Don't Leave Politics To The Politicians

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. 

It’s taken me a while to learn some of the local political players and the local and state democrat vision. I don’t say much. But when it comes to social media, I found I naturally had something to say about how communications works. I’ve been on social media since 2007. I’ve run many open and closed Facebook Groups. I know how to Tweet. The Communications Committee is an older group. I realize that even though I’m 53, I’m an active and engaged social media contributor. I think this is where I can best serve my community and my political party. Kim Lorimier, the vice chair of the Communications Committee, tapped me to head up the IRC Dems Social Media Team. 

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.) 😉