To the future.

Yesterday, 12/30/2010 was a huge day. Not for me in particular, but for the world. My guess is that this day was like any other day, ordinary and yet extraordinary all at the same time. A secret was let loose to the United States of America, a message unraveling extensive unity for the world, its establishment of refreshing peace, and by God, hope brothers and sisters, HOPE. I have my unending issues and trials to mire the ignorance within me almost constantly. It hurts me to see the way we live, so haphazardly, so unconsciously, without realizing our ordinary, daily, simple choices deeply, deeply matter and infinitely affect the world around us. So when a secret of such is made known, ripened to the ears and hearts of those around, knowing in the solace and yet joining of our souls, that the celebration of life is, actually, resounding.

In April 2009, President Obama daringly projected a proposal to not only attain a treaty with Russia concealing nuclear weaponry, but to secure all vulnerable nuclear material within four years. Let me repeat this with a bit more clarity, Obama is aiming at taking every created and established form of nuclear material TO BE SECURED, MAINTAINED AND LOCKED DOWN WITH SECURITY. (Using all caps just to reemphasize the balls-iness of this proposal). On December 30, 2010, over 100+ lbs of uranium was removed from the territory of Ukraine and brought securely to a maintained location. This material is enough to detonate two large nuclear bombs. Now why would a nation who put endless remarkable time and energy in obtaining this material be willing to oblige to its removal? Yes, there is recognition that this material is harmful. Derr. Ukraine committed itself to the international committee last year. Really, though, what's at the heart of their willingness? Don't they want the power and control of national protection? Quite possibly, as part of the international committee, an understanding that the fewer places this material is located, the better off the world is. Too simple? Too ideal? Obama helped to initiate the bringing together of 46 countries to address this global issue at the Nuclear Security Summit awhile back this year. The majority of nuclear material is dispersed in 35 countries around the world. 19 countries have been secured. 16 more countries to go. The goal at hand to bring it back to the United States and Russia where it began and secure, protect this material. This is all held in secret, due to the intense potency of such material.

This is huge. Even when I went to bed that night, my crazy 50 yr old roommate came home at 3 am to wake me up, make sure I had heard the news. She hugged me, we high-fived, and then she said, "The shit is happening, Beth!" The shit is happening. And it is some paramount, awesome shit.

There is just one word I can sense in a way that some how streams forth the essence of this great achievement: COMMITMENT--not as an obstinate trait to persevere towards a goal. But this is bigger, largely encompassing in a greater capacity. This is commitment to collaboration. Bipartisan feelings and opinions are put aside. Nationalistic pride at ease. General dialogue arises, and globally, our minds are activated. We see each other, our nations, our world, on a larger scale. In the United States, I think there has been a impending reminder that a representative democracy implies that our government is a vessel to reflect the values of its people, the values hidden at the heart of its people. Obama happened to bring about beginning of this proposal to conceal vulnerable nuclear material. But who really was responsible for this initiation, this coming of time and ultimately, peace?

Maybe it was the widow down the street who had fostered 46 children from various areas of the U.S. Maybe it was the young couple who welcomed people onto their farm to learn to live sustainably in mindful actions of the Earth and its future. Maybe it was the prayer group that met for five hours every week to pray for the needs of its community. Maybe it was the nontraditional student who awakened at 3 am to study six languages, so dialogue and understanding between cultures could be created. Maybe it was the Peace Corps volunteer in Russia whose heart was to live amidst the youth of this culture, encourage their hearts and build relations. Maybe it was the guitar player whose lyrics brought messages of justice, messages reiterating the importance of human rights. Maybe it was the writer who challenged the people to awaken to consciousness. Maybe it was the young, wild at heart girl who built an interactive community of kids from all different socioeconomic classes to play and learn together. Maybe it was the math teacher at an high school who went to each of his kid's football games, encouraging and mentoring them through their journeys of life.

At the heart of these people, it all began. The commitment of ordinary, global citizens all over the world to see with open eyes. To seek justice in the community. To invest life in another. To see past the self. To commit to a life that exceeds one bottled up of little comforts and luxuries. Our communities make up our world. The local and national governments are continually changing, erupting new policies to further aid the changing times. I say with great earnesty: the responsibility is ours. Let me say again, THE RESPONSIBILITY IS OURS. And I say to you with great encouragement, participate collectively in the experience. Think and act mindfully. Engage in the world wholeheartedly. The ordinary is where the future of the common good of man exists. May this be our gift to the future.