help redirect their energies in more positive directions?

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