Towards an Enlightened & Sustainable World

Interview Excerpt: Phylicia Rashad on Occupy Wall Street

Are the cuts in education one of our country’s main problems at the moment?
What our country looks at right now — there is this insidious greed and apathy. We are told there is not enough money for education, but somehow there is enough money for people to raise billions of dollars to defeat somebody in an election? Oh! Okay! Does that make sense?

We really don’t stop to think about it until we’re posed the question.
No, you don’t because you don’t read between the lines and beneath the surface. It doesn’t make sense. So, with all of the things we could do to make life better for other people, as well as for ourselves because we’re all affected by this, I think that everybody who really loves our country should stand and protest to these cuts in education. Without an educated populist, democracy cannot sustain itself. It will not be sustained. Not only that, education is the key to innovation, and that is what has kept this country in the forefront.

And what about those who are educated and can’t find jobs?
Okay, let’s go further, and I don’t want anybody to get mad, but I’ve got to say it because it’s true. Young people are usually at the forefront of change. Young people are not dumb. Young people are not stupid, and I don’t think we’ve seen the last of occupy movements.

What do you think of the occupy movements?
At the core of those were some well organized and thoughtful people. Let’s just look at the price of oil. Let’s just take one thing. When did the price of oil begin to soar? Just go back. Just go back. Most of us would never guess that it would have something to do with the stock exchange.

That’s your opinion.
Historically, let’s just look at it. Go look at it. And gold, which has always been so valuable, which was devalued, and now, what happened? Just go look at it. We are capable of so much greatness, but we really have to look deeper within ourselves and be willing to uncover it and not be afraid of it. This is a lovely film [Good Deeds], but it’s really a model for something even greater.

Which is?
What happens when we look inside to find what’s really speaking to our hearts? How many times do we miss the opportunities to do that?

Let’s continue with looking deeper. It appears you are saying these issues we are facing go further than just what the president has done or could do.
Oh, baby, it’s not about one man. It’s about all of us. Let’s go back a few years ago where in secondary education civics and economics were taken out of the curriculum. Without instructions in civics, do you really understand the nature of your government and how it’s structured and how it works and your responsibility as a citizen? Not at all, dear! When you hear about the soaring costs of political campaigns, this makes my mind say, “Are votes bought?” This also makes me wonder, is this what we’re extending to the world when we say, “Let’s extend democracy in this corner of the world?” Is this what we mean? You know, those men who trudged across the Delaware with George Washington had rags tied around their feet. Now, that’s all I’ve got to say about that.

Source: The Huffington Post