Time to talk about it

Here are some random thoughts that have been floating through my mind since the election:

It's time for me to give up the idea that I can change anybody's mind.  I've known that for a long time, but now I really get it on a deeper level of insight.  People have to change their own minds.  Because of that, I'm hoping the country goes to shit right away.  That will be bad for everyone, but maybe - only maybe - it will wake up the people who have become entranced by what they believe Trump to be, or what they believe he will do.

Although I will certainly take part in symbolic actions, such as marches, I am going to be vigilant in searching for concrete actions I can take.  Action is the great antidote to depression and feelings of powerlessness.  Very important for me/all of us to remember that we are not powerless and voiceless.

Things are going to go very badly for Ukraine, with probable withdrawal of U.S. military support, so one of those actions I'm going to take is to write to NATO to urge that body to accept Ukraine as a member.  If Russia takes over Ukraine, especially after its almost uncontested Crimean grab, Putin will no doubt be emboldened to take over other countries/territories as well.    https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/198183.htm  

At my best, I've very, very curious to see how these next couple of years unfold.  At my worst, I'm full of despair.  But my despair doesn't help anything and hurts me.  My rage only adds darkness to the world.  That's not who I want to be.  So I'm working on curiosity.

I'm currently reading "Killers of the Flower Moon", an excellent nonfiction account of the investigation into the murders of Osage Indians, which were orchestrated mostly by one man who wanted the rights to their oil-rich land.  This book has reminded me that throughout all of human history there have been men (maybe some women, too, but mostly men) greedy for power and money.  This era is not an anomaly.  It just happens to be the era I/we are living through, so it feels more real and urgent, disgraceful and wrong.  Corruption in business and government is nothing new.

I believe, and my experience is, that most people are good and kind and friendly and honest.  But kindness is quiet; anger and bullying are noisy.  Noise makes the news, which is why it's so easy to have a skewed perspective on what's going on in the world.  I need to continue to approach people with an eye to their humanity, to reach across whatever divide there might be between us.

"A defeat doesn't mean you're defeated."  Joe Biden