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Independence Day and the Gulf Crisis
This weekend we celebrate the independence of our nation. Some 234 years ago a group of patriots signed a document declaring that this young country was independent from British rule – a document that set out the new philosophy of democracy under which this fledgling nation would govern itself.
It is right to celebrate the independence of our country. The freedoms we have here that directly stem from the democracy so carefully constructed by the writers of the constitution are unique, and an example other countries have tried to follow. Independence as a nation is a critical philosophy and foundational to the freedoms we enjoy. On the other hand, as individual people, and as citizens of the same planet, we must understand that we are INTERDEPENDENT.
The Sunday services at my church this morning had a familiar theme, with great reverence and joy for this wonderful country in which we live. The music was superb, and the minister’s message was moving. And as usual, he included a few quotes to underscore his points. One was particularly appropriate for the message of this essay. It is from Nelson Mandela, and he said that, “to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” This is part of what I mean when I say we are interdependent. We should be filled with joy and gratitude to live in a country where we have such freedoms, and at the same time we need to recognize the responsibilities that these freedoms carry with them.
The actions of one affect the whole. The mistakes and errors of the individual impact everyone. The current crisis in the Gulf of Mexico is a glaring example of how the actions of a few can have a devastating impact on the earth. No one wanted this horrible accident to happen, but somewhere along the line, at least a few people forgot how much others relied on them to be certain that they were protecting not only themselves but many, many others as well. And although there were only a few people who had a direct impact on whether this accident would happen or not, every single one of us who use petroleum-based products (in other words, everyone) is in part responsible.
I will not repeat all of the horror stories that are circulating on the Internet these days. You’ve all seen the heartbreaking photos of oil-covered birds and animals, and heard about the people whose livelihoods are being destroyed. There are even those who have presented fairly convincing notions that there could be global consequences for our climate.
As citizens of the earth it is time for us all to step forward and do everything we can to bring an understanding of interdependence to our world. We must take seriously our responsibility to safeguard the planet we call our home. What does this mean for each of us? I expect it will be different for every person, but at the least we should endeavor to live as “green” as we can. Recycling, reusing, conserving, and limiting our carbon footprint to the extent we can are some important steps.
How can you help with the crisis in the Gulf? You can join in a global prayer of apology and gratitude. Dr. Masaru Emoto is a Japanese scientist who has done research with water crystals by exposing them to words and emotions and then photographing the crystals that result. His work is breathtaking and underscores the importance of water as well as the power of words and emotions to affect it. He has written about the gulf crisis on his website, and has asked that everyone join in sending the energy of love and gratitude to the region. He writes:
“Now let’s give energy of love and gratitude to all the living creatures in Mexico Gulf by praying like this. To whales, dolphins, pelicans, fishes, shellfishes, planktons, corals, algae and all creatures in Gulf of Mexico - I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”
We can’t all personally go to Louisiana and clean oil off of birds or take a boat out with a boom to protect the shoreline. But we can ALL pray. We can all send the energies of love and gratitude to the water, plants, and animals of the Gulf region. And prayer is powerful.
So, on this day when we celebrate our freedom and independence as a nation, let us also remember how interdependent we really are. Let the joy of being able to live in such a great country fuel our determination to be ever more responsible about the way we treat our world and each other. Let us join together in Dr. Emoto’s prayer for the Gulf. And let us help to create a world where we all understand that our actions have impacts far beyond what we can see and strive to always act accordingly.
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