Times Are Changing Aren't They?

      

By Barbara Berger

Barbara Berger I grew up in Washington DC and I was there at the March on Washington in August, 1963 when Martin Luther King made his famous speech – “I Have a Dream”. I stood there by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with my sign and heard him speak. Yes, I was just a teenager then and yes my parents wouldn’t let me go, but I snuck out of the house and went anyway and marched with the rest of them and heard that moving speech. And look where we are today! Just look! Still facing so many of the same terrible issues and injustices. My heart cries out… Which is why now is the time to keep on reminding ourselves of what the Founding Fathers said, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (and women) 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.” Let us keep reminding ourselves of this basic principle – about the Divinity of every human life, which we have all been endowed with from God, the Good. And let us all continue to stand together in the name of respect and justice and never for a moment give in to the primitive doctrine that “might makes right”. In this connection it is important to remember that TRUTH TELLING is the basis of all healing and recovery work – whether it’s on the personal level in families and close relationships or collectively in terms of society in general. The ability to be able speak freely and tell what has happened to us – is the key. The ability to tell the truth about the lies. If we cannot speak out about the injustices we have suffered and witnessed, if we cannot speak out about the basic lack of respect in our families and in our societies – no progress can be made. The collective upheaval that has been happening and is happening in the United States and around the world with so many people standing together and speaking out against the terrible crimes that have been committed against black people for so long is so heartening because it is so heartfelt. Hopefully if we all, individually and collectively, can continue to keep telling the truth, it will mean we are all awakening to a higher level of consciousness about what freedom, respect and democracy actually look like and mean in practice. So it’s crucial to keep talking. To keep the conversation going. And to tell the truth about the lies. Yes, because without this, no progress can be made. So let’s keep speaking up and telling the truth. And remember silence can be violence. Whether it’s in our families or in society in general. Silence can be violence I know from personal experience that silence can be violence because I come from a family of silencing aggressors. They could say whatever they wanted. They had money and power so they could criticize and shame and blame me (or anyone else), but if I opened my mouth, they would shut me down, punish me, hang up on me, block me, never talk to me again. I was not allowed to have a voice, to be me. I was not allowed to have my opinions. I was not allowed to be different, to see a different vision, to want a different life. And the same is going on in our societies today. But the good news is that so many people are rising up together against the silencing aggressors. So many people are out there, making their voices heard. It makes me feel hope. Because there can be no change without truth telling, without telling the truth about what has happened – to us personally, to us collectively, to black people, to women, to whoever is oppressed and silenced because they are different in some way…. have a different opinion, a different vision, a different lifestyle, a different color, a different religion… whatever it is… Now is the time to keep telling the truth about the lies. Now is the time to stand together against the silencing aggressors. Now is the time to tell the truth and continue to stand for what is right and respectful. _____ About Barbara Berger American-born Barbara Berger is the best-selling author of “The Road to Power – Fast Food for the Soul” (published in 30 languages), “Are You Happy Now? 10 Ways to Live a Happy Life” (published in 21 languages) and “The Awakening Human Being – A Guide to the Power of Mind”. Barbara's latest book is "Find and Follow Your Inner Compass – Instant Guidance in an Age of Information Overload". Barbara also works as coach and therapist, helping people around the globe come into alignment with their own true power. For more about Barbara see her Web site: http://www.beamteam.com ** Below are titles & links to the beautiful work from Barbara. She is a long time contributor and my dear friend :) ** https://mysticlivingtoday.com – articles by Barbara Berger The Ultimate Self-Empowerment Tool – Your Inner Compass http://www.mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2087 The Key to Happiness; Understanding the Way the Mind Works http://www.mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2113 Who would you be if you didn’t know your age? http://www.mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2147 The Power of Right Seeing http://www.mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2177 Review of Barbara Berger’s book Find and Follow Your Inner Compass by Riki Frahmann http://www.mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2184 Are You Here Now? Are You Happy Now? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2247 Discovering Who You Really Are https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2284 Getting in Touch with Your Heart https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2299 Follow Your Passion & Accept the Consequences https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2324 The Power of the Joyful Giver https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2359 You have nothing to deal with but your own thoughts https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2374 Radio show http://www.blogtalkradio.com/starzcast/2018/09/26/natalie-interviews-barbara-berger--author-on-self-empowerment Peace Is Your Nature https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2398 The Power of Contemplating Love https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2423 How Can We Serve? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2452 The Importance of Mind Management https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2472 Focus on the Real – A Way of Dealing with Worry and Catastrophic Thinking https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2499 Nothing External Can Disturb Us https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2527 Just Let Everything Be! https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2548 The Gift of Crisis https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2563 The Power of Asking for Help https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2592&fbclid=IwAR1ZK91thdusdkQTdqu0fHXgarR7Ghv7rmAjR6NypUUfLh2wv1ozLLi-HjU What does it mean to be psychologically mature? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2625 The Meaning of Life https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2644 The Power of Praise & Blessing https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2682 Our Unalienable Rights https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2712 Meeting the Family & Keeping Your Peace of Mind https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2737 Healthy Boundaries – the Secret of Good Relationships https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2758 Healthy Parenting https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2777 Wanting What You Have https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2801 NOW IS THE TIME TO THINK POSITIVE https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2813 A Scientific Prayer to Lift Your Consciousness https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2828 Healthy Self Talk about the Body https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2850