Finding my place

Sometimes I become paralyzed when there is too much to do or overcome.  This happens frequently as I get older, and I find that my health issues are always getting in the way of my good intentions.  I could spend my days whining about my own weakness or reminiscing over the days I worked with displaced Central Americans, took soup to the streets, or housed people who were suffering with mental or family issues, but neither of these does me or anyone else any good.  Instead I will make a list of the things I can do and try to do at least a couple of things on the list each week.

1) I can continue to have the attitude that by working together and showing respect for all people and all creation we will produce a more just and equal world. (I want to keep this one everyday.)

2) I can use writing and art to communicate the above values and to speak out regarding injustice and environmental concerns.  I can look for new forums and genres to address these issues.

3) I can look for ways to support others who are actively promoting justice and care of our environment-- through money and other ways.

4) I can continue to find ways to make a smaller footprint, install solar panels, recycle even more, use less.....

5) Most importantly, I can continue to interact with those who are most likely to be the targets of injustice, supporting them in what ever way I can.

Time out for grief

The grief of my mom's death and the continual news of hate crimes and disregard for the rights of others (not to mention a lack of respect and care for our beautiful earth) has silenced me for a few weeks. Perhaps my silence was also brought on by the constant onslaught of voices. Sometimes I wonder what more there is to say.

In some ways I'm holding my breath to see what will happen next. Basic human rights are being challenged. We will need to be ready to take action and to make daily sacrifices.

For example, will we as individuals continue to install solar panels to our homes even if the government no longer offers subsidies or tax breaks?  Will we start programs to support those who can't afford medical care or housing? Will businesses pay fair wages and benefits even it is not required?  Will we as individuals give and receive services without concern for someone's race, religion or sexual orientation?

Who are we? What does it mean to be an American in the 21st century?
We need to examine our motives and our advantages. What are we willing to give up so that others can live freely. Going to war and risking young lives is easier for some people than taking care of our environment and our neighbors.

What can I do or say that will make a difference today, tomorrow, and in future years?

The voices in Whoville

I keep thinking of the book Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss. Do you remember the story? Horton the elephant, who has amazing hearing ability, is the only one who can hear the voices of the Whoville residents who live in a tiny world on a dust speck. He attempts to tell everyone about them, but all his  fellows believe he's crazy. He does everything he can to rescue them "because a person's a person no matter how small." Eventually when every single person in Whoville yell out in unison, they are heard.

This story resonates today as it never has before, even though I've always appreciated it's life lessons.  We really need to raise our voices against violence, discrimination, and all forms of injustice.

However, I think there are some people groups who need us to cry out for them even more loudly because they are unable to voice their own concerns. Today I am thinking particularly about those with intellectual disabilities, mental illness, and dementia. (Although there are other groups in this category as well.)

What will happen to these groups of people if Medicare, Medicaid and/or Social Security are cut? Some are already out on the streets. How will we take care of them? Those conservatives who want to cut government spending by cutting social programs for the elderly will find themselves having to care for their own parents while they step over other people's parents lying in the streets. This seems like a ridiculously horrific picture but we see some of this already in mega cities. And even if people are able to pay for a room or a bed, who will pay the doctors, nurses, and aides. Quality of life will be reduced tremendously--will this create a higher suicide rate?

We wonder why there are so many homeless on the street. There are many different reasons, but one is a lack of mental ability to hold down a job. We need to be spending money finding better solutions rather than cutting funds.

Who will be a voice for the silent?

Quick note about diversity and its significance to 11-14-16

Yesterday I took time off from blogging to attend my mom's memorial service and spend time with family. We were fortunate to receive the comfort from friends of different religions, races, nationalities, ages, abilities, genders, and sexualities. No one wrote words of hate on the chapel. No one used a disrespectful term to make themselves feel superior. We are very fortunate to live in Austin where such diversity is the norm.  I am very fortunate to have a family that has a variety of friendships. Our lives are richer because of having an assortment of people in our lives.

Anger and Courage (11-12 reposted)

A familiar quote from St. Augustine of Hippo:

Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are. 

I'd like to paint you a picture of each of these daughters. (Maybe you can share this story with the children in your life.)

  When Anger  was born  she  was a handful, especially for her mother, Hope, who was small and not muscular. Every day Anger noticed something in the world that didn't seem right and this caused her fierce emotions. She would wail until her little lips would tremble and her rosy cheeks turned crimson red. This happened whenever she saw her big brother teasing the frail cat, or his friends throwing rocks at birds. As she grew older Anger became more intense, and as she came into contact with more people, she had more reasons to be angry.

When anger was almost four, Her mother gave birth to another girl, Courage, who was far different than her sister. Courage spent her time exploring new territory. The older she grew, the further she crawled and then walked. Hope worried constantly about this daughter because she never knew where she might go next or why she was going. Eventually , she began to let Anger watch her little sister for although the oldest daughter often threw wild fits, she always stayed very close to home.

One day, Instead of trying to climb the highest tree just for the sake of adventure, Courage watched her sister intently as she began to throw a fit.  "Why are you doing that?" Courage asked.  It took a minute for Anger to calm herself so she could answer.  Didn't you notice that big bully over there stealing all of the candy from the younger children?"

Courage looked in the direction that Anger pointed. When she saw what was happening, she walked over to the bully and reprimanded him. Then she stood guard until he gave back the candy and began to play with other friends on the far side of the playground. From that day Anger and Courage worked as partners. Anger noticed injustice in the world and became indignant, and then Courage bravely took action. Eventually their work became so synchronized that together they recognized wrongs and together they worked to right each situation. Hope filled the heart of their mother, and she became stronger, as did all their neighbors, who learned through watching the actions of the two sisters, not to run from oppressors but to confront them.

A few comments on safety pins

I was thinking a couple of days ago that we needed a symbol to indicate to minorities and people most in danger of being persecuted that we are on their side.  Then suddenly I saw a post of safety pins and eagerly grabbed the symbol in solidarity with others who also wanted to stop the hate crimes and restore our equal liberties.

Today I've seen several negative comments regarding the safety pin movement , so i want to address some of these below.
1. First let me say that symbols are representations of ideas and as such can be easily misunderstood or take on different meanings for different people. If I wear a safety pin, it not only reminds me that I believe that all people should be treated justly, but that I should take action to make sure that people's liberties are not taken away. I also hope that it will signify to others that I am a friend, not a bully. However, I read one blogger that seemed to believe that wearing a safety pin means that one must know how to physically stop the violence that one sees. (I'm a 60 year old woman with physical limitations, and a propensity for nonviolence--fighting off bullies is not in my power.)

2. A symbol often takes ideas out of the real world and causes us to feel satisfied with our beliefs--even though we haven't actually acted upon those beliefs.

3. We need to understand what actions we are capable of and the most effective ways of performing them.  We might also consider special training or connecting with a mentor with experience.

4. It is important to realize that we are not everyone's savior, nor does everyone want our help.
  Our attitudes about our "helpfulness" may turn other people off and for good reason. We can't solve all the problems in the world, but we can earn people's trust by being a nonjudgmental friend.

To be continued. . .

Aftermath 11-11-16

Brain freeze is what you receive from clenching your teeth down on a frozen fruit bar (preferably raspberry) or from biting too quickly on the tragedies of life.

There's nothing to be done but bear it patiently for awhile, knowing that the icy brain will thaw,
The frozen nerves will release their hold on your senses. Warmth will return.

Sometimes I think our bodies are much better at regaining normal functions than we are. When we lose our warmth, we freeze with fear that it will never return. But it will. Only it may take a little effort--alright it takes a lot of effort.

So when we feel frozen because of grief or anxiety or fear of change, I suggest we reach out to others to help us thaw.

Instead of freezing when we see hate and violence in the world, let's generate warmth--the kind of warmth that encompasses both the victim and the bully, the oppressed and the oppressive regime.

Warm on, friends, warm on!