From Decision To Action

Dateline: Los Angeles – July 8, 2010 

It’s been quite a day.  News of Russian spies being convicted and deported as part of a swap.  News that a mother in Iran will not be stoned to death (nothing about her life being spared, just that she won’t be stoned).  News that a police officer was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, after ‘accidentally’ drawing his revolver instead of his taser gun and shooting a downed and restrained man.  News that an accused serial killer will be arraigned next month.  Oil is still leaking in the Gulf of Mexico. Our troops are still in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two million people are still without unemployment benefits. Cities and states are still fiscally fragile.  Comprehensive immigration legislation and enforcement is still a hot topic.  

And then we have ‘The Decision’.  It is true that some good did come from the much-hyped announcement: five hundred thousand dollars in addition to untold advertising dollars going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, along with five college scholarships for deserving students.  So after a week of suspense, following months of rampant speculation and guessing (and my guess was in the hunt but ultimately wrong), tonight we know that royal hoop hype is moving into South Beach.  No disrespect to the players and teams involved, but that speaks to the attention paid to this one announcement.  

The communications universe was ablaze today, as it has been all week, in anticipation of the announcement.  Local television and radio, network television and radio, cable television, satellite television and radio, social media sites, websites, newspapers and magazines were all prophesying and punditizing.  Who had the real inside scoop? What’s next? What does it all mean???  

Checking in *ahem* occasionally with my social media friends, it brought to mind last year’s running commentary during a high-gloss memorial service for another King.  There were posts and tweets and texts and messages about everything from the old-school memories to the hats and accessories, and all in between.  When it was over, there were some friendships begun that have been strengthened since then with many a deep and meaningful discussion about the world we live in, and have since grown to include even more friends.  Today one of those friends posted a thought about the collective number of social media citizens in comparison to the UN, and that gave rise to this not original thought: how do we utilize the minds and talents of the social media universe from our respective patches of earth to be the change that we want to see? 

We can’t all go to Washington or to city hall or to the state house, but we can take a crack at doing what our representatives (whom we elect to work for us) are charged to do: make recommendations and decisions after research and study, based on the needs and to benefit the collective good of the people (not the select few).  We have enough tools to cyber-meet and talk  and craft policies and documents that we can submit to our representatives.  We can set our calendars, conference calls and meetings from the comfort of wherever we want to meet (Sweet Tea or iced coffee in hand). We can strategize and then publicize our goals and positions instantly, and be available to promote those ideas around the clock and around the globe.  WE can be the change that we want to see.  Is anyone ready to ride? 

And on a more serious note, may cooler heads and hearts prevail tonight and tomorrow(s) in Iran, Oakland, CA and Cleveland, OH.










                                                                                                                                                                          
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