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Category: Commentary
Let It Be
I find myself singing this throughout these terrifying days. It breaks my heart to know that many of my friends who once sang along are now under Trump’s influence. Greed and an adherence to false religiosity have turned their hearts and minds away from the tenets of peace and love.
https://youtu.be/cKolD582AVI
Lyrics
When I find myself in times of trouble. Mother Mary comes to meSpeaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness. She is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Chorus:
Let it be, let it be. Let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
And when the broken hearted people Living in the world agree, There will be an answer, let it be.
And though they may be parted there is Still a chance that they will see There will be an answer, let it be.
Chorus
And though the night is cloudy, There is still a light that shines on me, Shine until tomorrow, let it be.
O, will I make up to the sound of music Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Chorus
What We Lost
Studly Doright was out of town much of last week. My days were busy, but my nights were long and empty without my favorite guy here to make sure the tv was set either on American Pickers or Sports Center. I find that I’m not nearly as fluent in the art of Remote Control Manipulation as Studly.
On Wednesday evening I took myself to see Hidden Figures, a film about the importance of a group of African American women as human computers at NASA in the early 1960’s, and the obstacles they faced while simply trying to do their jobs.
Because they were Black, these women weren’t allowed to use any restrooms other than the one in their wing of the building, often necessitating long, frantic walks to take care of basic needs. Because they were Black, they couldn’t get coffee from the communal pot in their office. Because they were Black and female they weren’t allowed to sit in on critical meetings, even when their presence might have resulted in quicker solutions.
This is a good film, and it made me furious. It should make all of us furious. When I think of all we have lost as a nation because we refused to recognize the abilities, the talents, the intelligence of all people regardless of race or gender I want to scream.
Who knows what diseases might have been cured, what inventions developed, if society hadn’t been so intent on excluding women in general and women of color in particular from full participation in society?
And what groups of people are we excluding now? What groups do we try to keep in their place? Oh, maybe there aren’t separate restrooms anymore, but our new commander-in-chief would love to discriminate against Mexican Americans and Muslim Americans. He treats women as chattel to be grabbed as needed.
My rant is over, but this argument isn’t. Get pissed off. Don’t allow trump to segregate or alienate or exclude any group of people because of his fears, his insecurities.
Now I’m going to master that damned remote control. If a group of women could figure out how to put men in space and safely bring them back to earth, I can surely figure out how to efficiently switch between multiple channels in order to avoid commercial interruptions.
Peace, people.
Trending on Twitter
After Trump’s spokesdemon, Kellyanne Conway, introduced the term “Alternative Facts” on a Sunday morning news show, the hashtag #alternativefacts began trending on Twitter. And there were some doozies:
And then there’s this:
If Trump truly wants us to give him a chance then he needs to give truth a chance. Stop worrying about who has the biggest dick, I mean crowd, and begin the real job of leading our country.
Peace, people.
Natalie Likes Me; She Really Likes Me
I follow Dixie Chicks’ outspoken lead vocalist, Natalie Maines on Twitter. My tweets to her generally go unacknowledged, but yesterday she liked one of my tweets. I feel like she just kissed my firstborn.
Silent Running
As we enter the days of Trump, or as I’m inclined to think of them, The Doldrumps, here’s a little pre-apocalyptic fare from Mike and the Mechanics.
The video was cheesy, but the song always chilled me.
https://youtu.be/HFaXHcVS33A
Silent Running
Take the children and yourself
And hide out in the cellar
By now the fighting will be closed at hand
Don’t believe the church and state
And everything they tell you
Believe in me, I’m with the high command
CHORUS
Can you hear me, can you hear me running?
Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you?
Can you hear me, can you hear me running?
Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you?
There’s a gun and ammunition
Just inside the doorway
Use it only in emergency
Better you should pray to God
The father and the spirit
Will guide you and protect from up here
CHORUS
Swear allegiance to the flag
Whatever flag they offer
Never hint at what you really feel
Teach the children quietly
For someday sons and daughters
Will rise up and fight while we stood still.
CHORUS (repeat 3 times)
Songwriters: Brian Alexander Robertson / Michael Rutherford
Marching FOR Women’s Rights
I marched in the rain
With thousands of
Like-minded people
My tears fell as I
searched for parking
Joyful that it was
IMPOSSIBLE given the
Number of women and men
Of ALL ages and colors
Who joined their voices
In support of women’s
Inalienable rights.
Democracy in action.
My ball gown was a poncho,
My stilletos, tennis shoes.
Trump, in your ivory tower,
Heed this, our cry:
Women’s rights are Human
Rights! Liberty for one;
Liberty for ALL.
My friend Julie and I were about midway in the long line of people that stretched from Railroad Park up the hill to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). Estimates indicate more than a thousand people took to the streets to express our fervent plea that women’s rights and the rights of minorities be honored in this new administration.
Rain fell intermittently, but spirits were high. Nothing could dampen the glow of democracy in our midst.
My Heart Hurts
When our daughter was around four years of age she told me that sometimes it made her heart hurt when she didn’t get to see her great-grandparents. Of course, as her mom I was deeply moved by her expression of love. Her heart HURT.
Our family adopted this saying and we use it when something or some circumstance feels fundamentally wrong. My heart hurt when we moved away from family and friends in our native Texas to begin an adventure in North Dakota. It hurt, broke really, when my mother died, and again when we lost my dad.
All of my experiences with a hurt heart have been deeply personal, and I never use the phrase frivolously. So when I say the impending departure of President Barack Obama hurts my heart maybe you’ll understand how much I’ve admired him, his intelligence, his measured response to every challenge.
And when I tell you that the prospect of a Trump presidency hurts my heart, you’ll know that I don’t use those words carelessly. I believe we have unleashed a powerful force for evil and corruption on this country.
My heart hurts. For all that we’ve been. For all that we were. For all that we might have become.
Too Embarrassing for Words
I had an excruciatingingly embarrassing experience today. Just how embarrassing you ask? Well, let’s just say I am too mortified to relate it on this blog, and that’s saying a lot.
Just as a caveat, be prepared for ANY eventuality when visiting a urologist’s office. In lieu of my embarrassing experience, here’s a picture of a shaggy dog.
Peace, people!
A Suggested Guide for Reading in 2017
I found this reading checklist on Facebook and thought it was worth sharing.
Wouldn’t it be fun to tackle the list in order? I’ve needed to shake up my reading pattern for awhile, and this might be the ticket. Anyone care to join me? We could discuss our choices at the end of every second week.
Peace, and good reading, people.
Praying for Eyebrowz 