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Issue 2 > Revolution.

Revolution.

Steven Van Zandt speaks of balance, love and forgiveness, discipline, focus, dedication, patience, and righteous determination.

The revolution begins here. By 'here' I mean the 'general, soldier, strategist, architect' of this revolution is right there staring back at you when you look in the mirror.

There will always be the question of how much genetic inclination, early environment, and circumstance (not to mention the possibility of fate or karma) have to do with one's destiny. But to some degree at least, your destiny is shaped by how much responsibility you want to take for it.

The modern revolution is fought on two fronts. In your own consciousness, and in your living room nightly on television.

The simple fact is that after the consciousness-raising, chemically-altered, confrontational '60s and '70s, we woke up hung-over in a world that for the first time was controlled by a truly mass media. We're playing catch-up, trying to adapt strategies to combat the newly organized controlling forces that shape our lives. Until we do, we will remain confused and frustrated.

You want the truth? You'd better not take anybody's word for it. You can't trust the television, radio, the newspapers, politicians, teachers, rock and roll, the clergy; if you can name it—you can't trust it. Books are your best bet but even then you have to double- and triple-check your sources. We have to read a lot of different things and/or talk to people with opposing views and then decide for ourselves.

The fundamental tenet of this revolution is realizing, accepting, and embracing the fact that everyone and everything on this planet is alive and connected. Understanding that is the hard part because there is no tradition of that sensibility in Western education.

The deeper you go inside yourself to find the truth, the closer you come to the common ground of the collective consciousness. Living one's life accordingly, embracing and fully experiencing the moment, will follow in time and eventually feel totally natural, but it's going to take a minute.

What is this revolution about? Revolutionary realization that all things are alive and connected, education without limits or prejudice, balance in all things, love and forgiveness, discipline, focus, dedication, patience, and righteous determination. In other words, all the basics both you and I know about, but don't have the discipline to put into practice.

Steven Van Zandt is a musician and actor.

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