Chicago's South Side is perhaps one of the last places that you'd expect to be the birthplace and original home of a philosopher. It's not a philosopher that you know of, but you will, for it's me. I've fancied myself a philosopher for quite some time; long before migrating to Southern California "twentysomething" years ago. As long as I can remember, I've been "thinking" about something. I've thought about "reality" and what it really is, marveled at the wonders, synergies, and profundities of the Universe, contemplated the nature of God, and the magic and timelessness of love. Like many philosophers over the ages before me, I have puzzled over war, and longed for peace. But unlike the ones we've most remembered, I've wondered silently.

I've thought about crime, and why people do it. What motivates a man to take the life of another? And while the murder of a stranger is just as troubling, what can possibly be so pressing to make a man murder someone he actually knows and presumably loves? Suicide is another big puzzler. Talking about "running away" from responsibility. What unexpected or unseen problems does a person who elects to "run out of their earthly life" through suicide, actually rush into? It's never set right with me as a "solution," and it's a devastating way of getting attention without resolution. I've wondered, generally and sometimes fearfully, about death, including my own.

Fortunately, life is not all dour visions and unrequited dreams. I've been amazed at the genius that has been demonstrated in architecture and engineering, arts and letters, mathematics and sciences, both applied and social. Technology has risen as today's new "king." It is a benevolent despot that can serve anyone with even half a dream and a hard "drive" (all puns intended).

I've thought about wealth and poverty, why we have what we have (you know where you stand), and how those that don't have what we have may feel about it. I've wondered how those that don't enjoy the best that life has to offer, can do so; and have been pleased to realize that everyone who truly wishes for a better life, can create one: their own. Yet, for a long time I simply thought; but remained silent.

Part of my life I wiled away toiling and laboring to earn a moderate living. In my day I have sold such things as telecommunication systems and fax machines before they were popular. I sold mainframe computers before the PC changed everything. I sold life insurance for a while, though not too effectively. It required an "enthusiasm" for bringing up the subject of death that I could not muster.

For a time I bumped around from sales job to sales job, enjoying the "honeymoon" period where everyone can make their quota, then going through the period of rationalization when my sales numbers weren't up to par. I've had more than my share of "partings," in employment and love, mostly with sweet sorrow. It's all fodder for a philosopher who wouldn't give himself permission to do what he loved.

The truth is that in the beginning, I hadn't figured anything out yet, and didn't know how one could make a living being a philosopher. I had "rhythm," but was too shy to flaunt it, or shake my boo-tay in public. I loved basketball, but couldn't put the ball through the hoop reliably enough to realistically think I had a chance in professional sports. I was athletic; a member of my high school track team. I won a few races in high and low hurdles for Lindblom Technical High School (Class of '69) on Chicago's Southwest side. But my prowess in track didn't provide the recognition or popularity needed that "got the chicks," and you could get hurt playing football. Getting hurt for the chance to "get chicks," who wouldn't otherwise give me the time of day didn't seem like a good move. After all, I was a thinker. Just didn't know that this was what I did, so I kept silent.

In actuality, the word "philosophy" comes from the Latin philosophia and Greek philosophos, which means lover of wisdom. The root word is philo or phil which, according to The American Heritage College Dictionary (Third Edition), means "having strong affinity for; loving." Another definition of philosophy cited in the same dictionary is "the investigation of causes and laws underlying reality," and "inquiry into the nature of things based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods." Boy, that is certainly me! It's not only what I do, but what I love doing.

In the intervening time since I left high school and college, and moving to California, I've spent much of my life simply observing life. I have observed the dynamics and relationships of living things, as well as the dynamics and interrelationships of living ideas. Let me tell you, ideas are "where it's at." It's where our power to transform the world begins. The problem is that we are generally the last to know, if we ever find it out at all. And few people are telling us.

Another problem is that the ideas that we are often attracted to emphasize the impossible rather than the possible, and accentuate the negative, rather than the positive. I've learned that there is a consistent relationship between the kind of ideas that we embrace, attitudes that "polarize" and energize them, and the actions that we take to support them in the creation of our lives. And guess what, it doesn't matter what we believe our "race" is. All you need is to "know," as my dad used to tell me, instead of to "no." So while I am aware of, and sensitive to the politics of racial thinking, I'm excusing myself from debates about "them."

To me, there is no "them" as in other racial groups: only an "us," as in humanity. Now, there are "thems" who are lawless, angry and resentful, do harm to people, and will self-righteously lie, cheat, blame, and steal. But they come in all shapes, sizes, genders, ages, and races. They speak all languages of human. I will ever be on the lookout for them, and draw a cautious, or wide path around them. I won't fear them. Instead, I will embrace "us"… those who know their true power and seek to use it wisely. Some will come to me and be my teachers. Others will learn from me. All who come with the right motive will be embraced with honor, love, and respect, for we need to know one another, as we need to know ourselves. We need to create the best lives for ourselves and for each other, in order to change the world.

We need to know the relationship between our attitudes and beliefs, and how they affect our thoughts and resultant patterns of behavior. We need to know how one attitude can open doors, whereas another can close them. We need to know how certain beliefs can render us totally unconscious of any kind of "doorway" to a better way of living, even if we have a "Ph.D." behind our name (meaning no disrespect to people who have earned Ph.D.'s). Such information is available to each of us, for the earnest and diligent seeking.

I've watched the civil rights struggle over the past fifty years, and mourned the assassinations of too many great people who had Wonderful Dreams. They were great because they dared to dream wonderfully, and dared not give it up. I pity the people who thought they stopped something by silencing "the Messengers." The Wonderful Dreams didn't die. Progress happened in spite of the "silencings." When will we finally "get it" that death cannot silence ideas or the attitudes and beliefs that empower them? When will we finally "get it" that we cannot go to "war" -- whether it's against racism or terrorism -- to gain peace? Peace begins from within.

Well, I realize that what I think does matter, because thinking, figuring things out, and sharing new insights is what I love doing. I'd like to see the world be a better place, both for myself and for others. Furthermore, I believe that this is an eminently possible dream, if each individual takes an active role in taking care of his or her own life transformation. We will teach our children by demonstration in the quality of the interactions and relationships we maintain with each other. The only requirement is that we exercise the best of our knowledge, attitudes, and abilities, and that we use harmless modalities. In time, this will solve much of our current grousing about group disparities.

Transforming the world via a strategy of harmless humanist action doesn't mean that we become indifferent to injustice and evil. Quite the contrary. It means that our minds must be open to different ways of responding to it. Yet, if we accept that the power to make this change is within us, we'll soon understand that it'll get stronger with exercise, and our fears -- toward others and ourselves-will diminish. The resultant ideas that we "get" will become more Wonderful, and plausible, for more people. Isn't that really what most of us want?

The world drama sits on the "cusp of possibility" today, flirting with the specter of an Old Apocalypse or a New Renaissance. It can teeter one way or another. The "teeter" direction is determined by you and me, and what we elect to think and do. Do we still want to bicker over whose life has been the most "unfair"… today? Do we want to argue over who has less power when in truth, the power that really matters is equally available to us all? (Clue… it's not about how much money we have.) Or would we rather help each other begin to see how to use the power that we have wisely? We have equal ability to generate, empower, embrace, and embody ideas. We are not equally conscious of this fact, nor practiced in its truth. The practice cannot begin without prior conscious awareness. This is where I may be able to help by sharing an insight or two, even as I continue to learn.

I no longer want to be part of conversations founded on untruths and half-truths, but I see that I can't be silent anymore. Neither can you. I am human, and so are you. So are the people who are still content to bicker and blame, want someone else to make past wrongs "right" for them, think that their pain is "holier than yours," and are willing to risk the mass destruction of parts of the world in the misguided belief that the "good people" will be protected. Enough of that "$#*%!" already! I am energizing my thoughts and behaviors for a New Renaissance; for me, and for you. I invite you to define what a New Renaissance would mean to you, and then, to give yourself permission to make yours happen too. Consider speaking, doing, and being your best, toward yourself and everyone else, including your "enemies." If you have any, they won't stay that way long. That would truly be "Golden."

Adam Abraham is author of I Am My Body, NOT! (www.phaelos.com/iambn.html) and A Freed Man: An Emancipation Proclamation (www.phaelos.com/afm.html), with a third title, I Am Spirit! due to be published later this year. If you are in the San Diego area March 7th or 14th, you are invited to join Adam in free readings from A Freed Man: An Emancipation Proclamation. For more information, send an email to phaelos@yahoo.com.

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