What it means for us: taking a part in making things better.
Current sociological research shows that leaving society and the common man behind in our search of higher GDP is raising depression, divorces, higher income equality, and personal bankruptcy.
The American Hypermarket, 1950-2000, page 263
We need to take the mantle of our responsibility as individuals in our society in order to make it a place that nourishes us.
We need to better society on an individual level by supporting one another, volunteering, contributing to charity, or doing something that helps the growth and health of your community.
Barack Obama is not sending out this message casually, he knows that in order to actually make a difference in the quality of our lives we need to play direct roles in the health of our society.
This is the reason the words Barack Obama speaks resonates so strongly with people. His ideas prioritize the health of the community and the society, not just the absence of illness, but the promotion of happiness.
Real change is saying something different and doing it the same way, its finding a new way of doing things to achieve the things we truly want, strength, security, health, happiness overall. By focusing on making society a place where everyone helps each other towards these goals, we grow stronger as a nation, and happier with our place in the world.
Its not rosy or naive, its simple doing something as an individual, not simply watching and applauding others do it. The only way something will change for us personally is if we ourselves change - we need to adopt these goals and practice what we preach.
All it takes is for us to directly contribute to society, become a real grassroots movement to make this country about the ideals we believe in, freedom, the right to pursue happiness, and doing unto others in order to create that happiness. This is not some system separated from you, not a market that demands for your financial productivity, this is the people and institutions that surrounds you, the system you create by your day to day interactions.
We can either let a select few dictate the rules the guide us, or we can let our direction encompass everyone, and work together as a nation towards higher goals. Only together can we go to better places, supporting the groups that we are always a part of: our community, our society, and our nation.
Please check out www.usaservice.org, just to see if there is something that interests you, is something you would find enjoy, maybe even find relaxing. This is for you, we are all shaped by the state of our society, make that interaction positive by contributing to the health of your own community and to the society to which you belong.