The more people who want to answer my question, “How will we live tomorrow?” the better. For starters, I plan to ask four specific groups: people I know; people I don’t know, people in power today; and people who offer up their ideas. That covers pretty much everybody in one form or another, but I’m open to other suggestions to encourage participation.

People I Know. This is the obvious, easiest group. I will contact the friends, family, and deep thinkers I already know and ask them whether they will grant me a single question interview. Alternatively, they may choose to script their response to my question instead, which is also fine by me.

People I Don’t Know. Like most Americans, I live in a bubble of like-minded folks. My particular bubble is well-educated, affluent, secular, male, and white. In other words, I’m privileged. Some might say I’m self-made, since I’m more educated and affluent than my family of origin, but I’ve received special benefits bestowed upon clever white guys. I don’t apologize for my position in society, but I acknowledge it stems as much from luck as effort. I am grateful for my good fortune.

Although I know a few individuals outside my bubble – my Mormon brother, my Army nephew, and my black lesbian theologian friend – I need to get outside my bubble for a wider perspective. That’s why everyday I plan to ask at least one person I don’t know,“How will we live tomorrow?” More importantly, that’s why I’m planning a route that consciously brings me among people I don’t know. I want to go to Dearborn, MI because I don’t know any Muslims. I want to go to Williston, ND and Fresno, CA because I don’t know any itinerant workers. I want to go to Huntsville, AL because I hardly know anyone in the South. I want to ask eccentrics and journeymen, rich and poor, mansioned and homeless, young and old, ailing and robust.

People in Power Today. Tomorrow will not spring full-blown from nowhere. It will be built upon today. Therefore, I want to offer individuals in power now a podium to articulate their vision. In advance of coming to each state, I plan to contact the governor, U.S. Senators and Representatives to solicit their answer to my question.

When I get to Iowa, I’ll invite all the Presidential candidates to respond. I also plan to ask business, religious, social, and cultural leaders. I’d like to know whether there is confluence between Howard Schultz’ (Starbucks) and the Walton’s (Wal-Mart) view of tomorrow. Do Peter Morales (Unitarian-Universalist Association) and Pat Robertson share any common ground? What do entertainers who dabble in tomorrow, from the indie band, The Lisps (Futurity) to Christopher Nolan (Interstellar), have to say about tomorrow?

Please send me suggestions of influential people I should invite to answer my question. Make a comment here or contact me at fallonpaule@gmail.com. They won’t all answer, but if even some do, we can help shape our national conversation.

People Who Offer Up Ideas. Finally, I welcome anyone to answer my question, and I promise to post on this blog all the responses that meet the guidelines included below. Anyone who has an idea of how we can live tomorrow is invited to contribute.

I look forward to hearing from YOU.

__________

Guidelines. How to submit you answer to “How will we live tomorrow?”

• – Answer the question, “How Will We Live Tomorrow?” in 500 words or less.
• – Provide up to three supporting images, audio or video clips.
• – Substantiate all statistics and references with relevant hyperlinks.
• – Respect other people and their opinions – no trolls, rants or insults.
• – Include your real name. This will be posted with your response.
• – Provide a line or two about you – location, age, occupation, passion.
• – Provide you contact information and tell me whether to post it with your response.
• – Email your submission to fallonpaule@gmail.com. Thanks!