It’s time to shift things from Nay to Yay!  Let’s celebrate what’s right and spread the love.
The top best things about our 2016 society are:

1. Connection::: and access to loved ones, information, art, culture, music, science across the globe (and skies) in real-time… brings joy.
2. Globalization::: seeing and experiencing other cultures, lifestyles and perspectives. The diversity of the world is so darned interesting.
3. Conversations::: we are having conversations about tough and once taboo topics. While many are heated, we are at the very least acknowledging them.
4. Empowerment::: with focus, resources and drive, almost anything seems possible.
5. Collaboration::: genius creators are putting their talents together to build a beautiful future.
6. Community::: there are endless communities to engage with, become part of, and enjoy.
7. Sciences::: advancements have us understanding more about nature, space, time, and being human.
8. Technology::: innovations enable us to make and do just about anything (in any size, anywhere).
9. The Cuteness::: with all the animal and kid videos to enjoy.
10. Autonomy::: we are questioning authority, untethering from old belief systems and making informed independent decisions.

Yeah, it’s US centric- cause that’s where I live. I would have liked to put #10 higher on the list, although this great trend is still forming…

This list is updated from last year.

My current top 10 list for the US’ societal problems.

1. Engagement::: We have the technology to solve most of society’s big problems. We’re missing the will to engage; due in some part to narcotizing dysfunction.
2. Our Environment::: Climate change, global warming, pollution, destruction of natural habitats, diminishing resources… exasperated by politics. Only Four in ten Americans think the people can convince Congress to pass legislation to reduce global warming. Here is one obstacle.
3. Culture::: We are media driven, driving us to want and have more. It also divides us and encourages an “us vs them” outraged mentality. In example…
   1. Trump::: We have manifested a sexist rude charade for president.
   2. Misnomers::: For example feminism and patriotism. The first example is often used as a hateful statement. The second is often used in defiance against an opposing view, claiming exclusivity in their love for our country.
   3. Access:: Our 24/7 access to digital life and non-life, obscures our focus and diverts our attention from the physical here and now.
   4. These are learned beliefs and behaviors; please unlearn them.
4. Inequality::: Civil rights, education, ethnicity, gender, immigration, income, lifestyle consumption, poverty, race, reproductive rights, sexual orientation, wealth…
5. Healthcare::: Cost, access, for profit systems… Don’t care for our ill.
6. Education::: Archaic systems, cultural irrelevancy, accessibility, differing expectations…
7. Homelessness::: It’s plain Sad, Sad, Sad.
8. Overpopulation:: Too many people eating up too few resources.
9. Fear::: Fear is a strategy and tactic. Fear takes us off course.
10. Humans::: The majority of society’s problems are human made. We can be loving, generous, genius creators and also selfish, stubborn, lazy destroyers all in the same breath. We struggle with  balancing our conflicting nature. We’re not all bad or all good, we’re flawed. Our need to belong has us align with belief systems and social structures that struggle in our newly global ever changing world. This too has divided us and conflicts with our agency in the world.

This list is clearly focused on our human flaws and in the weeds for some of them.

What are your top 10?

The list from last year.

p.s.- Be both a feminist and patriot.

 

Gloria Steinem speaking in Seattle recently reminded us the definition of Feminism is the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. At some point, likely the 1970’s, feminism became a bad word. As a society we need to bring it back to its original intent and practice it.

In 2009 feminist and role model Jimmy Carter wrote an article “Losing my religion for equality”. The article describes his struggle and brake from the Southern Baptist church in support of human rights and equality. In it he writes:

“The truth is that male religious leaders have had – and still have – an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions – all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.”

With feminism there is no extremism, no racism, no sexism.

Our most violent societies are ones that don’t support feminism and actively oppress women. We are in the midst of a third world war with  65 countries involved including 667 Militias-guerrillas and separatist groups, leaving a numbing trail of death, destruction and millions of refugees without a nation or place. Clearly it will take more than feminism to bring about peace, although peace won’t happen without it.

The UN has a policy to include women in their peace keeping efforts believing “women and men experience conflict differently and therefore understand peace differently. Recognizing and integrating these differences – known as gender perspectives – into all aspects of UN peace operations, is essential for the success of the UN’s peacekeeping efforts”. When women have an equal say at the table along with other diversities we all benefit.

Please, when you see anti-feminism in action… call it out, respectfully. Without feminism there cannot be peace.