As the earth screams bloody murder and the nation’s eyes stay fixated on the headlines, it doesn’t come easy fishing through which is the “most important” cause to fight for tomorrow, today, yesterday. The battle for policy reform on every issue from immigration, to housing, to energy, to net neutrality, to food, and every other malfunctioning system of our civilization can at times be exhausting.

The endless debates surrounding these sensitive subjects seem to revolve around the struggle for money and power. Somehow through all the jargon and new-age McCarthyism, I feel that the majority of people, directly affected or not, young or old, family, friends, neighbors, peers, all too many of these good-hearted decent human beings are being misdirected by frightful voices telling the story of how mankind bit the dust.

This evaluation is plain as day to see. As we sit back and watch the loud-mouths go back and forth selling the future, we live each day under the shadow of imminent doom. At least that’s what this boiling pot promises; to blow the lid off. Much as could be expected, we are witnessing a speeding up process of our species’ fate.

My own battleground has presented itself in the realm of media justice, what my peers and I believe to be an overarching equalizer for all underrepresented demographics (POC, women, low-income families, and elderly). The idea is simple. If you give everyone the equal ability and education necessary to produce their own media and tell their own story, you achieve a real democracy truly representative of “WE THE PEOPLE”.

Still, as media outlets ride sensationalism to “job security”, a serious obstacle my proactive peers seem hard pressed to deal with is CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. There is a huge void where real conversations should be happening. As a media justice advocate, I attribute the lack of compelling concern to the psychological effects corporate media is having on society.

I do realize, however, that the issue is bigger than media justice. The fact that people remain reluctant to discuss the reality that we are collectively heading nowhere fast is much bigger than influence from media distractions.

Are people simply unaware of how much change is necessary to end the destruction humanity is implementing on our environment? And, if so, why?

Is it because we are all so invested into the way business runs the world; because we are so dependent on comfort that we will sacrifice our children’s lives for one more day of blissful ignorance; because if we take responsibility for the planet we will lose all of our precious luxuries? Or is it because by standing up in solidarity across all perpetuated ethnic, class, and political barriers to say “STOP!!!” we will expose the ruthless nature of corporate interests?

These burning questions are stirring up a lot of frustration with much I see, but I know that regurgitating negative energy can spin a cycle of stagnation.

THIS IS NOT THE POINT!

The point is that if we want to move forward, we have to let go of a lot of the things we depend on for our “security.” Unfortunately the business has us caught up in state of bewilderment, too paralyzed to say, “Hey guys, hold on just a sec. This is getting out of hand , don’t you think?” Nonetheless, I remain confident that though it comes as a result of global catastrophes like the current Gulf Coast oil hemorrhage, people will soon have no choice but to get engaged in discussions to pull ourselves out of the mess we’re in.

At the moment, it appears that if we are going to win any of our smaller issue battles, we are going to have to simultaneously approach the biggest problem up front, with urgency, and much more respect.

We are killing the planet. How fast can we reverse the process?

There are discussions happening on this blog, and most every other blog about every issue. It is an appropriate time to begin using them for all they are worth.

Oh, and by the way, as I typed this, a tanker exploded at an oil refinery in my city – San Antonio. Burned for hours.