These are really exciting times to be alive, don’t ya think? I mean if we survive the Covid and all. They are horrifying and frightening times, but I can’t help think there is going to be something good at the end of this. Wars, Hitler, Civil Rights movements, all prove that there is no accounting for how long it will take for the country and world to settle down but call me crazy, I am hopeful that after all this ugly is up and out that there is some more sane level of existing going forward. I just saw on Twitter that Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto (although not usually a fan) has raised the city’s minimum wage to $15. All on his own. Didn’t ask anyone, didn’t wait for congress or senate or anyone to pass it. He just did it. Well, I actually don’t know the process that he used but he obviously didn’t wait for any federal mandate. I like the micro-managing that is happening now on the local level – micro managing in a good way. Makes me wonder if all the Trumpers should live in one state and the rest of the world live in other states. Wonder what that would be like. Seems kinda cruel to put all the haters together in one place without a balance of sanity. Because one day they could decide, hmmm, maybe I DO like civil liberties. Hmmm, maybe there is something to being considerate for other human beings, hmmm, maybe our equal rights COULD use an overhaul and then what would happen? Would they be allowed to immigrate to the “other” side. Isn’t that kinda funny? I don’t want to believe that anyone is un-salvageable. And as a non-Trumper I would vote to allow them into my side. After being held in cages for a period of time.
That turned ugly fast didn’t it? I didn’t even know I was going to go there but it’s just there. It’s in all of us (alot of us) just boiling up and out (if we dare to speak out) Speaking of books 😉 The book The Power by Naomi Alderman is about women who wake up one day and discover they have a hidden power, an actual physical power, that allows them to dominate men. It shows how the transfer of any power is subject to being abused once achieved. There shouldn’t be one side or the other in power. It just gets abused…maybe not at first..but eventually. If you think about it, which I do, most government programs are started out with good intentions and always get distorted from it’s original purpose or intent by whoever happens to be in power. Look at Homeland Security (as an example) and what is happening now. It’s all about who is in Power. So whatever comes from these end times has to result in a balance of power. Balance being key. Not division, just balance. In my opinion. If Democrats “win” there will be no winning. (but an obvious improvement in the short term) But then it’s just a shift of power. There has to be another option.
Personally, I’m putting a lot of stock in the up and coming generations. I told my 7-year-old niece yesterday that she has to fix it. She didn’t respond. I yell at my 30-year-old saying – COME ON!! DO SOMETHING YOU GUYS!!” I don’t get a lot of response there either. My oldest son just groans. I believe adamantly that it will take these younger kids, the younger generations, to fix it. Us old people are too set in our ways. We have the Republican and Democrat conventions still. That is so outdated (in my opinion) The whole system needs overhauled – everything. And we are off to a good start with all the protesting. I saw a story about whether or not 2020 is the worst time in the history of America; (since the Civil War); they compared our time now to 1968 saying 1968 still wins as the worst time in America – here’s a good article on that subject written in 2018: Is 2018 shaping up as another 1968
When I read the article comparing 1968 to 2018 (and they thought it bad two years ago) I am encouraged to read that there is an end to the disruption, to the bubbling up and bubbling over. Maybe this is America’s “thing” Maybe we just bubble up and over every 50 years or so. Think about the Women’s suffrage movement. It took 50 years after these poor women being beaten and thrown in jail simply because they wanted the right to vote, for it to become the law. Think about that!! 50 years after that to finally agree that women were equal enough to vote. But at least we got there after 50 years.
No matter what side you’re on we can end up our own worst enemy. We go too far one way, or not look at the other side, or shut down totally. Some of the issues from 1968 have been resolved. There’s no more Vietnam, college kids wanted a different curriculum (still fighting but much progress), equal rights for women is somewhat improved but all equal rights, black lives, gay rights, are still such issues. Isn’t that crazy to think about? I mean if you’re reading this can you imagine in your head saying “well yea those people aren’t equal?”
It’s so crazy, in my opinion, to think that some people think that way, that other people are not equal or don’t deserve the same opportunities or more importantly don’t deserve the same respect. Everyone is different but EVERYONE is equal and should be given the same, the exact same rights. Noone should be pulled over for not turning on their turn signal and be shot. (see Man fatally shot by Texas troopers 16 times for failure to use turn signal) – doesn’t say in this article what color the man was that was shot. What’s your guess? There’s so many stories like this we can’t keep count. I have NEVER been pulled over for not using a turn signal.
Does Trump say all protestors are anarchists? Or is that just in Portland? Is it more important to keep a statue of a confederate soldier or slave owner in place or should we maybe start looking at how we treat other people and focus on that issue instead? Statues are made of stone or iron. In our country they weren’t created by Rodin or Michelangelo. They are not priceless works of art. They are stones. They can be replaced. People cannot be replaced. It is ridiculous how Trump justifies sending in his secret army. And shame on these young people in this secret army. I’m patiently (not too patiently) waiting for the 60-minute interview with the ones that have a conscious (disguised of course).
Well, again, if Trump wasn’t showing us the ugly side of America we would probably just keep going along to go along. That’s really what we do. We’re complacent to say the least. So I guess for those that voted for him because they wanted change they got their wish. And hopefully we all are benefiting from him in the big big big picture. Like in history, in 50 years, will the future generations be thankful to him? I say thankful to these times would perhaps be the story to be told.
So, that is why I am super excited that there are those brave souls out there fighting still, marching still, facing the ugly and making us look at it. It’s like saying LOOK, are you seeing what could so easily happen to us? (in Portland) Do you see this? What is to stop it? How do we stop it? It is a very scary and helpless feeling (in my opinion).
We stop it by getting the asshole OUT of office (now!) but we better have another plan. Biden is not our savior (but not a bad guy!). He is a bandaid, and hopefully a bridge to a better tomorrow, but he is “old” – where are the young people? Let’s get some highschool kids in there? Some of them are fearless – David Hogg (you know he’s a threat when the right win conspiracy theories attack him – that’s like the stamp of approval!) Emma Gonzalez? What about Stefan Perez?
And this one is a favorite – as the tweet said: Here comes the future…and she ain’t takin shit from nobody
I hope to be voting for her soon.
xoxoxo