Sometimes I have to pinch myself and be reminded it is January 2018. How is it that America seems to find a way to go backwards instead of advance? The recent battle over protecting DACA recipients, a crisis of President Trump's own making became weighted down with ugly language in recent weeks.
With time running out to give protected status these young people, Trump recently backtracked on earlier support for dealing with the issue as Congress worked to do it alongside a continuing resolution to keep the government budgeted. What he had been referring to as dreamers suddenly became illegals. Couple that with his hateful remarks about persons coming from Haiti and a host of African nations became people from shithole countries and persons from say, Norway would be preferable to let into this nation. Words have consequences. We are a witness to some terrible times. We are shaped by the times we live in and it is clear that these are not normal times. They are not times of reason. They are not times of love and compassion. As much as I would love to forget about the ugliness that is so prolific right now, I can't, or should't. Nor should you. It is at times like these writers of all types, are called to witness what is happening all around us. We must no allow such times as these come to define us. Come to be normalized. We need to call out the ugliness and hate. We need to be a better nation, and we each have a responsibility to speak up.
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So what I saw this weekend was a whole lot of social energy. It was quiet in one sense and organized, but it spoke loudly.
I've heard some suggest that there was no central message but I beg to differ. At it's core the message is that we are many and we are united and there is a lot the we can come to together and agree upon. There is a notion that anger and the hate that this nation has endured this past say 18 months is not really who we are, but a tiny portion and they do not reflect the America that we love and believe in. So, can anything good come of this? It already has. We have demonstrated that we are unified and have massive numbers. That we support the rights and liberties afforded us under the constitution and that it is not just my right that i'm concerned about, but my neighbor and co-worker, and people in other communities and of every color and religion and gender or gender identity. This weekend may do noting more as far as Trump is concerned than get under his sensitive skin and tug at his precious ego. But that is a big thing because it dictates everything he cares and talks about. But where Congress is concerned, the march this weekend was a shot across the bow. It is a reminder that we are watching. That we care about ACA, about Women's Rights, about domestic violence, about safety in our communities from gun violence, about religious freedom and how immigrants are treated. We care when people in power bully and abuse their power. We are well aware the mid-term elections are around the corner and there are consequences for this Congress and this president - all of the same party. They will not be able to hide. There was a lot of hope and promise in those all around this nation marching in unison. It was a good thing. It was actually a great thing! New York’s harbor is rising as tears from Lady Liberty
rain down. A black hood is placed over her head; she knows only that America is in peril from within. Michael Allyn Wells |
AuthorMichael Allyn Wells - notes & musings Archives
February 2024
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