Is Progress Possible?

Perhaps in the brief moments between the recent storms in New York and the intensification of rocket fire in Israel, you had the opportunity to pay attention to the complex scandal in the US military.

It features emails, state secrets, the furtive crossing of boundaries – if nothing else, it’s an interesting diversion.

One of the comedians on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show wryly pointed out that you’re bound to have security problems when you allow straights into the military.

I looked at this whole situation as another reason to ask a question which I want to pose today and consider.

Do things ever change for the better?  Is progress possible?

People in power, men mostly, have been crossing inappropriate boundaries forever. 

Eros has clouded judgment forever.

People have not paid sufficient attention to the environment forever.

People have bullied one another and engaged in aggressive acts forever.

The question – is progress possible – is not just a question for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Post Sandy - of Land and Love

I remember a conversation I had with my family when I was growing up about another family in the neighborhood.  They were facing a particular challenge and I said, “I feel bad – look what they are dealing with.”

And my mother said some version of a Yiddish phrase the gist of which is, “Unfortunately, on a beautiful Tuesday morning after Passover these people had their challenges.”  Meaning, even before the crisis, things weren’t easy for them.  And the crisis of course just made things worse.

Life was challenging enough before the recent storms – everyone I know has challenges – but the storms brought things to a new level – it exposed cracks that were already present and it added new cracks.

There have been many conversations about infrastructure and resources and more will certainly be forthcoming.

I want to talk about what I believe really animates us, what really keeps us going.