I participate in economic protests, I am thoughtful with my voting in my allegedly “constitutional federal representative democracy” and I distance myself from people who support hateful, misogynist, racist regimes.
It never seems like enough during these “dark times”; and I applaud those who throw themselves onto the front lines of protesting though at times it seems like nothing is accomplished (and some individuals have lost their lives like happened in Minneapolis, MN recently).
I observe the actions of those working to “Make America Great Again“, and it feels like each day they are stripping “America” of what once made it great. I’m not seeing any greatness on the horizon and I don’t know how long it will take for the “country I live in” to heal the fractured relations with the world.
As a person of color (I have both an African American and Native American ethnic background) I struggle with seeing the leadership of the “country I live in” (and once loved) try to erase/hide the country’s past because it makes some people uncomfortable.
I remember when I was first working on my undergraduate degree and I met a woman who grew up in Germany in my German language class, and she told me as a teenager they went on a school trip to a concentration camp. They do not hide from their youth the unfathomable terrible time in history of their country. Studying the ugly historical moments in your country is a path for a society not to repeat them. Our current leadership wants “American” history whitewashed (this word feel very appropriate for what they are trying to do).
But enough of my rant. I had committed not to be too political on my blog but to me this doesn’t feel like politics it feels like a battle between love and hate (racism, lack of empathy, trying to control others life choices, etc.) I’ve always tried to be empathetic and respectful of those who think different from me politically and consider where they perspective arises. but I am struggle with what the “far right” wants to accomplish for the “country I live in”.
What I’ve decided to do additionally in protest of the current state of the “country I live in” is continue to be a loving person and send love out to the world and the people I interact with in person and through online mediums such as this one.
Because love is magic.
Life is magic.
We are the only officially known fully sentient life forms in our galaxy and perhaps the entire universe. That is some big magic!
I’d like to share the words and music of Stevie Wonder which celebrate the magic of love and life to close out this post of my musings:
If It’s Magic
by Stevie Wonder, 1976
If it’s magic Then why can’t it be everlasting Like the sun that always shines Like the poets in this rhyme Like the galaxies in time
If it’s pleasing Then why can’t it be never leaving Like the day that never fails Like on seashores there are shells Like the time that always tells
It holds the key to every heart Throughout the universe It fills you up without a bite And quenches every thirst
So If it’s special Then with it why aren’t we as careful As making sure we dress in style Posing pictures with a smile Keeping danger from a child
It holds the key to every heart Throughout the universe It fills you up without a bite And quenches every thirst
So If it’s magic Why can’t we make it everlasting Like the lifetime of the sun It will leave no heart undone For there’s enough for everyone
Source: Lyricfind.com
We all have hearts… If you have a heart, love somebody. If you have enough heart, love everybody. – Stevie Wonder