Further to our last discussion in and around freedom of Expression found here and here, I received some really thoughtful feedback on my blog, here on LinkedIn and also in my personal email inbox.
One such reflections that came to my inbox, so was thus not shared publicly, was from my dear Auntie Ruth Blaser.
Ruth is such a deep, thoughtful, and passionate person who dedicates her life to the acceptance. love, advocacy, and inclusion of others in many different realms, and is an inspiration and role model to many.
Here is what she had to say about Freedom Of Expression:
I have been following, thinking, trying to gather my own thoughts and wondering what I might have to say.
Last year I read a book called Healing the Heart of Democracy, by Parker Palmer who is a Quaker and a US citizen. The main theme of this book is that healthy democracy is shaped by citizens who give a rip about each other and the well being of the whole and participate in the democratic process to try make it work, albeit often frustrating as hell.
He writes about how individual hearts are interconnected with the heart of democracy.
When citizens do not cultivate hearts of compassion which are also informed about the complexities of this rapidly changing world, then democracy stumbles.
When democracy is shaped mostly by greed and entrenched opinion rather than reverence for all life … democracy is in trouble.
Democracy also has and needs laws, including laws on hate crimes and human rights. For example, as gay and lesbian people, our lives have been eased by human rights legislation which serve not only to protect us but allows us to take our place.
Some of you will remember the now ancient Kodak poster with a long row of the most adorable babies of all races and kinds and a caption under it that went something like this:
“Welcome to the world babies. Its round and wet, blue and green and beautiful. There’s only only rule I know of babies ….you’ve gotta be kind.”
Preventing the problem before it even has a chance to start. Brilliant. It may sound too simple, but do you think we have to make things more complicated?
I’d love to hear what you think.
Thank you Ruth.