IT’S A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE, WORDS AND DEEDS…NOW!

Completing my 8th decade, I had wanted to turn over the politics and community activism to the younger, smarter, energetic “yutes” who are better equipped to fight the good fight. The accompanying “Melancholy” sculpture reminds me of how many of us feel. We’ve had our breath and spirit knocked out by the incompetent, mean-spirited “shock and awe” tactics of the new Administration and their Maga-Republican cohorts. However, the magnitude and pace of this governmental/political onslaught is so extreme and heartless that most all constituencies of any complexion are negatively impacted and are readying some degree of “resistance.” And, that’s where we ALL come in.

I’ve got to remain involved as a matter of conscience, having grandkids who deserve better, but are destined for worse if WE THE PEOPLE don’t re-energize to reclaim this Country from these arrogant, cruel, opportunistic large-scale grifters.

IT STARTS WITH WORDS FOR ME…

Words are good placeholders and prompts for my personal reflections. They provide context for more expansive consideration and subsequent ACTION. Words such as COURAGE, COWARDICE, CRUELTY, IGNORANCE, KINDNESS, CHARACTER, TRUTH, etc. Flavored with current buzzwords like DEI, WOKE, etc.

Some random observations relative to these words:

Conservative strategists have designed a fear-mongering script to scare the uneducated and uninformed about such as DEI and WOKE. I heard a great political psychologist posing a question for the fearful (most of whom have no idea of real/relative meanings): “What bothers you about DEI? Is it diversity? Is it equity? Is it inclusion? What do those words mean to you?” Most skeptics have not been given that opportunity. Most CANNOT define either. And “WOKE”…In a broad sense, WOKE means to seek to be informed, be open to other opinions, and be willing to join in civil conversations relative to controversial issues.

COURAGE…Washington’s Episcopal Bishop Budde, Joy Reid, Ukraine’s Zelensky, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, Stephen Colbert and many others…

COWARDICE…Texas Legislative “leadership,” Congress, our political Parties…

CRUELTY…It’s been the recent pervasive and relentless cruelty that has forced my conscience to respond, keeping me in the fray…Abbott’s cruelty at the border. Bibi’s cruelty overkill in Gaza. Putin’s cruelty in Ukraine. The Musk/Trump/Vance cruelty toward Zelensky. The young Hispanic suicide victim due to bullying relative to deportation concerns. This and many other examples make me angry and sad…certainly enough to resist being complacent. I can’t give up or presume that I’ve fulfilled my role in community service. I just need to adjust my efforts to my age and circumstances…and stay involved. The stakes are too high to do/think otherwise.

IN CLOSING

Our plight in Washington is all too real. Incompetent, dysfunctional, dangerous and deadly. We have unlimited opportunities to serve at many levels. We have family, friends and colleagues who need to be “woke” up to join in responsible resistance to the madness. This is not, however, a battle of words and slogans. At best, it is the essence of constructive community, compassion, tough-love as appropriate, civility and kindness. May the Gods of Our Understanding bless ALL of us on our journey.