I don’t think I have ever so appreciated summer. Knowing that its beauty and this time we share with loved ones is only temporary… peaks the joy of this experience.
Some loved ones have been torn apart by the polarity in this country. I remember reading about the Civil War when “brother fought brother.” I know now how history repeats itself and in many ways. I have been hearing sad stories about some families. One friend said that because her mother is a devotee of Fox News, she has favored the offspring who share her political views. Thus, my friend, who sees things differently, doesn’t know if she’ll be cut out of the will. Another friend told the story of a family funeral, where there was a fight about masking and vaccination status. A huge argument erupted and some members stomped off early and then cut off all contact with their siblings. The episode destroyed what was to be a solemn ceremony and the honoring of a dear one’s life.
Terrible, that in spite of our differences, people cannot maintain some form of civility and respect. Perhaps that is one good thing coming of the January 6th Hearings. Republicans and Democrats are talking to one another. We haven’t seen that in a long time.
Although some take heart with the January 6th hearings, the Supreme Court acts rapidly with its assigned tasks of strategically dismantling democracy. Although I support the hearings, I do hope we are not distracted by that bright shiny media object – Trump. He is simply the hood ornament on an entire engine of dastardly deeds. He could have never pulled off the hoist of the country alone. His enablers helped them but not out of blindness. This was a carefully crafted plan.
Someone called in last night to the The Thom Hartman Program. “I feel like I’ve been beat up,” he said of the recent Supreme Court rulings. I feel the same. Despairing. And with the November election looming it is hard not to catastrophize. How not to? That is the challenge. A friend points to other peoples who have overcome worse adversity in political systems. She said the Haitians keep resisting even though they are starving. I should read Masha Gessen’s book: Surviving Autocracy
Inevitably, all of us will need to find out how to maintain peace of mind as we move forward. That is a challenge.