I haven’t written in a while. It’s not because I don’t want to or because I’ve been in some kind of writer’s hell (writer’s block), but because there’s just SO MUCH going on it’s felt overwhelming to sit down and write anything without feeling like I’m adding another depressing smudge in an ever-depressing time. The pandemic still rages on and it’s tough because while it is taking a turn for the better, its effects have been revealing themselves in so many different ways. It’s impossible to talk about them all, but there are a few that I can’t stop from ping-ponging around in my brain.
How the pandemic has exposed our incredibly flawed society and made it abundantly clear that this shift in public thought is not in the least bit reflective in government leadership, is something I’ve been thinking about a lot recently. The disparities in our society and the disconnect of the people who represent us have catastrophic consequences that cannot be ignored. Climate change, livable wages, access to health care, and the fundamental right to exist without constant questioning have weighed the most heavily on me and though I consider myself to be someone who is sympathetic to opposite opinions, I cannot wrap my head around how those particular things are debatable.
Climate Change
Our earth’s climate is changing. Seeing the weather patterns in NYC alone should be enough to cause alarm, but looking across the country at arid summers and extremely warm fall months, how can anyone deny our presence on this planet is affecting the climate. The refusal to pass laws or regulate these huge factories that are emitting tons of waste every year is a slap in the face to children’s futures. Did we learn nothing from Al Gore’s pleas?! Did we not watch that documentary and think, omg, we have to do something! Then continue to do nothing for several years? I’ve heard conflicting ideas, but we are either in a place where we need to make some drastic, immediate changes, or it’s just too damn late and we’re all doomed. I’m obviously hoping for the former, because I love our planet and would like very much for it to be around and thriving for years and years to come. HOWEVER, it just won’t if we don’t take the time to actually care for it. If that means companies need to spend more not to omit cancerous gases/liquids/solids, so be it!
Livable Wages and The Wage Gap
This country’s dedication to making sure people cannot easily make a living wage became so apparent this past year and a half, people just started walking off of jobs. That and immense disregard to workers’ safety. Not to mention the many people in this country who care for relatives/friends without any type of support at all. The fact that billionaires exist and that there are huge sects of people who vehemently defend not taxing those billionaires is truly unfathomable. I had a conversation last week with someone who tried to explain to me that we should be sympathetic of millionaires/billionaires because who would want the government coming in and taking “half” of their wealth. Then they tried to use an incredibly invalid analogy about someone making 60K and getting taxed more than someone making less than that amount. An argument that I’m sure seems sound in theory, but is simply moot when talking about wealth that is almost unimaginable. No one should have a billion dollars, let alone 100 billion dollars. WHY?! Seriously, I am honestly asking, why does anyone need that much money?? And before you say, well, not all of that money is liquid, stop yourself and think about what you’re saying. Do YOU even know what that means, and even if all billions of dollars aren’t “liquid” rest assured more money than you’ll see in your lifetime or several lifetimes most likely is. Sure, whatever they shouldn’t have that much money, but that is not a direct correlation to why the rest of the population shouldn’t be making more money?! This topic goes all over the place, but seriously, a living wage should not be something we’re “on the fence” about or “seeing all sides” on because there is only one side here. Give people enough money so they can eat, take care of themselves and others, and have enough to go on vacation. Nobody should be working 7 days a week to make ends meet. That shouldn’t be a necessity for anybody and the fact society makes it seem appropriate “in certain circumstances” is yet another flaw. Goodness, now that makes me think of “grind culture” another wildly insane idea that it’s okay to never sleep and constantly be entrenched making money to the detriment of your health. There is a real, deep cruelty baked into policies in this country that make it hard to change your circumstances.
Access to Healthcare
I don’t even know why I’m writing anything here because who in their right mind wouldn’t want someone to get treated for an illness without going into debt unless you’re a true psychopath. No, I’m so sick of beating around the bush on this one. People who get sick should not feel like they have to choose between treatment or eating. It’s unconscionable that we don’t have universal healthcare and that the health system is so incredibly complicated to navigate people often go untreated or go into debt, because resources are so tight, and/or pharmaceutical companies want to make money, and health insurance is basically a scam. I’m not even going to get into the war on people who have wombs and the diabolical nature of anti-abortion laws. A person with a womb’s right to have an abortion shouldn’t be regulated by anyone but the people who are having the abortion. It is simply not anyone’s business why someone is choosing to go through with an abortion. Period. I have so much more to say on this topic and how there is clearly something more nefarious at work here, but I just can’t right, now or I might just explode all over my laptop.
The Right to Exist
This one encapsulates a lot of weird sentiments out there. One of which has to do with people identifying with what they know themselves to be true, but others denying them that right. This doesn’t only have to do with folks who are constantly, intentionally being disrespected by ignorant bigots because said bigots refuse to accept the gender-identity of another, but also anyone who continues to believe that racism doesn’t exist and refuses to accept it does. The other side of the coin are people who defend the above behaviors and try to explain it away, like it’s some kind of mental disorder or “just who they are.” No, we have to get to a point in society where people have to at the very least get tf over whatever hang up it is they have about race, gender, sexuality, and deal with it themselves. At present, it’s fully acceptable to project their poison onto other people under the guise of expressing opinions. Yes, there are people who may be uncomfortable with using pronouns or don’t want to believe there are real implications about the color of their skin, but guess what, they can get comfortable with it. They can take the time to understand someone else’s perspective and see how incredibly ridiculous it is that people be treated any differently because THEY don’t understand the experiences of other people. It is not on anyone but on themselves to dig deep and be better. It’s this society’s refusal to be self-aware that will lead to our downfall. I absolutely cannot handle another rapper, comedian, entertainer saying something downright hurtful and damaging and people DEFENDING THEM. Please, understand you are hurting human beings. I fundamentally feel we don’t want to hurt each other (mostly), but sometimes people get so wrapped up in concepts and personas that they forget WORDS MEAN THINGS and can seriously affect people. Remember the golden rule? Do to others what you would have them do to you. Translation: Don’t be evil.
So many other things are floating around in my noggin, but those are just a few that have been screaming the loudest. Until we figure out how to work through some of these incredibly complex issues, I don’t know what will happen.
On a more positive note, there are so many truly good people in my life I cannot believe we’re in a complete hell hole, but so much has happened in the past few months that makes me wonder where we’re going as a country. It’s downright hard to see a silver lining.
I know they’re out there though. When you find those pockets of joy, relish those moments and try to have so so many more.
I’ll leave you with this song by an artist that was shared with me by a wonderful friend who invited me to her concert. It was definitely a welcomed joyful experience.