https://youtube.com/shorts/fv_zGUP4Zf0?si=A0A11C_uot_E_3ST
I’m sitting at home, Sunday morning, Feeling blessed and stressed. I’m one of the lucky ones, I can sit down on Sunday morning, have a coffee; listen to a record I bought; reading the newspaper that was delivered to my house. It’s a privilege to be in this position but as I sit down and try to read nothing is staying in.
My stomach feels like there’s a ball of twine inside it and someone keeps gathering it into a ball. My throat feels sore, my eyes tired. I want to cry but amn’t sure why so I pick up my phone and type.
I think about the world, there’s elections coming up in Brazil, Israel and the USA. I never put my faith in elected representatives but more often in more recent times I’ve been thinking these choices are important.
I have a history of building myself up and getting knocked down just as quick. This usually relates to elections in not just my own country but others too. Elections that cause debates and sometimes ill feeling between my peers and I. If you support fascism I don’t want to talk to you but how do we change minds? If you don’t believe all humans are equal then why should I spend my time sharing the same air in a room as you.
I’m 58, I’ve been having these conversations since going to secondary school. The Clash and The Specials started it all off but then The Three Johns, The Redskins and New Model Army dug it a bit deeper. Flux of Pink Indians made it easy. All the arms we need are the ones that are on our bodies and we can wrap around each other. If you love a life of striving to survive causing the least suffering possible then you are well on the way to a better world.
This world has ebbed and flowed. We thought we were gonna be blown up, we fought for animal rights and Pride and a world free of tyranny. At times it’s 2 steps forward and one step back, other times it’s three steps back. Walls have come tumbling down, some borders have been erased, others still exist but without weapons. However people are still being indiscriminately killed. And it’s shocking.
It all feels helpless at times. The sad demise of the earths population could be on the way over the next few generations. We are burning ourselves to the ground or drowning in a sea of floods or weapons. Greed still exists and bullies still remain.
So I sit here, quietly crying, thinking of lost loved ones and arguments lost. I’m trying to figure it all out and can’t but what I can say is don’t be hard on yourself. Keep striving to survive causing least suffering possible and don’t let the bastards grind you down because this beautiful mess is worth trying to save.
I sip my last drop of coffee and dream of what we can do. That means supporting small businesses. Support the places you want to see stay open. Be the catalyst for some sort of change. Cry if you feel like it but wipe the tears and get back on the horse. We need each other and when they tell you you can’t then you can.
