Do you find yourself feeling some type of way on this day where we are supposed to embrace our patriotism and celebrate all that is good in this country of ours? Me too. I encourage you all to read this piece by one of my favorite Medium authors, Umair Haque, about how our democracy is in great peril.
Before the zealous patriots grab their tiki torches and come for me, let me state the obvious: I love the USA. I can have great love for my country without approving of its government or the direction in which we’re heading. I appreciate the fact that I can voice my dissent without being thrown in jail or disappeared. The ‘land of the free’ isn’t feeling so free for some of us anymore– but I know I have a lot more freedom in other parts of the world.
With that being said…I’m still trying to figure out how to translate my feelings into action. The thoughts expressed on this blog are cathartic for me. I hope that I can sometimes provide information and resources that some of you might find interesting. But I’m still struggling with what I need to do and how to mobilize with other people who are equally fed up and demanding change. Any ideas? We’re running out of time here, folks.
Despite any loaded feelings surrounding today’s holiday, I very much needed a day off to combat exhaustion and nurture my mental health. How nice it was to catch up on reading and relax. Any excuse to consume mass quantities of pasta salad is always a plus. Oh, and I plan to be making a festive dessert after I finish this post.
The highlight of my weekend was spending time with Adam yesterday. Per his suggestion, the two of us went to Neshoba— Web sat that one out– and then we scooped up his best friend, Mo, to go see “The Black Phone” [more on that below] at Malco. I know I must be doing something right as a mother when my 14-year-old son requests to hang out with me during his down time.
Yesterday’s sermon from Rev. Beth was exactly what I needed to hear. Aptly titled “Our Country Tis Of Thee,” it acknowledged the polarizing divisions, sadness, anxiety, pain, fear, and uncertainty with which so many of us are struggling. I needed the reminder that we do not always have the best or even the correct answer– and that our First Tradition [The Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person] applies to those individuals who do not share our beliefs.
I find myself increasingly seeking solace in my faith during these troubling times. This is the first time in my adult life that I have ever looked to my spirituality to combat a troubling reality. Being around my Neshoba family helps make sense of the chaos and reminds me that I belong to a community of people who are passionate about the issues that matter to me.
However, I very much believe in the separation of church and state. As much as I adore Unitarian Universalism, I wouldn’t want to live in a UU State. The same goes for fundamentalist Christianity or any other religion. Keep religion out of politics.
Those of us at Neshoba take great pride in our social justice endeavors. I plan to volunteer with as many of these as I am able. A call to action was issued from the pulpit– and I think this is an excellent launching point for me to actually do something. Perhaps I’ve already taken the first step.
Back to “The Black Phone.” Don’t worry, *no spoilers* here. I’m a huge Ethan Hawke fan, so I would have seen it regardless, but I’m glad I did. It was creepy and had me squirming in my seat and holding my breath at times. Hands down, the best part of the movie was the protagonist’s sister, Gwen.
I love movies with strong female characters that are full of spunk. Gwen does not disappoint. She was sharp as a tack, funny, foul-mouthed, and a total badass. Prior to yesterday afternoon, I was not familiar with the actress [Madeline McGraw], though I’ll definitely pay attention to what she does in the future.
There were some things that seriously didn’t make sense to me, however. Web was equally baffled, so I know it wasn’t a personal problem. EH’s character, The Grabber, could have had a fascinating backstory. But we never learned anything about why he behaved the way he did or why he was so obsessed with his mask.
Even more puzzling was the fact that five young boys go missing from a small town within a very short time span and it’s just business as usual. Sure, there are Missing Person fliers on telephone poles…but parents let their kids roam freely, there’s zero police presence, and the only people who seem to be [mildly] concerned are two schoolchildren. I know things were different in the 70’s but come on!
We both knew our lives were consumed with Too Much Adulting when the greatest unanswered question of the movie was how The Grabber managed to have two decent sized properties in the suburbs, a van, and disposable income with no discernable employment. How can he afford this?!
With infinite love, gratitude, and respect,
Sloane