Have you been feeling it? The despair. The overwhelming weight of a nation that has gone horribly off the tracks? It's bad, I'll grant you that. And we've lost some great warriors like Molly Ivins and Joe Bageant.
I remember losing Martin, and Robert and of course John before the other two. That was a rough time for our country. I was only a child at the time and I remember the sadness and tension of all that loss and the uncertainty and worry on the faces of my parents and their friends. It was like the world was falling apart.
Who do we look to now to lead us through the darkness? To lift us from the weight of Trayvon's murder, of Texas' regressive laws that support potential life when it comes to stopping women from getting abortions but could care less when it comes to the life of the incarcerated? Who are our leaders now that have any integrity? Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Wendy Davis, Planned Parenthood and its supporters, Chris Hedges, Bill Moyers. Their messages are a call to action, and yet I feel helpless. I don't know how to really tangibly make a difference in this era when corporations trump citizenship. Except to stay knowledgeable, informed.
I've also come to realize it's important to stay healthy and find joyful things in my days. It's the only way to counter my world weary soul. The party may be over, but that doesn't mean I have to stop baking double chocolate cakes. Or peach/blueberry crumble. We may go down, but I, for one, intend to go down with as much joy as I can muster.
You are only weeks older than me, and we come from the same place, more or less.
My only answer is "eyes on the prize" -- to keep doing what we can, when we can; to know that justice and equality may be elusive, but the arc bends toward them. I have to have faith that being informed counts; caring counts; that many people caring and speaking, and acting when they can, moves things forward.
You know as well as I do that people we look to as leaders of change in the past -- they were not universally revered in their own time. JFK's win was a bitter pill for much of the country; MLK gained more traction in the broader community of humans after death. Mandela spent close to 30 years in prison.
I do so miss Molly. She could find the funny even in the TX lege, and dog knows we still need to keep doing that. ;)
It seems like it's getting harder and harder to have any impact, but that means we only have to try harder. Of course, I have no idea what to do to help make the changes. I always lean toward marching on Washington with our voices shouting loud and clear. I've been there and done that, but still what else is there? Baking is good. Eating well is the best. Keeps you healthy and ready for the fight.
My gut feeling is that our Country will never return to those 'glory' days. We are so divided and are kept that way BY our Leaders, by Corporate greed, by our own complacency. Divide and conquer. I fear for the Middle Class and for those who see no hope of lifting out of poverty in their lifetime.
We can and must continue to voice our protests, to vote our conscience, to do good and be kind to our neighbor. Who knows...maybe it'll catch on.
You are only weeks older than me, and we come from the same place, more or less.
ReplyDeleteMy only answer is "eyes on the prize" -- to keep doing what we can, when we can; to know that justice and equality may be elusive, but the arc bends toward them. I have to have faith that being informed counts; caring counts; that many people caring and speaking, and acting when they can, moves things forward.
You know as well as I do that people we look to as leaders of change in the past -- they were not universally revered in their own time. JFK's win was a bitter pill for much of the country; MLK gained more traction in the broader community of humans after death. Mandela spent close to 30 years in prison.
I do so miss Molly. She could find the funny even in the TX lege, and dog knows we still need to keep doing that. ;)
It seems like it's getting harder and harder to have any impact, but that means we only have to try harder. Of course, I have no idea what to do to help make the changes. I always lean toward marching on Washington with our voices shouting loud and clear. I've been there and done that, but still what else is there? Baking is good. Eating well is the best. Keeps you healthy and ready for the fight.
ReplyDeleteYou are right on about how someone has to live. Make your own corner good and fair to all around you. If enough of us do that, it'll change it all.
ReplyDeleteExactly, well, except for the food part.
ReplyDeleteMy gut feeling is that our Country will never return to those 'glory' days. We are so divided and are kept that way BY our Leaders, by Corporate greed, by our own complacency. Divide and conquer. I fear for the Middle Class and for those who see no hope of lifting out of poverty in their lifetime.
We can and must continue to voice our protests, to vote our conscience, to do good and be kind to our neighbor. Who knows...maybe it'll catch on.