Nation of Nurture

A Manifesto For Any Nation

Nurturing human beings, body and spirit, relationships, and nature.

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1. A Nation Of Human Beings

I believe that this nation is made up of persons, and that a person is made up of body and spirit.

This nation is made of and for human beings. Things such as economy, technology, and entertainment are made to serve the people and not the other way around.


2. Nation Of Bodies & Spirits

I believe that the full development and happiness of each person lies in nurturing both the body and the spirit[1].

People of varying beliefs may disagree on the exact terminology. Still, we can all see that each person possesses a quantitative material aspect (the physical body, an organic system of flesh and bone, observable, measurable, and manipulatable by current science) and a qualitative immaterial aspect (the spirit, the soul, the consciousness, the mind, the conscience, the heart, ideas, memories, feelings, all things that current science cannot quite fully explain).

A healthy body makes a healthy spirit, and vice versa.

A healthy body eats properly, exercises regularly, and rests adequately. A healthy body makes it possible for a person to take care of himself or herself, take care of others, go places, live under challenging conditions, and pursue interests.

A healthy spirit is curious and playful, responsible and humble, truthful and kind. A healthy spirit makes it possible for a person to engage in creative endeavours, persevere in difficult situations, and appreciate the joys of life.

3. A Nation of Relationships

I believe that when persons nurture each other in their relationships, they create value for all.

A relationship requires a person to think beyond himself or herself, to empathize, to be responsible for more than the self, to transcend personal needs and wants in order to serve a greater, common purpose.

Such an attitude is essential to nation-building. Such an attitude also cultivates the spirit. To nurture others is to nurture the self.[2]

The family is the core of human relationships. My understanding of the definition of "family" extends to include the non-conventional forms of family, such as childless couples, single parents, same-sex unions, and "chosen" families. The specific form is not so important; what is important is how it engages the individual person in responsibility and community.

4. A Nation of Nature

I believe that when persons nurture nature, they create value for all.

A nation is made up of persons, and these persons live on planet Earth. We all use its resources. We all interact with its ecosystems. We are active inhabitants of this on one living biosphere.

This planet's current state of conditions-- supply of resources, atmospheric balance, food web, topography, and so on-- allow humans to survive and thrive. However, as a species we are destroying this very balance in our shortsighted hyperconsumerist acquisition of more and more stuff[3]. The idea here, is not to save the planet. The planet will go on with or without human beings, with or without any life forms at all. The idea is to preserve a state of conditions that will sustain us on this planet.

To nurture nature, is to nurture the self.

Civilization survives and thrives by the permission of nature.

5. A Nation of Nurture

I believe that a nation is measured by nurture.

Its people nurture themselves, each other, and nature.
Its influential institutions (schools and media) share this philosophy.

Its governing institutions (policies and servant leaders) uphold this philosophy.
Its productive institutions (business and the arts) uphold this philosophy.

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[1] "You are an indivisible entity of matter and consciousness. Renounce your consciousness and you become a brute. Renounce your body and you become a fake. Renounce the material world and you surrender it to evil." (Ayn Rand)

[2] "The most selfish thing you do can do is to help other people." (Brian Mullaney)

[3] The Story of Stuff explains, simply and quickly, where all this stuff comes from, how it's made, and the real costs that aren't included in the price tags.

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This manifesto is an excerpt adapted from my paper, "If I Were The President Of The Philippines".

Paper written for Sociology 10 class under Sir Kenneth Cardenas, University of the Philippines.

Originally posted on my Facebook account, March 2010.