Another day of "us" versus "them". Another day of a white woman threatening a black man with a police presence, in New York City; because, you know, who are they gonna believe? Another day when police mis-handle a citizen so badly a black man ends up dead at the hands of the very people who are supposed to protect and serve the public, in Minneapolis. Another day of rising tensions, rhetoric, and disagreement among the two main political parties' federal representatives, over everything from whether to wear a face mask outside their homes to whether to pass another monetary relief bill to assist the citizenry (you know, the ones they're supposed to work for).
Another day of being considerate of your neighbors by wearing a face mask to help protect them from you, and the "I don't have to, it's an infringement of my rights" citizens. Another day of truth from the scientists and doctors vs lies from those in charge. Another day of the current White House occupant threatening to withhold federal funds from states that do not comply with this president's wishes. Another day of unemployment and food pantry visits for many people, of insufficient PPE for our health care and other front line workers, of inadequate swabs or reagents or other supplies or the machines needed to run the tests.
What exactly are our "leaders" doing? From the White House to the smallest town council, what are they doing to serve the public as compared to trying to ensure their own self interests and political survival? What are the religious leaders doing except whining to get their physical buildings re-opened so they can reap their reward from the collection plate? Churches that did re-open in spite of health warnings are seeing their congregants get sick and are closing again.
This infighting is a disgrace on all of us. We all want this inconvenience to be over. Yes, that's what it is, an inconvenience. For some, it's a matter of life or death -- some must work because the rest of us rely on them, or because they have no savings to rely on nor income or health care if they don't work. That is another injustice. No one should work a full week and not earn enough to save a little for a rainy day and still be able to buy food and pay for housing today.
I hope this pandemic has taught us all a thing or two. People need a living wage. People need health care. No one's religious preferences has any bearing on anyone else's health care decisions or choice of where to live or what to read or how to think. We do not need a 'National Day of Prayer' without having a 'National Day of Reason'. We the people do not need to pay for a congressional clergy position. The ERA has still not been passed; it's been hanging for what now, over 40 years? Have you thought about former inmates? Once they've served their sentence, why can they not vote, find employment or housing? Their debt to society is paid and they're back among we the people. Don't we all have the same responsibilities, rights, and privileges? What of those of a different skin color or ethnic background than you? What did early settlers do to the already existing peoples of this country? What has been done *by our government* to Asian (Chinese?) railroad workers, or Japanese (and other Asian) ancestry *citizens* during World War II? What has been done in the name of religion by one sect against another? What is still happening in the black community? Bigotry such as this can only survive in ignorance.
We the people must become informed, get active, vote in *representative* politicians and leaders. We the people must take responsibility for getting what we say we deserve. What we now have is the result of getting what we actually deserve for being as lazy and self-absorbed as we've been. I mourn for the lost promise of what could have been. It will not be in my lifetime. With changes in outlook begetting changes in actions, perhaps, maybe, my great-granddaughters have a chance to see the dream fulfilled. However, change comes slowly through continued, concerted effort. It will not be easy; we must make some effort.
The current power structure, from politicians to religious leaders, will not willingly or easily cede their positions of honor. Maybe my granddaughters will have a chance, if we start now? There is no "us" and there is no "them". We are all in this together. We are all children of the same universe. We can work together, starting with the immediate problem at hand; a health epidemic and an incompetent occupant in the White House.
"You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one." John Lennon
(NOTE: This post is U.S. centric because that's the country I'm most familiar with. I believe the concepts apply to other countries as well. Please adjust accordingly.)
Another day of being considerate of your neighbors by wearing a face mask to help protect them from you, and the "I don't have to, it's an infringement of my rights" citizens. Another day of truth from the scientists and doctors vs lies from those in charge. Another day of the current White House occupant threatening to withhold federal funds from states that do not comply with this president's wishes. Another day of unemployment and food pantry visits for many people, of insufficient PPE for our health care and other front line workers, of inadequate swabs or reagents or other supplies or the machines needed to run the tests.
What exactly are our "leaders" doing? From the White House to the smallest town council, what are they doing to serve the public as compared to trying to ensure their own self interests and political survival? What are the religious leaders doing except whining to get their physical buildings re-opened so they can reap their reward from the collection plate? Churches that did re-open in spite of health warnings are seeing their congregants get sick and are closing again.
This infighting is a disgrace on all of us. We all want this inconvenience to be over. Yes, that's what it is, an inconvenience. For some, it's a matter of life or death -- some must work because the rest of us rely on them, or because they have no savings to rely on nor income or health care if they don't work. That is another injustice. No one should work a full week and not earn enough to save a little for a rainy day and still be able to buy food and pay for housing today.
I hope this pandemic has taught us all a thing or two. People need a living wage. People need health care. No one's religious preferences has any bearing on anyone else's health care decisions or choice of where to live or what to read or how to think. We do not need a 'National Day of Prayer' without having a 'National Day of Reason'. We the people do not need to pay for a congressional clergy position. The ERA has still not been passed; it's been hanging for what now, over 40 years? Have you thought about former inmates? Once they've served their sentence, why can they not vote, find employment or housing? Their debt to society is paid and they're back among we the people. Don't we all have the same responsibilities, rights, and privileges? What of those of a different skin color or ethnic background than you? What did early settlers do to the already existing peoples of this country? What has been done *by our government* to Asian (Chinese?) railroad workers, or Japanese (and other Asian) ancestry *citizens* during World War II? What has been done in the name of religion by one sect against another? What is still happening in the black community? Bigotry such as this can only survive in ignorance.
We the people must become informed, get active, vote in *representative* politicians and leaders. We the people must take responsibility for getting what we say we deserve. What we now have is the result of getting what we actually deserve for being as lazy and self-absorbed as we've been. I mourn for the lost promise of what could have been. It will not be in my lifetime. With changes in outlook begetting changes in actions, perhaps, maybe, my great-granddaughters have a chance to see the dream fulfilled. However, change comes slowly through continued, concerted effort. It will not be easy; we must make some effort.
The current power structure, from politicians to religious leaders, will not willingly or easily cede their positions of honor. Maybe my granddaughters will have a chance, if we start now? There is no "us" and there is no "them". We are all in this together. We are all children of the same universe. We can work together, starting with the immediate problem at hand; a health epidemic and an incompetent occupant in the White House.
"You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one." John Lennon
(NOTE: This post is U.S. centric because that's the country I'm most familiar with. I believe the concepts apply to other countries as well. Please adjust accordingly.)
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