My walk on the beach at dawn....
(Warning: a real-life post ahead)
This morning I woke up to an overcast, hazy mist in the sky that somehow felt right, sort of a mirror of the heaviness I was feeling in my heart. It's so painful to see the country I love in such a broken state; six months of a Trump presidency and we're closer to a nuclear war with North Korea than ever before, we have Nazis and KKK marching in the streets and we're floundering as a nation without real moral leadership in our White House.
This isn't about Democrats vs. Republicans or conservatives vs. liberals...blah blah blah.
I'm so sick of all the labeling and finger-pointing.
We are Americans first.
Yet without a unifying President that reaches across party lines and instead bullies and labels his adversaries as enemies....we're more divided as a people than ever.
It's really pretty basic. Every person who has parented kids knows that setting standards of behaviors and values all starts at the top. You want kids that communicate constructively and treat each other well? You have to role model those behaviors, be that person. It works the same at a company. Most of us know the power of a boss in creating a healthy environment among employees.
Our political world is not much different.
Now we have all this anger spilling over at the drop of a hat when regular, nice people try to talk about politics or issues, have you noticed this?
Suddenly there are real rifts between family members and friends and every day it feels like a new "hot" topic emerges that you can't talk about in mixed company.
I mean ...come on.
We have a President that has to be pressured into strongly disavowing violent white supremacy and Nazi groups?!
Sorry to state the obvious but you cannot be a Proud American and a Nazi at the same time, and yes, I do wish we had a President that would blast this fact out instantly, no Teleprompter needed.
Oh well.
Strong women don't require any mansplaining before we call a spade a spade.
What hurts my heart is this.
The United States of America was once a beacon of light in the world representing core democratic values. Yes we're flawed, but we always aspired to stand for freedom and hope and equality for all people no matter their color or race. Yet today right in front of our eyes there's an insidious erosion of these core values happening, and most alarming is the undermining of our free press which is crucial to any true democracy.
Do you want to make a difference?
Read Founding Fathers by Joseph Ellis, Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns, Mornings on Horseback by David McMullough or my current read, On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder.
My point is, let's be informed by our history.
Let's value real facts.
Because I believe there is strength in being knowledgeable. Following current events and news is not an option for me, but I'll admit these days I regulate how much news I watch because frankly, it's pretty depressing.
(See? Every town has a Main Street and they all should matter)
I won't sugarcoat things. As a former mental health professional
I recognize emotional instability in our current President and it's scary. I'm deeply disturbed by the direction of my beloved country.
So yes.
There are times I post pretty pictures and get lost in creative projects and happily distracted from politics. But I never stop coming back. Because no matter whom are leaders are, it's on us to be informed citizens.
Our democracy exists because of us, we have to care.
Today I honor Heather Heyer, a young woman who had the guts to go out and protest against real evil and tragically lost her life in the most violent way. My heart aches for her mother and everyone who knew her.
But I figure, maybe I can keep Heather's courage alive in my own little way by striving to be the kind of woman who will stand up for what is morally right. Be the kind of woman who really listens to others and if needed, speaks respectfully about my own views even in the company of those who may disagree strongly.
Like this blog post for instance. Oh I'm sure I'll lose followers as a result.
It's crazy how divisive our culture is right now.
But I think we have to stop worrying so much about what others think of us and instead, we need to care more about doing the right thing.
Now more than ever, the truth really matters.
Let me know what you think.
xo
Leslie
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