Some days I wish I never
turned on the TV and watched the Jimmy Carter election returns 40 years ago. For some strange reason, I found democracy
interesting.
Had I never stayed up into
the wee hours to watch those returns, it would be so much easier to go about my
days and not care that we presently have the worst president in the Oval Office
in the history of EVER! I wouldn’t care that our president acts like a defiant,
spoiled teenager who when he doesn’t get his way, tweets his asinine stream of vindictive
consciousness for the world to see. Never mind that these malevolent tweets
have had economic, national security, national honor, and constitutional fall
out. If political governance had not hooked me, I wouldn’t care that Trump pathologically lies.
I wouldn’t care that he is Teflon. I wouldn’t care that top Republicans look
away from said lies because they are in a position of power but have lost their
souls. I wouldn’t care one way or the other if he denies or takes responsibility
when those lies are proven to not match the facts. I wouldn’t care that
millions can’t afford their health care insurance; and some can’t use it
because deductibles are so high; it levels people financially. I wouldn’t care
that millions will be profiled, deported or refused entry into this country
because of their race or religion. I wouldn’t care that gay or transgender
children will be bullied (many will die from suicide) and will have to stay in
the shadows for another decade. I wouldn’t care that PBS funding for Sesame
Street will be cut. I wouldn’t care that this administration has
limited access of the open and Free Press to this administration on a daily
basis. I wouldn't care that the President and his advisers demonize anyone who is trying to investigate truth by calling
the majority of news reports “fake news”. I wouldn’t care that our president won’t allow both the Congress and the Senate Houses, and the American people, access to
see his tax returns. I wouldn't care that he's not being forthright and open about his campaign’s ties with Russia. I
wouldn’t care that he has no tact or gracious diplomacy with our allies and
foreign nations. He tweets his verbal warnings on social media (like I post
what my dog did today). I wouldn’t have this little pit of fear in my stomach
that a nuclear bomb may go off while I’m sleeping and when I wake up we’ll be
going to war with North Korea (or China because we owe them bigly). I wouldn’t
care about a hundred things that make me say at least once a week, “WTF is
happening? ” Yes, I say that! And I no longer care if anyone is offended. This
is the same kind of spontaneous swearing as when you hit your toe on the bedpost in
the middle of the night. It’s primal swearing. My bullshit detector goes off at
least a few times each day while watching or reading political news. It’s emotionally exhausting and disturbing.
If I thought it was just me
who was too sensitive, I’d ask for forgiveness and take a vacation. But it’s
not just me. People I’ve respected for decades (in the press, in all branches
of government, and diplomats around the world) are watching and speaking up—even
respected Republicans. Millions are still protesting and trying to get this
president’s attention to hear the concerns of 2/3 of the country (that didn’t vote for him)
that he should also represent. His ego
deflects what WE THE PEOPLE have to say. Hundreds of thousands are showing up at town hall
meetings and demanding their elected officials listen and vote accordingly
(including their voter base). MOST are NOT listening or voting accordingly.
Their jobs in 2018 and 2020 are at stake (on the local, state, and national
level).
I’ve showed up with signs at protests. I’ve made some calls. I’ve written
letters. But now I’m giving my most precious commodity—my time! If you know me,
I don’t give it away easily.
My new Florida friend, Kim
Lorimier, also new to Florida, but more plugged in than me, started giving me
the heads up on the Indian River County Democrats. I was thrilled to learn
there are actually Democrats in our predominately Republican town and county.
Kim knows I’m passionate about politics and has seen some of my political posts on Facebook. She invited me to the IRC Dems Communication Committee. At first I wondered what I had gotten myself into? How much of a time commitment will this be? I don’t know anything about local governance (only national). Kim is a graphic website designer. Others on the Communications Committee are writers of political policy, or were in marketing. They asked me what I did (wondering what marketable communications skill I brought to the table). All I said was I teach yoga therapy and I’m friendly.
So while I have days I wish I never cared about politics, I can’t help it. It’s
how I’m wired. Half of the conversations Rich and I have are about politics and
social justice issues. And while many issues don’t even affect me, they affect
my spiritual core values. So I will speak up and fight for what I believe is
right and fair (for all, not just the rich), and now I will do so in the public
arena—regardless of any criticism from naysayers.
I realize now more than ever
that it is the courage to withstand vilification because of an unbending
commitment to justice that marks many of the people I admire most in history--the
Founding Fathers, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King & Bobby Kennedy-to
name a few. I don’t pretend to be in their league, but it feels good to be
publicly involved and engaged in trying to make the world a better place.
“Each time a man
stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out
against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each
other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build
a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and
resistance.” ~Robert F. Kennedy
Maybe the reason I care, goes all the way back to 1976 when I watched those President Jimmy Carter's election returns? I've followed his career as a politician, a man of faith, a diplomat, and humanitarian. I wish I had half his energy for goodwill. For now, I'll contribute by bringing social media awareness and excitement to the Democratic going-ons in my Florida county. If anything matters to us politically, no matter the party, we just need to be that tiny ripple. (Unless you're for Trump.) 😉
