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  • Seven Questions for Ugly Times

    Posted by Rich Harwood
    Sep 9, 2008
    Redeeming Hope by Rich Harwood. A blog about making good on your urge to do good, and about imagining and acting for the public good. These are ugly times. Nearly 80 percent of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. The economy is going downhill. Two wars remain open-ended. The presidential campaign is in danger of becoming a caricature of itself. In times like these, we want to say, "Enough!" Here's how.

    I could give you a long treatise on where we are, or a prescription for what to do next, but neither would hit the mark of what I sense is needed right now. At issue is how you and others of goodwill can change the dynamics of how we're living and where we're headed. How can you gain some semblance of control over current affairs? What can you do to feel that your good values and authentic hopes are better reflected in these ugly times?

    To tackle these challenges, I offer you these 7 Questions for Ugly Times. My goal here is not some kind of silly engagement ploy -- you know, "Let's get more people holding hands and singing Kum-ba-yah," or something like that. Rather, it is only by talking with others, in real ways, that any of us can sort out and know what we really think; it is only then, that you can begin to see and hear yourself.

    When you step forward and join with others you can change the current conditions.

    I urge you to think about these 7 Questions for Ugly Times on your own, and then to find one or two other people to talk with. (The questions are in a particular order to help you think about things, so you'll want to follow the sequence.) Here are the questions:

    1.  What do you think of how things in the country are going today -- and why?

    2.  What are you most concerned about?

    3.  What aspirations do you hold these days?

    4.  What urge exists within you to make your community and life better?

    5.  Name 2 things (and only 2) you can do, starting now, that can help you fulfill your aspirations and meet your urge within.

    6.  Looking ahead, how will you know you have made progress on these 2 items?

    7.  What does it mean to you to make good on your urge to do good?

    Please send me back any and all of your thoughts. You can reply here on the blog, or send me a direct email at rharwood@theharwoodinstitute.org.  My hope is that not only you will share your thoughts with those closest to you, but with our growing network, so that together we can create the kind of change we need.

    Each of us knows that none of us alone can change the direction of the country, or even our local community. But when we become clearer about what we hold to be valuable in our lives, when we come to more fully understand and express those beliefs, and when we take small steps forward, we will find ourselves moving in the right direction. Our choices can better reflect who we are. We can create the community we want. These steps are the beginning of all small change, and it is the seedbed for larger things to come.

    Today, there is a vast reservoir of untapped energy in the country -- in you, and in others. People want to be a part of something larger than themselves and they want to make a difference. Now, turn your frustrations into something good.

    Answer these 7 Questions for Ugly Times. In doing so, you can find ways to better fulfill your own hopes, and you can make good on your urge to do good.

    I'm anxious to hear from you.

        
  • Re:
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    Dec 21, 2009 | Occureasily 
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  • Lisa P
    Nov 12, 2008 | Lisa P 
    I hope they may be possibilities to change in the aspect of poverty and economic growth retarded. Many of us now hoping for the change and the Economic stability of the country that the said vote of the American citizen will be valuable to all and most especially hoping that the said Presidential is deserving for the welfare of the rest. American people truly deliberated on the current issues before casting their vote in the November 4th election. It would be nice to believe that most of you did, but in actuality, I know that many of the people’s political choices are less than studied. I’m sure some have studied more whether to take out a payday advance than what the issues are in the election. For instance, check out “The Howard Stern Show” and listen to this brief audio clip that was recently posted. Roving Reporter Sal roamed the streets in Harlem, New York to acquire opinions from men and women, determining whether they supported Barack Obama or John McCain as President. In actuality, the purpose was to determine whether African-Americans would automatically vote for Obama simply because he’s black. By taking McCain’s policies and disguising it as Obama’s, Sal discovered shocking responds. He discussed issues like the pro-life argument, stem cell research, the war in Iraq and who Sarah Palin is – placing McCain’s positions to Obama's. He gets many of them to admit they support Obama regardless of what his policies are. This activity has really exposed the ugly truth of some of our ignorance of the issues. I just hope that people really thought about the real problems when casting their vote for the presidential election.

    Click to read more on Payday Loans
  • Payday Loan Advocate
    Oct 28, 2008 | Payday Loan Advocate 
    While he’s made no bones about his opposition to the payday loan and cash advance industries, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has a new friend that he’s fighting on behalf of: the state’s community of gamblers. In effect, as of August 1, 2008, but being contested by the people on the November 4 state ballot, Strickland says this, a bill that would add Keno to the state’s lottery games, is a valiant effort to raise money for their public schools. The Governor, who is also an ordained Methodist minister, has been taking deep criticisms from people from all walks of life, including members of his own parish. Strickland has defended his views on several occasions, claiming that, despite his opposition to the expansion of gaming, this one’s best for the common good of our children. Another part of this proposal would modify the state constitution to authorize the construction of a $600 million casino near Dayton. With these ideas in mind, this should give the average reader a vivid picture of the state of Ohio’s economy. Governor Strickland is telling his citizens to go out and gamble away their rent or mortgage payments for the sake of their children’s futures. But, when they’ve found themselves short on the funds they saved to buy their children clothes and supplies, Strickland says it’s NOT okay to get temporary funds from a payday lender to accomplish that. Seriously, I don’t see any sense in that. Post Courtesy of Personal Money Store Professional Blogging Team Feed Back: 1-866-641-3406 Home: http://personalmoneystore.com/NoFaxPaydayLoans.html Blog: http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/
  • Re: Seven Questions for Ugly Times
    Oct 9, 2008 | Payday Loan Advocate 
    The creators of The Sopranos recently premiered their new drama on the CW Network. The new show portrays a family who owns and operates a “high-interest loan” business called Prestige Payday Loans; this show is appropriately named Easy Money. This is not the first time that a show has been themed based on an underrepresented subject matter. Sadly, this show, as well as many others, does not depict a fair and balanced portrayal of the industry. Judging from the trailers, it appears that the storylines will solely be founded on vicious media stereotypes. If you have viewed any news story about the payday loan industry, chances are that it had a negative connotation. The story probably consisted of a “real” person, whose misfortunes were fueled by getting a payday loan, thrusting them into an “endless cycle of debt. Many of these “articles” illustrate a story in which they needed money to fix their car or pick up the tab on another or another unexpected expense. These stories just go to show that the media will only report the juiciest, most scandalous aspect of any big story and ignore every other detail, in order to win over viewers. The CW network is no different; it appears that they are just trying to recover viewers lost during the Writer’s Strike. The preview contains the tag line, “for this family of loan sharks, money is easy.” It should be interesting to find out if the shows creators did any actual research on the industry. Chances are, probably not.

    Post Courtesy of Personal Money Store Professional Blogging Team Feed Back: 1-866-641-3406 Home: http://personalmoneystore.com/NoFaxPaydayLoans.html Blog: http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/
  • Re: Seven Questions for Ugly Times
    Sep 15, 2008 | Ed Wojcicki 
    I can\'t answer all seven, Rich. Too many questions.\r\n\r\nBut I will say that I am most concerned about a lack of political will to truly address today\'s most crucial social problems. Two of these are a deteriorating infrastructure and the soaring cost of health care. Everybody knows that, but at the local, state and federal levels, I see little evidence of people willing to make personal sacrifices and officials willing to make political sacrifices (like supporting a tax increase) to really address these issues. Prior generations gave us water, utility and transportation infrastructures that allowed us to thrive. Where is our will to maintain and enhance these?\r\n\r\nOne other concern: the poor quality of our public discourse. Community organizing is a wonderful calling, and so is being governor and a small-town mayor. I wish such experience were not so trashed, so I hesitate to watch much more \"analysis.\" But I imagine the discourse will get worse, not better.
  • Re: Seven Questions for Ugly Times
    Sep 9, 2008 | Sara Hughes 
    1. How I feel about the way things are going in this country varies from day to day. Some days I feel optimistic about the potential for healing, change, and a realignment of American ideals with American social and political life. I know through my work in communities that people are hungry for change and share my concerns about the future of our nation and the entire world. However, I am not naive enough to believe that those who currently have power and influence as a result of decades of politics as usual are going to relinquish their status without a fight. The last few weeks of propaganda and rhetoric during the party conventions demonstrate to me that we are in for a long, bitter battle for the hearts and minds of our countrymen and women. Ugly times, indeed! I am hopeful that our citizenry will dig deeper, do their homework, and participate in the democratic process with their focus on what will be best for their children's future. So, the short answer is, I'm torn between idealism and cynicism- with some pragmatism thrown in for good measure. 2. I am most concerned about very real, extremely significant environmental issues being ignored or scapegoated in this election and not addressed. I care about lots of social, economic, and political issues but without a serious, scientifically-based, effort from our national and international institutions, we will not have to worry about the other stuff for much longer! It is my contention that overpopulation is the key component of our ecological stress- linked to everything else: resource depletion, war & conflict; and ideological extremism. We must formulate and implement policies that will reduce the strain our planet. 3. I hold aspirations that we may, in the collective, realize our common destiny and become empowered by our interconnection. I aspire to provide an example for children and youth and to be a resource to them so that they will have the will and the skill to move our nation forward as they come of age. 4. The urge that exists within me to make my community and life better is undeniably my guiding force. There has never been a time in my life when I didn't feel compelled to work on myself and the community in meaningful ways and I know my thoughts, words, and deeds have had, and will continue to have a positive impact. 5. Two things I can do, and am doing, to fulfill my aspirations and meet the urge within are: 1) managing and continuing to develop a "City at Peace" program in my community- empowering teenagers to transform their lives and communities using the performing arts as a vehicle and 2) remaining politically aware and active during this campaign and beyond- engaging in conversations with others especially if we don't agree, registering voters, and working at the polls. 6.) I will know I've made progress because I have specific goals and tools to measure my success. As the Managing Director of City at Peace-Rochester, I am accountable to those who fund the program, those who've developed the program, but especially to those who will be served by the program- the teen participants and their communities. As for the political piece, I guess I will know I've made progress when the conversations deepen, the process plays out, and we have integrity in the results. 7) To make good on my my urge to do good means that I persevere in the face of harsh realities and maintain a focus on progress even when there are lots of distractions. I must stay centered on why I care and who I care about even when the odds seem insurmountable and the game is rigged. A little more hand-holding and kum-ba-yah wouldn't hurt, either!

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