The world has changed since the formation of The Movement in the 1940s, but the principles it stands for — and the things it values — have not.
The world is more fragmented than ever before.
New technologies have changed how we perceive our world, how we understand it, and how we communicate this understanding to one another.
The institutions, structures, and communities we once took for granted have gone.
I know the world I grew up in is no more.
The pace has changed. The opportunities have changed. The sense of community has changed.
The leadership of The Movement recognised this years ago and so we have been adjusting our efforts to better respond to this reality.
Adapting
Harking back to our founding visionary, B.A. “Bob” Santamaria, we asked, “What would Bob do?”
We know it is not enough to keep doing the same things in the same ways with the same expectations.
We have focused on the political process and direct political campaigns for years.
We have been highly successful.
But as the world changes, it gets harder and harder to affect the outcomes as we might like.
And this is especially because the vision of The Movement, the vision Bob embodied and enacted, is bigger and grander than any political campaign or economic programme.
The vision of The Movement is to build the Common Good for all Australians to enjoy, regardless of creed or heritage or wealth.
The vision of The Movement is to bring about an Australia where all can flourish in accord with what is Good, True, and Beautiful.
Politics is part of this. As is defence and security. As is the economy. So is art and culture and literature, theology and philosophy and education. So are backyard gatherings with the neighbours for drinks and a barbecue, going to church on Sundays or worshipping according to your beliefs.
This is an ongoing process – one that is renewed day after day, year after year, generation after generation.
Assessing
This process of renewal can be broken into three elements.
First, going back to our sources. We look to the lessons of the greats that have gone before us to apply them to our circumstances.
An example of this is the work Anna Krohn is doing with the Thomas More Centre, by bringing us back to our fundamental humanity and seeing the glorious vision of an integrated person. Other examples include the TMC YouTube channel and work with the YPAT program and the Democratic Club.
Second, there is assessing the broader environment. We need to know the world in which we are operating so we can better apply the lessons we learn from our study of what matters and why.
An example of this is the stellar work done by News Weekly in analysing and assessing the world in which we live. Not only is the analysis of causes and implications substantial and nuanced, but possible responses and solutions are proposed to the problems we face.
Third, there is reflecting on ourselves, our supporters, and our friends. Aristotle famously said that “knowing oneself is the beginning of Wisdom“. It is through knowing who we are that we know what we can do, and what we can do now.
We recently launched a survey of our supporters and friends. We want to get to know you better. Gone are the days when the only way you would find yourself involved in The Movement is through a personal invitation, and gone with them is the immediate personal connection that allows us to connect more deeply.
Please consider taking the survey. It is entirely confidential, and the only compulsory field is your email address. Feel free to skip anything you do not want to answer.
Sun Tzu said, “If you know the enemy and yourself, you will not lose a single battle.”
We know the enemy. We want to get to know you.
Together we can build a stronger Australia.
