Tomorrow, go be with Kathy. Breath in the forest. Embrace that this Holiday we will be walking through as a celebration of those like minded souls that came before us; those that stood for the governance of the people by the people. It is a memorial of a line in the sand for the rejection of "a king". Let us move forward in solidarity with those whom, had before us, took this stance. I, personally, will not enjoy fireworks in the sky. I will not look towards rockets of warfare as a means of achieving the peace and humanity of which we crave. I will make food and enjoy family...maybe even embrace a bit of celebration on the 4th of July as it inspires me to believe, as those before me... that we must persevere. I must believe we will not tolerate the current bullshit and hatred. That we will move on.
I'm not sure when I'll be able to stop grieving for the country that I believed in. The people in office, who care more about themselves than the country, I feel sorry for you. You will live with the fate of your constituents suffering from your fear if doing the right thing. But then, you probably don't care.
I joined the Army when I was almost 40 years old. I had married, raised 2 children, and finally found the time and place to give back. I didn't see myself going to war. But I did. And my brother did. and my son did. We all served in Desert Storm My mom had the 3 of us to worry about. But we did what we promised to do. I loved this country and the freedom that it promised for all. I still love my country, but these people are the sub-belly of the beast. I don't know how this happened or what will eventually come. But they are evil personified. Many many times over. I will fight, I will resist. I will pray that somehow it gets turned around. But this is a bad time with an ignorant, mean, and hateful leader. As are the ones who follow him. I am so sad that this is how my country is now perceived by the world.
I'm feeling much the same. Anne Lamott posted on Facebook about the 4th, too. She is all about celebrating a holiday that belongs to all of us. I'm not sure I can do that this year, all things considered. However, she also shared the following story from a friend who encountered a variety of difficulties while traveling:
"Two days afterward, on a train to the conference, Myss started whining to the elderly man seated next to her, detailing the minutiae of her disastrous travels. He listened compassionately, nodding and sighing with empathy. When she was done, the man was silent for a moment and then introduced himself as someone who worked with the Dalai Lama. He said gently that they both believed that when a lot of difficult and chaotic things were going on all at once, it was to protect something fragile and beautiful that was trying to get itself born."
😢I too have thought about my family that served in the wars. What would they think today? Yes it is hard to be proud of our country right now which has become the laughing stock or how many people from other countries whom pity us, the ones that did not vote for the little man who wants to be king. I find myself studying the Bible more, focusing on people doing good and children helping where they can whether it’s feeding the hungry, helping the elderly, inventing new things; no matter how small. But my observations tell me people don’t go outside as much any more (at least where I live). I live in a very large conservative community; are they glued to the television set, are they still cheering on? Or are they hiding from the embarrassment of the dirty government? I shake my head in disbelief just as you do Doug. I see changes which are not good. I never did like a bully. It’s hard to hang in there; but we must.
Douglas, my father Ben, was in that same campaign and received a purple heart. The only thing he talked about was a huge German gun on a rail car. They called her “Anzio Annie” and the huge shells whistled as they passed overhead.
Douglas so absolutely true and so many of us are grieving for our country that seems to have lost its way 😢. I also think of my father and father-in-law WWII veterans and am thankful they aren’t seeing how this administration is raping our country only to stuff their own pockets and how cruel they are to others unlike them.
The report of fireworks will indeed ring hollow this year. The flag, so recently co-opted by violent insurrectionists, will hang its head in shame. We will still hope and work for the return of civility and decency in our body politic, but it looks like we are briefing for a descent into hell before tyranny, cruelty, and lawlessness are rejected. Meanwhile the band plays on: “I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free and ICE has a big enough budget to imprison thousands of poor immigrants in Alligator Alcatraz.”
Tomorrow, go be with Kathy. Breath in the forest. Embrace that this Holiday we will be walking through as a celebration of those like minded souls that came before us; those that stood for the governance of the people by the people. It is a memorial of a line in the sand for the rejection of "a king". Let us move forward in solidarity with those whom, had before us, took this stance. I, personally, will not enjoy fireworks in the sky. I will not look towards rockets of warfare as a means of achieving the peace and humanity of which we crave. I will make food and enjoy family...maybe even embrace a bit of celebration on the 4th of July as it inspires me to believe, as those before me... that we must persevere. I must believe we will not tolerate the current bullshit and hatred. That we will move on.
Thanks Caroline. Beautiful.
I'm not sure when I'll be able to stop grieving for the country that I believed in. The people in office, who care more about themselves than the country, I feel sorry for you. You will live with the fate of your constituents suffering from your fear if doing the right thing. But then, you probably don't care.
I joined the Army when I was almost 40 years old. I had married, raised 2 children, and finally found the time and place to give back. I didn't see myself going to war. But I did. And my brother did. and my son did. We all served in Desert Storm My mom had the 3 of us to worry about. But we did what we promised to do. I loved this country and the freedom that it promised for all. I still love my country, but these people are the sub-belly of the beast. I don't know how this happened or what will eventually come. But they are evil personified. Many many times over. I will fight, I will resist. I will pray that somehow it gets turned around. But this is a bad time with an ignorant, mean, and hateful leader. As are the ones who follow him. I am so sad that this is how my country is now perceived by the world.
Thank you, Jeanne.
I'm feeling much the same. Anne Lamott posted on Facebook about the 4th, too. She is all about celebrating a holiday that belongs to all of us. I'm not sure I can do that this year, all things considered. However, she also shared the following story from a friend who encountered a variety of difficulties while traveling:
"Two days afterward, on a train to the conference, Myss started whining to the elderly man seated next to her, detailing the minutiae of her disastrous travels. He listened compassionately, nodding and sighing with empathy. When she was done, the man was silent for a moment and then introduced himself as someone who worked with the Dalai Lama. He said gently that they both believed that when a lot of difficult and chaotic things were going on all at once, it was to protect something fragile and beautiful that was trying to get itself born."
Keep the faith, all.
😢I too have thought about my family that served in the wars. What would they think today? Yes it is hard to be proud of our country right now which has become the laughing stock or how many people from other countries whom pity us, the ones that did not vote for the little man who wants to be king. I find myself studying the Bible more, focusing on people doing good and children helping where they can whether it’s feeding the hungry, helping the elderly, inventing new things; no matter how small. But my observations tell me people don’t go outside as much any more (at least where I live). I live in a very large conservative community; are they glued to the television set, are they still cheering on? Or are they hiding from the embarrassment of the dirty government? I shake my head in disbelief just as you do Doug. I see changes which are not good. I never did like a bully. It’s hard to hang in there; but we must.
Well said, Doug, and oh so sad.
I feel the same
At this point, it feels as if we need to move to States bordering the west coast and start a new country. Or North and ask Canada to take us in.
😪😥😓😢😭
Douglas, my father Ben, was in that same campaign and received a purple heart. The only thing he talked about was a huge German gun on a rail car. They called her “Anzio Annie” and the huge shells whistled as they passed overhead.
Douglas so absolutely true and so many of us are grieving for our country that seems to have lost its way 😢. I also think of my father and father-in-law WWII veterans and am thankful they aren’t seeing how this administration is raping our country only to stuff their own pockets and how cruel they are to others unlike them.
💔😢
The report of fireworks will indeed ring hollow this year. The flag, so recently co-opted by violent insurrectionists, will hang its head in shame. We will still hope and work for the return of civility and decency in our body politic, but it looks like we are briefing for a descent into hell before tyranny, cruelty, and lawlessness are rejected. Meanwhile the band plays on: “I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free and ICE has a big enough budget to imprison thousands of poor immigrants in Alligator Alcatraz.”
A powerful column. Very moving. Very sad.
Nice eulogy.