O is for Oracle

It’s a frightening time we live in. We have challenges on Planet Earth. War and strife seem constant and potentially increasing around the world. Weather becomes ever-more intense, fueled by environmental damage caused by mankind. Population growth exacerbates the problems we face in the future. Increasing stressors result in more human strife, and the cycle accelerates.

In the midst of all the turmoil, a few oracles stand tall and sane. One organization I respect deeply in the environmental movement is 350.org, a group of people working vehemently to stall the building of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline construction, a project that has the potential of slicing a disastrous and damaging route down the center of North America. Led by author, Bill McKibben, these people have the courage to risk imprisonment for their civil rebellions. My heroes in a world gone mad!

Others have spoken out before. I recently thought of Don McLean’s gentle protest songs of decades ago, so relevant even today in their poignant plea for stewardship and sanity. Give Tapestry a listen and heed the words:

There are other modern oracles as well. When librarians and nuns, those gentle intellects of a more civilized way of life, strongly supported the efforts of Julian Assange and Wikileaks, I raised an eyebrow. I still have mixed feelings about the methods employed by this organization, but in principle, see eye-to-eye with the efforts of exposing fraud and corruption. When a society’s government strong-arms secrecy, especially secrets shrouding despicable actions, the oracles are the good guys… not enemy combatants. Perhaps it doesn’t seem that way now, with the skewed values and wants of modern living, but I suspect history will cast a different light on these people and their actions. The past holds many souls who have suffered the consequences of their beliefs to create a better world for all living creatures.

Photo credit: Greer Studios

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing, I applaud all the heroes of kindness, all those calling for patience and tolerance, and send a message of love and solace to those who suffer from this tragedy. May those who died rest easy. May we all find inspiration to become oracles for peace.