The Pope's Visit Overshadowed the British PM ... But Not His Message

Like so many others, I sometimes feel like giving up on politics and politicians. We desperately want to believe in our leaders, in the decisions they make in our national interest, as well as the underlying reasons for foreign policy so that we can totally get behind them and their policies.

This has become increasingly more difficult to do, and at the same time we realize that something has to change soon to alter the world’s dangerous course, which offers little hope for the future. But, where are the leaders with the answers?

When I voiced this to a friend, he suggested I Google C-Span and watch the video of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s recent speech at the JFK Library in Boston. I did. Other than to honor his host, Sen. Ted Kennedy, he kept his remarks apolitical and focused on critical worldwide conditions.

It was such a stunning change from the mind-numbing political rhetoric we have been subjected to in the current presidential race that I hardly moved during the entire address.

With an excellent grasp of real-world global issues, he gave a cogent and cohesive overview of the challenges. Then in a rare departure from the norm, he clearly listed visionary, common sense and sane solutions.

When Prime Minister Brown concluded his speech, I couldn’t help but think about the contrast between the media coverage of Brown’s presence and the Pope’s visit.

Granted the Pope is a major religious leader and I understand the tremendous turnout of private citizens to pay homage to this man, as they consider him God’s representative on Earth. I am also aware of the differing time frame for advance preparations for the Pope’s visit, and the fact that many of the Prime Minister’s official meetings were security briefings behind closed doors. Still I couldn’t help but wonder why there wasn’t a higher level of media coverage of the Prime Minister’s speech. As a major world leader, he represents one of our country’s staunch allies, and he delivered a powerful message that, in my opinion, should have been heard by the entire world, which in comparison went unnoticed.

Prime Minister Brown essentially challenged all nations to rise above petty differences – to embrace the shared values of humanity – and to seek a global society based on cooperation instead of self-interest. Brown also stressed how urgent it is that humanity work together to resolve these problems instead of adhering to the self-interest that is the current modus operandi.

I realize that many people strongly resist the idea of a global society, but at this stage it is already a reality. We are all in this together, and it is time to act on that truth by “approaching global problems with global solutions.” Prime Minister Brown emphasized that this doesn’t mean that we abandon national interests; it means that the only way in which we can secure our national interests is through global alliances based on shared values and rules that honor the interests of all.

Prime Minister Brown is clearly aware that the world will need the leadership of the United States in this evolutionary and historic passage. While my belief in our government’s ability to rise to the occasion ebbs and flows, I have complete faith in the eternal and sublime energy that maintains the entire cosmos. I believe that order can come out of chaos, which seems to be where the entire world is at this particular time.

I also believe in the inherent goodness in humanity, and know that we ordinary citizens can be invaluable in shoring up our nation’s leaders and helping them to lead the world through this evolutionary process. Actually, I believe many of us who are alive on Earth right now were born to do this. Millions of people around the world are becoming conscious and aware and this elevates the consciousness of humanity. We also know that when this energy-awareness is aligned with focused positive thought, it can determine our future—as well as the future of our planet.

This is my recommended daily thought-affirmation-prayer: I affirm, accept and expect that everything and everyone is in place right now to successfully lead humanity into a new level of shared peace and abundance. And So It Is!
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Copyright 2008 by Fern Stewart Welch

The author’s book THE HEART KNOWS THE WAY—How to Follow Your Heart to a Conscious Connection with the Divine Spirit Within is available at Amazon.com and other online booksellers, as well as through major bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders.