Support4Change Blog

April 3, 2007 

Categories: Q-and-A Club, Exploring Social and Political Issues

By Arlene Harder, MA, MFT
 

In the introduction to this week’s Q-and-A Club question I explain why I’ve chosen this illustration. It isn’t because I think any one individual is responsible for holding up the world. Rather, I use it to encourage you to honor the world enough to support it in whatever way you can. If enough of us find within ourselves the courage to assume some responsibility for at least our small corner of the world, the world will be a much happier place in which to live.

You will notice that this week I couldn’t confine myself to only one Q-and-A Club question because the topic can’t be confined to only one question. Also, I acknowledge that the questions are a little “heavy.” They aren’t ones you can quickly read, digest, and answer. But if the Q-and-A Club is truly a “community of the curious and courageous,” a bit of thinking won’t stop the members from exploring topics that are essential if we are all to live in a world with peace and understanding.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY 

Do you have a responsibility toward your LOCAL COMMUNITY? What is it? Why do you believe that? How do you fulfill your responsibility?

Do you have a responsibility toward your STATE? What is it? Why do you believe that? How do you fulfill your responsibility?

Do you have a responsibility toward your COUNTRY? What is it? Why do you believe that? How do you fulfill your responsibility?

Do you have a responsibility toward the WORLD? What is it? Why do you believe that? How do you fulfill your responsibility?

If one person (for example, a schizophrenic or a person with a severe physical handicap) is not able to be responsible for himself or herself, who is responsible? Why do you believe that?

If your answer to the question is “family,” how can we be assured that the family fulfills that obligation? Why do you believe that?

If you believe “society” is responsible for caring for those who can’t care for themselves, how do you participate in assuring “society” (of which you are a member) will fulfill its obligation?

How do you believe we can best teach people to be responsible for themselves to the greatest degree possible? What evidence do you have for your answer?

Action Question: As you explore these questions this week, are you willing to notice the needs in your immediate community AND are you willing to respond to those needs (which is, essentially, what “respons-ibility” means)? If you say “no,” why are you unwilling to do that? When will you be?

REMEMBER: These weekly questions are available to anyone who wants to use them for their blog, newsletter, website, or discussion group. There is no charge, but you MUST include both the introduction and all the questions, attribute the questions to the Q-and-A Club and to me, Arlene Harder, and include a link to Support4Change.