Who’s Responsible?

ALF’s Network Weaver, Akemi Flynn (Class XXVII) asks a very important question in this blog post: Who’s Responsible?
Who is responsible? That’s a question we have been hearing and asking in many settings – within our ALF network, our broader community, and our country – in the last few days and weeks. Often the question is about placing blame or framing scapegoats. Who is the whistle blower? Who leaked the news? Who’s breaking the law by crossing the border? Who said what on social media? How dare they! Sometimes it’s about seeking clarity about who will take action – who will provide leadership. If we’re honest, sometimes we just want to know someone else is taking care of a problem so we don’t have to worry about it.
Last month, at the Summit on Homelessness, hosted by Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese (ALF Class XXXIII) and ALF, there were a range of responses to the question: Who’s responsible for solving homelessness in our community? A houseless person blamed people living on the streets for making poor choices. “The government” was the quick response from others who explained that they and their organizations weren’t capable of solving the problem. Last week, at ALF’s convening “What would it take to create a California for all?”, Chris Brenner (ALF Class XXXI) and Manuel Pastor introduced the concept of a “solidarity economy”. We all benefit when we create our economy and community of mutuality – we can’t sustain a growing economy for long if it’s based on growing inequalities.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
In my Jodo Shinshu Buddhist tradition, we recite: “I am a link in Amida Buddha’s Golden Chain of love that stretches around the world. I must keep my link bright and strong… knowing that my actions and inactions result in not only my happiness or unhappiness but also the happiness or unhappiness of others, as well.”
So, who’s responsible? Imagine if we all responded: I am. We are!
How might we, as individual Senior Fellows, walk the talk of ALF in order to create a more equitable and thriving community and country? How might we, collectively, fulfill the promise and power of our ALF network of leaders from diverse sectors, experiences, and perspectives with a shared commitment to the common good?