This presentation describes the difference between the absolute truth and the relative truth and its importance for activism.

1. EQUAL I
presented by
Things I Found on the Ground

2. DID YOU KNOW?
There are two truths: the Absolute and the Relative.

3. THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH
The absolute truth is that we are all equal. But. . .
Do we feel equal?
Are we treated as equals?
How do we relate to those around us who feel superior?
How do we relate to those around us who feel inferior?
Yet we are equal.

4. WHAT DOES EQUALITY
LOOK LIKE?
It looks like:
Abundant clean, fresh and healthy food for all
Fresh air, fertile soil, clean water
Physical and psychological safety
Access to livelihood
Freedom of spiritual, political and artistic expression
Loving recognition of similarities and differences

5. This is the absolute truth.

6. THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH
motivates our work for social justice.

7. Yet how can we work for something we have not experienced?

8. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW
How can you teach?

9. THE RELATIVE
TRUTH.

10. We live in a world of relative truth. It is a world bound by the
inequality of “isms” and o"en a blatant disregard for life in a# its
forms.

11. A LACK OF CONTACT WITH THE ABSOLUTE
TRUTH HANDICAPS ACTIVISTS. WE BRING A
SENSE OF INEQUALITY TO OUR WORK EVEN
AS WE TRY TO REVERSE INEQUALITIES.

12. LACK OF CONTACT WITH THE ABSOLUTE
TRUTH CREATES PERMUTATIONS OF
SORROW, FEAR AND ANGER THAT WORK
AGAINST US AS WE TRY TO WORK
TOGETHER.

13. We need a solution to the problem of relative inequality
because we need to experience the absolute truth of
the equality we work for as we work for it.

14. THERE IS A
SOLUTION.

15. And the good news is. . .
WE DON’T NEED TO FIND THE ABSOLUTE
TRUTH OF EQUALITY IN ORDER TO WORK ON
THE RELATIVE TRUTH OF INEQUALITY.

16. WE CAN LEARN TO HOLD TWO TRUTHS.
The absolute truth of equality and the relative truth of living in
an unjust world.

17. OUR WORK ON THE EXPERIENCE OF EQUALITY WILL HAPPEN
CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITH OUR WORK FOR EQUALITY IN THE
PHENOMENAL WORLD.

18. AS WE WORK FOR EQUALITY AMONG THE PEOPLE AROUND US WE
MUST STRIVE FOR A DEEPLY FELT EXPERIENCE OF THE ABSOLUTE
TRUTH. THAT WAY, WE CAN MEET AS EQUALS.

19. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT YOUR WORLD
WOULD FEEL LIKE IF YOU NOT ONLY
BELIEVED IN EQUALITY, BUT YOU EMBODIED
IT? AT EVERY RALLY, MEETING,
CONFERENCE, WITH EVERY TEXT AND POST,
YOU WOULD BRING THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH
OF EQUALITY. BECAUSE YOU ARE EQUAL.

20. HOW DO YOU GET
THERE?

21. SIMPLE.

22. RESEARCH YOUR
OPTIONS FOR
CONTEMPLATIVE
PRACTICE
AND BEGIN.

23. BECAUSE YOU ARE
EQUAL.

24. YOU MUST LEARN TO
FEEL IT.