Lost then found

Obviously written sometime in the early 70’s of the 20^th Century.  I normally dated everything but this paper was torn in the right hand corner with no date. Fairly certain it was written as an introduction to a script I started writing about a writer seeking isolation on the island of Maui.  The reference to Munich makes me think this was scripted shortly after the 1972 Summer Olympics.

                                “To understand this story of an everyday man

                                      You only have to be an everyday man to understand”

    

     The complications in my life are probably no different than anyone who shall read these words.  They honestly represent the special three things that dominate us all; Love, Money and Thought.

     

For an extended period of time I calculated my troubles to be extra special. I thought no one else could be going through the changes the same as I.  That calculation was, and is, wrong in this time of total change.   From Washington to Viet-Nam, from Munich to San Francisco, from Peking to South Africa…..I am indeed experiencing incredible change but obviously….so are you.

 

The main question now seems to be…….what shall we do?  Shall we accept the changes passively and not try to incorporate our own ideas? That direction of action can be justified by the following thought.

Why complicate matters more?  Our indulgence of the various situations will create less hassle in an obviously chaotic climate. That answer is fine if you can allow yourself the minute pleasure of observation without participation.

 

I personally find it very difficult not to be aroused by activity taking place in my immediate surroundings.  Now the question comes down to immediate surroundings being defined as what specific area do I constitute as immediate surroundings.  For me it is simply an area that happens to be the size of…..Earth.  I know I don’t have the ability or the gifts to save the earth and I’m pretty sure that the actual planet doesn’t need saving nor does it really care what we, the human species, does in our short time as top of the food chain warriors.

 

I do know that I wish to be concerned and interested, and I want to be able to describe my interpretations of the current situation. By being an interested and concerned person I therefore have a duty.  That duty takes shape in the form of opinions about obvious detrimental events. And you quietly ask or think the following thought or utter the following words……Detrimental to whom or what?  And then I quietly answer……

 

Detrimental to the flourishing and blossoming existence that should be available and possible for all members of the human race.

 I can never assume within any of my personal naivety that immediate planetary transformation of beauty and harmony will take place.…..but I strongly believe that construction toward those ideals should be implemented whenever anyone considers the concept of tomorrow and what role human behavior plays in the process of developing a better tomorrow.

 

By working for a better tomorrow I accept today as being worthwhile, exciting and of course quite trying and disappointing.

 

The main factor is that by involving myself now……at this moment…..I know I am alive and that I can feel the process of what it means to be a person who cares about the future of the entire human race.

 Thus there is more worth in my duty then in someone who wishes to not care or even feel somewhat responsible for the world as it is……..

 I fully realize that there are many people who don’t feel there is a need to change.  I also understand that those people are in possession of the power, money and positions that allow them to retain a status quo.  Those people are not the motivation for me writing this story.  This story is written for those who feel they can do nothing but wish to do something.   What that something is simply comes down to the act of caring.

 

I simply want people to care about others.  Not in the sense of giving completely what they have and not in the sense of political piracy as practiced by communists and socialists.…..not dog eat dog free enterprise systems that devour the poor and enhance the wealthy…..not tyranny nor anarchy but simply something that can work……..

 ……an absolute internal thought of concern for the living free will…….of all.

and then the story starts……..

 

 Transcribed from ripped and torn single sheet of paper found inside a book on May 13 2013.

 

Michael Timothy McAlevey