Nope, not a quickie lesson on the Greek alphabet as part of preparation for hurricanes. It is the sequence of COVID variants , seemingly an unending one. We help bring this on ourselves by refusing the vaccine and making political hay of the mask issue. All the better to spread disease, contribute to the deaths of so many, the infections of more - but there they are, triumphant in their dangerous ignorance - until they too lay dying in a hospital bed, begging for a too late vaccine.
People are tired of this. The believers in safety are resigned to masking up once again, canceling celebrations, designing new routines, new plans, struggling to maintain a balance in a world gone mad. Some make the best of it, wearing masks of color, design, with slogans and I recently bought a dress for a formal occasion with a matching mask attached. Que cool! However, there is a dark side here, rising among people: anger at those who refuse to vaccinate, refuse common sense behavior, even health personnel who should certainly know better. I ask, how can these naysaying first responders be called heroes when they are part of the problem?
There is one aspect of a problem that incorporates much within its boundaries, and that is the infiltration of politics into our lives to an insane degree. Yet what choice is there. The only other option is to try to ignore it, refuse to listen to the news, refuse to be informed. That ends with a dictatorship made easier by the absence of a concerned, in the know, population. We do reap what we sow.
Too many of us are playing dead to the world. Too many of us are too tired to hear the full and emerging story of Trump's crazed, yet almost successful, coup attempt upon this country's legitimate government. He has instilled an amazing doubt of a free and fair election, caused people to lose faith in their government, to despise other Americans, to double down on ignoring the words of the pledge - "one country...with liberty and justice for all".
What are we to think when he boasts openly that GOP Congressmen will go along with this - even as we now see their obstinacy in a different light. More sinister, an attempt to limit discovery of their very real, very treasonous, attempt to grab power from the people, to use the army against citizens. Thank G-d we had courageous officers who categorically refused to go along and resisted.
Do not think we are out of danger yet. There are too many laws being passed by too many GOP automatons that can actually negate your vote. Yes, you read that right. Think about that. Think about the first time you went with your parent to vote, or took your own little one. What does that mean if there is NO meaning to it at the end of it all? Nothing. Nothing.
Need some 'positive' news, turn your mind off this ugly status quo? Sure. Perhaps we will not worry about this all as we will simply no longer be here. Or will be struggling in a world turned very ugly, hostile, an existence of hardship and struggle for very survival. Huh??
Yes. Mendocino is running out of water, its reservoir dead, empty. We are warned we have changed, polluted the climate, the environment, so badly, that there is a real chance the Atlantic Current will change direction or job, and welcome to Ice Age again, desertification elsewhere, drastic coastal flooding and loss of land permanently, polluted air, and so much more. Such problems that politics will be a never you mind issue as who cares for that when the struggle to put food on the table, find water to drink, and safe shelter occupy your every minute.
And no, folks, it will not be enough to repeat a mantra of 'go home and hug your loved one" for that will do nothing. If you love them, then do something. Be a poll watcher. Be involved. Support decent, honest, patriotic people. Stand against those who would turn this country's democracy into dust. Resist them. Keep the dream alive for the kids.
Please, go home and open the news. Read a few books and articles about what happened to this country over the past five years. Learn to distinguish lies from truth. Think about what it means to you, on a personal basis. Realize that you and yours will not be allowed to live in a bubble of your own. NO. Democracy demands vigilance. Unfortunately too many of us have been asleep on the watch. Now we have to come from behind. The enemy is not at the gate. He is inside. Greene. Gosar. Boubert. Brooks. Trump. McCarthy. Hawley. The list can go on. Part of government, right now, in Congress, voting away your rights, conspiring for perhaps another coup?
We are so lucky to be living here in CV even with all the problems that come with maintenance of an aging infrastructure, aging population and a changing world. True, we have a governor who is an aspiring demagogue, a President here who needs to retire, but still and all- this is too precious to lose. We need to do our part. No choice.
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