Yeah, I realize I’m talking about this idea of a dream community a lot, but it feels really important to me right now. As many of you know, I spend most of my day online because of my job, which means I see a lot of commentary. It’s amazing what people will say when they think they are anonymous. Some dismiss it as being just posturing but I wonder if it isn’t people feeling free to give in to the darker parts of themself.

There’s a lot of talk about freedom online, freedom to say whatever people want, freedom from the perceived restriction of polite society. But as far as I can tall, most of the time that means freedom to be the biggest asshole and bully they can be. The argument is that everyone is a grownup, and can take–but that’s not entirely true. I can rationally take the mudslinging and personal attacks that go around forums, but that isn’t how I chose to spend my time. Who signs up for emotional abuse? So the rational, sane, moderate folks eventually wander away from an unmoderated forum, to go do better things, leaving the bullies to their playground.

I’m afraid the same thing is happening in this country. Look at the reactions to the Ft. Hood shooting, or the health care bill. I’ve seen calls to set up internment camps for all Muslims, to deport them, to kick American Muslims or Arab-Americans (frequently with very little understanding that the two are not the same thing in many cases) out of the military. I’ve seen people outraged, apoplectic over the idea that someone who can’t afford health care might be able to purchase it because of a public plan, people disgusted that they might have to contribute some of their good fortune–and that’s what it is, fortune, because while hard work plays a role in this economy especially stability and security are half luck–to take care of the less fortunate. A complete lack of understanding that there are plenty of hard-working, employed Americans with no health care due to the greed of corporations who care more about giving CEOs multi-million dollar salaries and bonuses than providing health insurance for their employees who make minimum wage. I’ve seen things like “get a job” and “get over it” thrown around more than I can count.

It makes me sad. It makes me worried. It makes me afraid. Is this where our country is going? Are the bullies going to shout down logic and compassion, until we end up a nation where it’s every man for himself and screw everyone else? Rather than stew in this fear, wondering how much worse it’s going to get before we start realizing that compassion, tolerance, and caring are not signs of weakness but of strength, I started to think again about my dream community.

In an intentional community, there would need to be some statement of values. Things that people would all come together and agree on, as  a part of living there.  What would those be?

Compassion Compassion is not weak. In fact, it’s far more difficult than being callous. This is not the type of place where you shrug your shoulders when someone is having a tough time and say suck it up. It’s not the kind of place where you walk past an accident or ignore problems because they don’t affect you.

Respect Everyone has opinions and worldviews. They may not align. That’s okay. Debate is okay. It’s welcome. But there are lines. Resepct the opinions of others, and respect their choices so long as they aren’t harming others. By the same token, ask yourself if what you’re doing is going to harmor cause distress for those around you.

Community If you’re part of an intentional community, you’re there because you want to be. A group of people who happen to live in one area doesn’t make a community any more than a pile of beans and an onion sitting next to each other in a pot make soup.  Of course, everyone needs time alone, and some may need more than others. That’s cool. But there’s still an element of taking part in and contributing to the community that’s essential.

Sustainability The Earth is something we should care for, not rape and pillage. Even if everyone practices sustainability in their own way there should be an effort to live lightly, and to create something that can last.

Tolerance Even if this starts with a relatively small group, it will grow. Growth means diversity, and that should be not just tolerated but welcomed. Religion, race, gender, sexuality, age, history–it doesn’t matter what someone looks like, what they believe, or even what they may have believed in the past. They should be accepted and welcomed, as long as they’re interested in being a part of something like this, and these values. We’re all people.

That seems like a pretty good start, but I’m sure I’m leaving some things out. Now I can just dream of living somewhere with values like this…or what it would look like if the whole country started living like this. Hey, I can dream big, okay?