Story of Now

Now we know why you’ve been called to a particular mission, we know something of who it is you want to call upon to join you in that mission, so what action does that mission require of you right here, right now, in this place?

A ‘story of now” is urgent, it requires dropping other things and paying attention, it is rooted in the values you celebrated in your story of self and us, and a contradiction to those values that requires action.

* Do you share the value that those who sacrifice for their country should be honored for doing so? Does the quality of care returning veterans receive meet this standard? If not, what are you going to do about it?

* Do you share the value that the current generation should pass on a livable world to the next generation? Do the measures being taken to deal with climate change meet this standard? If not, what are you going to do about it?

* Do you share the value that powerful institutions, especially those that benefit from public support, have moral responsibilities to the public in how they use their power? Which one’s? How? What are you going to do about it?

* Do you share the value that all racial, religious, and cultural groups should be treated equally under the law? Can leaders who only describe problem, but fail to identify action those whom they bring together can take to address the problem, aren’t very good leaders. A list of “100 things you can do to make the world better” is a “cop-out.” If you are called to address a real challenge, a challenge so urgent have motivated us to face it as well, then you also have a responsibility to invite us to join you in action that has some chance of success. A ‘story of now” is not simply a call to make a choice, to act – it is a call to “hopeful” action.

If you ask me to “change a light bulb” for example, to deal with climate change, do you really think it will happen? Especially if it’s among 100 other things I might – or might not – do? But if you ask me to join you in persuading the Kennedy School to change all of its light bulbs by signing a student petition, joining you in a delegation to the dean, and, adding my name to a public list of KSG students who have committed to changing the light bulbs where they live, what do you think the odds are of success? An even if the possibility of success seems remote, why is credible action still required? Wouldn’t forming a group committed to identifying action steps that can be taken by x date also be a form of action?

What urgent “challenge” might you call upon us to face? What specific “action” might you call upon us to take? Please respond with single sentences if you can.

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