Testify

I've sat and pondered where my rage stems from, because there certainly are a variety of sources lately. Women being abused by rapists and dismissed by healthcare professionals. Children being left unprotected and silenced because adults can't handle the responsibility, animal neglect and abuse, so many in positions of power lacking a moral code. So much wrong in the world, but I need to take a step back.

The original sin America made was to devalue our greatest resource. People. We spout patriotic nonsense like Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, but only for some and only if you can afford it. Your worth is based on your ability to build others wealth, not your community.

Further back, we have kill off the locals because they don't speak your language or don't believe your beliefs. Take the land and abuse it because a book told you it's yours, manifest destiny, amirite? Bring people over on boats and treat them like animals or worse because they don't look like you or deserve their own autonomy.

And of course we can't forget the vagina tax. If you have one, you surely don't deserve your own privacy, rights or independence. Any complaints can be dismissed as hysteria or insolence. Get back in your place and do YOUR work.

While I enjoy social media as much as anyone, freedom to post thoughts and opinions online is NOT the same as legal rights and action. Standing up for yourself or those who need more volume is cathartic, but it doesn't quite fulfill our moral obligation to right injustice. Balancing this with not wanting a spotlight anymore (been there, done that) there's still room to be more visible or at least a visible supporter. When it comes down to it, people need support when fighting the more powerful, those with more resources. We have a severe empathy gap in our capitalist society is that is creating chasms for those in need or those that just want to be left the fuck alone. If there's one thing I am certain of it's that there is no moral majority in our culture. There are those who twist systems to meet there needs and provide themselves with more advantage (read money), and there is a minority of vocal opponents who aren't getting enough visible backing from groups who should be out front for justice (read Democrats).

If I see one more fucking request for cash as if it was the ONLY measure of voting power, I will vomit. What happens when you get a million $20 investors vs. one or two billion dollar donors. You need money, so do your constituents and vast majority of which are NOT wealthy donors. I will vote for you and even donate to pay off any campaigning when you win but put your energy into the outreach. Be creative, start a podcast, get in the mud, fight. Be honest, your opponent might win because he has people buying his advertising. Don't tell your supporters that, tell the rest of your constituents.

Value the people, fight for the people, advocate for the people. Tell them why you won't debate a liar and a thief. Tell people who are marginalized you are there to fight FOR them, not that they shouldn't be visible. You have supporters who are more reluctant to support YOU because of your reluctance to support those who need a champion. If you agree with someone who will bow to the whims of a misogynist, a pedophile and a serial abuser, then you are on the wrong side of history.

So, to come back to the rage of it all, we don't always say the right things or show up in times of trouble, but we can learn from our own mistakes and the mistakes of our ancestors. Stop treating money as the goal, start advocating for diversity, equity, inclusion and the people who need you.

-Til the last drop, N