We all have heard that sequence of question and answer many times during our lifetime. We said it, and we heard it. No matter how one might vehemently dislike that answer, there it was and usually, it was the end of any discussion. Like it or not. Why? Because. Next topic.
Yesterday I heard a positive use of that question-answer. One character, Anna, was asked why she could trust her sister, Elsa, not to harm her, and in fact, only doing what she thought was right and protective of her little sister. It went: Why can you trust her? Answer: "Because - she's my sister." That struck a tone in my head and heart, because I, too, have a sister, a big sister, an older sister - though I must always be careful to say she is 4 1/2 years older and not five. Not if I value my life!! But Anna's answer was true. One can most often depend upon a sister to "have your back" or "take your six" or some version of that - said or unsaid, implicit or explicit. It does not matter. Why? Because she's my sister. I am blessed for that.
Unfortunately, too many people try to usurp that relationship and spout sibling relationships with those they are trying to destroy, rather than welcome, into a family. You might be wondering now where exactly am I coming from. Well, if you have not identified those sisters, Elsa and Anna, they are the two princesses of Frozen. Why the hell am I interweaving a 'child's' production with serious adult discussion? Well, because. Because too many think that Disney productions are meant only for children and parents or grandparents. They have seriously missed the boat.
First, let me state that the production at the Broward Center was magnificent. Just what we all needed. The settings and scenery on stage were beyond belief. Not a penny was spared, and the reaction of the audience was one of awe and spontaneous applause, gasps from children and adults. More important, one can hope that the lessons, the morals, if you will, were caught, taught, learned and internalized.
"You can't give in to fear. You can't live in fear."
Does that ring a bell? Think of today's scenario. Think of the going on five weeks scenario in Ukraine where one deranged man has the entire world cowering in fear, allowing that fear to possess them, influence their decisions and inaction. Yes, inaction, or pitifully weak actions.
Because we have telegraphed our fear too often to Putin, he has been empowered by us to go forward - or is it backwards, actually - and crush the independent nation of Ukraine under the heels of his armed forces. Even from space, the beautiful blue marble of the astronauts is now displaying the vast difference in Ukraine before and after the invasion. The lights have dimmed - and that is both in actual lighting and in the light of a properly functioning humanity. The people of Ukraine are now living in a hell of long - term duration, for this will not end soon. This behavior of all involved has long term consequences. Liberty and integrity of people and nations - gone, trampled, left behind in the dust, in the bloody mud and tracks left by tanks.
Why? Because. We have made it clear to Putin that we are living in fear lest he push that proverbial button; hence, on he goes. Crush Ukraine, claiming he is rescuing his 'sisters and brothers', and on to his other 'sibling' surrounding nations. Finish off Georgia, Moldova, onwards to the three Baltic Republics and then, oh take your choice, for the world is his oyster and we are the ones who have served it to him. NATO? Non-NATO? It will not make a whit of difference, for we have allowed a partial view of the past to overwhelm us, to induce a state of paralytic fear, whilst we forget the other 'past' - that of the dangerous policy of appeasement and inaction. "The past is in the past' is sung out with fervor. We need to take that to heart. We live in a fragile world, its existence relying on a fraying tether. We must choose what we take with us from that past and what we consign to "the past is in the past", rather than allowing it to paralyze us, and achieve exactly that which we wished to avoid.
By the way, it appeared that the only way by which the evil prince could be stopped, not run rampant over Arendale was to give him a lesson in the language he understood - force. Anna punched him one and there was silence. Then one child's voice rang out as the applause began. "Way to go, Anna". Yes, way to go, out of the mouths of our children. Bullies understand power. They speak that language. They use and abuse that power, that violence, crippling the opposition, particularly when it telegraphs its paralytic state.
As we have done - for a long time already, beginning with the first incursion of Russian troops into Afghanistan, into Chechnya, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and the list will go on - and not merrily. We are reaping the rotten fruits of a corrupt Republican Trump presidency, a fragmented and leaning fascistic GOP which refused aid to Ukraine not so long ago. Remember that, McCarthy and McConnell? Furthermore, our fearful present state, which we have made so clear, has given permission to Putin to go on, free as a bird to kill civilians by the thousands, pulverize the infrastructure of a nation so as to make it unlivable, make war on children and women fleeing with them as one throws out the elderly remaining behind.
We have not internalized the lesson of Frozen. We must unfreeze. We must understand that the key to survival is not necessarily the frozen brain, but rather the frozen heart, that heart which must be restarted, reinforced with the proper attitudes and understanding - that we are one upon this planet, all of us. War on one is war on all. Attacks on one is attacks on all. If not then, then in the near future. Certainly so. We have learned that in harshly taught lessons. We must leave that past in the past and gin up our courage, our brave hearts, our empathy with others and do the right thing. Challenge the bully, for his gang will turn on him the moment we show strength, the moment they sense his weakness. The All Powerful will collapse inward. However, if we do not strike at the right moment, then we are lost. So very lost. And our GPS and our Waze will prove inadequate to the task.
Thankfully not within the play, is that which has cost me many hours of sleep. I predicted it would arise. And it has, in whisperings and ever growing louder vile statements and accusations re the "Jew" Zelensky, re the emphasis on the Jewish oligarchs, patently ignoring those who are not. Now the latest - From a Houthi-Yemeni leader - who portray themselves as the underdog in a war with Saudi Arabia -and a pox on both their houses! Here is his bit of 'wisdom' - from a past that is not so past, seemingly never to be. "I think that what happened to Ukraine is the result of evil doing of the Jews. This is proof that when a Jew is the leader of a country, it results in war."
No comments:
Post a Comment