Independence Day, 2017 = Interdependence day 2017?

Independence Day

241 years ago, we declared this nation to be free of any dependence on the British throne for its existence. We wrote the Declaration of Independence to make our case for freedom from what we considered to be unfair rule. It also states that we have the right – the right of the common people – to alter what we have declared, as stated in the very beginning of the document, as follows:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all (human beings) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among (human beings), deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

The upshot of this declaration was a revolutionary war that, like all wars, was destructive of life and property. The current situation in these United States of America strongly suggest that we are headed for another such war. I have a serious concern that, because of our sophistication in technological development, this war would be terribly much more costly in terms of life and property that could be imagined 241 years ago.

Hopi Prophecy

Back some 20 – odd years ago, I was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Holistic Medical Association holding their annual meeting outside of Sedona, Arizona, and having the Hopi Elder, Thomas Banyacya, tell us about the Hopi way of seeing the world. He told us about an old, old prophecy engraved in stone that has been interpreted to say that we are coming up on a time of “Purification,” the very nature of which was catastrophic. He did tell us that there would be a healing of this nation coming from its Northeast corner. As a citizen of that Northeast corner, I would like to offer the implications of calling the ceremony on July 4, 2017 “Interdependence Day.” Let me explain….

(I would like to point out that I am not judging what is going on, but choosing to discern the nature of what is going on and its implications for us with “healing” at the forefront.)

Interdependence Day

First of all, the man that we have chosen through an antiquated and outdated system of selecting presidents is a businessman who has been extremely wealthy almost all of his life, but has been conditioned to conducting his affairs in harmful, unethical ways. He is failing in his ability to assume the responsibilities of governing this country. He is deficient in that kind of experience. Tragically, it seems that impeachment or health problems seem to be the only possible (constitutional) ways to get him out of his position… Equally tragically, they both appeared to be anathema. There is, however another option… Resignation.

Secondly, our present two–party condition has evolved to the point where both parties are incapable of providing the necessary leadership. The one is seemingly devoted to destroying the effectiveness of the system, and the other is seemingly devoid of any candidates for leadership. Both parties appear to have been compromised by a persistent internecine struggle between the two parties. Even though our Native population wants us to work towards consensus, we stubbornly resist following their wisdom. It is tragically apparent to me that this white, male–dominated immigrant population has a complete amnesia for the spiritual nature of our origins, which is totally contrary to what the Native population has always remembered.

Thirdly, our very liberal way of looking at ourselves has made it possible for us to create a financial divide at the individual, human level, and at the corporate level. Both of these behaviors are, in my opinion, irresponsible, and sooner or later, they will learn that we are here to serve each other.

Choices

In the first place, should our current president choose to resign, who would replace him? Certainly, not his cabinet or fellow executives. The choice must be for somebody who is, literally, independent. We have a senator who is an Independent. He is an experienced politician. He comes from having been elected Governor of the state of Maine as an Independent, and he has a record of kindness, compassion, and nonpartisan, consensus–building leadership. His name? Angus King.

In the second place, carrying the idea of leadership coming from independent sources leads me to look at people who are vocal today, and I find two of them: Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Bernie Sanders. What would happen if both of these individuals could be persuaded to become Independent of any and all party affiliation? Would Elizabeth Warren not be a very good candidate for vice–president? Two things in her favor: her age and her gender. In my opinion Senator Sanders has the experience of becoming more mellow with age, and yet maintaining personal power – the ability to stand on his own two feet and make his case with passion and clarity. Would he not make a good Secretary of State?

In the third place, people and corporations of great wealth can become aware that greed is destructive, and choose another path: a path of service. For all those in such a position, I offer the promise that I made along with all of my classmates in the second year of our experience in the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University in Montréal, Canada: always perform to the highest level of your training and “promise your patients that you will do your best to help them get on with their lives”. I challenge everyone to consider the beautiful spiritual value of that promise. I challenge you to consider as well what roles that corporate America and wealthy America could assume in order to achieve these honorable ends.

Possibilities

Finally, I can hear you say that such possibilities are impossibilities. My response is to say, “My career as a physician has shown me that nothing is impossible.”

If you are of a mind to explore what I have just offered, go right ahead and do your very best. I know that we can all be pleased and pleasantly surprised.

These are my thoughts. Ken Hamilton, M.D.

{ 7 comments… add one }
  • Christina Tourin July 2, 2017, 10:53 pm

    Dear Ken – this is brilliant!

    • Scott Currie July 3, 2017, 1:03 am

      Very wise thoughts and sage recommendations Ken. Trumps invasion of American Democracy has at least given rise to some very deep and heartfelt thinking about what we need to stand for as a nation in the world of nations. Thanks for your part here!

  • Brrnie Siegel, MD July 3, 2017, 2:00 am

    Yes we have the potential to induce healing through creating a life of true harmony and a quiet mind. Ken I love you and we have cat named Hope too. In the past we had one named Miracle and she was one (lived for over 20 years). She was named after a cat who appeared in a dream, said her name, and then told the woman dreaming how to treat her cancer. The woman’s doctor listened and followed the advice and she recovered from the cancer. Don’t fight battles. Heal lives.

  • Dr. Bob Rufsvold July 3, 2017, 12:55 pm

    Thank you, Ken. As always, you’ve served us up a full plate upon which to reflect! And, upon reflection, a guide to suggest that we have opportunities and possibilities and choices to make, choices that can take us down a healing path, one of radical evolution.

    The alternative, yet another catastrophic revolution, is “old think” and must be rejected. Therein lies our very first and most important choice, to embrace a not-so-new way of doing politics and social change, in the vein of Mahatma Gandhi and the Reverend Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. For many, the real evolutionary challenge remains — We “must be the change [we] wish to see in the world.” And that means embracing even those we detest with love and forgiveness.

    And then it will be time for 3 million loving people to occupy Washington, issue a new Declaration of Interdependence, and to abolish from government all those who would be destructive of our “unalienable Rights” to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

  • Elaine G McGillicuddy July 3, 2017, 8:42 pm

    Thank you once again, Ken, for your always thoughtful contribution to this moment in our time. Dr. Siegel’s response here advocating “creating a life of true harmony and a quiet mind” resonates strongly with me, especially since I heard Matthew Fox speak at the First Parish Church in Portland last Friday.
    Referring to the “pathological political moment” we’re in, he calls it “key” to fall in love with Mother Earth. I especially appreciated his saying we need calm the reptilian brain with solitude (and sports too!) so that the mammalian brain can assert its way of compassion. And also this wise advice: While conversing with people whose views are opposite ours, we can look into their eyes with compassion and drop facts about what will happen to all of us, of whatever political persuasion, if we don’t act to prevent more damage. Love and blessings to you and all!

  • David S Handwerker July 6, 2017, 11:53 am

    Thank you Ken. If Mandela can survive 27 years in a South African prison and then rebuild a country without apartheid we can certainly overcome Trump and his ugly dark vision. Us and them has to go. We are all together on the same ship and all our fates are connected. All you need is love….thank you John Lennon.

  • Jim Liberty July 9, 2017, 1:18 pm

    I agree Ken. Change is coming.

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