POST ELECTION
The Isolation blues;
reflections during covid-19
The violence in this world is real, don’t be dishonest about that, yet violence does not have the last word. God is still up to something in this world. So don’t give in to cynicism, don’t give in to fear. Don’t give in to hatred, don’t give in to bigotry, don’t give in to see the xenophobia because violence will never have the last word.
from Rev. Raphael Warnock’s first sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church after his US Senate victory
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And so Dr. King made his way to Memphis. And in the midst of that struggle emerged those iconic signs that we began to see again this year – very simple but sublime words – I am a man. Think about that – I am a man. Part of what it means to be a marginalized other, an oppressed person is that you have to have movements. You have to have a campaign to declare about yourself what ought to be obvious. So oppressed people have to have campaigns and say, I am a man. And now of late, our younger sisters and brothers are saying, black lives matter. And when people respond to say, all lives matter, it’s obvious that they’ve missed the point. That is the point, that all lives matter. And if you don’t understand the contradiction, that speaks to the blindness of your own privilege. All lives matter – to say that all lives matter is like the fire engine showing up on the block and there’s a house on fire and you spray all the houses on the block because all houses matter. Some houses are on fire. Black houses are on fire…
Rev. Raphael Warnock
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More fear and loathing…(What the hell would Hunter S. Thompson* say now?) It appears that the post-election turbulent havoc we’re experiencing is just more of the same pre-election turbulent havoc we were subjected to before (if not a little worse). The events at the US capitol building last week are the unwieldy culmination of decades of deteriorating political and economic conditions in our nation left unaddressed by leaders and citizens alike. Democracy cannot survive if the basic needs and dignity of its people are neglected and denigrated. Whatever percentage or number you put on that “basic justice” statistic determines the future of our American experiment now in its two hundredth and forty fifth year. There is no guarantee that our constitutional model continues in the coming years – it is determined by the vision and actions of the people. So what is the percentage? Can a civil society remain viable if 24 percent of its citizens are below the poverty line without dependable health coverage and a livable wage? What about 40 percent? If people feel like they do not have a realistic shot at attaining basic necessities and feel their voice is not being heard by their elected leaders then these numbers are increasingly critical to the future of our American society.
A shining new voice on the public stage is recently elected Senator from Georgia, Rev. Raphael Warnock senior minister of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. He is the fifth minister of the Atlanta church which was established in 1886 during reconstruction in the South. He continues in the prophetic tradition of Martin Luther King Sr. and Martin Luther King Jr. who each served the Ebenezer Church. At the funeral of congressman John Lewis in July the Reverend Raphael Warnock said, “In a moment when there is so much political cynicism and narcissism that masquerades as patriotism, here lies a true American patriot who risked his life and limb for the hope and promise of democracy.” All we are asking for at this point in our American experience are voices that will speak for justice and equity with inclusion for everyone. It requires voices that have experienced (or understand) the suffering and neglect of so many in our communities. Changes will need to be made. Hard decisions are coming…In years past, great leadership arises when circumstances demand it and I guess that’s what I’m trusting in this time around. We each have our modest part to play in the historical schema of things and it looks like our time is now everyone. Let’s work this out together.
* Hunter S. Thompson and comments by myself regarding the 2020 election appear in The Isolation Blues post .23
Still in the woods,
Dave
January 13, 2021