{"id":8769,"date":"2017-01-06T12:02:58","date_gmt":"2017-01-06T17:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/?p=8769"},"modified":"2017-01-06T12:02:58","modified_gmt":"2017-01-06T17:02:58","slug":"can-pacifist-activist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2017\/01\/can-pacifist-activist.html","title":{"rendered":"Can You Be Both a Pacifist and Activist?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"peacefingers\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I think people have a certain image of me, that I am always (or mostly) bubbling over with bliss, oozing love and light and sprinkling glitter everywhere. Yes, that is a part of my persona, but there are other aspects since we contain multitudes. Someone responded to one of my posts on Facebook about boycotting the inauguration as a way of speaking out loud and clear that it is not acceptable to endorse bigotry and policies that endanger freedom and lives. I am sharing this, knowing that there are people reading these words who may have supported the candidate, while not considering the long-term impact of what might seem like expedient choices. My belief is that if we run our decisions through the filter of how they will impact the next seven generations, we are in sustainability, rather than destruction mode. What we think and do matters.<\/p>\n

His response was: \u201cYou interviewed The Dalai Lama. I know you from the love you radiate. I am surprised you posted this. Not one of you (meaning friends who commented) has talked about taking 100% personal responsibility for your lives, thinking the government has control. Our lives are created by our thoughts. When each of us comes from a place of love and light, all the outside crap disappears, and we actually make a positive impact on the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

How I answered: \u201cRadiating love IS what this is about, Richard. It doesn\u2019t always look warm and fuzzy. Sometimes it needs to be Mama Bear fierce and protective. I am taking responsibility for my values and walking the talk. Love and light alone is not enough. Sometimes saying a loud and clear NO, this is not acceptable is what it takes. And BTW, the Dalai Lama gets angry. He told me so. He is not passive even though he is peaceful.\u201d<\/p>\n

The response from others who read the original post, was heartening:<\/p>\n

“GRRrrrrrreat!! Our sacred anger is a catalyst to act. Love in action is fervent, fearless and fuelled by the need to change the subconscious patterns that have made us powerless. The Mama Bear is a great metaphor (and beautiful image btw) as she is tender, noble and fierce when it comes to protecting her progeny. Thanks for always pointing back to the heart Edie, and the need to embrace ALL aspects…shadow and light, sorrow and joy, beauty and pain.”<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“I agree with you, even if we ate the most profound spiritual and happy person, we still are human first. We do have opinions and a voice to express them and yes sometimes it might not be what people expect from us and that’s ok. You do not have to please everyone. You stay true to yourself.”<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“If no one expressed anger we would all explode. I think he thought he was “calling you out”. We are all human and subject to all emotions. It just wouldn’t be human if you didn’t express that emotion from time to time. And we like you in human form!”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“I think there is a stereotype about spiritual people in that we are always in a state of bliss and passivity.”<\/div>\n
I admire the stories of those who showed up, stood up and spoke out about their pro-social beliefs. Consider what the world would be like had agents of change Gandhi, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Gloria Steinem, Harvey Milk, Karen Silkwood, Malala Yousafzai, Winona LaDuke, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and Vaclav Havel remained silent, all the while beaming love and light at those who threatened harm. Consider the brave folks who were part of the Resistance during World War II. How many more people would have gone to the gas chambers had everyday people stood by and watched, rather than protect their neighbors? \u00a0If concerned citizens didn’t look the other way, erroneously believing that if it didn’t directly affect them, and that they need not take action, could the horrors of the Holocaust been prevented? A story of the courage it took for people in Denmark in 1943, is highlighted in this song<\/a> by Fred Small<\/a>.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I see myself as both pacifist and activist; taking the inclinations I have as a ‘peacemonger’<\/a>\u00a0and putting legs under them as I walk for peace, pray for peace, write for peace and speak for peace.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I think people have a certain image of me, that I am always (or mostly) bubbling over with bliss, oozing love and light and sprinkling glitter everywhere. Yes, that is a part of my persona, but there are other aspects since we contain multitudes. 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