It’s September, the first month of my favorite season. Fall means change, a time for new projects after the ease of summer. Fall is crisp air and soft sunlight, time to unpack the sweaters and switch from white wine to red. Fall makes me happy.
What do I do when I’m happy? I read a 700-page book full of devastation and injustice. (You knew all that cheerful lightness couldn’t last for long.) If you haven’t yet read the late Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States, you owe it to yourself to take it on. Zinn is a great writer, and despite the density and emotional difficulty of the material, it’s a pleasure to read. (It’s actually devastating, but in a good way. You know what I mean.)
What hit me hardest is that despite his truth-telling about hundreds of years of American cruelty and deception (the subtitle is “1492 – Present”), Zinn ultimately delivers a call to action, the optimistic message that people still have the power to create positive change. A good reminder in difficult times.
I haven’t talked much about the Scamp project beyond the fact that I’ll be driving all over the country and having adventures. (Um, yay!) But there’s a bigger question I’m trying to answer, a question that matters beyond my individual experience.
I don’t think we all need to be martyrs, only working for others. No. Life is for living and enjoying, but it’s also about leaving this world a better place than when we got here. We need to give back, even if it’s in the tiniest of ways.
So get a copy of the book if you haven’t already. I’m betting it will get you thinking about how you could be a more engaged citizen. I know many of you already give back, and to you I say, Bravo. Keep going. But I needed a reminder about why it’s important, and I’m grateful to Zinn for giving me a little push.
What do you do to make a difference?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
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4 comments:
I'm certainly not a Rand expert, but I don't think she was against kindness. She was against the martyrdom you expressed: That nagging feeling to save the world, and that guilty feeling should one happen be fortunate or happy.
~c
I will certainly pick up a copy as I will be traveling a lot in the coming weeks and need a good read.
Not sure if Art of the Song counts as a give back. We certainly want it to be a call to action to people that their creative voice is how they vote everyday. I've always been a bit shy about claiming a give back approach but now I am seeing that it serves no one (to nod to that ever famous and inspiring speech by MAW spoken by Mandela) to play small. So hell yes... lets get out there and give something of our truest selves in hopes of leaving this place just a little better, or at least with one eye opened a little wider.
xox Vivian
I used to do domestic violence prevention work, and missed it - so about two months ago, I contacted the local YWCA to get re-involved. I had an idea for outreach for the October DV Awareness month, and am currently very busy with that: combining my two loves. It's called "Changing Hurt to Hope: Writers Speak Out Against Domestic Violence." We will be holding three author readings at different venues in the county, with original poetry, short fiction and memoir addressing DV, plus a short informational talk on YWCA services. It feels great to be doing something again.
Con - Rand is all about self-determination, which I can definitely get behind, but I'm afraid I haven't seen much kindness in her work. I've read her two big novels, a collection of her essays, and a biography of her, and based on that I'd say it wasn't a focus for her.
Viv - Art of the Song touches people on an individual level, which is always a good thing - inspiration and support are hard to come by. Plus, you profile many artists who have a positive, humanistic message, also a good thing.
Michelle - Good for you! My plan when I'm on the road is to volunteer at local organizations along the way, to not only get a feel for local culture, but to give back.
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