The Compassionate Rebel Revolution:
Ordinary People Changing the World
The Compassionate Rebel Revolution: Ordinary People Changing the World follows the inspiring life journeys of some 60 everyday heroes as they travel the winding road of social transformation.
Walk with runaway 12-year-old Jodie Evans, as she painfully logs the miles that distance her from her home and family, long before she becomes a social change pioneer; with migrant farm worker Ana Castillo wearily trudging through the seemingly endless rows of corn that she has to conquer before sundown; with Muslim-American Sami Rasouli picking up trash and making peace on war-torn Iraqi streets.
Ride with Diana Knobel through miles of devastation as she delivers yet another round of supplies to the victims of Hurricane Katrina; with Marv Davidov on a freedom riders bus boldly venturing into the teeth of civil rights turmoil. March with Mary Heller and the million moms for gun control, Lu Saminiego championing immigrant rights, and Mel Duncan protesting war in the shadows of the White House. Meet Lynn Hoelzel, who overcame a lifelong battle with mental illness by discovering an ability to make people laugh, and Muriel Simmons, an elderly grandmother and surrogate mother, who turned around a crime-infested neighborhood with the help of an old-fashioned snow cone machine.
In this second Compassionate Rebel anthology (learn about the first book here), we continue to tell stories of ordinary citizens who have overcome adversity and channeled their anger at injustice into positive action. But unlike the first locally-focused book, these compassionate rebels come from all over the world. And their stories, written by a variety of authors, cover a broad range of relevant topics, including war and peace, civil and human rights, immigration, ecology and sustainability, education, community building, spirituality, health and wellness, electoral, corporate and media reform, and the new youth movement, among others .
These stories are placed in chapters that represent categories of compassionate rebellion. In "Ground Zero Heroes: and "Peaceful Messengers" we focus on stories of caring and courage during 9/11 and from Vietnam to Iraq and beyond, on the battlefield and in the streets of communities here and abroad. "Freedom Riders/Freedom Fighters" highlights the latest version of the civil rights movement, spotlighting the struggles and triumphs of immigrant citizens working to make America a better place to live.
The "Community Builders" chapter covers a variety of grassroots efforts from urban neighborhood organizing to rural co-operatives and communal living with an emphasis on preserving the health of the planet and those who inhabit it. The section of the book called "The Care Givers" ranges from a gallant mission in the wake of Katrina and compassionate efforts to save families and children in Africa and Vietnam to the compelling stories of individuals who have risen above personal setbacks to bring joy and healing to others.
"Speak Out Sisters" looks at the contemporary women's movement through the lens of several female activists struggling with personal empowerment while transforming our culture. "Generation Next" features examples of a newly emerging youth movement that literally holds the future of the world in its hands. In our closing chapter titled "The Reformers" we focus on efforts to reform three of our most basic and vital forms of democracy: electoral politics, the media and corporate capitalism.
The "Afterword" emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a way to change society, and offers readers a chance to find and tell their compassionate rebel stories. It also is a reminder that deep down inside we are all part of the compassionate rebel revolution.
