deep thoughts...

I've been going back and forth as to whether or not to write this post, but the thoughts aren't going away, so I think I need to write it just to get my thoughts out. It seems strange to me that it's traditionally considered impolite to bring up the subject of politics in mixed company. I guess the feeling is that folks might disagree, and some sort of animosity or ill feelings might come as a result. But I think that one of the great things about living in this country is that there we can have an open dialogue about the state of the country, the decisions made by our politicians, and what we can hope to change. So, I'm going to write about some thoughts I've had, and you may not agree with me. I think that's just fine, and I think we can still be friendly with each other and support each other in what we're doing, and perhaps even have a dialogue and learn something about one another. I know this isn't a political blog, and I don't intend it to become one, but there are some things I just feel the need to say.

Last week we watched 2 movies that have really been making the wheels in my head turn. First, we watched Spike Lee's four-part documentary about Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath: "When the Levees Broke". This film was very, very hard for me to watch, and yet I felt I needed to watch it - to be reminded of all that went wrong in Lousiana and to be reminded that the folks affected and displaced by the hurricane are still in a bad place. My reaction to the Hurricane was much like my reaction to the events on 9-11-2001 (five year anniversary today - more reasons to be introspective) - initially I was horrified, depressed, and glued to the news. I watched developments unfold, was horrified at what people were experiencing, and tried to help with donations as much as I could. But eventually I returned to my own life and routine, and the daily grief and concern faded over time. I suppose this is a normal process for those of us who were not directly affected by the disaster, but I'm somewhat ashamed that I have forgotten about these people who lost so much and are still not seeing any sort of return to normalcy. Please watch this documentary if you can... so many people in the Gulf Coast still need our help and attention. I think the least we can do is to remember their plight.

The other movie we watched is very different - a fictional piece about a fictional future - V for Vendetta. I thought it was a fun movie - entertaining and beautiful to look at. But, the more I thought about it, the more I found the film a little less fictional than I would have liked... the commentary on a government that increasingly ignores the freedoms of it's people, that violates traditional civil liberties in the name of safety and security, that commits horrible acts just to unify the will of the people... It all felt just a little too familiar.

I've been very upset about what's been happening in our country for the past few years, and I have tremendous fears about what is yet to come. However, like with Hurricane Katrina, it's easy for me to ignore this on a daily basis because I can get so caught up in my routine - being a wife, mom, and employee. I wonder for a while what I can possibly do to change things, and I come up with very little, other than voting my conscience and expressing my concerns to my local representatives.

It's frustrating to me that there isn't a widespread movement afoot - akin to the women's rights movement, or the civil rights movement, or the reaction to the Vietnam war. What is different now? Are we too caught up in our own lives to be concerned with what's going on around us? Are the politicians taking advantage of our daily stressors and assuming we won't speak or act out? What can we really do to make a difference while still maintaining some sense of normalcy in our own lives? What kinds of sacrifices can we realistically make in order to enact some change? I don't know.

I try to think of what I can do - write my representatives, volunteer for a local political office, send letters to the editor - nothing seems to have any real effect. What finally came to me is that I can talk about it... rather than squelch the subject in the name of propriety, perhaps the solution is to open up a dialogue with anyone who cares to listen. Let's remember to talk to each other about what we like and don't like about our country. If we talk about it with each other, we won't forget about making things better, and we won't forget about the people who could use some help. We don't have to be politicians to have conversations about civil liberties, the war in Iraq, the economic challenges facing the state of Louisiana, decreasing our dependency on non-renewable resources, or the struggle to build a strong public educational system for our children. I think it's fine if we disagree on the finer points, but I have a feeling we all think that there are some things that could be better or different.

I know this post is a little out there, and I'm not trying to alienate anyone (honest!), but I think that I need to start talking and thinking more so that I can try to work through some way of making my daughter's future a bit more pleasant. After all, election day is just around the corner!

Brynne, October 8, 2002 - and mommy still feels the same.

Comments

[kelsey]

right on, sister!

[Mary-Heather]

Thank you for this post. I often wonder, as well, why there isn't a larger protest movement in this country, but I will be the first to admit that I do not consistantly work as a catalyst for change on my own. Talking about it is a start. Doing the actions you mention above (volunteering, sending letters to the editor) is also a start. Thanks for the reminder and the reality check.

[MARYBETH]

I THINK IT IS WONDERFUL!! THAT YOU ARE REALLY FOLLOWING YOUR HEART AND MIND THROUGH ON THESE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT ARE WITHOUT QUESTION-SEEMINGLY OVERWHELMING!
Selling the T-shirts could be a wonderful creative way of taking action toward a NEW ADMINISTRATION (CANT WAIT FOR 08)!!! , perhaps donating some part of the proceeds to whom ever you decide to support.
I believe the socio economic impact on the middle class has hit so deeply that 99 percent of us folks are so busy trying to keep a float, finding TIME to take any action -other then SURVIVAL, is near impossible.
It is the perfect climate for this disaster of an administration to survive in.
No protesters on college campuses because they are working 2 jobs to stay in college.
Those who TRY to PEACEFULLY PROTEST, end up beat up, injured, in jail and disillusioned.
THis excludes the many -who have been brainwashed to believe that the terror we have unleashed in Iraq-was -still is- FOR A GOOD REASON.
o.k ill calm down now....
I commend you for sharing your opinions .
NAMASTE
MB

[Jessica Hood]

I don't think this post is out there at all. I think it's important for people to talk about these issues. Whether we agree or disagree, awareness is number one in taking steps to change the world. And you raise a very important question - why aren't we doing anything to change the world? I recently wrote up a grassroots company, Clothing for the American Mind, that you might be interested in. At least they are trying to get a message out there that we need a change. Thank you for posting something real & honest.

[bunchkin]

I don't agree with all that Bush has done, in fact he has pissed me off quite a lot, but I know Kerry would have pissed me off even more. But I think its great to hear what other people have to say, as long as others can politely agree to disagree. Your daughter is a cutie!

[Rose]

Yeah. I agree.

I watched most of the Spike Lee documentary, and couldn't make it through. The devastation is immeasurable. And we own V for Vendetta, and adore it as a political allegory and a movie.

How to fix it? I really don't know. I have friends who are in the streets, friends who are in academia, all trying to make changes and yet it all stays the same. I am feeling lost.

[Sarah B]

I don't know why these things can be hard to say sometimes, but thank you for speaking up.
I hope for the best, because I have to. But I agree that I have felt also a little perplexed about exactly how to make those changes. Maybe it can and will start with simple dialogue. From there, who knows where it can end up?

[amanda]

here here, sister. I'm right there with you. And I so firmly believe (because I have to) in the power of small change - in living a life of personal intention, full of kindness and compassion. I do believe that it has huge, transformative power in the big picture. You're raising a thoughtful, questioning child...bravo to you!

[lisa]

you have a kindred spirit here, too. actually thousands of them in san francisco.

[PinkPurl]

Fantastic post, brimming with raw honesty! I think it echoes the thoughts & feelings of many, it certainly reflects my own. Our current admintstration has dragged our poor, sweet country seemingly back to the drak ages. But as Amanad so beautifully expressed, change even in small ways came have great power. So we must believe all is not lost. It's so easy to feel lost with all this, powerless. But embracing love & compassion & joy in small things can change our own world & the world at large. As Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

[Fiona]

So much to respond to here, but I don't want to hog up your comments! Suffice to say, I'm with you, too. We also, here in Australia, have a government who (in my opinion) are tearing our health, education & IR systems to shreds and whose record on the environment & human rights is downright embarrassing. So this is something I think a lot about too. It's really important to remember the power of acting locally (as they say) - living with ethics and intention and passing those values onto our children. Thanks for such a thought provoking post, Kelly.

[mijk]

Thanks fort sharing. I'm not American I've never been there even. But it is very scary sometimes to see things developing in America that do change things for the whole world. I used to feel frustrated and turn my back on the whole continent. Blogs have learned me that like any other countrie the USA has all kinds of people who all want the best for their children and disagree on the matter what is the best.

[Jane]

I totally agree. And I like to keep my blog neutral too, but I think you stated your case without stepping over the line.

[katie]

What to say? I want to believe so many commenters who say that small things matter, but I also admit to getting caught in feelings of frustration and helplessness.

Speaking out on a craft blog might seem out of place at first--but I know that I have been more open to opposing viewpoints I've found from other crafters than I am to hearing those ideas other places. Pieces of our lives intersect--just like you can't talk about your art without mentioning your daughter, you can't talk about your art without reflecting on your world.

[beki]

Excellent post. You're right, we do need to talk about these things. This is your blog, the absolute right place for you to express your thoughts and ideas, whether they're crafty or not. I applaud you for having the courage to speak up.

I have not seen either of those movies. Right now, I know that I can't watch the Katrina documentary - I tear up just thinking about it. I'm not ready to go there emotionally.

[Kelly]

Living in Washington DC, politics is a daily thing for me. Protests come, protests go. But I too am puzzled by the lack of any real movement with strength. What will it take to get people moving, people caring, a force large enough top be heard and effect change? I'm very active in that I attend a lot of protests, am a dork and read a lot of literature about topics that concern me, and try my best top keep educated as to what is going on in the world....but it seems like there is no group out there trying effectively to make change. I think it mostly has to do with this generations lack of embracing labels. A book called the F-Word(its about feminism) talks about how no one longer wants to be labeled feminist or anything for that matter. Almost as if our individuality has gone so far that we have problems seeing ourself in any kind of group or working for any kind of change with a group of people. HM.
Keep up the good thought provoking posts.

[caro]

You certainly haven't alienated me, I'm with ya! It's doubly hard for me seeing as I can't vote in this country. Very frustrating!

[Gwen]

Rock on! So many times I get frustrated, wondering, "Why are we not marching in the streets DEMANDING a change?" That I know there are others out there like me is so inspiring. Thank you for speaking your thoughts. (Also for totally being in my corner on every issue!)

[QueenK]

I agree with everyone else - you are totally right to put your thoughs and beliefs out here for others to read. I'm another frustrated citizen - I remember saying I'd march down to Washington and not leave until I got answers. I didn't. I couldn't because I'd lose my home. But I often wonder how much of a home this will be if I lose any more rights, if our country degrades to the point where I could be jailed for being liberal or pagan or bisexual. It happens in other places and some people want it to happen here. The more of us that speak up in any way - on the street, in our blogs, to each other - the more likely it is that we can stop this horrible freedom-quashing trend before it gets any worse. I don't know anymore than anyone else why we haven't all risen up to oust this group of theives from office, but I'm glad to know I'm not alone in wanting to!

[Tami]

I think that everyone is entitled to share their opinion. That is one of the great things about our nation. And regardless of how you stand politically, in addition to sharing your opinion is to get out there and vote. I'm always surprised by the lack of people turning out for election day every year. I may hold different opinions (I'm actually an oddity here in the Bay Area in that I'm very much not liberal) but I'd really prefer that more people get out and vote. Wasn't that one of the liberties that our country was founded on? And it took so long to get that right for everyone, not just male and white. So my personal vote is this ... keep sharing your opinions, it's good for all of us. :-)

[Ani]

Yes! I send off the emails that moveon.org, colorofchange.org (they champion the rights of those who were most affected by Katrina) and my senator (Harry Reid) send me to let the government know where I stand. I vote. I recycle. I try to eat locally. I try to purchase from companies I believe in. But I'm so incredibly busy, how can I possibly think about doing more? But then again, if I don't do more, maybe I won't be able to live the life I happily lead. A difficult balance. What can we do? I, like you, feel helpless. I have a dear friend who is displaced by Katrina and she is in a severe depression--stuck in a town where she knows no one but yet help to get her back home is slow in coming. Argh~too many thoughts! I guess your post is doing its work, getting us to think!

[tracy]

here here. thanks for putting this down kelly. for sharing. i think dialogue is so integral to change. it is more important that things are being discussed, than whether or not we agree. and as amanda said(and shows) there is a lot of power in the small change. as margaret mead wrote "Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed citizens to change the world. Indeed, it has never been done otherwise."

[KIRSTEN]

you said: "What is different now? Are we too caught up in our own lives to be concerned with what's going on around us?"

i've been thinking about this a lot regarding iraq. i re-read the book "rilla of ingleside" (the last anne of green gables book - it's about her youngest daughter, who is a teenager during WWI). the book describes how everyone is hanging on to any piece of news they can get, they follow troops and battles on maps, and successes or defeats bring elation or depression.

why are we so different now? most of us don't even know where are troops are in iraq - let alone when we have little successes, etc. is it because it's a 'questionable' war like vietnam? is it because we have too much information about it, too readily available? is it because most of us aren't called upon to sacrifice in any way for our country? we have no rations, gas or otherwise, we don't have to roll bandages or knit blankets for the wounded. (my point isn't the war - i'm not trying to say i'm for or against it - just using it as an example of our apathy).

i haven't figured this out - but i'm glad someone else is thinking about it!

[amy k.]

wow-great post.
I struggle with this, politics and the blog and what I am feeling and what I want to say, or not say. I do think what feels right in your gut to express IS right. and that's the measure I use on a daily basis. Thank you for writing this-I agree with everything, but even if I didn't, it's nice to see it all out there. freedom of speech!

and nice shirt, brynne!

[laura r.]

i don't even feel like i have the time to post comments to blogs anymore.
how can i possibly make a dent?
i got into an ackward discussion over Israel/Palestine with a dear friend. there is SO much in our world to hold with care.
where do we begin?