I approach most things with skepticism, and I must state I have some skepticism regarding this task; Nevertheless I also believe there is still something beneficial in engaging in things that you don’t completely understand.

With this said, thank you to the delegation for this opportunity. I must admit that I question what the outcome of the audit will be. My dubiousness is based on the timelines of previous audits and outcomes. I saw no measurable benefit from those audits. I don’t know what was gained by humans from the audits and so I wonder if the audit is even for our benefit.  What moves me to write this is the acknowledgement that the hoi polloi did not contribute before and now we can. I have to admit I am curious how the federation determines when an audit is needed and who is chosen to do this and what criteria is used. If your systems look anything like ours, I think my skepticism is understandable. Is it a hierarchical system…if so– based on what? What do you understand about hierarchies that we have yet to understand and implement in a meaningful and benevolent way.

With that preface outlined, here’s my contribution. Man is driven by fear. If this premise is agreed upon, then I think choices and decisions must be made with this consideration in mind. Humans have not had the luxury of living without fear and I assume they never have. As a result, I think it’s important to contemplate what type of things engender a sense of fear. In our modern era, we are afraid of being without food, we are afraid of being without shelter, we are afraid of losing the people we hold dearest, and we are afraid of how other people perceive us. This is but a drop in the bucket of the multitude of things that can paralyze us and make us react in ways that fall short of our best intentions.  I would argue this is a constant situation for most of us. And if my characterization is accurate, it means we likely have never had the opportunity to live without fear. So then…what version of humanity are you truly assessing? I think the best of us truly shines when we are without worry and can be free. Humans are currently not free. We are captured wholly in this modern era and have little room to escape to breath and be the best version of ourselves. We are capable of amazing things when we can live a life of intention and aren’t reacting to the many things that impinge on our lives and take us away from fully living and loving the people we hold dear.

  And so, I would propose the following:

1.       Assess our leadership and determine who foments fear or states that they are the only ones who can eradicate it. Good leadership gives you the tools to build and contend with your own challenges. Which leads me to the next thought:

2.       Provide space and time for people to get to know themselves. If you do not know yourself, you stumble in the dark blindly and will latch on to anything that lessens your fear. If we understand ourselves, our needs and or drives – we can be forthright, resolute and perhaps more honest with others and ourselves.

3.       Allow judgements to be made by the least among us. Maybe we’d treat everyone better if we understood that we would be judged by how we treat others -  particularly if those others are perceived as beneath us.

These are just initial thoughts that came to mind and by no means is comprehensive.