08 May 2015

Abby Martin's parting words on Breaking the Set's finale

Truly a great goodbye speech, the words are entirely hers not mine.  Transcribed from the clip on Youtube of Breaking The Set's final episode, 27 February 2015.

Impermanence is an inescapable human condition.  Life is suffering, and our resistance to change is at the root of this suffering.  The river at one moment is not the same as the river in the next, and it never will be.  And that’s okay.  Life is constant change and growth, and we need to embrace that.  Even on a cellular level, if you’re not changing, you’re not growing.  

Humility is key.  Every day we need to take on the world understanding how much we still don’t know.  We need to open our minds and our hearts, to put ourselves in other people’s shoes.  We need to listen to each other, and shout from the rooftops, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore!”.  Allow ourselves to laugh as how insane the world can be, and cry.  Call your parents and tell them that you love them.  Take the time to smile.  Extend a hand, paint, photograph, and sing at the top of your lungs.  And most importantly, love each other.  

Remember that nations are invented, borders are invisible, prejudice is learned.  We’re all human beings who bleed the same blood and shed the same tears.  Every time a person suffers from Detroit to Gaza, that’s our brother, that’s our sister, that’s our family.  

Yes, the problems of the world are daunting, and yes, suffering is inescapable, but there’s so much breath-taking beauty on the planet that needs to be honored too.  But to truly appreciate the good, we must first free ourselves from the prisons of our own minds, and the dogma society ingrains in us.  Our empathy needs to extend to every corner of the Earth, to every living thing.

We miss you, Abby.  Non illegitimi ite, and keep the faith.





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