Since the beginning of the year I have seen several memes that along the lines of 2021 saying to 2020, 'Hold my beer & watch this.' In summary, if you thought 2020 was a dumpster fire, then don't expect a break now, because 2021 is probably going to be worse. Many of us had been holding our breath since the election in November. If you are like me, then you have been distinctly aware of the domestic threat that far-right radicalism that has been growing in our country. While the world has been turned upside down since 2014 when, among other things, Trump entered the Presidential race. 2020 seemed to me, a culmination of a lot of madness, and I was pretty much holding my breath to see what would happen next. Like many of us, even though Biden wasn't my favorite candidate from the primaries, I have been hopeful that we could put the last four years behind us, and beginning January 20th, perhaps begin to move on, and forward toward something more akin to normal life. Then of course, there is the issue of whether we actually want to go back to the way things were before, or do something different moving forward. I suspect that most people would be happy if the world would simply go back to the way it was before Trump. However, there is likely a much larger number of people who were unhappy before Trump and would much rather see us move forward, not backward. Populism helps feed the fear that encourages people to buy into easy answers with alternative facts. Its so much easier to blame someone else, and point the finger at a story outrageous enough to completely remove any personal responsibility from the situation. It takes a lot more work to acknowledge the errors in our actions thus far, and take on the necessary action to correct these errors moving forward.
Frankly, its disturbing to see this sort of history repeating itself in so many locations across the globe. What does it take for humans to learn from their mistakes? Well, I have some theories on that. First off, civil civic engagement is pretty important. The more people that participate educate themselves about their choices prior to voting, and then follow up the research with actually consistently voting, the more accurately our representatives will reflect the true nature of our country.
Often over the last few years the thought has crossed my mind that perhaps there really are that many fascist, misogynist, prejudice people living in this country. Of course that is incredibly depressing, and in the spirit of moving forward, I choose to believe that sane, caring, intelligent human beings are actually the majority in the United States of America in 2021.
So, we were holding our breath waiting for Inauguration Day. Then January 6th happened and things got even weirder. Biden's Inauguration speech offered hope of a light at the end of the tunnel. Amanda Gorman's poem was breathtaking. Knowing that she is representative of our next generation, representative of the generation that will soon be making their way into our legislative offices, brings me hope. Hearing her words of dedication, hope, and healing brought me to tears.
I was, of course inspired to write. So what to write? Well, we can be hopeful, but the fact of the moment is that we still have a lot of work to do. This country has been needing a lot of help, healing, and ultimately reform for the better... For a long time. I never wrote to Trump, because I didn't want to end up on hit list. But I wrote to Obama. And Now. I have written to Biden. I also wrote a letter to Harris. I recorded myself reading them, because I know that 1) not every letter reaches their desk and 2) other people might be interested in the content.
I waited a little over a week to upload the videos because I wanted to give the fine folks at the US Postal Service to do their job before I published the letter content publicly. A discussion did take place during this interim, as to whether private letters should be published for the public. In the end, I decided that writing the letter was part of a collection of actions meant to be interpreted as me exercising my civic duty. Publishing said letter for the intention of starting conversations and furthering discussion is yet another part exercising civic duty. Had the letter been a matter of private personal exchange, then I would not have published it.
Check out the video of my letter to President Biden here
https://youtu.be/KiEO2GgBqts
Check out the video of my letter to Vice President Harris here
https://youtu.be/vVayzLwScaA
Please note, the opinions offered in these letter videos are just that. This should be taken as opinion or commentary and is meant only to invoke further discussion and consideration. It is not meant to be interpreted as a definitive or 'end-all' answer
Frankly, its disturbing to see this sort of history repeating itself in so many locations across the globe. What does it take for humans to learn from their mistakes? Well, I have some theories on that. First off, civil civic engagement is pretty important. The more people that participate educate themselves about their choices prior to voting, and then follow up the research with actually consistently voting, the more accurately our representatives will reflect the true nature of our country.
Often over the last few years the thought has crossed my mind that perhaps there really are that many fascist, misogynist, prejudice people living in this country. Of course that is incredibly depressing, and in the spirit of moving forward, I choose to believe that sane, caring, intelligent human beings are actually the majority in the United States of America in 2021.
So, we were holding our breath waiting for Inauguration Day. Then January 6th happened and things got even weirder. Biden's Inauguration speech offered hope of a light at the end of the tunnel. Amanda Gorman's poem was breathtaking. Knowing that she is representative of our next generation, representative of the generation that will soon be making their way into our legislative offices, brings me hope. Hearing her words of dedication, hope, and healing brought me to tears.
I was, of course inspired to write. So what to write? Well, we can be hopeful, but the fact of the moment is that we still have a lot of work to do. This country has been needing a lot of help, healing, and ultimately reform for the better... For a long time. I never wrote to Trump, because I didn't want to end up on hit list. But I wrote to Obama. And Now. I have written to Biden. I also wrote a letter to Harris. I recorded myself reading them, because I know that 1) not every letter reaches their desk and 2) other people might be interested in the content.
I waited a little over a week to upload the videos because I wanted to give the fine folks at the US Postal Service to do their job before I published the letter content publicly. A discussion did take place during this interim, as to whether private letters should be published for the public. In the end, I decided that writing the letter was part of a collection of actions meant to be interpreted as me exercising my civic duty. Publishing said letter for the intention of starting conversations and furthering discussion is yet another part exercising civic duty. Had the letter been a matter of private personal exchange, then I would not have published it.
Check out the video of my letter to President Biden here
https://youtu.be/KiEO2GgBqts
Check out the video of my letter to Vice President Harris here
https://youtu.be/vVayzLwScaA
Please note, the opinions offered in these letter videos are just that. This should be taken as opinion or commentary and is meant only to invoke further discussion and consideration. It is not meant to be interpreted as a definitive or 'end-all' answer