A MORE PERFECT UNION

Howard E. Barrett, Jr.

aka Servant2All

     I am a writer, talk show host, entrepreneur, civil activist, and all-around “geriatric hippie”! “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony…” I am a host of two internet radio shows that I am presently on hiatus from. Still, archived segments are available here: "A More Perfect Union" and "Pluralistic CommUNITY of the Guiding Light".

     The goal of AMPU is to encourage dialogue on virtually any subject that can potentially move us, as  a nation -- economically, spiritually, socially, and politically -- toward the "more perfect union" our Founding Fathers spoke of and that our "living and breathing" constitution makes potentially attainable. It is my firm believe that the major impediment to this union, this "commUNITY", is the inclination to exert dominion over others. This propensity to exercise dominion in every aspect of our lives (sadly, including our romantic lives) makes true commUNITY impossible. Perhaps such a union is possible if mankind remains cognizant of the biblical pronouncement that dominion was given over other animals -- and not each other!

     PCGL, my other show, is really more of the same -- but from a purely religious/spiritual perspective. The Pluralistic CommUNITY of the Guiding Light is an innovative, pluralistic approach to spirituality that embraces ALL religions -- and atheists and agnostics, too! The cornerstone of it (and the book I am writing, "We and The Father Are One") considers two basic truths.

     Truth number one is that vast amounts of people of many faiths -- all over the world -- pray everyday in the name of a multiplex of spiritual deities and entities, and still receive the help or solace they request. Thus, it seems likely - if one adheres to a "One God" theory - that maybe WE care more about the name attributed to God -- or the spiritual force in the universe, whatever we call it -- than HE or it does.

     Truth number two is that belief and faith by definition imply the absence of knowledge. Without going to a dictionary to define terms, most would agree that the mere fact that one says he believes means that he doesn't know! Additionally, it is incontrovertible that: 1) that which can be proven IS; 2) that which can be disproved IS NOT; and 3) that which can neither be proven nor disproved may or may not BE. Thus, since the cornerstone of all “faiths” is belief -- predicated on things that may or may not BE --  the possible validity of other faiths cannot be reasonably discounted. And, yes, I am assuming that we can be reasonable!

     I also write two blogs. The first one - AMPU Blog - unlike most blogs, is comprised of more full-length articles. Soon these articles will be a weekly entry as I will use this site as a launching pad for a syndicated column -- hopefully utilizing the same name.

     The second blog - my most recent undertaking - "Profound Pontifications" is more of a typical blog. It has shorter posts that are likely to both keep the attention of the reader and encourage responses. My intent is to post an entry here three or four times a week.

     Additionally, some of my favorite videos - including those I may upload - can be viewed on my YouTube Channel. 

     Finally, let me explain why I am so fond of the moniker "Servant2All". I am a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The moniker “Servant2All” is taken from my fraternity motto: “First of all, servants to all, we shall transcend all”. To me, this means that one’s transcendence is intricately tied to one’s actions in helping others to rise — reaping and sowing, karma, “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”, etc. Thus, “service” has become a sort of “life mantra” for me.

     So using Servant2All as the banner on my cell phone, as my username on various sites like YouTube, numerous “Ning” groups, forums etc. merely serve as reminders to me of what the barometer of my everyday life should be. To remind me to be introspective and ask myself daily: “Did I do something exemplifying human kindness today?” Because the bottom line is, as Mahalia Jackson iterated many years ago:

If I can help somebody
As I travel along
If I can help somebody
With a word or song
If I can help somebody
From doing wrong
My living shall not be in vain.

PAY IT FORWARD!

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