Episode 22 | The Stirring of a star
The title of this podcast comes from an 1893 Francis Thompson poem that reads, “Near or far, to each other linked are, that thou canst not stir a flower without troubling of a star. All things interconnected are.” The underlying message, then, is that we are all connected. Nothing that happens to one of us can occur without affecting all of us subtly and directly.
The three topics we cover this week are the ongoing dehumanizing treatment of our immigrant community, voting redistricting plans in our state, and the ongoing issue of the Epstein files. How might we view these issues through the lens of morality and compassion? And how can we keep tending to the smaller, quieter issues (redistricting) in the face of loud ones (immigration and unlawful deportation) that are commanding our attention?
Overall, we explore the issue of our treatment of the perceived outsider. As a nation, we are not doing so well on this front, raising questions about our national commitment to morality and justice. We cannot effectively impact wider society if we are unwilling to examine and locate our personal moral center. What do we believe about the outsider, and what is ours to do to impact the well-being and dignity of all humans? Find your place in the river to step in and create the world you want to live in, whether writing letters to lawmakers or running for office.
Thanks for listening!
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