OUR NEW NARRATIVE - WHO WE ARE Anne Mendenhall
[Last year I put forth a proposal that 100 people come together to begin crafting a new vision for our country. I called it a new American narrative. I was feeling great urgency to get us out of old, no longer working, patterns of thinking. Unfortunately I was not in a position to carry this idea forward, and no one else rose to the occasion. I want to put forward now some ideas that I think could be incorporated in that new narrative. Please consider these words as public domain. Use, discard, restate, embellish but keep the ball rolling. If you share these values, don't let the topic die. The need to move forward with a new approach to our multiple problems is immense. And there is a long lead time between introducing new social concepts and having them accepted.]
As a nation we are frugal with energy . We recycle, we drive the most fuel efficient cars, we reduce mileage driven each year, we support alternative energy sources. We want to phase out nuclear power generation and coal fired plants. Coal miners will have a healthier life building wind turbines or installing solar panels.
We hold our health in high regard , recognizing that the expense and pain of disease cause widespread suffering. We avoid all GE foods as they have not been tested on humans. We support affordable health care for all. We believe that traditional and alternative treatments should be approved for coverage as they are more cost effective and often more medically effective than drugs. Drug makers don't wish to cure us but to keep us as customers. We recognize that cell phones and other radio frequency devices are the new tobacco with hidden long range effects. Brain cancer aside, there are conditions such as ADD, autism, dementia to consider.
We treat all people with respect even when there is vehement disagreement on issues. Commerce and technology have made us a global community. What happens anywhere affects us all. Each of us is here for a reason with a purpose to fulfill, and each of us deserves the opportunity to reach our highest potential. We value non-violent communication and cooperation over competition.
We recognize and value all that the earth gives us and whenever possible we foster this relationship.
We acknowledge that our old dream is no longer working and that home ownership, unlimited consumption, and even children in college must be reevaluated.
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