Marthe48
Marthe48's JournalI was recently visiting with people in my age group
(70s+) I think 2 or 3 groups of people over the last month. Conversation often turns to death, with several people hating the idea of their mortality and what if the point of living, when in the end we all die. I usually say something like we are the only species that know we have an expiration date, and so we can pack as many experiences, relationships, anything really that makes our existence meaningful.
I think it is a damn shame that even if we are the only species that is aware of death, when it comes to the environment, we are no better than any other species on the planet, and since we know we are causing harm, causing disaster, we do nothing to change course. The entire planet's future in in our hands, and we are doing the least possible to head off the calamity that is just down the road. There are many caring individuals laying awake at night wondering what else they can do to save the planet. There are just as many individials that don't give a damn, and do nothing to reduce the throttle. And even if companies and countries say they will do things, they don't. They just keep saying they'll do things, like words will be actions.
I flew to Maine last week, invited to join my family on their vacation. When I see mile after mile of forests, and rivers flowing, and all of the other positive signs of life and living, it is easy to think that the planet will survive the horrific abuse we keep piling on. The Earth might survive, but how about the passengers? There have been regional disasters in the past. Campi Flegei probably wiped out the last of the Neanderthals. Thera destroyed the Aegean culture. Droughts in South America destroyed the Mayan civilization. There was a mini ice age that brought famine and plague to Europe. Humans have been here before and we handled it as humans do: with opportunistic survival of the fittest. And even with proof from our own history, mindlessly we go on, and damn the torpedoes. I didn't think I'd live to see the crash of the environment, but when I read articles like this, I dread what is ahead, for all of us.
Maybe an inkling?
In 1948, the Democratic Party decided to support civil rights as part of their platform. Looking back, it was a perfect time. Think of all the minorities who threw their heart and soul into building the infrastructure of our country, working and dying as the U.S. built one of the biggest industrial production output in the world, defending our country, their country, in WWII. It was wise of the leaders, visionaries, and politicians to recognize and support the unimaginable contributions from people of color, women, Native Americans, Asians, really all of the humans who came together in the melting pot to make a stronger and more perfect union.
The Democrats lost the dixiecrats because of civil rights, at the time warning 'for a generation, maybe forever' And the dixiecrats, deadset against a social movement that included every productive patriot calling America home, peeled off from the political party that changed gears and changed our country, relit the beacon of freedom. At the time, choosing civil rights was the right thing to do, and as more and more people realized that inclusion and respect enhanced our national quality of life, this humane political stance influenced our culture beyond our best hopes.
Except the isolationists, the narrow-minded, the elitists who wanted and still work for a society based on class. Although there is a large number of Americans who don't understand the benefits of social and political awakening, the number gets smaller. I can't help thinking that the current r policy makers are looking for a way to attract voters back to them. I can't help wondering if they think if they insist on the extremist policies they are supporting, that they'll cause the same political upheaval now that the Dems caused by their decision in 1948. The Dems did not have to use force or dirty tricks to force Americans to accept their new viewpoint.
But the r's are not taking into account that while the Dems' platform was beneficial and humane, the current r plank is not. The only way they can jam it in place is by force and cheating. No matter how draconian the r's make their platform, there are not enough people who can stay clinically angry or cruel compared to people who want inclusion, acceptance and separation of church and state. And peace, sweet Lord, peace. The r's think the news reflects reality, but it doesn't. We are humans and are going to perk up our ears if we hear arguments or gunfire, and ignore the discussion of dinner plans, or the silence of neighbors enjoying their day.
I don't think the r's will win. They won't prevail. They are fighting on the wrong side of history, and using weapons of hate, prejudice, and sexism. They will lose and their memory will be noted with infamy.
A lot of us going home for the 4th
No matter how old we get, going back to our roots makes the celebration more meaningful, and maybe more satisfying. Part of going home is nostalgia, part of going home is affection for home. We can see where we were and where we are. Some of us who go home might not have the whole-hearted enthusiam that others have, but we go. We might feel duty to family and friends, hope that something is different, or resolved, enduring loyalty, even love, to that place. I don't know anyone who doesn't have mixed feelings about home, but we return, in person, in memories, in spirit. However we think of home, if we don't feel about our country as we feel about our home, we are missing the point of patriotism and we are risking a loss of identity, belonging and purpose. No true patriot would burn down their home. No true patriot would burn down their country.
title dropping
The school and library might not be allowed to have the book, but people who want their kids to learn will give their kids access and their kids will tell others. With the Internet, maybe banning a traditional print book won't be as successful as it was in the 1930s and earlier.
There are a number of websites that offer free access to literally millions of books
Gutenberg Project
Internet Public Library
Internet Archive
Library of Congress
OPLIN (Ohio Public Library Information Network)
I worked at a public library when the Internet was just starting up. The Ohio library systems linked, so you can log in to your home library and from there, link to other libraries linked in. This is a nationwide, by now, worldwide network of resources.
With a bit of effort, there are a number of ways to access books. If you can't get them in your state, ask friends and relatives to send copies. Start book clubs. Read to your kids.
Ending this, it is ironic that people seeking knowledge will end up hiding in catacombs like the early christians had to.
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Gender: Do not displayHometown: Ohio
Home country: U.S.A.
Member since: 2001
Number of posts: 17,041
