Wildfires are raging out of control along the west coast bordering the Pacific Ocean in California as hurricanes formed in the Atlantic dumped unwanted, unprecedented amounts of rain on the Gulf Coast and east coast over the past few months. People in all parts of the country struggle to salvage and rebuild their broken lives from natural disasters that have created damages in the gazillions of dollars while they mourn the loss of loved ones unable to get out of harm’s way during the catastrophic events. American citizens in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands beg for food, water, shelter and electricity as they experience the total destruction of their infrastructures and homes.
A mad man in Las Vegas waged his own personal war against demons we may never identify, but what we do know is that he killed almost 60 people and wounded 500 more in a bloodbath executed from his hotel windows overlooking 22,000 persons at a country music concert on a Sunday night.
Today I heard a story about two of the victims of the wildfires in California: a hundred year old man and his 99-year-old wife who died in their home yesterday. They had recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. Imagine.
Meanwhile, the headlines involve a Hollywood movie mega mogul who has been fired for decades of sexual harassment against women and a president (who openly admits to sexual harassment) lunching with his secretary of state who called the president a “moron” last week. They are reportedly comparing IQs for lunch table talk.
Other headlines involve the arguments between the president’s third wife a/k/a the first lady and his first wife a/k/a the new author regarding who is the more influential in the president’s life which moves our nation from reality TV directly to soap opera within the blink of a book promotion.
Our nuclear treaty with Iran hangs in the balance this week with rumors it will not be renewed. Our relationship with the unstable leader of North Korea is tenuous at best. Nuclear missiles here, there, everywhere…
America burns within itself as debates over climate change, racial and transgender discrimination, wealth disparity, patriotism, kneeling at football games, nuclear deals, the perception of the presidency, health care, tax reform, Russian election interference, building a wall, immigration, gun control – these are a few of the hot button issues that divide us; and our differences become a deep, dark wedge of despair in our democratic process.
It is imperative that people of good will speak truth – even if it is inconvenient because the fabric of our society is in danger of being torn apart. There is no “little” moment of truth.
We must speak truth during coffee breaks at work with our co-workers, standing in the grocery store lines, at family gatherings, at Sunday School and church, in our seats at concerts and sporting events, at PTA and business meetings, with our next door neighbors – and especially in our homes where we must wage peace as we teach kindness and respect for others to our children.
Our individual responsibility is to commit outrageous acts of everyday rebellions whenever we are confronted with our own moments of truth. The answers we seek to the problems we have as a country lie within ourselves. Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of their nation.
Amen.
I'll Call It Like I See It 
With a President throwing gasoline on this burning mess, a Vice President cheering him on, an administration starting their own fires then ignoring them, and a Congress surveying the damage saying, ” Yep. That’s damage,” we can ignore the truth or speak it. I’m with you. My voice may get lost in the tumult, but I’m speaking out anyway.
Good God, what we’ve endured these past 10 months!
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I always know you are speaking and drawing your truths, Ann. Bless you for it. Our voices will rise.
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Amen is right.
Regarding Melania and Ivana, I find it high-larious that these two women, or ANY two women, are fighting over Donald _____.
It’s like, “I made that giant turd.”
No, I made that giant turd.”
Seriously.
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Seriously, Bob, you just made me lol. Thanks!
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It’s been a rough year. I try and avoid politics as much as possible, but this year, I’ve been thinking about how tenuous the gains I was applauding over the past few years really were. I was so happy to see the legal strides made for marriage and civil rights and never imagined we’d be here. There’s no going backwards really, is there? The culture has changed, right?
I guess I should take nothing for granted…
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No, really we can take nothing for granted. One step forward…two back…
Sigh.
Thank you for your thoughtful commentary.
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I wanted to add that I really enjoy your blog and have tried to leave comments, but I am not a Google user so I can’t sign up to follow or comment. Just know that I read and enjoy!
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Thank you so much. I try to make the comments as user-friendly as possible, but on blogger, that seems to only go so far.
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Perfectly said, friend! And the VP and his $242,000 PR stunt. Can’t leave that out.
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How could I forget that? Thanks!
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To aid my mental health I’ve been cutting down on the amount of detail I’m taking in of what goes on in America at the moment but I keep finding myself having to lift my jaw as another extraordinary thing happens. We do all need to raise our voices to be heard before this crazy world runs us over.
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Pretty refuses to watch the news since last November. Truly…so I get that, but we must try to stop the madness wherever it is.
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I haven’t watched the news since we’ve been on vacation starting this past Friday and it’s been kinda wonderful I must admit. What a sad state of affair’s it is….
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Pretty refuses to watch the news with me so I must get up early in the morning to watch Morning Joe and sneak peaks during the day when she’s working !
Enjoy your vacation – I know you’ll have lots of great stories when we see you next!
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Bravo, Sheila! It would be so easy to stay quiet, and it’s definitely tempting to run and hide. And that’s why it’s so important to go out there and speak up. Thanks for the reminder . . . and thanks to Bob Slatten for his hilarious comment!
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Exactly, Miss Harper Lee! I know I can count on you to keep the faith in NOLA!!
Bob Slatten is hilarious and wicked smart. You should visit him.
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yes i can agree, the answers are right here within ourselves, so WHEN you see it or hear about it, own it and address the issue right then and there, to the best of your ability, its called mercy and grace.
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I’m so proud of you for “owning” your own truth with your family – never easy. Hugs and kisses to my cousins in Grimes County tonight.
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