Sad and mad

Hello All,

I usually try very hard to be apolitical in these blogs, though many of you know I have very firm beliefs. (And Bob would say I have no difficulty expressing them.) I try very hard to listen to both sides of a story/argument/position to help inform and impact the development of my personal stance on issues. I believe it is important to have open and honest discussions, even when it is difficult. I try hard to listen. I know I am not always right. And honestly, I intensely dislike bullies.

Right now – I feel like our world has gone crazy. And you are forewarned – this is a mini-rant.

I have always hoped that none of you would experience incivility – intolerance – bullying. I had hoped that the strides we have made as a country would not change in such dramatic fashion – with steps backwards in women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. I know we still have racial equity, diversity, and inclusion issues that need to be addressed – but who would have thought we would try to undo the gains we have made. I could not even envision a world in which we would once again discuss, much less actively engage in, book banning. And I prayed that we would never again see the level of violence and war we are now witnessing in the Ukraine.

So I am sad and mad. I am sad because people all across our country and the globe are being hurt by each and every one of these things – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. People are being hurt as individuals and as groups/communities/countries.

I am mad because there is limited to no civil discourse. I am mad that we are not listening. I am mad because we seem to have lost the ability to compromise, to find common ground, to make decisions that benefit humanity (with that core word – human). I am mad that we have devolved to words of hatred and acts of war. I am mad that we tolerate the actions of bullies.

We have the responsibility to make this better. We have the responsibility to make this world safer, equitable, tolerant and celebratory of differences. We have to make it a world where all – who were created as equals – actually live, laugh, work, play, and love as equals.

Stand up for humanity. Pray for the people of the Ukraine. Pray for peace.

Phyl