and that each time I hear them I have the opportunity if I listen, to evolve, to be re-minded. This is so important. And yet it is something I totally forget because I have habit of running a thousand miles a minute.
So thank you to the makers of both films. I know your journey was hard, but I truly appreciate your work. It has had a great and powerfully uplifting impact on my life and I’m sure on the lives of many others.
The medium of film is a powerful new tool. Never have I had it hit home so hard as when I followed these two films with Syriana. (Yes, I’m about a year behind in movies – I have a two year-old!) After the movie I felt utterly hopeless; felt there was nothing I could do to help stem the tide of human self-destruction. What a contrast! But what was interesting is that this very combination of movies highlighted a personal question I’ve had in my mind for awhile now. A question I haven’t answered yet and that was again brought to my attention during a party conversation at my house on July 4 th.
An acquaintance basically said “making Bleep was a waste of time.” That people really needed to be “being” rather than “doing” stuff, and that the world would change accordingly.
I’ve always agreed with Ghandi’s “Be the change you want to see in the world.” But does that mean I don’t have to “do” anything? Does that mean I only change my consciousness and let the rest of the world go along as it will? Yes, I can see that uplifting my own consciousness would affect world consciousness for the better. But is it enough? I’m an action person. How can I just “be” when what I want is to help create a world of peace for my child? And when I see what a personal difference movies like The Secret and Peaceful Warrior can make, how can I sit back and do nothing about the vision films like Syriana produce?
Many people have told me they feel the same way I do - that we’re teetering on the precipice and which way we go depends on each of us. I’m not a politician. Nor am I any sort of world mover and shaker. I’m a filmmaker. For my part, I’ve decided to continue to do what I love with the intent of building hope, love and empowerment for our future. And I have created Elora Media (www.eloramedia.com), a publishing company which, in the next few months, will be launching books and videos for children that “build self-awareness, and provide children with mental, emotional, and spiritual tools that will enable them to handle life’s opportunities and challenges with confidence and grace.” (Please check out our website and newsletter for children and parents alike!)
But back to the doing/being question. Can we just “be the change we want to see?” Is that enough? How do we balance the two? How do you - our readers - handle this?
With love and appreciation,
Betsy page 1 2
