Your Opinion Please

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Now that I have your attention, her comes the interactive fun part of a blog. I want your opinion on something. One of my goals of this trip was to take time to think about how to use my skills to make the world just a little bit better then I found it. So here is a question that I would like your input on:

“What do you think will transform society in the next 20 years?”

Using the comment section give us a word or phase that strikes you when you read this question. It can be a political or social issue, or a moral, religious or unseen force, or a natural phenomenon. It could be positive or negative, large or small. You write the rules on how you answer the question.

My entries get about 80 hits, so I could expect many responses. Don’t be shy! Once you post I will approve them and everyone else can see them, so check back and see what others have said.

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Photos

Monument to a Patriot and Ancestor
What Kind of Legacy Will We Leave

Comments

[alla]

what will change the world
Hey Bryan, thank you for asking. As you know I am a big fan of marriage equality. I have sent you a job posting for Equal Rights Washington. They are looking for a person to be the director. I think there are a lot of issues we could take up and try to change the world with but this one is personally dear to my heart. I believe creating a country where it is not legal to discriminate against ANYONE will be a step in the right direction. I know we are not the first country to think of this but we are the most economically powerful. I would be very appreciative If you would take the position and champoin my cause.... I already know you are a VERY evolved guy. I am looking forward to seeing you back home no matter which job you choose. Also Bailey has said he misses you quite a lot.

[SAS]

Change
(re)connecting locally - relationships with others, the earth, community, ourselves - out of necessity and choice

[shiplorian]

world changing
Communication will change the world as will people wanting to know the truth. Watch China.

[Debby]

Crisis and tragedy

[Bill]

Transform the world
Both the need to do something about global warming, and the need to adapt to it.

[Barbara]

Changing the World
I agree with Debbie about Crisis and tragedy, but I think the biggest change will be the coming of the Jewish Messiah.

[Julie D.]

Re: transforming society
I agree with previous posts regarding equality, communication, and environmental concerns, but healthcare and education are closer to my heart (and livelihood). On both issues, the manner in which we deal with the current disparities in access and utilization of resources over the next 20 years can have a great impact, negatively or positively.

[Ron & Helen]

A broad view
Helen and I brainstormed your question and came up with some ideas. But first let me suggest that I facilitate a scenario planning session for you. You select the audience. I am going to be doing a similar thing in Chicago this month for the environmental people who work for the Navy. The way the topics came out made me think it might be a good aproach if you invite the folks you would like to have opinions from. Our results are broad and not real focused. The include everything we could think of while we were on the road. That is where the scenario planning comes in. Energy - oil vs. alternatives Changes of life styles for Americans based on energy changes, and other factors. Emergence of the states with progam ideas which they import from each other ignoring the feds. The rise of the China and India economies The return of ethics (or not) to the federal govenrment Ethics returns (or not) to big business Unions re-gain power in the country/world American consumers rebel Consumers become citizens again. Well, There you go.

[Corina Going]

Transforming society
Loving ourselves and loving one another; loving every created being on this planet and counting each of equal value, loving one another enough to not discriminate, to provide health care, food, and shelter for all, and to accept every spiritual belief.

[Kitty]

I'm with Corina - I think all the previously mentioned factors will be addressed/mitigated/initiated by love for ourselves, one another, and the environment/wildlife. Even those on the planet who are motivated by money/greed/power will need to change their view in the next 20 years if we are going to survive.

[D]

I don't know what will transform society in the next 20 years. We are still coping with the transformations of the 20th century - the failure of socialism, the death of God in Europe, the rise of a militant Islam, and the decline of Western culture. What can transform a Europe that has suppressed its Christian roots and failed to replace them with anything? Can the Arab world organize into relatively decent societies that can defeat the Islamists? Can societies avoid destructive utopian dreams and deal with human beings as they really are? The biggest positive transformations are going on now in China and India. By dropping Marxism (China) and Fabian Socialism (India) we are witnessing the largest movement from poverty to affluence in human history. That will certainly continue to the economic benefit of hundreds of millions. What is needed is someting that transforms the West, a renewal of its vitality, without recreating the dark side of the murderous ideologies and world wars that Europe produced.