We used to have a stainless steel thermal mug with a large sticker on it. The sticker read,
"If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention".
That mug stayed with us for a long time before passing on to someone else, but the saying on it which grew more apt with each passing year stayed with us permanently.
Outrage is a good place to start. Some say that justice will not be served until the unaffected are as outraged as the affected, but who among us are unaffected these days?
Having said that, it is hard as well as counterproductive to just be outraged all the time. That anger has to be translated into action.
Lately we thought of the mug that was the message, and challenged ourselves to come up with updated sayings for mugs or bumpers or refrigerator doors everywhere.
Warning: for some of these you will need a large mug or bumper or fridge door. Brevity comes in handy when it comes to quippy sayings, but it can be a challenge.
"If you're not preparing for a major piece of shit to hit a big fan sometime real soon, you're not paying attention."
"If you're not against war, you're not paying attention."
"If you're not questioning everything you've ever been taught, you're not paying attention."
"If you're not getting off mainstream narratives, you're not paying attention."
"If you're not dealing with your own stuff first, you're not paying attention."
"If you're not simplifying your life, you're not paying attention."
"If you're not growing a garden, you're not paying attention."
"If you're not living harmoniously with your neighbours and Nature (which are the same thing), you're not paying attention."
If you made it this far in this post, you must be paying attention. You might be outraged, too.
My hope is that we can move past our righteous anger toward actions that build healthier states of mind and a just world that works for all.
Humanity's continued existence depends on each of us.
