I do feel shame for the harm my Catholic Church … and other Christian churches have done over the millineum (over time) to indigenous peoples and people of other persuasions … to folk who supposedly “don’t fit the norm” in many & varied ways–with respect to the Bible, religious doctrine/dogma/teachings/–with respect to what major religious leaders believe … what God (what “HE!”) dictates.
Can I do MUCH about it??? Probably not. … Definitely not! … But despite the meme/saying of “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference,” I will still try to change the demos of the religion in which I was formed.
……………………..
I feel shame for the spread of neoliberal capitalism/conspicuous consumerism and associated imperialistic militarism from despicable policies & actions of the U.S.A.
Can I do much about it?? Probably not. … Definitely not in my lifetime! … But despite the meme/saying of “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”, I will try to change this socio-ecologically destructive force of a nation we call the United States of America (and perhaps finally Make It Somewhat Great?).
……………………
I feel shame for MANY of the policies and actions of aggressively arrogant & intolerant Texans over its period as a republic and a state.
Can I do much about it? Probably not. … Definitely not in my lifetime! … But despite the meme/saying of “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”, I will try to change this socio-ecologically destructive force of a state called Texas*. (*Home of the amazingly good citizen, Willie Nelson … and some other good ones.)
…………………….
I do feel shame about the fact that a significant number of my family and friends support Trump, his terrible policies, and his abhorrent actions.
Can I do much about it??? Probably not. … De facto, probably definitely not! … But despite the meme/saying of “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”, I will try to get these family members & friends to see the light and change their mindsets and ethos … and thusly their lifestyles and socio-political/economic (ecological) actions.
……………………
I feel shame that I am estranged from dear & formerly close members of my immediate family.
Can I do much about it??? … De facto, probably not! … But I will continue to try reach out to these dear ones, and begin to effectively communicate toward a true love of each other.
…………………..
You get the idea!??!
I DO NOT consider myself to be a Dorothy Day, or Martin Luther King, Jr. or Jimmy Carter, or Nelson Mandela, or Mahatma Gandhi, or Berta Caceras Flores, or Jesus of Nazareth. But they are some of my major role models. And despite the meme/saying of “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”, they tried very hard, smartly, and “relentlessly” to effect positively good socio-ecologically change toward a better Earth for all.
I too will continue to try.
pbm ( 7 Ss / VV->^^ )