As we learned by meditating on 9/11, arrogance can show its deep shadow from government or media, not just in individuals. When I learned that Bush’s government, driven by the neocons and the out of control reptilian brain of Dick Cheney, was going to invade Iraq as a response to 9/11, I was, like many Americans, appalled. What to do to register one’s protest? Marching in the streets was one expression but might there be another?
An unexpected opportunity fell into my lap when I received an invitation to host a radio program to be aired on prime time (8 to 9 AM when commuters are going to work) once a week though on a rather little known radio station out of San Francisco (KEST-AM). It would cost me $400 per month which, with a little stretching, I thought I could manage for a while.
The day I first reported to work, emerging from the Bart station at Montgomery and Market Streets, there was tear gas everywhere—people were protesting the war in full force by marching down Market Street in the thousands. Around the country, and indeed around the world, people were marching in loud protest. I, walking through the tear gas, gave the protestors my blessing (for what it was worth) and continued on to voice my “protest” as well.
For the first program, March 13, 2003, I interviewed one of my favorite thinkers and activists, Buddhist teacher and author Joanna Macy. Other conversations I had were with the following people whom I will speak of in my Video for today. I will present their names in chronological order.
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Confessions: The Making of a Post-denominational Priest, pp. 351-353.
To read the transcript of Matthew Fox’s video teaching, click HERE.
Banner Image: Labor rights demonstration in 2010. Photo originally posted to Flickr by Raffi Asdourian.
Queries for Contemplation
What creative ways have you stumbled across to deal with moral outrage about American arrogance and other kinds of arrogance? Are you alert to see it 1) in the media and 2) in government as well as in oneself?
3 thoughts on “On Responding to Government Arrogance”
Thank you for your reflections on human arrogance and your suggestion to keep listening and learning from other wise human beings. You mention a list of such people you interviewed on your radio station in your video. How can I listen to those interviews?
Thank you for your good work in this world.
Jasmine
Jasmine,
In regard to your question, I googled Joanna Macy and Matthew Fox and found some good resources.
Peace to you and our planet.
Susan
Hello Matthew and Dennis. I am very interested in listening to all of the interviews you mention here–as I’m sure many of us are. Please let us know how we may access them, and thank you for your humility–reminding us that we all have so much to learn.