What’s Your Pledge?
January 20, 2009
Hello, my friends. I was watching the Oprah show today, and the show today and tomorrow is all about Barack Obama’s inauguration. She is focusing on how people are taking a Pledge of Service across the country. The 2008 presidential election, as many of us know, has gotten so many people involved in community service and/or service to the country, state, city, whatever you can do to make this world a bit better.
About a year and a half ago, I created this blog with my friends to have a place to voice progressive ideas, to support my peers, and to have a record of our exchanges for my daughter and for all of us in the future. I am very proud of everyone’s involvement, and I am constantly encouraged by everyone’s support. My friends have helped me feel not so lonely as the freak that I feel like I am at times. Best of all, though, my friends teach me and inspire me to do good things and better things.
Anyway, back to the Oprah show 
In honor of the entrance of a new president, and good riddance to an old one, I wanted to take this time and this place to share my Pledge of Service for this year:
I, Spring Houghton, pledge to ride my bike and/or walk to ANY destination within 5 miles. (Weather permitting, because I’m kinda a weenie.) I want you, my best friends and fellow Earthlings, to hold me accountable to this pledge.
What are YOUR pledges, if you have any? Remember, there is nothing too small or too big. Let me know what’s on your mind and, of course, how I can help you.
January 20, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Well, at first I was going to (playfully) ridicule you for name-checking Oprah twice while failing to mention Martin Luther King (whom this call to service was intended to honor). It would have been nothing against you, of course–it would have simply been yet another opportunity for me to pounce on Oprah. But as soon as I thought that, I slapped myself on the wrist because I really have no good reason to be as critical of Oprah as I am, since in reality I know very little about her. And so I realized what my own pledge will be:
While I will continue to regard things that have mass appeal with skepticism, I will no longer be critical (or supportive) of things about which I am uneducated. In other words, I will try to not be an stupid arrogant loudmouth. This may not sound like much, but trust me, I will view this as quite an accomplishment. Besides, there has been waaaaaaay to much of this sort of thing during the last 8 years.
Which means I have lots of studying to do before I can start being supportive or critical again. The Israel/Palestine conflict, Eckhart Tolle, Sarah Palin (if she remains relevant, of course, which is doubtful), embryonic stem cell research, Bill Richardson, some band called Tiaradactyl, another called TV On The Radio, and, dammit, Oprah Winfrey.
January 21, 2009 at 2:04 am
I pledge to try to come to people with an expectation of goodness instead of badness.
January 21, 2009 at 2:38 am
TV on the Radio is good…really good! But that might just be me…I also happen to believe that Oprah is a genius.
Miz H, that is a good one. I think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah would both be proud
January 23, 2009 at 5:13 am
To buy more stuff (but of course, only what I actually need) at small local businesses, from thrift stores, or just try to find it through Freecycle.
January 24, 2009 at 9:30 pm
I finally thought of my pledge! I pledge to make or buy some reusable grocery bags. Even though I use my plastic bags as trash liners, I still have way too many. So I’ll acquire more when I need them; until then, reusable bags!