"There are no sides, only angles.
And when we look at it from the right angle,
we see we're all on the same side."
                                     -- Swami Beyondananda

We always feel heartened by tales of heroism, and we celebrate the individual hero or "shero".  It's even more heartening when the "hero" is a self-organizing, spontaneous group of people who see what needs to be done, and then do it. 

Earlier this month (July 2017) as a family was struggling in the riptide off the Florida Gulf Coast, beachgoers spontaneously formed a "human chain" to reach and save the family.

"Nearly 80 people rushed to create a human chain from the shore... When the chain reached the family, the stranded swimmers were passed one-by-one down the chain until they made it safely back to shore." (Upworthy.com)

I wasn't there, but I'm willing to bet that while this amazing rescue was happening, those in the chain didn't turn to their neighbor and ask, "Are you a Democrat or Republican?"  Likewise no one asked about religion, sex preference, or economic status.  It's certainly possible that one or more members of the chain believes the earth is only 6,000 years old, and perhaps one of them even believes there are kidnapped children on Mars.

No matter. 

"In this moment, it didn't matter what anyone's politics were, what god they worshiped, where they were from, what language they spoke, what their gender was, or who they loved. Those differences certainly existed (and differences are good, wonderful things), but when lives were on the line, those things didn't matter. People who joined forces to build a human chain out into the ocean because other people needed help." (Upworthy.com)

Those conversations and considerations were relegated to the background, as the immediate emergency called forth our common humanity and the power of love. Meanwhile, back in the world of "normal" political discourse, the shouting matches accentuating our differences are "drowning out" those that seek to organize around common cause.

"When we work together toward a common goal, we are stronger than we are working apart. This is not a new idea (stories of it have been around for thousands of years), but it's always worth remembering just how true it is." (Upworthy.com)

So, here is a lesson if we choose to take the coaching

Human beings will voluntarily cooperate -- and even put their own lives in danger -- when faced with a crisis that REQUIRES cooperation.  I would submit that our entire political system based on freedom and responsibility, individual gain in the context of benefit for all, equality and inalienable rights has been washed out to sea, and our entire governance is drowning in unbridled self-interest, corruption and dysfunction.

It cannot fix itself, and the "somebodies" with power and influence have not stepped up.

Only a self-organizing chain of ordinary "nobodies" putting differences aside and pulling together can or will make a difference.  No wonder the latest studies show that in an atmosphere of political incivility, many Americans take refuge in the workplace where the task at hand, whatever it is, is always in the foreground, and there is a greater likelihood of having a common goal.

Perhaps the future of political organizing is not so much in the stalemate tug-of-war, as in the pulling together tug-of-peace that happened this past weekend.

I'm just saying.

CBS report about the rescue

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Book co-authored by this author:

Spontaneous Evolution: Our Positive Future and a Way to Get There From Here
by Bruce H. Lipton and Steve Bhaerman.

In Spontaneous Evolution, this world-renowned expert in the emerging science of epigenetics reveals how our changing understanding of biology will help us navigate this turbulent period in our planet’s history and how each of us can participate in this global shift. In collaboration with political philosopher Steve Bhaerman.

Click here for more info and/or to order this book on Amazon.

About the Author

Steve Bhaerman is an internationally known author, humorist, and workshop leader. For the past 23 years, he has written and performed as Swami Beyondananda, the "Cosmic Comic." Swami's comedy has been called "irreverently uplifting" and has been described both as "comedy disguised as wisdom" and "wisdom disguised as comedy." A political science major, Steve has written - since 2005 - a political blog with a spiritual perspective, Notes From the Trail, hailed as an encouraging voice "in the bewilderness." Steve is active in transpartisan politics and the practical application of Spontaneous Evolution. He can be found online at www.wakeuplaughing.com.

Join the upwising and help put Wiki Politiki on the map 

(http://notesfromthetrailblog.com/wiki-politiki-join-the-upwising/)

Laugh yourself silly (or wise) on Thursday, July 27th by joining Swami's live call-in Karma Talk show (https://tinyurl.com/y8qwg5eq)