re: DEDICATION
When I hear the dedicated few speak, I simply cannot understand why there aren’t more people who believe as deeply as they do and, listening to them, are not inspired enough to similarly dedicate their lives to the cause.
There are many people who strongly sympathize with the cause but there is an underlying feeling that these views are just a reactionary view to an ever-changing world, a world that will find a way to survive and thrive in new circumstances that we cannot even imagine (At least this is recognized here with genetic engineering). The result of this feeling is that despite knowledge of issues and immersion into this subculture, there is still a lingering doubt. (I believe this is why WOL focuses on HOW rather than WHAT to think).
I also believe that a sense of doubt is normal, because most of us are human, after all. We cannot take countless people screaming at us, arguing against us and naming us an evil warned of by the Bible while remaining so steadfastly committed.
I haven’t got a clue what makes someone so sure that they KNOW and are bold enough to desire to and change the world and are unshakable enough to pursue it fully. To call that ‘chutzpah’ is an understatement.
People in this camp are followers at best and I don’t think that followers can be converted into leaders. Bob noted recently that leadership training is an oxymoron. I would say it’s a waste of time an energy to try to persuade them. Alchemy may be a more fruitful pursuit.
#1 by YearningForFreedom on 04/17/2008 - 11:47 am
I got an e-mail response to this post from one long-time activist:
“I am not trying to persuade anyone to be leaders. I am trying to awaken the genes inside of them for leadership, for courage, for self-sacrifice, for a life of meaning, purpose and excitement. They have those genes or they don’t. I know that many of people have them. I know this because I look what our people have already done. They have moved mountains. They have vanquished enemies, they have strode upon the moon.
I am just a spark and I bet that once the fire starts it in our people they will burn like a barn full of straw and change the world. I believe this cause it is in my own genes to believe it, and because I choose to listen to them.”