Stepping out in my new town is the news of the week. I would say mine are baby steps but that just might be my judgmental self, because any forward motion is still forward, right? By discovering my new neighborhood via foot, bike or car, I am expanding my sense of place and today that feels hopeful and hopeful feels good for sure.
Open Facebook on any given day and you will find someone, particularly unqualified, posting or most likely reposting, an opinion or article or tirade that they are momentarily passionate or incensed or preaching about. The decade of social media platforms open to just about everyone has given way to just about everyone pulling out their soapbox and proselytizing their viewpoint. I am not immune from this behavior, as is well documented through my blog, I too have voiced over-zealous opinions from time to time. But I am not speaking of personal posts where no one should mistake my vantage from science or fact; I am referring to those who dig up some unreferenced study and pronounce it as truth, or those who announce they have uncovered some injustice that only they, and the undocumented thread they followed, know about. This behavior makes all of Facebook a dangerous and misguided place instead of a platform to share photos and celebrations with friends and family. What is it that makes people want to preach? Throw in the smoke and mirrors that shift and trick every angle shot and you really have to struggle to stay in your own lane and ride your own joy in life. But that is what I do intend to do, just focus on the day to day living and use my voice to sing a tune that is original.
This week we’ve been privileged with words of power and faith and most remarkably joy coming straight from the DNC in Chicago. It’s not that I haven’t loved our endearing Biden these last four years taking us out of the grips of Trump’s chaos and a world-wide pandemic, but it’s been at times disheartening to see many of his efforts fall flat when Trump’s puppets in Congress or within the Supreme Court pulled us backwards at his command. Everything about the Republican ticket is about going back, trying to return to a life that didn’t work for many, unless you are male and white and surrounded by all the privilege of generational wealth. But during this triumphant week all the Queens came to speak about moving our United States of America forward with a blue surge sweeping the rest of the nation into the sunlight. Their brilliant words are worth repeating, not mine.
Nine Cent Girl 