This is the high season for masking and unmasking. Our Gods of Irony must be having fun as they watch us struggle with the implications of the Mueller indictments amidst the oil/water mixture of politics and conscience. Participatory democracy is unmasked more each day by/for our friend in the mirror. These are times of powerful transition in this Country and around the world. The masks of Truth, Opportunity and Responsibility are being pulled away. Clearer images are emerging. Inevitable, exciting and scary. We and our Better Angels have work to do. The stakes couldn't be higher, but the potential rewards are tremendous. READ ON.

Still Reeling From The Campaigns And Election

Many masks have been ripped off or voluntarily dropped by individuals, governments and organizations as we cumulatively awaken to the realities exposed through these campaigns. Scabs were torn off of the festering wounds of societal neglect that were angrily addressed through our election process. Economic inequity, inadequate public education and job training, lack of accessible, affordable healthcare, social injustice and dysfunctional government at many levels were just some of the high-impact issues that rocked our campaign worlds. This Country got a well-deserved face slap reality check, and our post-election inertia reflects the confusion, soul-searching and institutional introspection that can lead to defeat or rejuvenation. Let's choose the latter.

Removing Masks The Mueller Way

We have government, legal systems, corporate policies and various checks and balances because our human experiment requires them. Human, corporate and political nature are such that big egos and bad actors will push the limits if they can. These players can outsmart many restrictions, gain unfair advantage, and exploit weak governance until they meet their equal or superior in the pursuit of justice. They can wear the masks of integrity and power and invincibility until the faster gun with a badge shows up to call a halt and remove the masks. Robert Mueller wears that badge, and is the worst enemy of the arrogance of entitlement and presumptuous leadership. I'm writing this as his first indictments are being made public. We'll watch this high-integrity man of considerable experience methodically remove some masks of Washington power players who've played fast and loose with ethics and the law. It should be a most informative lesson for us all.

Removing Our Masks The Easier Way

Too many of us have tried to hide behind our masks to avoid dealing with the serious challenges of our dysfunctional government at many levels. Tribalism, blind partisanship and media buzz have knocked us off our center. We entertain ourselves to distraction to keep from dealing with the truth and those pesky facts. And when we're not paying attention, the bad guys and gals step into the void, and look what we've got. There's plenty of bipartisan and independent blame to go around. The dysfunction in Washington and many of our state capitols is to such extremes that we can no longer be shielded by our masks. We've got to act. To honestly face our friend in the mirror, pledge to be a constructive community catalyst, and help chart a better course. 

Our opportunities are unlimited. We have challenges with public education, healthcare, infrastructure, social justice, environment, tax reform, the arts, immigration, institutional racism, regulatory reform, energy alternatives, etc. Choose one or more issue priorities that resonate with you and determine how you can be most effective in serving them. Through local government and non-profits, through better relationships with your elected officials. Starting with your family, working through your neighborhood, religious affiliation or other activist associations who need good volunteers. Our communities need us. Our Better Angels are behind our protective masks.

A MOSEY CLOSE

Masks are fun at Halloween, but not so much out of the playful context. Not so much when they cloak evil intent or lull us into a false sense of anonymity to help us avoid personal responsibility. Robert Mueller will hopefully remove the masks of those who have taken improper advantage of their positions in business and government. We, on the other hand, can remove any personal masks that preclude our best service to our communities. Allowing our eyes to see, our hearts to feel and our hands to reach out, unfettered by real or imagined masks. BOO! ...LET'S MOSEY!