That being said, I really felt Tom’s message about how the impact of impressive ideas shaped our way of living. He spoke about how as a nation we focused building on noble ideas; for example, the G.I. bill, the Missouri Basin project, the South Dakota dam project, Dr. Marin Luther King’s principles of non-violence, President Lyndon Johnson’s power to pass the Civil Rights Act, the idea of tolerance in the 60’s and women’s rights, Ronald Reagan’s idea of resolution to differences, and now the most transformative idea for technology advancement.
Where we are lacking in lofty ideas today is our commitment to return to public service. All these former ideas arising from decade to decade may have come from one person but were acted on by many participants—all with one vision and passion. Now we need to fuel the minds and hearts of future generations to serve nationally and internationally for the purpose of survival.
We need our research, facts, knowledge, and creativity to encourage and motivate our global community to work together as one—to collaborate on the tough questions and issues and find resolutions. It is not enough to hold on to an idea but to challenge that idea with many minds in the service of many.
Living in a Bubble or Global Village?
I have written about dreams in the past… desires that become real. But aspirations cannot become palpable if we live in a glass bubble unaffected by what is happening around us. Hillary Clinton once spoke that “it takes a village. For me, I think, it takes a global village to take great ideas and make them materialize. It takes the world to embrace differences and choose ways to help each other resolve issues and problems.
It takes a global village to forget past hostilities—put our egos aside and compassionately and genuinely search for ways to survive with dignity and mercy. We need to teach generations behind us how to love even if we do not like a person, their approach, their background, or political views. We need to work together on dreaming and fulfilling those dreams.
If we do not, we are lost as a people, as a nation, as a world. Perhaps this may seems idealistic to you, but perhaps we need to reinvent the idea of a commitment to principles! Let me ask you to rethink your values, your ethics, your beliefs and your ideas. What wise convictions are you willing to impart so that our global village not only survives but thrives?
I would love to hear your thoughts and see you--us--take action; for thoughts are just things—with action, they become tangible.
Holistically yours,
Marilyn