(no subject)

[raybear]

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

So tell me what matters.

Comments

[deepfry.livejournal.com]

hi. i'm sorry this isn't really keeping with what you're requesting, but do you know where that quote comes from? it was a reference question i got a few years ago and i couldn't figure it out.

[deepfry.livejournal.com]

also, as for what matters, i just read this kickass article by Cathy Cohen (http://political-science.uchicago.edu/faculty/cohen.html) about understanding the intersections of oppression, recognizing your own privilege and moving towards respect, understanding and solidarity. i'd say that matters something fierce.

also, being a librarian, i say that information access matters because information equals power. our current government suppresses and destroys information that we should all legally have access to. it allows them to lie, to control, to manipulate and to strengthen their hold on power. it's pretty scary.

[hissyfit.livejournal.com]

ending violence matters. ending suffering matters. ending hunger and homelessness and poverty matters.

and playing scrabble REALLY matters.

[riverafire.livejournal.com]

Equality matters. All social injustice stems from inequity. You can't jack people around when you view them as your social equal. It takes a sense of self superiority to exploit another person.

[masscooper.livejournal.com]

Kindness matters. Calling out the shit in your own community matters. Education matters.

[bookgrrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm a lazy bum and will just second this response because it's closest to what I would say anyhow.

[kneidlach.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too...

Plus Universal Health Care, ending racism, and an end/massive change to the so called criminal "justice" system.

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

Leaders who know what they're doing matter. Representatives who actually REPRESENT their constituents, matter. And generally people doing their jobs properly matter.

Recently, in a discussion, I heard someone talk about how we need to go beyond "The Golden Rule." It's not enough to treat someone as we would like to be treated. Rather, we need to pro-actively find out how someone would like to be treated, and do THAT. In this global village, where one minute we are in agreement on some element of life, and then at each other's throats because of a difference in another area, it's time to move on to the next level.

Hopefully, it's not too late...

I really appreciate the asking of this question.

[gem-stellar.livejournal.com]

I'd wager that equity, living sustainably within an ecosystem, education, water, taking responsibility for the impacts we effect and awareness really matter.

[sharkysmachine.livejournal.com]

Alan Parson Project matters. Seriously.

The personal is political, let's not forget...

[iamthesphinx.livejournal.com]

Owning your own shit, being comfortable with yourself and confident in your choices...these things matter. Everyone's individual life matters, but no one person's more than anyone else's. Reaching out to others matters.

[ex-fish.livejournal.com]

Safety, goodness toward your fellow woman and man, honesty matters a great deal, equality across the board.

[kneidlach.livejournal.com]

Oh, um, also environmentalism matters, but what matters most is environmentalism that addresses racial and economic injustice and provides large numbers of eco-jobs.

This comment is brought to you by my recent reading of this article:

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/current/news/feature.html

[broqued.livejournal.com]

obtaining bolton's proper fat walrus 'stash matters if i'm going to represent the US in the simulated UN summit for my soc sci class...

[nineinchlovely.livejournal.com]

Chicago costume, my friend. I got a big fat ol' stash there on the cheap!

[nineinchlovely.livejournal.com]

Good topic! I would say that knowledge matters. And none of that sometimes bullroar book learning. I'm talking the stuff you learn from people. Having good, affordable/free culturally competent and knowledgeable health care matters. Calling those you care about (incl. yourself) on shit matters.

[kaileo.livejournal.com]

Being real.
Staying informed.
Not being silent.
Doing something.

[gloeden.livejournal.com]

Me.
And then that other stuff everybody's going on about.

[jrstranger.livejournal.com]

Paying attention matters. (As evidenced by my delayed response. Ahem.) Balance matters too.

[wearemany.livejournal.com]

people. empowerment. resistance. sustenance. peace. that may be the closest i've come to articulating my belief system in five words.

and now i'm thinking of my favorite jewish folksong to hum to myself as i sit at the edge of water:

eli, eli
i pray that these things never end:
the sand and the sea
the rush of the waters
the crash of the heavens
the prayer of the heart

and, of course: you.