IT IS WHAT IT IS

     A sentence of both despair and hope. A sentence of acceptance and defiance. How is this?
     Sometimes there are conditions which must be accepted as they are and then strategy planned and executed. A disease or syndrome. A bodily fact. A situation at work. A national disaster.
      But does that mean that we accept these situations and just go on without a statement or action or determination to change that it is what it is? Most emphatically no, never, in fact, for that presumes surrender to situations that should never have been.
     So personally, I am working hard to deal with my situation. It helps, but does not take away the facts that one day I will lose the battle. So, it is what it is, but for a while, anyway, I do not accept this and do not go down in defeat right from the very beginning.
     As for our CV living circumstances, there are things that seemingly are permanently etched upon the surface, but truly, this is not 100% so. Commenting, not letting an issue go, demanding information and justification, watching what goes on, speaking up - all tactics at work. I have seen this work quite recently when comments I made brought about a response, several in fact, some verbal with information and some in actuality with pipes being plugged and plans being made. Is it enough? Most definitely not and will never be until David Israel and all those who go along with him are gone from UCO. But it is a start.
     Most recently, his stooge, Lanny Howe, wrote how volunteers are so desperately needed. Yes, they are. But, a typical David blog thing took place. A long time volunteer for the Investigations Committee wrote how he/she had been removed due to political reasons, meaning an opposition to David and some of his plans. So why volunteer? A waste of time and a need to walk on tippy toes thru broken glass? Why? There is no recognition of anything unless you are a David Israel sycophant. But here is the most telling thing about it all - the comment was immediately removed from the blog lest the truth as it is come out!!!! But make no mistake about it, this is not a leave it alone situation.
     And what about the country and the world? We all feel we are little people, of no consequence in the larger picture. But that is not so. Look what those kids have done and swear to continue. Look what the women have done with the march and the continued working of protest and defiance. Unfortunately, look what has happened to the country what with the rise of hate, the oppositional defiance of men who refuse to admit that they had behaved like pigs and refuse to either change their behavior or stop admiring that caveman behavior.
     People do not like change. For sure. I get all bent out of shape when I walk into a store, heading for what I need and find that these items have been moved. I hate that  and hate the search party that then ensues!! But serious change is not so easily done. 
     We now have raiding parties. Raiding parties!!! Nazis in America and they are us!! So wrong from so many points of view. Humanitarian. Economic as now those who screamed against immigrants will pay thru the nose for purchase of items, like fruit, that will be scarcer because there is no one to pick. Inhumanity as we tear apart families, as we introduce a higher level of dread into the hearts of these people. And why? For daring to dream, the same way our ancestors did!!
     We have a growing rift between state governments and federal government. Suits and fights. Major points of difference. Actions taken by the federal government that would harm people, yet the people fight back. The new ridiculous increase in entrance fees to the national parks had to be rolled back. Just one example.
     And for those who screamed protectionism - well looka here what you have done - to us and yourselves. I care not a whit what harm you have done to yourselves but what about the rest of us. Agricultural products now under severe tariffs from China. Products here, made with steel and aluminum, will skyrocket, plants will close, workers out of jobs, money tighten and here we go right into another huge recession or even Depression. Been there, done that before - have we not?
     This can go on and on, unfortunately, what with the situation we now have with crooked and selfish people in office, with dirty secrets galore, with lack of transparency, with little care for the little people, with people watching their retirement funds go down the tube! It is what it is? Yes, indeed so. But - we can make it not so. All with effort and care and concern and determination. 
     As the old line went - yes, we can, yes, we  can. Let us all remember the line from The Little Engine That Could - yes I can becomes yes, WE can. Choo choo.