When I was recently asked if I would be interested in contributing to a new blogging venture entitled The M.I.C. I was initially hesitant. Call me a reluctant writer despite possessing a passion and a deep appreciation for the written word. However after reading and hearing the spiel regarding this impending blog I was soon sold on the idea! The M.I.C. is an acronym denoting mindfulness, information and consciousness. For me, these are three essential elements constituting “Awareness”, something that is severely lacking in our society. In the words of the editor, “It’s about being aware of the here and now. What’s really going on in the world today? ” I look forward to sharing my thoughts, passions and concerns via this medium on a wide array of issues. I am excited by the notion of this representing truly an open mic, open to a wide arrange of diverse and divergent issues and opinions. All of which can only further to enlighten and inform.
The world in which we reside has fast become a global society. What takes place in the remote jungles of the Congo or the remote mountainous regions of Waziristan has a direct impact on say, the people of Cupertino, California or Harlem, New York. Of course most people, especially Americans, probably could not even recognize the Congo or Waziristan on a map and would wonder why they should even have a passing interest in what takes in these distant places or any place for that matter other than their own domicile. I contend that because our world has become increasingly smaller due to globalization, occurrences elsewhere have a ripple effect everywhere! This is the very reason why the M.I.C. acronym resonates so strongly and personally with me.
Author Sam Kean wrote, “We vastly underestimate…the destructiveness of living constantly in an atmosphere of chatter and superficial talk about the pseudo-events of sports, entertainment, and style. Talk most about the things that matter, and least about the things that matter least.” Like anyone, I enjoy my share of distractionary fluff such as Solange wailing on Jay-Z or the occasional spectacle of sport spectating here and there. So I don’t begrudge anyone that occasionally dabbles in the pseudo-events of when and where Kanye and Kim will marry or whether the Heat will repeat as NBA champs. That being said; there are a plethora of events, issues and problems that I feel as a society that we should show care and concern about it. Martin Luther King, Jr. eloquently declared, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!”
Be Mindful
To be mindful is to be aware, and cognizant of the world in which we all reside. It implores us to be heedful and attentive to the needs and concerns of not just ourselves but those around us. We should be mindful of the millions of Africans that have perished in the Congo resulting from Tech Giants pursuit of conflict minerals directly fueling your smart phone or tablet. We should be mindful of the thousands of innocent civilians that have been killed by U.S. drone strikes! Be mindful about the Monsanto’s, the Syngenta’s, the DuPont’s and the dangers of GMO’s. I could itemize numerous other issues that should warrant our attention but the point is to be mindful of those issues that truly matter and impact our global society. Think globally and act locally! Most important, be mindful!
Be Informed
It is said that information is power! For me information is a precursor to knowledge or more precisely, knowledge is acquired through the careful study of information. It is written, “The people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” It is only through the accruing of information leading to knowledge will we see a more informed populace. An informed populace engenders a more concerned and empathetic populace. An informed and enlightened populace is also a threat to those who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. During Roman times the populace was placated with “Bread and Circuses.” The same is true today! Those in power whether you view them as the 1%, the wicked 10%, or shadowy puppeteers would much rather you be consumed and concerned about Justin Bieber’s latest travails than the corporatization of our democracy or the continued erosion of our personal liberties.
So let us be informed and enlightened in all aspects of existence. Be informed about the deadly collusion between “Big Pharma” and the FDA. Be informed on Americas ever burgeoning prison population and the school to prison pipeline. In the words of Spike Lee, “We’ve been sleeping too long, wake up, wake up!” Or as the late Teddy Pendergrass crooned, “Wake up everybody, no more sleepin' in bed. No more backward thinkin' time for thinkin' ahead.” Fundamentally, regardless of our beliefs, ideologies or political leanings; we all desire essentially the same: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To make the latter a reality, be informed!
Be Conscious
Consciousness represents an awareness of one’s existence and an inner awakening or realization of facts, truths and information. I wonder how many are conscious about America’s support of its alleged enemy and arch boogeyman Al-Qaeda or as I like to call it Al-CIAda? How many Americans are aware that our government has manufactured and contrived a great deal of the alleged domestic Al-Qaeda terrorist plots? How many Americans realize the Federal Reserve is about as federal as Federal Express? Or that in a recent and first of its kind audit, it was revealed the Fed stole $16 Trillion dollars from the American people and distributed to major American and European banks!
These are just a few of many issues I feel the people should be awakened to and that I hope to tackle on The M.I.C. So until then Be Mindful, Be Informed and always Be Conscious!
Peace!
Brotha Norm (@blakkdynamite on Twitter) is a husband, father, and student. His mantras are: Study all, Respect all; Information and Inspiration.
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