“We cannot continue in the direction we are going. This seething undercurrent of hatred and vitriol, that is bubbling up in horrific ways, cannot continue. The world we live in now is most often viewed through the lens our algorithms give us. And those algorithms are so powerful, and knowledgeable, that if someone even pauses to watch a video for ten seconds they will be fed similar videos. Parents and schools recognize the need to detach our children from screens, noting marked upticks in focus and comprehension when phones are banned from classrooms. Maybe, just maybe, we could learn a thing or two from our kids’ experiences; detach ourselves from the social media vortex, actually talk to one another, work on listening and comprehension, and learn to admit when we don’t understand something or that we don’t know enough about a topic to articulate an informed opinion. We might find that we don’t hate each other as much as we’re told we do, that there is less to fear than the monster we’ve created in our minds, and even learn to coexist. *Clearly, this does not apply to those who choose bigotry over loving thy neighbor. Bigotry, in all forms, must not be tolerated.”
Tag Archives: political writing
The Real Reason American Democracy is Collapsing
We’ve turned discourse into shouting at one another through the internet void. We refuse to listen or learn. Thoughtfulness is a thing of the past. Empathy? Never heard of her. This greed and selfishness cannot be sustained.
The Violent Rhetoric (and Reality) Returns
My children have never consciously known a U.S. presidential election, or administration, that didn’t have the undertone, or reality, of violence.
An Open Letter to American Women before the November 5th Election
Please don’t allow our country further weaken women’s rights by electing Donald Trump to a second term. He is the wrong choice for many reasons, but a huge one is that he dislikes, and infantilizes women. He’s made it clear that he believes women are inferior to men in every way. The numbers prove that he’s wrong. Believe in yourself, believe in other women, and believe that this country is ready to be led by a competent, smart, and level-headed woman. Choose joy! Choose Kamala Harris and Tim Walz!
Have We Lost Our Humanity?
Or did we have any to begin with? Street art in Washington, DC. Photo taken by author. Let me start with this. Humanity has always been inhumane. Atrocities have been committed throughout history. And, while we aren’t experiencing Genghis Khan-level atrocities at the moment (though Ukrainians might disagree), the United States is certainly allowing smaller,ContinueContinue reading “Have We Lost Our Humanity?”
The Most Basic Definition of Racism (And How to Know If You’re Part of the Problem)
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash.com Racism isn’t hard to understand. If you hate or you believe that you are inherently better than another person because their skin color is different from yours, that’s racist. If a white man murders eight Asian people, six of them women, because he needed to “remove the temptation” forContinueContinue reading “The Most Basic Definition of Racism (And How to Know If You’re Part of the Problem)”
How to Support Women on International Women’s Day
You want to support the women in your life? Really support them? Give them a break. A literal one, a metaphorical one; it doesn’t matter. Just give them a break.
We Don’t Negotiate with Terrorists… Unless They’re White Supremacists
Capitol Hill, in Washington, in the snow. Photo courtesy of the public domain photos from the Architect of the Capitol. Let’s play a game. It’s called “Guess The Threat Level!” On a scale of 1-10, let’s guess the perceived threat of various groups. Black Lives Matter protesters, protesting the police brutality that overwhelmingly affects BlackContinueContinue reading “We Don’t Negotiate with Terrorists… Unless They’re White Supremacists”
We Are Not Women Who Can Stand Things
We haven’t slept well since March. We try to catch a moment’s break, after making lunch, in between Zoom school sessions and our own work, but it slips through our fingers, a specter fading fast, as young voices ring out with questions and requests. Maybe later, with a glass of wine.
Women at mid-life. Women on the edge.
Open Letter to Congress — Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown
We, the people of the District of Columbia, would like a few words. While the world watched in horror, residents of the capital city were shuttering businesses, running for cover, and watching as rioters, foaming at the mouth like rabid dogs, overran our backyard.
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