As you all know from watching the news, this has been a stressful week in the United States of America. My friend Meredith wrote a Facebook post that rings true for me. I’d like to post it here ...
“Do you think there was a come-to-Jesus moment for Republicans as they were being hunted down by an angry, violent mob of “their” people? That maybe some things aren’t worth a vote?
And do you think there may be some regret on the part of a police officer who took a selfie with a rioter as his now deceased buddy was being hammered with a fire extinguisher?
And how about the top of the police chain and those who refused extra help before and during the attack? The ones who left a small force of officers to deal with this crowd for hours? What are they feeling in retrospect?
Do you think there will be any self reflection by the two men who hoisted their fellow “warrior” through a broken window, only to have her fall backwards after being shot as she was among the first to threaten the safety of our elected officials?
Will anyone at the White House watch party, be-bopping to loud music, congratulating each other, surrounded by screens displaying the chaos and violence that Trump (and they) called for take pause or responsibility? We know Donald won’t, although he will fear actually being held accountable for the first time in his slimy life.
Will those of us who watched at home in horror ever be the same after seeing our fellow Americans commit these heinous attacks on our democracy; knowing that some of our family, friends and neighbors not only discount our votes and voices, but hate us?
And how about our brothers and sisters of color knowing that so much of this is directed at them and supported by almost half of their country and endorsed by the POTUS? How differently they have been treated even in peaceful protests and just going about their daily lives.
We all have some soul searching to do. We have to figure out where we land in all of this - who we are at the very core of our being. And then we have to decide how to move forward. We have to ask ourselves and each other some hard questions, and tell the truth; maybe have to actively seek out the truth. Much growth can come from crisis if we let it and I hope we will.
I wish us all the best on our journeys. None of them will be alike. I pray we can do this with grace.
See you on the other side. 💜”
Yesterday, we picked up our Dodge at the dealership. This time the idiot light cost us $1337 in repairs. It all has to do with the emissions control system on the big diesel. Apparently, we should get another 25,000 miles before it needs another cleaning. Good heavens! It would cost $84,000 to replace the truck, so a repair sounds pretty minor. Ha ha ha ha. Well I guess we know where that stimulus check goes!
The next diatribe is from neighbor Lynn ...
“Just in case you wondered how I feel...no response needed. Just want us to respect each other's point of view.
I used to think I was pretty much just a regular person, but I was born “white” into a two-parent household which now labels me as "Privileged", racist and responsible for slavery. I am a fiscal and moral conservative, which by today's standards, makes me a fascist because I plan & budget. But I now find out that I am not here because I earned it, but because I was "advantaged”.
I believe the Lord did not give me the heart to judge others. I am not a Muslim, which now labels me as an infidel. I believe in the 2nd Amendment, which makes me a threat to the liberals and I get labeled as being part of a militia. I am older than 30, making me a useless person with outdated ideas and values. I think and I reason, and I doubt much of what the "mainstream" media tells me, which makes me a "Right-wing conspiracy nut”.
I am proud of my heritage and our inclusive American culture, making me a xenophobe. I believe in hard work, fair play, and fair compensation according to each individual's merits, which today makes me a target of socialists and Antifa. I believe our system guarantees freedom of effort - not freedom of outcome or subsidies which must make me a borderline sociopath.
I believe in a strong defense and protection of America for and by all citizens, now making me a militant. I am proud of our flag, what it stands for and the many who died to let it fly, so I stand and salute during our National Anthem - so I must be a racist. I kneel only for my God, which makes me racist. I think that all lives matter, which labels me as a racist. I think the riots and destruction of property around our country are wrong and are just an excuse to push a political agenda, so I'm labeled a racist.
I support our law enforcement, servicemen and women, which labels me as a racist.
I question how fear is being used to control us during the COVID-19 pandemic and think the crisis is being used for political gain, so I'm labeled careless and non-sympathetic. Yet I know the virus is real.
Liberals have tried to make me feel bad about who I am! Based on everything above, some want me to believe I am a bad person; I'm not, I'm a good person who loves my God, my family and my country.”
🤷♀️ As Mark says ... for years we’ll be hearing about this coup attempt ... the French says it was an inside job. They’re on the right track.
Mark stocked up the fireplace at noon and we’ve been enjoying it ever since. It never got out of the 60s today!
