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April 23, 2007

Change the World: Know What We’ve Got

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:24 am

Change the World!

As I write my blog this morning, I think of those who cannot. I think of those who are not allowed to talk. I mean the people, young and old, who cannot say what they believe, who cannot see what see, who cannot know what they know, who cannot share their thoughs.

This is on my mind because on April 21, Mihael told the story of Ariel, a Romanian student who was expelled for blogging. She describes what she found out Ariel this way.

Distressed, I clicked on the link provided by Alina to see: is this teenager an uneducated brat who deserved his punishment? To my surprise, I read the words of a smart, erudite young man, who uses rhetoric in the most surprising manner to disapprove of some disturbing comings and goings. Then he blogs about his family, about religion and school, he describes funny situations: a colleague sleeps during class, another gives a witty answer to a not so witty question asked by a teacher. Teenage fun. No harm in his words. In short: there was nothing to justify the actions of the teachers.

I sit here and think. I type what I want and what I fear most is embarrassing myself with a stupid thought or a typographical error. I don’t worry that family will lose something they need.

Being aware of what I’ve got opens my eyes to those who have not.

If we know what we’ve got, we will see what we see. Then maybe we can find a way to start fixing things that are broken.

We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

______________
If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there that Sandy designed back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.

Change the World!.

Email me about what you’re doing or what we might do. Let’s change the world one bit at a time together. Together it can’t take forever

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13 Comments to “Change the World: Know What We’ve Got”

  1. April 23rd, 2007 at 10:00 am
    Nicholas said

    Liz, out in the international realms of blogging, expulsion is the least of your worries.

    There are reports of bloggers being silenced by being jailed (Kareem), bloggers being silenced by being slapped with libel suits, and even in countries where the governments are corrupt, the threat of losing your life is quite real.

    When I blog at Tingog.com for example, I never use my full name, because some of the criticism is aimed at corrupt government officials.

    Indeed, in the world, the price you pay for not being silent is great.

    But, I think in the end, we do it because we believe in something, and like you say, most of us who blog with passion believe that we can truly change the world.

  2. April 23rd, 2007 at 10:11 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Nicholas,
    I’m aware of what you’re saying, and it fills me with gratiude as I sit here talking to you.

    You say it well.
    . . . we do it because we believe . . .

  3. April 23rd, 2007 at 5:43 pm
    Mihaela Lica said

    Thank you, Liz, for talking about Ariel. I have no information about what happened today.He was supposed to give a few interviews (his father will be with him all the way) and try to go back to school. I’ll keep you posted.

  4. April 23rd, 2007 at 6:54 pm
    ME Strauss said

    HI Mihaela!
    Thank you for letting us know about Ariel. I’m thinking of you and him.

  5. April 24th, 2007 at 3:16 am
    Jesse Somer said

    You are not allowed to say that the Communist Party is bad in China on your blog. You’re also not allowed to talk about the Dalai Lama. It’s a cold hard fact in the evolution of the human species that in many nations and cultures people have made rules that limit the freedom of individuals. In a hundred or a thousand years we as a whole group may become truly egalitarian, but until that day, we must remember and be grateful that we were born into societies that have integrated freedom and liberty into their constitutional rights.

    Other planets I’ve travelled to don’t believe in judging someone’s words. :-) They judge you by your actions, and if your words or actions are imbalanced (not dualistic right and wrong) then they do their utmost to help you balance out your life. Opinions are only dangerous when they are put into action. It’s interesting that so many powerful entities (governments) fear the words of its own individual citizens. People’s words must sure be powerful in our world. Could it be that words turned into action are what the unlawful and tyrranical are most concerned with…that their corrupt and false identities will be exposed?

    Those who live in truth have nothing to fear from another’s words. Blog on, be free, and share your valuable insights into this mysterious and magical life.

  6. April 24th, 2007 at 6:28 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Jesse!
    Welcome, great to see you here! Words and actions that balance are indeed a key. Words without actions are opinions. They can be argued with and left to stand where they are. I wonder with you that people in power fear the words that might expose the fallacy of their claim.

    The authenticity of words laid out without anonymity in sincerity is a powerful thing.

  7. April 24th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
    EmpowerWomenNow.com - Women entrepreneurs blog. An International Women Entrepreneur's Online Resource Center with free tips, tools, resources, networking and mentoring said

    […] Strauss of Successful-Blog.com again shares a very timely and thought-provoking post, entitled Change the World. She shared the experiences of Ariel, a Romanian student who was expelled for blogging. [Steli gives […]

  8. April 24th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
    Ponn Sabra said

    Hi Liz!

    This was a very timely and thought-provoking post, thank you!

    I swiped your cool logo (thanks Sandy) and used in for the beginning of a 3 Part Changing The World blog series.

    Much peace,
    Ponn

  9. April 25th, 2007 at 12:18 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Ponn!
    That’s quite a post you wrote. You tell a very empowering story. It shows in the way you write that you cannot not be writing.

    Thank you for sharing your story that way.

    You’re not a stranger anymore. :)

  10. April 25th, 2007 at 1:03 am
    Ponn Sabra said

    Thanks so much for stopping by Liz.

    I’ve been a quiet reader of your blog (though I’m quite out-spoken everywhere else), simply because you cause me to think, ponder, evaluate myself and my biz often.

    Now, that I’m no longer a “stranger” and hopefully can be considered an esteemed “SOB”…I’ll be hard to keep my fingers from responding, and responding often :-)

  11. April 25th, 2007 at 1:34 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Ponn!
    There seems to be a lot of thinking that goes on around here. I don’t know quite how that happens, must be the quiet of the saloon. :)

    I’m so glad your fingers decided to say hello. :p

  12. April 26th, 2007 at 6:10 am
    Stuart Baker said

    Hi Liz and all,

    Yes, this is a very thought and feeling- provoking post. So much to be grateful for.
    I can’t quite imagine not being able to have open conversations as we do.

    The dictators and corrupt leaders are trying to squash the natural urge that automatically leans toward the sunlight of human growth, deeper connection, and nurturing of the glow within. The world can be changed one mind and one heart at a time, and wonderful forums like this one certainly do their share to help.

    Here is a bow to our brothers and sisters who cannot connect freely as we do…

    Thanks, Liz

    Stuart Baker
    http://www.consciouscooperation.com

  13. April 26th, 2007 at 9:35 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Stuart,
    I’m grateful to be able to share my thoughts and to hear the thoughts that are set here to be heard. I learn so much each day while interact within the comment box. The growth and awareness that has become mine in these past two years is really the doing of the entire community.

    It takes a whole village to teach one Liz

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