For the first time in as long as I can remember, I woke up this morning to happy news about the United States and its government (from my perspective). I am relieved to see that the way our system has been set up is holding up, at least so far. I fervently hope we can avoid violence and move toward a society I can be proud to live in.
WELL I’M NAIVE AND FOOLISH! I’M ASHAMED OF FELLOW US CITIZENS.
Readers of my blog have probably figured out that I fall on the liberal side of the political scale. While it’s true that I’m a pacifist, non-evangelical, pro-choice, democratic socialist, I’m not scary, out to eat you, or hell-bent on destroying anyone’s way of life. And I don’t want to live in a place that forces its citizens to toe some political line or suffer for their beliefs. I’m a big fan of diversity, and that’s why I’ve been having a hard time living in the US since our political parties have turned so violently against each other. How the heck are we supposed to accomplish anything at all if our only goal is to make the other team lose?
I hope that today’s events in the US, with actual elections, voted on by actual people, and certified by neutral parties can lead this supposed democratic republic back to sanity. I can dream, can’t I?
What I Want to See
I too, have a dream, like Dr. King did. In my dream people can:
- Work together to make the lives of all citizens healthy and safe
- If we participate in the political system as elected officials, do so to make the lives of the citizenry better, not to benefit a few people in power
- Help the mentally challenged lead productive lives and contribute to society
- Use our different viewpoints and perspectives to come to workable compromises for laws, regulations, and programs at the local, state, and national levels
- Take care of the health of all citizens without causing undue financial burdens
- Educate our children and adults to create a workforce of laborers, technicians, artists, scientists, and others to create a thriving society
- Take care of the planet we live on and its non-human citizens as well as we take care of the humans
- Celebrate our differences and learn from each other
- Banish hate. Period. Friendly competition is great; hatred of the other is not.
- Prioritize peace over war. Imagine what the world’s warriors could do if they didn’t have to spend so much time and energy on weapons and fighting.
- Enjoy our religious traditions and cultural heritage without negating other people’s
- Stay out of people’s private lives if they aren’t hurting anyone
- Talk to each other. AND listen to each other
- Celebrate beauty, hope, love, family, and all the good parts of life
- Treat children as people, not property
I can be optimistic for one day. Yeah, Imagine.
The Hermits' Rest 