Thursday, June 22, 2017

UNITY AND CIVILITY START HERE

UNITY AND CIVILITY START HERE

We can be savages. Oh, it is so very easy. Evolutionary documentation first shows us as beings with basic survival instincts, from Abraham Maslow’s first steps on the hierarchy of needs for self-preservation, food, drink, and shelter, we had much to learn, and it would be nice if we, indeed, learned to get to the top of his hierarchical pyramid to the grand pinnacle of self-actualization as enlightened beings. To get from those nascent times to build actual civilizations—societies—was a long, hard slog, to be sure. And a zillion years later, we prove to be flawed and most reliant on our severest, most basic instincts—not always and not at all times in history, but way too often. And that is not good, but is, albeit, predictable. The ancient is within us.

I have read many articles and social media posts since the shooting at the Congressional Baseball Practice, some of which call for elevated public discourse and unity, magnanimous outreach in a time of great turmoil. I have also read many that at once call for unity while slapping down those who don’t share our political views. Almost everyone has a precious point to make, but what is missing is starting with ourselves as the messengers and movers of society to get into a better state. As with anything and everything in the world of making change, we must start with ourselves. I choose to be magnanimous (but I will not tolerate being called names or being discounted in the sweep of a wide brush of ignorance by those struggling to resolve basic conflicts. Do your self-reflecting and growth before coming to the page, I entreat you).

On June 15th, one of our relatives posted the following:
"Yesterdays shooting in washington was like another shot fired on Fort Sumpter. Its only the beginning.If all you left wing snowflakes likes Rachel Maddow, Don Lemon Pelosi, and Schumer etc. don't stop spewing conspiracy theories and hatred towards our legally elected president Donald Trump,this hatred will fester into something much worse than yesterdays event. Please I know some of you lefties will now try to blame this on gun control. If you send me that crap, I will unfriend you no matter how much I might love you. Bad people can, and will always be able to get guns. So please I beg you lets all get together and stop the HATE MONGERING!!!!! God bless the capital police heroes, and lets pray for those wounded . God bless the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!! "UNITED"!!!!!"

For me, this post epitomizes THE PROBLEM. While his post is painfully short-sighted, contradictory, conveniently calls out the more notorious positions espoused by some of his political opponents but leaves out the hateful rhetoric his chosen political party has advanced without his noted criticism—, especially by the man at the top of the political pyramid, and is provocative while trying to be unifying, he came off as angry and ill-informed, making no positive headway. He also resorted to name-calling. Anyone who knows me knows I am not a snowflake. I am not a leftie. I am JOAN. I am HUGE within myself. I am a singular FORCE, committed to giving my strength to my beloved country. If anyone wants to call me a name, know that I answer to MOAB (Mother Of All Bombs—metaphorically speaking). Yes, I am a motherfucking MOAB, and am my own safe space; I give no credence to conspiracy theories, no ground to fools, and will criticize and hold to higher standards anyone of ANY political stripe who seeks to diminish AMERICA in any way, shape, or form. The Constitution of The United States of America is my Bible. The preservation, protection, and defense of our democracy is my SACRED MISSION.

I decided not to give response to this post publicly. But a private message will surely give my relative more than a little to think about. I love him and honor him as a Vietnam Veteran who was a medic who saw horrors so extreme that I can only thank him for his service and suffering, and wish him much-needed inner peace.

My grandfather fought in WWI, was gassed by the Germans, awarded the Silver Star, and died young. He stopped a convoy of German prisoners when he saw a young boy on a stretcher. He cradled the boy, gave him hard-tack and water, and comforted him. The boy was wearing a crude silver ring with a black German Cross painted on it. He removed the ring, gave it to my grandfather, and then died in his arms. I AM THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF THAT AMAZING MAN. My father enlisted in WWII and came away with a life-long knee injury. But he was 17 years old when he went to fight for our country, loving America, and wanting a better world for the children he would bring into it. Who at 17 can muster such heart to risk everything? A PATRIOT. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF THIS MAN. Happy Father’s Day to them both (I love you Grandpa,although you never met me, you will someday, and you will recognize yourself in me. Daddy, I love and miss you more than words can say. Thank you both for making me who I am). You see, magnanimity and fighting for America is in my DNA.

It is a choice for all of us as to how we want to proceed from here. I am acutely aware that we are and have been under the corrosive reign of the powerful who can stand a show of unityin spurts that are few and far between, as in extreme times. The trick is to engender unity and civil discourse when there is no tragedy involved. I am also acutely aware that Congressman Scalise—near fatally wounded—is virulently anti-gay. A lesbian saved his life at the peril of her own. She is also a woman of color. It remains to be seen if such an act of heroism changes his mind about LGBTQ rights and matters deeply affecting the black communities in America. BUT, the point is, that his or anyone else’s undemocratic views—even if they remain so after the Universe offers you a chance to be your better selves—do not and will not alter my own. I want unity and elevated public discourse more than I can express here. So, this is my choice: I proceed with magnanimity, love, and truth. I will curse like a sailor (my father was one, but would cringe at my language, while being proud of my courage); I will fairly criticize and fight anyone who does harm to America and our sacred, democratic values.

But, I choose to invite ALL to join me in true civility and unity, no matter their political stripe.

And I choose to do so magnanimously.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

THIS IS WHAT WILL BE

This Is What Will Be
I got a coin in my palm
I can make it disappear
I got a card up my sleeve
Name it and I'll pull it out your ear
I got a rabbit in my hat
If you wanna come and see
This is what will be
This is what will be
“…I got shackles on my wrists
Soon I'll slip 'em and be gone (slip 'em and be gone)
Chain me in a box in your river
And I'll rise singin' this song
Trust none of what you hear (trust none of what you hear)
And less of what you see
This is what will be (this is what will be)
This is what will be


I got a shiny saw blade (a shiny saw blade)
All I need's a volunteer
I'll cut you in half
While you're smilin' ear to ear
And the freedom that you sought's
Driftin' like a ghost amongst the trees
This is what will be
This is what will be (this is what will be)

Now there's a fire down below
But it's coming up here
So leave everything you know
Carry only what you fear
On the road the sun is sinkin' low
There's bodies hangin' in the trees
This is what will be (this is what will be)
This is what will be.”
“Magic” ~Bruce Springsteen

“Unite.”  “Unify.”  The “United” States of America.  It is becoming illusion.  Not because you are any good at "magic." There is no "Wow, I never saw that coming; how'd they do that" in your brand of sleight-of-hand (not even when you made Merrick Garland disappear). We know the "wizards" behind the curtain. You are exposed for the small people you are, disgracefully using pomp and circumstance to make others believe in your non-existent "wisdom," "awesomeness," "largess." You fail miserably. The curtain is pulled back to reveal tiny hands on levers of power. And, any "awe" you inspire is at your audacity to think we don't see all of you for who and what you are. Maladroit "illusionists" at work: 

“Love of Country” drip from the lips of liars in the “glorious” halls of “The People’s House; “OUR House.” Facts do not matter to all too many we have given a place at our table. “Spin,” “Alternative Facts,” try to replace TRUTH and the inviolable dignity therein, as if  TRUTH is malleable,  can be defined only by those in power, with no understanding that it would be a serious tactical error to ignore that  there are three million more of us who know better, cannot be swayed, are not dumbed-down,  worship the power of language truthfully written and  unabashedly spoken. 
They say, “We are here to protect the American People.”
I say, “No. You are not.”
They say,”Our National Security is our top priority”.
I say, “No. It is not.”
They say, “We want our country to be great again.”
I say, “No. You do not.
They say, “We are here to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.”
I say, “You are not.”

The curtailing of rights and freedoms, the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, Citizens United, fear-mongering, turning neighbor against neighbor, brother against brother…we have seen it all before. We are closer to war than we have been in years. A Second Civil War is what you wish for. Divide and Conquer—or as the Romans said, dīvide et īmpera,( divide and we colonize, we imperialize) is a call for the wealthy and the duped  to act according to the basest of human instincts to the end of democracy, the institution of wealthy oligarchs as we see in Russia, with the wealthy and most powerful patting each others’ backs, as the duped, with tongues wagging—wait for what they’ve been promised, that which  is not coming—continue to vote the lie.
And, you use buzz-words: “Freedom,” Unity.” America First.”  Don’t any of you know we can interpret these rather expertly as we have been duped so many times before—and some of us have learned?  Some of us have never been dumbed-down?  Some of us have taken the responsibility for saving this democracy seriously and have seen beyond your shadow-play all along? 
Let us be honest here, at this time and in this place, that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  Which is why you will not investigate Russia for helping you steal an election, and why you seek voter suppression, and why you pervert language so the duped  may remain so. You wanted it all: the White House, the Senate, the House.  And you got it, albeit through criminal means. But, you ought to be careful for what you wished for:
To Jefferson Beauregard Sessions:  We will not have bodies hanging in the trees as you long for the days of lynchings.
To Betsy DeVos: You do not even have the gift of sleight-of-hand, only your checkbook and a pen, only your billions to dole out to buy your resume another line.  But, see, I’ve got a coin in my palm, and I, too, can make it disappear.
To Mitch McConnell:  Yes, there is a fire down below, and it is coming up here, up to the halls of power you have co-opted, so run…and carry, as you so aptly do…only what you fear…as it is your only currency.
To Republicans:  We trust none of what we hear and less of what we see. We intend to cut you in half while you’re smiling ear to ear
To the American People: That freedom that we sought will not hang like ghosts among Jeff Sessions’ trees…BECAUSE, WE THE PEOPLE SAY:
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY; FIGHT WE MUST, AND WIN WE WILL, BECAUSE WE ARE SMARTER THAN YOU DARE TO THINK, ARE AWAKE, ALERT, WORKING FOR
OUR AMERICA AND ITS IDEALS AND


THIS IS WHAT WILL BE.