Sometimes, like this morning, when we’re stalled in traffic or at a red light, my son will bellow out from the back seat “MOMMY DRIVE CAR!”. In most cases, it’s not just an excited declaration - it’s a very loud and urgent order. NOW is what he means. “MOMMY SIT!” or “MOMMY EAT!” are some of his other favorite directives. One evening after the 5th consecutive “MOMMY EAT!” I found myself saying the words “Hey, mommy eats when mommy wants to eat, okay? You can ask or suggest that I eat but you can’t order me to eat.” By the middle of my assertion I was already wondering what I was doing. This was my two year old, who by all counts and occasionally bossy instructions notwithstanding, is the most considerate toddler I’ve ever met (it’s all relative) but also, more importantly, is….two. Related, is the person who screams HEY BUDDY, I’M IN CHARGE HERE ever really in charge? Don’t answer that.
But really, I have been wondering about who is indeed in charge, in all of the woo-woo ways. I don’t mean the big G(od) here, I mean that je nais se quois - fate, destiny, karma, insert dogma here. There are distinct times I have felt that elements of life are far beyond my control or best efforts - good or bad. Then there are the times where I feel so very deeply that I could, nay, I must try to make a difference. I was originally drafting a different path for this piece, but by the time most of you read this, it’ll be Tuesday, November 5th, election day in the United States. To say anything else is as top of mind for me isn’t true and to say I’m nervous about the outcome is a dramatic understatement.
I feel zero percent compelled to wax poetic about the great American democratic experiment. If you’ve been paying close enough attention to what has been going on recently - between school shootings across the country and merciless bombings across the world, including and not limited to Gaza, you’ve probably also noticed who is bankrolling many of our politicians and major legislation. Megalomaniac billionaires, the NRA, and AIPAC are just a few of the puppeteers pushing for initiatives opposed by (and detrimental to) most of the American public. It gets increasingly hard to defend a narrative of liberty and justice when American exceptionalism collides with a brutal brand of Western imperialism that is alive and well. And once you get swept up in the riptide of who’s driving the culture wars, it’s easy to lose sight of shore.
But here’s a simple something that brings me back to solid ground because it is undeniably true: we still have a choice to make. That choice may require leapfrogging every unfair voting barrier including the limited swath of candidates, but as it stands today - it’s an urgent choice that decides if the girl next door lives or dies. She’s Amber Thurman, she’s Candi Miller, she’s Joselli Barnica. She’s an 18 year old Nevaeh Crain who visited 3 ERs and 2 ultrasounds before receiving basic medical care. None of these women are alive anymore. Do you like women? Are one? Know one? Came from one? Great. Vote for whether or not you would want her to live. It’s really that simple. We can’t change everything that’s broken with one ballot checkmark, but this, this we might just be able to.
If you’re reading this, we likely know each other in some way, and you hopefully share some, if not all, of the same thinking. None of this is particularly novel or aimed at you per se (since you are so obviously voting, right?!?!?!), though it does feel somewhat valuable to repeat it nevertheless, today and every day after. I’ve been so incredibly encouraged by so many of you in this community who have organized, phone banked, canvassed, or otherwise taken some action to get engaged in this election cycle. Feel free to text me all of your thoughts and feelings as this election unfolds; the antidote to it all is always some form of community, isn’t it?
I leave you all with some Nikita Gill, one of my most favorite poets. Thank you all for being here. LFG.
Everything is on fire
but everyone I love is doing beautiful things
and trying to make life worth living,
and I know I don’t have to believe in everything
but I believe in that.
- Nikita Gill
P.S. In case you were wondering, the toddlers are always the ones in charge. Obvi.
P.P.S. As long as you join the line (as an eligible voter) before the polls close, you are legally allowed to vote. If you are being prevented by someone, you can call or text the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683. Godspeed!
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