Calling out the powerful, thinking about change

 

Hello Monitor readers, 

Last month, I greeted you with sorrowful, grieving, and hopeful thoughts due to the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, the California fires, more school shootings, the continued global wars and genocide live-streamings, and of local, state, and national law-makers forgetting or not honoring their oath. This month it continues to be difficult keeping an optimistic attitude. However, on the bright side, our local Winter Carnival is inspiring. Rose McGee hosted another successful Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday event along with other groups hosting King Day events on a freezing Twin Cities day. And, although the Vikings were not in the Super Bowl, it was one of the best football seasons ever for the Minnesota Vikings. They unexpectantly energized me through the football and election season. So, happy Groundhog and Black History Month with the energy of not repeating past boo-boos, and, instead having those transformational moments of the fun and deep meaning of the Groundhog Day movie or the Christmas Carol movies. 

Collectively, we must and can learn our lessons of the past.

I’ve been struggling with how to speak my truth about having a president who seems prideful about bringing uncompassionate business principles to the highest position in the country and world. Through deeply breathing, having patience, and calling on my angels, I was blessed with an answer to my frustration on how to express my feelings in a healthy and respectful manner. I requested assistance from Brother Larry Long, a peacemaker, a national and global musician, and a class-act human being. He swiftly rose to my urgent request. The following are the words he shared:

 

He’s doing exactly what he said he was going to do

Set the insurrectionists free

Including Hatchet Speed who called Hitler,

“One of the best people that’s ever been on this earth.” 

Yet people voted for him anyway

“Back the Blue,” who

140 Officers were injured on that day

Beaten, bloodied, crushed by the crowd

Yet people voted for him anyway

The Oath Keepers and Proud Boys are back

The Gleichshaltung of the United States of the Autocracy has begun

If we lose our sense of humor they win,

But there’s nothing funny about this.  

This is serious stuff

Demanding some next level Jesus-style

Calling out to the powerful 

As Episcopal Bishop, Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde did

at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. 

With the unspeakable one in attendance.  

These are the words she spoke

And may we all take heed:

“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you, and as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives. The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals, they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurdwara, and temples. 

“I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land. May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love, and walk humbly with each other and our God, for the good of all people, the good of all people in this nation and the world.” Amen.

 

Thank you, Mr. Larry Long for sharing your words and the courageous words of Bishop Budde. I believe, that the majority of the people who voted for the GOP Presidential ticket didn’t vote for a bully leadership to be a model for our children or to keep us  in denial or asleep about our climate shifting in the wrong direction. I’m still a Pollyanna in that I believe we can have positive moments of waking-up/being aware of the possibility of a Christmas Carol or Groundhog Day transformation/miracle. We do have a eonderful life, regardless of the loud and wealthy rich voices of fear, denial, and of those staying asleep due to perceived comfort and privilege. 

Yes, we are in some difficult and challenging times. Please take extra deep breathes in order to realize that we all want the best and to live safely. Like with the Civil War, we will always have folks who will not accept change and who will want to continue feeling superior and in charge of others at the expense, exploitation, oppression, and deaths of others. I salute Bishop Budde; she is keeping the Arc of Justice Bending Forward and keeping hope for our children and ourselves alive and vibrant. Stay optimistic and pray for our president, regardless of how you voted. All will be well and yes, change is always in motion. Remember, we have been through this before and we will probably go through it again. I for sure will miss the uplifting and respect for all people leadership from President Biden and Vice President Harris. I also look forward to our first woman and/or Indigenous president. Locally, I think we are sacredly gifted with having Waltz and Flanagan at the head of our great state.

Be well, don’t worry, practice being happy. Our educators say it takes 21 days to change a habit or belief. We have four years to make proactive changes for the betterment for our children and Mother Earth. Let’s start now together! I know I need your help just to keep good thoughts for 1-3 days. Together with ethical national leaders and local champions for justice we can correct the dangerous path we are currently exploring due to being gaslighted from misinformation, fear, greed, and intentional lies to uphold a certain type of supremacy. 

Let love, kindness, and our better angels and invisible forces guide us. Thank you.