Questions from Prison
I recently received a letter
from a prisoner incarcerated in an Arizona State
prison who is reading my book World
Diplomacy. In
his letter he asks questions relating to the issues
that are dominating the American consciousness during
the campaign for President. This month’s
article includes my responses to some of his questions:
Q: Reading World
Diplomacy and thinking about our
current environmental issues, some questions come to
mind. Do you think any of the American candidates for
Presidential office have sufficient qualities of diplomacy
as you interpret them?
World
Diplomacy is based upon
spiritual principles of right relationships between
people and with nature. Until very recently, animal
consciousness, which stems from fear and survival
instincts, dominates many people’s
lives. These forces create a tribal identity among
people leading to prejudice and selfishness. It’s
all about the struggle for power and domination in
our world — survival of the fittest. It’s
like the prison culture that you experience, but without
razor wire. It pervades much of the anxiety we sense
in the general public during times of crisis and uncertainty,
and to the present day it largely governs world politics.
Most wars are the result of ethnic, religious or ideological
competition, and competition for natural resources
and territory. On the other hand, spiritual consciousness
is based on cooperation and a sense of interdependence
and unity. As we listen to the candidates for President
it is helpful to evaluate what they are appealing to
in our personal and national character. We must listen
to their words and thereby discern the principles that
underlie their thinking and decision-making.
Q: If you perceive the candidates as lacking the diplomatic
qualities as you write about, who do you think should
be accountable for leading American individuals towards
true unity and freedom?
The politicians are frequently
the last to manifest spiritual consciousness because
in the culture of political power, their success
is based on controlling people so they gain their
allegiance. Ultimately, it is the individual who
is accountable for the type of leaders we have. As
long as the mass consciousness does not evolve beyond
tribal instincts, we will continue to have the kind
of so-called “leaders” in
the world that we currently have, who appeal to our
fears, prejudices and selfishness. When our politicians
respond to economic recession by giving a tax rebate,
or respond to high gas prices by suggesting a holiday
from gas tax, they are appealing to our short-term
interests instead of finding long-term solutions that
will eliminate the problems. Americans, instead of
welcoming these crumbs, should be indignant about these
insults to our intelligence, and the lack of concern
for our long-term well-being. Freedom and unity have
to come from individual consciousness that is no longer
manipulated by selfish or divisive appeals that aim
to pacify or flatter us.
Q: I’m curious because
I hear little from these candidates, or from most
media sources, about the kinds of positive solutions
such as I read in your book, for leading individuals
towards a better lifestyle. Why do you think that
is?
The good news is that people
are finally waking up. The Obama candidacy, whether
successful or not, is creating a national discussion
and self-examination. The way that his opponents
are attacking him in the media is stimulating some
kind of thoughtful introspection because the stakes
for our future are so high and his candidacy is so
unprecedented. I feel the current political process
is working to the extent that it is creating questioning.
People are no longer easily accepting the “answers” that
the pundits and advertisers are feeding us. Inasmuch
as people think for themselves they will start to
make better choices.
If the Obama candidacy is successful
and he becomes our president, that will send a huge
message to the world. Not only will it signal a rejection
of the selfish and fearful policies of the last eight
years, but also the symbolism will be tremendous.
I can’t imagine
a greater stimulus to the healing of our relations
with the rest of the non-European world than to elect
an American president of color with the name “Barack
Obama” and to have descendants of former slaves
living in the White House! If the American people take
this step that signals a willingness to move out of
their habitual comfort zone, this will further indicate
a psychological change that may lead to the ability
to change lifestyles that contribute to environmental
pollution and global warming.
Q: Are our government officials
and media purposely limiting the amount of intelligence
and freedom — especially
spiritual freedom — from the people by not encouraging
messages like yours?
I think that the greatest service
the Bush administration accomplished was to make
people skeptical about the words and motives of politicians.
When we are fed lies for a long time and suffer as
a consequence, then we become more questioning and
more doubtful. As we become more doubtful, we tend
to think more objectively, and then to trust our
own opinions more. We become more willing to go against “conventional wisdom” and
habitual thinking. Real “freedom” is mental
and spiritual freedom.
I am basically optimistic about the ability of people
to come to decisions that are in the best interests
of themselves and others, when nurtured in an open
and questioning environment and in the spirit of community.
Many will eventually realize that they experience true
freedom when they are able to think for themselves
without fear. Government and media cannot suppress
true freedom, because it is spiritual. Many great ones
experienced that freedom even in prison: Socrates,
Mandela, Ghandi, and King are examples.
Note: Please
contact SNS Press if you would like us to send any
complimentary copies of our
books to people in
prisons.
© 2008
Richard V. Sidy
