Kindness, compassion, and truth-telling. During her talk at the Golden Globes, these are the actions Meryl Streep called upon Hollywood colleagues and international journalists to display, going forward as a nation.
Bernie Sanders took a visual aid to the senate floor: A giant blow up of one of Donald Trump's Tweets from May of 2015, saying that he was the first Republican candidate to say we cannot get rid of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Millions of people voted for him because they believe him. Now we have to hold his feet to the fire. Bernie says that many Republicans want to do away with or privatize the trio of social footholds. He agrees with Donald. We cannot afford to do that.
There are so many jobs to be done these next four years, in the wake of the upheaval of our last election.
Among the most important jobs are:
Listening to and standing up for those whose voices are not heard by folks in the spot light. Folks who have been shunted so far to the fringes that they are invisible and silent to two of the monkeys whose eyes and ears are covered while the third is speaking evil.
Being vigilant, bearing witness, and stepping forward to stop bullies in our communities who echo and emulate the pokes and prods coming from the new "leader" of the "free" world is another job.
Standing together for the environment, as those who stood at Standing Rock did, to block outrageous perpetrators from doing more harm to our earth is another.
We can focus on what's going right, but not at the expense of rose-colored glasses blinding us to what's going on behind the scenes, in the streets, in our villages, and in our own homes.
Ava DuVeray's documentary 13th is a must see, to understand the methodical and systematic injustices being done to huge swaths of our population.
May we stay current and not let the angry tide swell to barbarism, branding, and banishment of brothers and sisters who need asylum, and opportunity to begin anew.
Let Emma Lazarus' invitation not become an unvitation. Let us find room in our hearts and communities for the disenfranchised, disempowered, and despairing.
Oh, and if you're the prayin' type, let us pray the President Elect's health is maintained. Mike Pence might do even more damage.
So much work to be done.
Ms. Streep quoted her friend Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), "Take your broken heart and make art."
Self compassion first. Extending a hand, a smile, or an understanding nod comes next.
Happy New Ear to us all.
No comments:
Post a Comment