Systemic Resources
A Declaration for Holistic Democracy
The following illustrates the kind of affirmation that could be the basis of unity for a holistic democracy movement.
We, the undersigned, commit to serve humanity, the environment, and life itself by addressing the whole person, the whole society, and our interwoven social system.
We urge the development of organizations committed to these goals whose members:
Unite our diverse peoples
Respect the essential equality of all human beings, affirm individuals’ multiple identities, and recognize each individual’s unique personality and particular skills.
Identify as a co-equal member of the human family and work together to serve our common purpose.
Control unconscious bias
Discourage oppressive or disresectful behavior and resist discrimination based on race, gender, class, sexual orientation, or any other similar identity.
Encourage members to improve their emotional reactions, engage in honest self-examination, and support each other with their personal and spiritual growth.
Oppose arbitrary efforts to dominate others
Promote partnerships, nurture democracy throughout society, empower people, and support freedom for all.
Prevent social problems
Correct root causes and stand up for each other.
Love others as they love themselves
Avoid selfishness and self-sacrifice, rely on love and trust rather than hate and fear, channel anger productively, and decline to scapegoat or demonize.
Attract people with contagious joy
Build face-to-face community, supportive online relationships, and caring friendships.
Build a more perfect union
Honor our nation’s accomplishments, maintain its highest traditions, and criticize its failures.
Push for compassionate policies supported by strong majorities
Engage in nonviolent civil disobedience and boycotts when needed to achieve this goal, while recognizing the value of visionary campaigns focused on goals not yet supported by strong majorities.
Transform our nation into a compassionate community that:
develops healthy families;
establishes everyone’s equal rights and their equality under the law;
assures everyone a decent standard of living;
cultivates shared leadership, assists the development of worker-owned businesses, and supports workers’ rights;
protects free speech, makes it easy for everyone to vote, and defends individuals’ freedom to engage in activities that don’t harm others;
lives in harmony with the natural environment;
respects all living creatures;
forms supportive relationships with other countries, affirms their right to self-determination, promotes human rights, and advocates peaceful resolution of conflicts with mediation and negotiation.
In these ways, step-by-step, person-by-person, family-by-family, community-by-community, and nation-by-nation, we pursue the eventual, evolutionary transformation of our social system into a compassionate community that serves humanity, the environment, and life itself.