
26 NOV	Reflections on a Higher Good MICHAEL W. JACKSON November 26, 2021 This is a difficult time period in the history of America. In fact, I even considered titling this blog post, “The Fall of America.” Indeed when I see the behavior of many of our citizens, I feel ashamed. Our forefathers created a great nation forged from a vision of the higher good. Time has passed by and the beneficiaries of those founding visionaries, present day Americans have lost their way. What happened to “one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all?” We have benefited from these ideals but no longer maintain them. We have corrupted the vision and conduct ourselves with a mindset that we are somehow special or privileged just because we are Americans. The truth is Americans are not particularly special or better than any other human on the planet. When one person sees himself or herself as superior to another, it means the other has to be “less” in some way. All of mankind are human beings regardless of the color of their skin or their country of origin. God does not love one group of humans more than another. Just as parents love their children, God loves all of us. Like siblings in a family, groups of different people are all one family under God. This applies not only to Americans, but to all people. Yes, a brother and a sister have their own unique identities but the family bonds them together. Each and every one of us has his or her unique identity. Even groups have their unique identities. Nevertheless, we can expand our vision and embrace the inner part of ourselves that makes us realize we are all part of one family. Americans and Russians are part of the same family. Americans and Chinese are part of the same family. Humans with dark skin and humans with lighter skin are all part of the same family. If we do not share the same ideas, we are still part of the same family. Siblings sometimes have squabbles and disagreements but at the end of the day, they love each other. Our thinking has morphed into one of self-centered selfishness, tribalism and territorialism. Have we lost our moral conscience? Have we become so insecure that we feel we cannot possibly succeed unless we seek only what is good for us as individuals? No man or woman is an island. Therefore, is not possible to be the best at anything or seek the highest levels of excellence without the help of others. There is nothing wrong with having personal goals for yourself, your organization or even your country. Whatever the scope of your vision, you can have all of your goals by applying the golden rule. Do unto others (no matter who they are) as you would have them do unto you. Allow this be the foundation of your conduct with all of humanity. We need to be more cognizant of the welfare of others and allow this awareness to guide not only our immediate actions but also forge our motivation and intentions when we seek to attain the goals for ourselves and others. Michael W. Jackson Back

26
NOV

Reflections on a Higher Good

MICHAEL W. JACKSON

November 26, 2021

This is a difficult time period in the history of America. In fact, I even considered titling this blog post, “The Fall of America.” Indeed when I see the behavior of many of our citizens, I feel ashamed. Our forefathers created a great nation forged from a vision of the higher good. Time has passed by and the beneficiaries of those founding visionaries, present day Americans have lost their way. What happened to “one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all?” We have benefited from these ideals but no longer maintain them. We have corrupted the vision and conduct ourselves with a mindset that we are somehow special or privileged just because we are Americans. The truth is Americans are not particularly special or better than any other human on the planet. When one person sees himself or herself as superior to another, it means the other has to be “less” in some way. All of mankind are human beings regardless of the color of their skin or their country of origin. God does not love one group of humans more than another. Just as parents love their children, God loves all of us.

Like siblings in a family, groups of different people are all one family under God. This applies not only to Americans, but to all people. Yes, a brother and a sister have their own unique identities but the family bonds them together. Each and every one of us has his or her unique identity. Even groups have their unique identities. Nevertheless, we can expand our vision and embrace the inner part of ourselves that makes us realize we are all part of one family. Americans and Russians are part of the same family. Americans and Chinese are part of the same family. Humans with dark skin and humans with lighter skin are all part of the same family. If we do not share the same ideas, we are still part of the same family. Siblings sometimes have squabbles and disagreements but at the end of the day, they love each other.

Our thinking has morphed into one of self-centered selfishness, tribalism and territorialism. Have we lost our moral conscience? Have we become so insecure that we feel we cannot possibly succeed unless we seek only what is good for us as individuals? No man or woman is an island. Therefore, is not possible to be the best at anything or seek the highest levels of excellence without the help of others. There is nothing wrong with having personal goals for yourself, your organization or even your country. Whatever the scope of your vision, you can have all of your goals by applying the golden rule. Do unto others (no matter who they are) as you would have them do unto you. Allow this be the foundation of your conduct with all of humanity. We need to be more cognizant of the welfare of others and allow this awareness to guide not only our immediate actions but also forge our motivation and intentions when we seek to attain the goals for ourselves and others.

Michael W. Jackson

Back

26NOV

Reflections on a Higher Good

MICHAEL W. JACKSON

November 26, 2021

26
NOV