We are coming to you late in the day because originally this was going to be a very different post and then I ran into someone I see once in a while at the gym.
She mentioned that she was going to participate in a march this weekend I think it's The March For Truth. Which got me to thinking about a discussion I had just had with someone the night before.
If you haven't heard, there's an uprising!
A resistance.
It goes by various names in various places but it's people unhappy with the system, with how the country is going, with how the election turned out...
It's about Trump but it's also about Bernie verses Hillary.
It's about the evolution of robotics invading the workplace and taking jobs (some say seven million in the next several years!)
You name it...people aren't happy and they are taking to the streets.
We all saw the mass marches the day after the election and there have been on going protests ever since.
Millions of people marching and letting the world know that they are not okay with the status quo.
There are hundreds of groups that have sprung up all over the country and the world.
#Resist, Indivisible groups, MoveOn groups and on and on.
This is great, to an extent...
We are having a conversation in this country and that's wonderful.
But at what point do we take the next step?
A conversation is a way to get people motivated to do something.
But what I'm seeing is people who are content just having the conversation, somehow the conversation has become their something to do.
But a conversation is just that.
Marching in a rally is marching.
They are all great first steps.
The thing is, if the first step is the only step you take what have you actually accomplished?
Sure maybe you make yourself feel better, kind of like the person who goes to the gym once a week but can't understand why they aren't in better shape.
It seems to me that if we really want change we need to get up off our best intentions and actually do
something.
Protest!
March!
Great but then volunteer at your local ACLU, greet refugee families who are new to the area, RUN FOR OFFICE!
Here's an example of what I mean; during World War I, the united states instituted widespread surveillance of immigrants and political radicals.
Some feared that the country was abandoning cherished traditions of tolerance and free speech.
In response a small group of progressives founded an organization that would be come to be known as the American Civil Liberties Union.
They lost many early courtroom battles, but their vision of a nation in which civil liberties were taken seriously eventually changed the face of American law and politics.
What if they had stopped at protesting or marching?
Our hope is that you go to the marches. That you protest. That you speak up.
But after that...
DO SOMETHING!
Evolve from conversation and taking a stand to action.
It's a lot more work but it's worth it.
Remember it only takes one candle to light the darkness so go out and shine.
Have a wonderful weekend...
Noodle and crew
Truth is always a good thing, hopefully humans will remember to quit forgetting that. Have a great weekend Noodle!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it something what going on. I was pretty young when watergate happen. I don't see a march in my area...
ReplyDeleteYou can't run for office if you have not had an education that helps your mind separate right from wrong and we have had terrible education relapses in our country. You can't protest if you are in middle America and watch only Fox news. You can't move from the VAST majority of Trump followers to a sane and civil group of thinking citizens if you have parents and THEY had parents who simply did not get the knowledge that lying is wrong, rudeness is wrong, cheating is wrong and being out only for oneself can destroy a nation.
ReplyDeleteBut...yes on all the above. Person by person, make contact, speak, enlighten, and know that when you go to the gym you are at least doing something to move yourself to a better you. I see great results after the gym, if only miniscule. But in two weeks, three weeks, WHOA! Keep on the treadmill, everyone. It's going somewhere.
There are lots of things going on right now and it is hard to watch the news. Good message Noodle. Hope you all have a great week end.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne said it much more better than we could, and we agree. Purrs
ReplyDeleteOh Noodle...speaking truth to power !
ReplyDeleteWe're glad that people are standing up and doing what they believe in.
ReplyDeleteThank you for urging people to do more than just march or just speak up. We agree wholeheartedly!
ReplyDeleteWe should never lose sight of what we actually are or stand for, nor should delegate by apathy the power to others to act in our name as that way lies the road to ruin and war and strife. Wars have already been fought on the basis of such apathy, and on Memorial Day we celebrate those that fell defending against others such bad decisions, defending to keep the peace and freedom of those they loved.
ReplyDeletePurrs, ERin
Couldn't have said it better myself!
ReplyDeleteKaren Lucas says Well done Noodle!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is good people are standing up for what they believe in, how lucky we are to have that right. Thank you for the kind words you left on my blog on the passing of Snowball. XO
ReplyDeleteCouldn't have said it better. And in fact, I haven't.
ReplyDeleteTrump's problem is that he has no sense of time or accountability. OK, yeah, there are many other problems he has, but these for today... He knows little, thinks little, and does not understand that what he said a month ago matters. His understanding of governance is miniscule, his sense of diplomacy is nearly non-existent, and his behavior is crude.
I would like someone to ask him about anything that Thomas Jefferson did, what caused the separation of Germany into parts after WWII, or what decides how many electoral votes each State gets. I'll bet he doesn't know any of those.
In fact, could Trump pass a basic Citizenship test given to all immigrants seeking Naturalization? Bet not...