ALLSTATE INSURANCE:  PLEASE STOP YOUR CURRENT ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN!

The last time I could even remotely be called an “activist” was in 1959 when I was a freshman at University of Florida.  These were the days of segregation in the U.S.

Coming from a Northern State, I had never seen separate drinking fountains and hand sinks for white people and “colored” people, as the signs said.

My family abhorred prejudice, and this was instilled in me deeply. My 18-year old heart hurt empathizing with the hurt all the “colored” people must feel to be treated in this manner.   My personal activism was not great, but began with my using the drinking fountain marked “colored only” when I was in public places, and then extended to sitting in the back of the Greyhound bus which took me from Northern Florida through Macon, GA, to East Lansing, Michigan during vacation times.  The scowls and sidelong glances from white people as I spoke animatedly with my “colored” seat mates, including a Howard University student, did not deter me.  Later learning the unfortunate fate of many of those who defied this negative social order, I realized that I was somehow very protected.

Since those days, I have been aware of a lot of injustice in the world, but other than voting for someone who promised to change it, participating electronically through MoveOn.org, leaving a phone message on a Senator’s hot line, or donating to various causes, like Save Darfur campaign, I admit that I never have taken the time to search out a person of influence to register my feelings against something that I felt was extremely irresponsible.

Not until today, that is.

I enjoy watching the HGTV channel, which is all about good design in living.   I find myself grinning at every “reveal”, enjoying the pleasure of the people whose space has been upgraded beautifully.  For me it is “feel good” t.v. and entertaining.  Apparently the folks who watch this channel are a target demographic for Allstate Insurance Company, because they run numerous commercials.   Heavy duty actor, Dennis Haysbert, is the Allstate spokesperson.   I have always noticed an edginess to Allstate’s commercials, that never fails to wipe the grin off my face.  Their underlying current is FEAR.

Fear is what sells insurance.  Our fear of what might happen in some future time fuels us to buy various insurance.  Allstate understands this and, of course, plays up to it to sell more insurance.  O.K.,this is free enterprise, this is their right.

A few days ago, I turned on HGTV and caught part of Allstate’s new ad campaign.  What I saw was a close up of a man’s hand gouging a long hideous scratch along the side of a shiny vehicle in a parking garage.   Then on the screen came the words:  “MAYHEM IS COMING…  Are you in good hands?”

MAYHEM IS COMING????? Allstate is predicting mayhem?  It is the most socially irresponsible commercial I have ever seen.  I understand that Allstate needs to manipulate fear in order to sell more insurance, but this latest commercial is unconscionable, in my opinion.   I am choosing to believe that Allstate is ignorant of the effect a message like that has on the collective psyche, beyond stimulating the urge to buy insurance.

Humanity is already traumatized by a collapsing world financial situation, the National housing collapse, Wall Street debacle, BP oil spill, Global Warming, and the concurrent Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan wars.   It is not necessary to add to this fear or be party to whipping it up to panic level, as is possible when hundreds of thousands of viewers are bombarded with the message.

Not only does the visual message have an immediate negative impact, but on the quantum level—a level that science has proven is just as valid, though not visible—the scary specter spreads unseen, and seeps its way into the unconscious mind of every viewer creating even more worry, concern, fear.

We create whatever it is that we put attention upon. This is a Universal Rule of manifestation.

One of our recurring themes on Miracles and Grace is to place our attention on what is of positivity, of balance, cohesiveness, coherence, to bring about a great healing of our world; together we can re-build upon that foundation.  We wish to raise the consciousness of humanity, not feed its ignorant, dark side.   In his book, “POWER vs. FORCE”, Dr. David Hawkins remarks: “We’ve become fully accountable, whether we like it or not.  We’re at the point in the evolution of our collective awareness where we may even assume stewardship of consciousness itself.  Humanity is no longer resigned to passively paying the price of ignorance. . .”

Today, I obtained the telephone number of Allstate’s Corporate Headquarters and registered my view about their new campaign.  I spoke to one of the executive secretaries who was extremely accommodating.  She informed me that Allstate is getting calls from other people who share my feelings.  I will check back in a week to see how many more people are taking stewardship of consciousness and speaking up for themselves and their neighbors.  Hopefully, Allstate will rethink their output, take responsibility for the potential cost of their ads upon the communal consciousness, and will withdraw this insidious commercial series.

In the end, what do we really need to fear?  Truly, aren’t we already in Good Hands ?

(Allstate Corporate Office phone number is:  847-402–5448)