You Are Not The Boss of Us !!!!!

The title is a reflection of the infantile behavior we see these days.  I remember hearing little kids say this, especially to older siblings.

As I sit here “watching” and “listening” to the SCROTUS at this morning’s “questioning” by the “chosen press,” I am thinking that he really believes he is in charge of one of his “businesses” where he can just tell  people what to do and they will assuage his every whim.  When will he learn that he is now in the public sector, rather than the private one, and he will have to answer to the American people--he now works for US!

When will this blame game end?  How long do we have to listen to him blame the press for everything? I have never seen such whining! Who gets mad at Nordies? Really?

Did I just hear him say that Flynn was treated unfairly? Really?  Two words:  Remember Watergate!

Also, I am sick of all of the adjectives and adverbs !!!!!!

HOPE, No hope, HOPE!

I have been thinking about blogging since the “selection,” but nothing nice immediately came to mind.  My angst was almost unbearable, so I was required to sit, think, and try to make sense of it all.  I have thought, and sat, but still have not been able to make sense of it all.  I never thought that it would happen, and apparently many others have thought the same.  It was like nothing I had ever experienced in a Presidential election.  I have seen many Republicans elected, during my lifetime, and have never had a problem with any of them, even the one I thought was tricky, and the one I thought was as dumb as a box of rocks (but at least he had a genetic link).

It became increasingly difficult to even talk to those who voted for the person I call ##, because they voted for everything I do not believe.  It is not enough for me to hear them say he will carry out his infamous “hat slogan” which sounded like a negative rallying cry negating all that had been done the previous four years.  In my mind, I knew exactly what that meant.

 When you have been historically tied to a group which emasculated Black men, hung them from trees, raped their women and disrespected them in so many other unspeakable ways, it must have been very difficult to see a black man occupy the greatest office in the land.  So, I guess ## is their revenge. Oh well, let us see how much he will care about anyone other than himself, including them, by whatever name they want to be called.

 Yes, I said it, as far as I am concerned, it is nothing more than a racial backlash, no matter how many times they try to say that it is not. Baloney! America has a lot to learn about Race in America! Denial will not lead to understanding. How many real friends do you have of different races.  Not just people who work with you, for you, or you see occasionally.  I mean someone you talk to on the phone, have been to their homes, you REALLY know them?

It seemed that they wanted to wash away The Hope which was so present the past four years. However, I decided that I would never let anyone take away my hope or my joy!

A week ago I participated in what was billed as the “Women’s March,” which was so much more than that. That gave me a little hope from the time I arrived at the trolley station and saw the large group of people waiting to purchase tickets.  I had not anticipated such a crowd.  Upon entering the train, there was no room to move, and the trolley could pick up no one else all the way to downtown.  One young lady said she had felt so alone after the election, but felt wonderful, even on the trolley to be around like minded people.  It was a glorious ride, pussy hats everywhere (did not have one, but someone is knitting me one, after the fact). Upon our arrival at our stop, it was a glorious walk to the beginning area for the march, near San Diego’s Civic Center.  I could not believe the number of people--old, young, men, women, and children, even babies in strollers.  The signs were the most creative I have ever seen at any march.  I marched with two 50 something former students, and a friend who graduated from high school the same year I did--Love us 60’s activists. There was a slight rain, but we were prepared.  I think it probably lasted for 3-5 minutes, but was quite inconsequential.
It was just a one mile walk, but the spirit was absolutely amazing.  I was so glad that I did it. It was a RENEWAL of hope for me.

I have suspended my “News Junkie” status, to  keep my sanity, and I cannot bear to see a certain face or hear a certain voice.  I have watched more movies, colored more, written more, and read more, so that is a good thing.  The time I spent with MSNBC, and CNN have been replaced--that is also a good thing.

My HOPE has returned because I see the present events as a call to action.  No more taking things for granted. No more listening to miscalculating news accounts. The time for action, and activism is NOW. It is not enough to march, we have to protest, email representatives, encourage, and pray, as we move our feet!

The America I Used to Know

Growing up as a little Black girl on 63rd street in Miami, I was surrounded by folks who lived in what people now call the “inner city.”  Some have never, in their lives, walked the streets which we walked.  That was not an “inner city” to me, that was my neighborhood, lived in by old, young, educated, uneducated, wise, unwise, children playing in the street, old folks telling us to get out of the street, church going folks, folks who cared about everyone on 63rd Street, and folks who encouraged us young ones to get an education.

 We were taught to respect our elders, to be compassionate, to give, even when we had little.  I cherished those old ladies who gave me a dollar when I came home for vacations from college.  I knew what that dollar meant to them--it meant that they wanted to make sure that I have a life different from the one they had.

There was also another America--the one where White folks were in charge, separate but equal.  It was an America where my great grandmother, a cook for the Millers, had to enter the house through the back door.  It was an America where “White was Right.” It was an America where folks wanted us to believe that we were inferior. It was an America where folks felt like we were going to be held down forever.  It was an America where equal rights was a joke.

They did not know about my other America.

 The America I used to know is not the America that they want.  They want  an America where disrespect runs rampant.  They want an America which will reflect the worst of the old America.
They want an America which reflects “Make America WHITE again,” an America which reflects “Make America Hate again.”

I grieve for those folks who gave me a dollar. I grieve for my children and grandchildren.

 I am angry about the outcome of the Presidential election. I do not want anyone to try to assuage my anger.  Let me be angry. I am angry because this country is headed in a downward spiral.  Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that a misogynistic, racist, sexist, xenophobic, nasty man could get this far.  I am angry at every true Republican who did not speak up.  I am angry at every person who did not vote. I am angry at every one who did not understand the dire consequences of what his election would do for the country.

 How could anyone vote for a person running for the highest office in the land who disparaged women, the disabled (you know the rest) and talked about grabbing?” I would have kicked him out of my classroom for that kind of talk, and yet, he ran, and won!

 I am angry at everyone who believes he is a change agent--change to WHAT? I am angry at everyone who overlooked all of his peccadilloes and voted for him anyway.

It was nothing that anyone else said about him--He said it all himself. Yes, I am angry. I know that God is in control, but in the meantime, I will be angry!

I am angry at the media, who for the benefit of ratings, and money, gave him all of that free publicity. He played them like a piano.  Every move he made was calculated.  He threw out lies and knew exactly what he was doing.  Once they were out there, they were there.  He had absolutely no political plan except to pull off the biggest con since Jonestown.

 It was all a very bad version of the apprentice, except nobody fired HIM.

It is an aberration of our political process.  In my lifetime, I have seen many Republicans elected, and I had never had a problem, and never felt the emptiness that I feel today.  If I were a TRUE Republican, I would be ashamed. As a true Democrat, if some Democrat  were running with that history, I would have spoken up, and certainly not voted for them.

Today, I have little faith in the humanity of man.  Even though the electoral college put him over the top, and he received fewer of the people’s votes, I am still in shock and dismay.

I am tired of hearing, let’s get behind him.  No thank you. For me, it is not a political issue, but a moral one,.  I never want to get behind anyone who holds the views about people that he holds.  I never want to be conned or scammed like he has conned and scammed. It reminds me of the fake income tax calls from a call center in India, that some actually believed.

I still believe that anyone who voted for him had to agree with his views--I will be very hesitant to call them friend.  Perhaps a “hello” may be all I can muster.

In the midst of my gloom, I look to my “America I Used to Know,” and draw strength from it.  It makes me know that we STILL have a lot to fight for.  I still find joy in Barack Hussein Obama. I am happy that our grandchildren were able to see him and his family in the White House.

Because of that, I remain hopeful, and will continue to instill hope. As a child of the 60’s, I know that the battle may be hard, but victory is possible!

"Never Turn your Back to the Ocean"

 As I was driving home today, I heard this quote on NPR. A former lifeguard was talking about how important that is in that profession.

It occurred to me that we sometimes turn our backs on things we should pay close attention to, and an example of that is the current state of political affairs in this country. We cannot turn our backs on the vitriolic nature of a candidate, whose  name I do not call. We cannot forget all he has already said, and will say again as he "stays true to who he is."

No one can convince me otherwise, and do not try, that it is all a pushback from having had a black president the past eight years. This one makes Romney look like a choirboy. Obviously, he appeals to those who fit the category of "BPOTUS" hatred.

Those with a conscience, and a brain, cannot afford to turn their backs on this ocean by not voting. Oceans can devour us, drown us, or, overwhelm us when we turn our backs. 

Be vigilant-never turn your back to the ocean.

NORMAL?

I found it interesting that a politician stated, during this turbulent week, "'If you are a normal White American ... you don’t understand being Black  in America." Perhaps he thought those were powerful "liberal" words, but only one word stood out for me!

What is a NORMAL white person? 

Is it someone who can walk into a store, and not be followed? 

Is it someone who is treated differently, no matter where they may be? 

Is it someone who does not have to teach their sons what to do when pulled over by the police? 

Is it someone who refuses to see white privilege for what it is? 

Is it someone who spends a lot of time saying "I am not racist?

 Is it someone who says nothing when their friends make racist jokes or behave in a racist manner? 

 Is it someone  who believes racism only exists in the south? 

Is it someone who has two or three black friends, and they work at the same place?

 Is it someone who has no black friends they have actually invited to their home, or been invited into theirs, and it was not business related? 

Is it someone who makes disparaging racist remarks when their Black friends are not around?

Is it someone who hates privately?

Is it someone who claims to be liberal, but has never engaged in a conversation about race with a black friend, or who donates money, but not "heart?"

Is it someone who says "But, you know I am a liberal?,

If this is normal, then I hope my White friends are ABNORMAL!

The Good Old Days

If you were not around during the good old days, then you have no idea what they were really all about. History books can tell you about facts, but rarely  make you really feel what was happening. I detest hearing someone, especially 40 somethings, and some 50 somethings talk about how the good old days were not all that good. There were things in those days which made us care more about others and their safety. Folks in the good old days respected elders, and others. It seemed safer because we knew our neighbors, and looked out for each other. Despite the racism in the south ( oh, excuse me, it still exists in the hearts of many throughout the country, so it is not a "southern" thing"), I lived my village where I could see the achievements of folks who,looked like me.

In those days, we had authentic conversations when we were actually face to face. We could not hide behind a keyboard, as we can on social media. We knew what to keep, and what to tell. We knew that making mud pies was an authentically rich experience. We played marbles in the dirt, made bottle dolls from sisal rope, and we knew that we did not need material things to make us happy. Relationships with others were what we had--real people, not FB friends we never see.

I am not stuck in the past, and I am as up to date as any elder, however, I cherish the past, and the good old days which made me who I am. I resent any attempt to characterize those days as not so good. What is needed, is a REAL conversation with someone who actually LIVED during those good old days and finding out what you can truly learn from them.

JUST KEEP LIVIN’

It occurs to me that there is a huge chasm between the young and the old.  I have noticed lately that the line is clearly drawn--the old are leary of the young, and the young are leary of the old.  I notice it, particular in one venue I visit each week.  Some of the older people believe that they are being ignored, “pushed out,” and relegated to a “lesser place.

At first, I thought that I wanted to become an “Anti-Ageism Warrior” and actually try to bridge the gap.  I thought about it, talked to people about it, and the answer was always “But you are different” from the other old people."  I do not take that as a compliment.  I know that the gap can be bridged because I have friends in every age group--many younger, and many older.  I cherish, and learn from each group.  I believe that both groups have much they can learn from each other.

When a new young leader emerges, the “elders sometime have a problem.  It reminds me of when our church in Miami “changed” and mother began attending a “break out” church with very young minister

  At mother’s funeral , he talked about how she would tell him when his socks did  not match his suit, or tell him  that she had “shoes older than he was.” She just told him whatever was on her mind, but he treated her with respect, and appreciated the advice she gave him. After all, he was younger than her youngest child. I am not quite sure of how he responded to her  advice, but she was his greatest supporter.

I love being OLD, just as I have liked every age.  I don’t like to be looked upon as some kind of relic without a brain.  When I went to vote early, the lady gave me a paper ballot.  When I went into the room, I saw that there was a computerized ballot.  I returned to the young woman, and asked why she did not tell me that option.  She apologized, but I looked her in the eye and told her “You thought I was OLD, and would not know how to do it."  I informed her that I am probably more computer savvy than she.  I refused to change, and went ahead with the paper ballot, once my point was made.

Just yesterday, someone yelled out to a group of seniors “I hope I look that good when I am y’all’s age. For some reason, that just annoyed me. It implies that you are not supposed to still look good when you are old? I remember every decade of my life, and what I thought I knew during each decade. And now, I am still learning, but I have much more time to be more observant do everything and everyone around me. I say to the 40 and 50 somethings, just keep lovin' and eventually, you will find out that you did not know all that you now think you know. Find, as a friend, or ally, a truth telling old person.