Save the World
By RAVI DYKEMA
A few days ago Nexus reader, David Hester, of Littleton, stopped by
our office to deliver a letter to the editor (too late for this issue)
and with it a clipping of a print ad for www.SaveDarfur.org.
His letter, and his words to me, criticize “New Age” thinking
such as is expressed, he says, in the movie and book “The Secret”
(which Amber Terrell reviewed last issue). In particular, he is alarmed
at the ramifications of the “your thoughts create your reality”
message contained in “The Secret” and many other popular
teachings. “It is very easy,” he writes, “to be lulled,
while in a lovely home in the metroplex, that ‘people choose things
for their soul’s growth;’ or stated another way, ‘people
are responsible for bringing down their own fate, whatever it is.’”
The SaveDarfur.org ad he left me contains a quote from a female survivor
of the genocide in Sudan. She describes rape and murder. I don’t
think “The Secret” creator Rhonda Byrne means to imply that
victims of today’s horrors in Darfur are bringing the torture
upon themselves, to help their souls evolve. But the formulas offered
by “The Secret” are largely responsible for its popularity.
And formulas such as “You attract your particular life circumstances
by the thoughts you think and by the emotions you feel” may hold
great value in the orderly suburbs, but travel poorly to messy parts
of our world. “
On an ethical level, ‘The Secret’ appears deplorable,”
writes Jerry Adler, in the March 5, 2007 issue of Newsweek. “It
concerns itself almost entirely with a narrow range of middle class
concerns—houses, cars and vacations, followed by heath and relationships,
with the rest of humanity a very distant sixth.”
Well, Jerry, haven’t I a right to my so-called “narrow”
middle class concerns? And what can busy-overworked- me do about the
“rest of humanity” anyway? I feel frustrated. Perhaps you
do too. Of course you feel compassion for the women quoted in the Darfur
ad. I just don’t face such gruesome dangers. But I know that millions
of innocent people do. I read about them, hear their stories on the
radio, see footage of their homes on TV. I feel overwhelmed with feelings:
my jaw tightens with anger, my chest aches with tears, I freeze with
confusion. I reach for the remote and turn the TV off. Perhaps you’ve
had a similar reaction to tales of great suffering. I am embarrassed
by my inclination to turn away. So much in our world needs to change
and I feel so powerless.
Recently some of us at Nexus were discussing feelings such as these,
and we longed for some guidance on how we, as individuals, could make
a difference. Surely there is something, however small, that we can
do to help. But where to start and where can we make the most difference?
Should we try to help locally or far away? And how can we inspire others
to help?
We sought that motivating inspiration from journalist Chris O’Brien,
and share it with you starting on page 24 (“Reach out and help
the world”). Please write us if Chris’ article inspires
you to help someone, as, of course, we hope it does.
JULY/AUGUST 2008 FEATURE ARTICLES
