I haven’t written for the Mess & Clutter for five years.
Why now? One can post directly on Facebook, but Facebook is so Facebookish, I don’t want it as my host.
One of my children is a teacher in Washington DC. Zo is immersed in the life of her region, the dreams of her students, and examines—with a more inside eye than I have—the degree to which the Pursuit of Happiness is within the reach of her friends and neighbors.
This morning I got a report “from the front” so to speak. By which I mean, The atmosphere at a peaceful rally for fair policing.
Not that Zo’s report differs from what we see on tv news or Youtube clips. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen so much gestomping or storm-trooping in my real life lifetime than has become popular under flaccid but rhetoric-fueled hand of the 45th occupant of the Oval Office.
There seem to be no parts or pieces of the 1st Amendment that the current administration appears to appreciate. The right to assemble peaceably and petition for redress may be 45s un-favoritest, and the goobers with whom he’s surrounded himself are pretty peachy on the liberal deployment of flash-bangers, tear-gas, and oppressive cops who could easily be exchanged for the Cybermen of Doctor Who.
Ok, now I’m speaking to my peers. My fellow people hiding their grey hair. (I’m not, actually.) I know you want peace and happiness, and shopping at Kohl’s. Me too.
Do you think there’s ever been an underclass that didn’t push back? Yeah? No. Check out this Henry Louis Gates article on slave uprisings in American History. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/did-african-american-slaves-rebel/
The funny and quaint thing to think about, is how—at the time these events occurred—there were “many fine people” (to use a trumpish phrase,) who viewed them as terribly disruptive to their tranquil sense of comfort as they went about their shopping at whatever predated Kohl’s. I’m sure it was very awkward to be planning a tea, and hear that the slaves in the next town were burning down barns. I bet you would have wished things would just settle down.
I can’t do a meaningful exposition, right here and now, about how uneven, and full of land mines, the playing field has been for minorities in the U.S. since we finally outlawed enslavement. But it’s a valuable and essential course of study! Ask me if you’d like suggestions for study material!
Are you ready to show support where support is needed? Vote for fair-minded leaders? Or just go to Kohl’s. Things WILL settle down again. ish. For a time.
