World Peace Gong, New Delhi, India
Unity in Diversity
In the cold of winter, sunlight shines thru the five pane AIR insert windows into the sun room, bringing light and heat. The air in the window panels and in the soil keeps the heat in the room. Planted seeds reach up from the soil to meet the sunlight. Worms dig deeper to avoid the sunlight. Adding water to the soil energizes it and brings needed nourishment to worms and roots of plants. The worms eat the soil, casting out richer soil. All and all, the elements, sun, air, water, soil and worms work together to grow plants.
Growing Power, the organization, has as its motto: “Together we are growing power.” Political movements working for change, like the civil rights movement, have been effective when diverse groups and individuals work together.
I make this simple observation from nature and life to illustrate what I see as the major problem of many present day political movements and organizations. Individuals and groups may be supportive of each other and form all types of coalitions, but often are slow or fail to act, since they cannot work together as one. Diversity is valued more than the common good, and consensus is held up as the way to proceed. Creative conflict and confrontation is avoided and thus dialog and debate becomes thwarted. In this scenario, a few can dictate to the many.
A local community organization that I have recently tried to get involved with has fallen into this way of proceeding, consensus and conforming, and a few have been able to thwart the will of the many under the banner of consensus and avoiding conflict and confrontation.
If the sun, air, water, soil and worms were working on consensus and conforming they could not work together to bring growth and new life.
The natural world is always changing. Those who can adapt, like the worm, and flourish. Those who cannot, like the dinosaur, fade away. Movements and organizations that that can stand up to confrontation and conflict continue to grow.
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