I'm beginning to think that I'm the only one on the planet that is looking around at all of the stuff that's happening and thinking that it's all just a show that's in its last act, so of course there's a lot of chaos and tension. Sure it's going to be a bit of a long recovery, but we will recover, and the worst of the crap will be flushed soon.
"They" (Republicans, elites, the 1%, /insert group name here/) want to ramp up the fear to control the narrative and by extension, all of us. I dunno if you've noticed but it's failing in a lot of ways. We're not getting scared; we're getting p*ssed off, and more and more people from all walks of life are starting to wake up and fight back, Flock cameras being just the most recent and well-known example.
We will be okay. Keep the faith, don't let them make you afraid.
Heather Cox Richardson's September 2nd substack letter is worth reading to give you hope. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/nothing-you-can-do-can-stop-us
Along with a speech she quoted from a pissed off resident of Tarrant Co, Texas (Forth Worth area) where the 2 of 3 county commissioners voted along party lines to cut 92 polling places out of 124, which had inturn been cut from 316 back in 2022 total in a county larger than five states! The residents were furious. One resident stood up and said this:
Want to honor the passing of the Great poet, Wendell Barry who wrote one of my favorite poems. A friend sent me this poem right after the Newtown massacre of innocents. After that I memorized it so I could hear it in my head when I need it.
The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Barry
When despair for the world comes in me
And I awake in the night for fear of what my life and my children's lives will be,
I go and lay down where the wood drake rests in his beauty by the water.
And where the Great Heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
Who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I feel above me the day blind stars waiting with their light.
And for a while, I rest in the peace of the world and am free.
Wendell Berry was a treasure. In the early 1970's a friend of mine was taking an English class from him. One day my friend said, "Our assignment is to write an essay about an orange." After the next class, "He said to write another essay about an orange." After the next class, "We are to write yet another essay about an orange."
What an interesting approach to stimulate students' ability to "see!"
@raincloud I love that. Thank you for that jewel of a tidbit about Wendell Barry!
I mourn the loss of Wendell Berry...even as I treasure his works. All of the people who share their gift of our connectedness to Earth and all of Nature. From the Charley Harper's to Rachel Carson, Barbara Kingsolver to John Muir.... remind us, move us , share with us.... of what a magnificent planet we dwell on. A touch stone of remembrance of what is real and glorious here... as opposed to today's pestilence of " influencers" and AI memes. Yes Robert Frost... a road less traveled....
That connectedness speaks to me. I am on a healing journey for my Self ... and wanted to share this " moment"