On Thoughts and Prayers
In his post, Thoughts and Prayers, John Scalzi challenges us to do more than offer our thoughts and prayers. Many of us, myself included, are paralyzed by fear just thinking about being in an “active shooter” situation.
Active shooter. The name seems innocuous enough, but the reality is terrifyingly real. And commonplace.
Yesterday, however, House Democrats, led by its conscience, Representative John Lewis of Georgia, provided a beacon of light. Leadership in an otherwise dark, right-wing, reactionary era in our Country. Though greatly outnumbered, in such a way, that any legislation they sponsored, would never see life outside of a Congressional Committee, showed the American people that social justice is alive and well, in our Republic.
For almost two days, they staged a Sit In, on the floor of the House of Representatives. By that defiant act, and ignoring all the Rules of the House, they demonstrated that observing moments of silence and thoughts and prayers for gun violence, are no longer enough.
Clearly in the minority for far too long, this group of legislators took up the mantle of freedom, combing traditional social justice acts with social media to communicate with the American people. I am encouraged and empowered by this act. As we move forward toward another watershed Presidential election, the choices are clear – either we choose division, hate, bigotry, misogyny and homophobia or we choose life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for ALL Americans.
My choice is clear, as Paul Wellstone eloquently stated: “I dare to imagine a country where every child I hold in my hands, are all God’s children, regardless of the color of their skin, regardless of whether they’re boy or girl, regardless of religion, regardless of rich or poor, that every child I hold in my hands, will have the same chance to reach her full potential or his full potential. That is the goodness of our country. That is the essence of the American dream.”
Our only choice to defeat the forces of hate is Hillary Clinton, and I’m with her.
Reading, Drinking and Dancing with a Chaser of Snark 