In Our Power
self ----- community ----- society
These are the three places where a “system” can exist to respond well and healingly to a report of childhood abuse. My self is entirely in my own domain, I do my own healing work to make myself as conscious and as coherent as I can be. Creating a good system within my own self, that is within my power.
A community is as good as the combined will and ideals of the individual members. I can be part of a community that responds well and healingly to a report of sexual assault without trying to change other people at all - if I start with people who already share that desire! It is in my power to put out the word and invite those who already have this goal to come together - to create a new community devoted to the well being of children and healthy family life.
I believe it is possible to create a functioning community that demonstrates a way of life that makes children “abuse-proof” - and it doesn't mean we have to start with people who have always been perfect parents. Far from it, I expect parents who have realized their own shortcomings will be more likely to want to belong. I think the thing I have in mind will help people who want to, treat their kids better than they are able to do on their own, now.
Many communities together become a society. I believe that once the form of community is demonstrated that actually enhances strong families and strengthens families that are weak, a lot of other people will want to emulate it in their own places. Many communities together can begin to implement a whole societal system to support and uphold that community response.
The idea I have is rooted in simple values like those outlined in the Constitution of the United States and in the basic structure of the historic Christian Church - so I'm not proposing anything really unusual or foreign. I'm saying that there is a hidden value in these two long lasting institutions that hasn't been applied yet, and when that value is applied, we are going to find the solution to the problem of family violence, child abuse and neglect.
It is in our power to recreate our society, if we build from the bottom, build from the elemental self. That is where I'm starting, I'm starting with me. If you have desires that match mine well enough, you and I might together become the community to solve the problem of childhood abuse and neglect. The first part of creating this community is to come into a conversation about this.
I can offer a plan.
A community is as good as the combined will and ideals of the individual members. I can be part of a community that responds well and healingly to a report of sexual assault without trying to change other people at all - if I start with people who already share that desire! It is in my power to put out the word and invite those who already have this goal to come together - to create a new community devoted to the well being of children and healthy family life.
I believe it is possible to create a functioning community that demonstrates a way of life that makes children “abuse-proof” - and it doesn't mean we have to start with people who have always been perfect parents. Far from it, I expect parents who have realized their own shortcomings will be more likely to want to belong. I think the thing I have in mind will help people who want to, treat their kids better than they are able to do on their own, now.
Many communities together become a society. I believe that once the form of community is demonstrated that actually enhances strong families and strengthens families that are weak, a lot of other people will want to emulate it in their own places. Many communities together can begin to implement a whole societal system to support and uphold that community response.
The idea I have is rooted in simple values like those outlined in the Constitution of the United States and in the basic structure of the historic Christian Church - so I'm not proposing anything really unusual or foreign. I'm saying that there is a hidden value in these two long lasting institutions that hasn't been applied yet, and when that value is applied, we are going to find the solution to the problem of family violence, child abuse and neglect.
It is in our power to recreate our society, if we build from the bottom, build from the elemental self. That is where I'm starting, I'm starting with me. If you have desires that match mine well enough, you and I might together become the community to solve the problem of childhood abuse and neglect. The first part of creating this community is to come into a conversation about this.
I can offer a plan.
NEXT: The Plan.
