America First?
Not surprisingly, as we in the United States approach a day which has been set aside to give special thanks, I have been more aware that we are, as a universe(s), interdependent. Recently, I listened to a Ted talk by A. J. Jacobs entitled. “My journey to thank all the people responsible for my morning coffee”. He also wrote a book about this experience entitled Thanks a Thousand. One morning as he was engaging in a morning ritual of gratitude his 10-year-old son suggested that he should give thanks in person to all those responsible for his being able to enjoy a morning cup of coffee. Since he is a writer he was able to travel around the world attempting to thank all those people directly and indirectly responsible for him being able to enjoy a cup of coffee in a particular place. Thousands of people made that cup of coffee possible from the coffee grower to the farm equipment manufacturer. to the laborers, the transport vehicle operators, road crews, road material suppliers. miners and the seeming endless number of other people.
Few of us have the resources or the job which would allow us to travel around the world locating and thanking all those who make it possible for us to enjoy even the basics products we use every day. We may think of ourselves as independent. The phrase “America First” has become a popular political sound bite, but the truth is that each product, even if locally grown and distributed, is dependent on equipment and other materials gathered from many places around the world. I recall living in Alaska where some families prided themselves on living independently. Yet, if a family member had a medical need they contacted the U.S. Coast Guard to take them to the site of the medical service. They also welcome school supplies and other “necessities” which were gathered from around the world and delivered on boats or sea planes made of parts from around the world.
No matter how isolated and self-sufficient one may think that they are, I have yet to meet a person who is not intimately connected to the planet or even the universe. The choice is to gratefully and responsibility acknowledge that fact or to participate in its destruction. We may not be able to personally thank everyone who makes it possible to enjoy the life we have, but as Mr. Jacobs points out, we can thank those we do see; the store clerk, the delivery person, or the service person. We can also remind ourselves that putting our nation first entails putting the universe first. There is no “America First” without “universe(s) first”.
Written November 20, 2018
Not surprisingly, as we in the United States approach a day which has been set aside to give special thanks, I have been more aware that we are, as a universe(s), interdependent. Recently, I listened to a Ted talk by A. J. Jacobs entitled. “My journey to thank all the people responsible for my morning coffee”. He also wrote a book about this experience entitled Thanks a Thousand. One morning as he was engaging in a morning ritual of gratitude his 10-year-old son suggested that he should give thanks in person to all those responsible for his being able to enjoy a morning cup of coffee. Since he is a writer he was able to travel around the world attempting to thank all those people directly and indirectly responsible for him being able to enjoy a cup of coffee in a particular place. Thousands of people made that cup of coffee possible from the coffee grower to the farm equipment manufacturer. to the laborers, the transport vehicle operators, road crews, road material suppliers. miners and the seeming endless number of other people.
Few of us have the resources or the job which would allow us to travel around the world locating and thanking all those who make it possible for us to enjoy even the basics products we use every day. We may think of ourselves as independent. The phrase “America First” has become a popular political sound bite, but the truth is that each product, even if locally grown and distributed, is dependent on equipment and other materials gathered from many places around the world. I recall living in Alaska where some families prided themselves on living independently. Yet, if a family member had a medical need they contacted the U.S. Coast Guard to take them to the site of the medical service. They also welcome school supplies and other “necessities” which were gathered from around the world and delivered on boats or sea planes made of parts from around the world.
No matter how isolated and self-sufficient one may think that they are, I have yet to meet a person who is not intimately connected to the planet or even the universe. The choice is to gratefully and responsibility acknowledge that fact or to participate in its destruction. We may not be able to personally thank everyone who makes it possible to enjoy the life we have, but as Mr. Jacobs points out, we can thank those we do see; the store clerk, the delivery person, or the service person. We can also remind ourselves that putting our nation first entails putting the universe first. There is no “America First” without “universe(s) first”.
Written November 20, 2018
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