Saw my first crocus yesterday.
Spending lots of gramp time with my newly turned 9 year old. She's such a mix of mature and thoughtful and silly and mischievous. Listening to her mom and grandpa talking about their students, she explains that sometimes kids in her class don't answer the teacher's question because they don't clearly understand the question - even though they know the answer. I so wish people would realize kids know so much more than adults think they do and would talk to them with respect and listen. They will surprise you. After all, when adults ignore their ideas, they discuss them (and the adults) with their friends. Just like adults do.
She also hid my wallet in a drawer yesterday and it took forever to find it when I had to pay the plumber today.
First I had them both with the words on top. But that didn't seem right. Then I flipped the bottom on so you can better see this was one piece of sidewalk art in Bainbridge Island's 1% for the arts program. Words are by Margi Berger. Artist is Carolyn Law with Benson Shaw.
The library had a display of books for Black History Month.
Our disgraced former president has encouraged all those damaged souls with who must put others down to feel good about themselves - whether highly educated or not - to voice their hatreds and condemn those who are fighting for an opportunity to live their lives without fear of being harassed because of the color of their skin. That so many people are so angry and so willing to do his bidding is a sign of how sick our system is. The accumulation of money covers so many sins - from T himself to the oil companies that continue to fight against meaningful action to slow down climate change, to the Sacklers, and so many others. We see people rot in prison because they smoked a joint, but so may of those with money buy get out of jail free passes with fancy lawyers.
These are people who don't want truth about the US to be read by their children. Or yours.
Hatred is a burden not only for the oppressed, but also the oppressor. It's a disease of the heart, in the sense of dis-ease. How many of T's rabid supporters were abused - physically and/or psychically as children? Were abandoned physically or mentally by a parent? That leaves big scars and anger that searches for a target. Yet others so badly treated find love somewhere else and heal.
Read some good books.
And look at the moon and sky - an experience that links you to humans (and non humans) going back to before history.
Steve, thank you for this pause from all your good work on reapportionment. A reminder of what is also all round us, waiting our notice. It's not coincidence that I've come to other ways of seeing in my time away from my birth country. It's given me distance to question ways of knowing.
ReplyDeleteIt all gets too much to explain, almost over-burdening words as much is emotion, too. It's as if I need poetry more than prose to explain things to you -- and to myself. That's what I feel you did in your writing today.
Gene and I are taking another step into that poetical context: This 11 March, we take keys to our new home in Armagh, Northern Ireland. We will have left England moving to Gene's paternal grandparents home country. It will be our next home where I can regain my (lost by Brexit) EU citizenship as well as become Irish in three years. There, we'll learn Irish together, taking up a modern European language other than English.
And yes, I look at the moon and sky often. I also spend time watching our garden's goldfish -- animals thought to possess little memory -- and find them inquisitive, full of play and pettiness in their relationships. Quite like us if only seen and never understood. Might I add I like your use of 'T' for He Who Shan't be Named -- a slang salute to testosterone and those who hail its thrall. Heck, war is peace, after all.
Again, thank-you for taking time to share a bit of your gramps 'day in the life' with us. It's a reminder that living is all that's required for us to live.
It was good to have a break. Congratulations on your new home. I wish you lots of happiness in it, but I'm sure there are much pithier Irish sayings for such an occasion. I need to do more homework on Brexit. I thought Ireland was still connected to EU, but not Northern Ireland. Or is because the N-S border will say open that you can go? Thanks for rewarding this softer type of post. I am still lost in redistricting and if last time is any indication, it's going to be a while. First trial ended today. Wait for decision - by Tuesday night the judge said. Then to the Supreme Court. And then possibly back to the board to redo parts or the whole things.
DeleteGood to hear from you. In short, N. Ireland's citizens are considered (by the Republic of Ireland) as its citizens as well -- if they wish to accept it. That means if one is legally resident and a UK national LIVING in N. Ireland, one can also be Irish (as of the Republic) by request for a passport, for instance. One can hold an Irish passport AND a UK passport. That's my plan when I apply for Irish citizenship in three years (as being married to an Irish citizen I don't have to wait 5 years -- one reason WHY we fought for marriage recognition, really).
DeleteAnyway, this is all part of the partition process back in 1921-22 when the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The partition process in Palestine is another 20th century example of such 'great' works by old Blighty. I should point out that colour-line racism in the USA (for economic gain) was set in motion by the then Kingdom of England & Wales in the 17th century. Empire is such a thing as to seek permanent advantage over others, of course.
Love to talk with you about some recent writing on the concept of 'race' in the racism row in which Whoopie got it 'wrong' in the States. I have found here in Europe that racism is more aligned to what Americans seem to be saying in response to Whoopie. Let me give it a go: Racism are legal & normative markers of denigration suffered upon a suspect people, of which notions of colour are one.
That's how the Irish were made & unmade historical victims of racism: that their victimisation could be eased -- rather than a permanent marker of colour as seen in the USA. Interesting that Whoopie's statements (as I read in press) were seen as radically wrong. Honestly, hers was the prevailing notion of 'race = colour' racism that I grew up with in the USA and for all too many generations before me.
Race in Europe has been often assigned to natal culture & class; in the States, I think the notion of 'race' was attributed to colour firstly & secondly, that of language.
Anyway, good to see 'race' might shift as a notion in the States. Colour simply didn't do it justice (so to speak).
Too far & long away from the old country, I'm afraid -- and can't edit my post since posting: She's WHOOPI, not Whoopie. Apologies.
DeleteP.S. I saw crocus on the Isle of Wight yesterday (first time this spring) too!
ReplyDeleteI noticed any number of adults of the political persuasion who try to sound as if they know more than they do. They don't. Welcome back from the political grind.
ReplyDeleteOnly a quick break I fear.
ReplyDelete