Ralph Waldo Emerson--"SELF-RELIANCE" Part 1

[Jonathan Lewis]

I was reading this morning, as a try to do every morning, and I decided on an essay that discusses the idea of "self reliance". Here are a few paragraphs that I found interesting. I am posting these excerpts to create conversation and exploration.

"My life is for itself and not for a spectacle. I much prefer that it should be of lower strain, so it be genuine and equal, than it should be glittering and unsteady."

This sentence causes me to ask my "self" why I do the work that I do. I challenge each of us to answer these questions.

1)Do I do this work so others will know my name?

2)Do I do this work to get close to Mr. B and the other Civil Rights leaders in this Nation?

3) Do I do this work to get rich?

4) Do I pick my team because of the cause or because they might win?

I will post my responses tomorrow and I hope you will as well.

[Jonathan Lewis]

The question is, do I do this work so others will know my name?

I would say that the work that I have been doing has been motivated by the young boy that was picked on as a child. I would say that I do this work because of the millions who died and who continue dying along their pilgrimage to this country. I would say that I do this work to create a space and a moment in time were that young boy has a chance to have his voice heard. I would say that I do this work because others did this work for me. They did this work with an unwavering determination to make to tomorrow better for today's children's children. I do this work because it is the right thing to do and because it is what my parents did.

WHY DO YOU DO THIS WORK?


HOW DO YOU SUPPORT OTHERS WHO ARE DOING THE WORK?

Do I do this work to get to get close to Mr. B and other civil rights leaders in this nation?

Believe or not some individuals and organizations that only want to support us if our elders are in the room. So many individuals ask if we can get Mr. B to come a speak so they can do a fundraiser to support the work or just to meet with their group. This happens all the time and when I tell them that I do not know Mr. B's schedule or Dr. Lafayette's and I tell them that they will have to call their office to find out their smile changes. In fact 9 out of 10 don't even call to find out their availability. They want someone else to do it for them.

I did not get it involved with this work because someone with a reinterpretation asked me. I did not get involved in this work to meet interesting celebrities and national icon's. I began getting involved in my community when my community asked me to come to a meeting. I was a freshman in college walking around the University of Rhode Island's campus and then an upper class man asked me to join an organization because they heard me in class and thought that I have something to offer the group. She did not ask me to get involved because I had money or because I had connections she asked me because I had ideas and the courage to stand by my ideas. I am involved in this work because I now see in me what my mentors see in me, because I see in me what our national hero's have seen and still do see in all of us. I am involved because I believe in me and playing my role to the best of my ability. I am involved because I believe in each of us achieving our greatest human potential.

Lastly I am doing this work to honor Mr. B and the Civil Rights Leaders of the past, present, and future. I do this because I understand we all have a purpose and i have found mine.

[Amanda Shauger]

These are really good questions. I stumbled on this discussion last night and I have been thinking about my answers. I'll try and post some, too.

[Aaron Phillips]

1)Do I do this work so others will know my name?

It is not for others to know my name, but to give to improve the world around me that I do this work. For me I have an internal desire to make things, people , and processes better, not only for my children, friends, and family in my immediate circle, but for all, that one more person may experience more positive change somewhere along the way.

2)Do I do this work to get close to Mr. B and the other Civil Rights leaders in this Nation?

I believe that continuing the fight, on what ever front, in order to make things life better, is more of a thank you to those before us, not necessarily to live through them, but to be inspired by them to do more.

3) Do I do this work to get rich?

No, I do this because it is right, rich maybe in the sense that it enriching and adds to quality of life

4) Do I pick my team because of the cause or because they might win?

Because they can do best for the cause.

These are interesting to ponder...