Photo of print by Carolyn Rifam I live in deep blue city in a sometimes blue state. Everyone I know shares the same values, voting patterns, response to our president-elect, more or less. I know a few who voted for him, family members, clients, casual acquaintances, but I can’t really understand why. The chance to elect our first female president, a lovely grandmother with iron will, courage to face down considerable adversaries with strength and grace, and uncommonly high qualifications, made my heart soar with nationalistic pride. She was my candidate from the beginning. I am blue for her and for every person who voted for her and for my two beautiful granddaughters who might have witnessed this historic sea-change. I pray a qualified compassionate female candidate will come forth in their lifetimes, let alone mine.
Compassion might be the defining characteristic of my blueness. Unless there is a war on American soil, I will never have a gun in my home. Nor will I allow anyone to bring one in. I am not afraid of the people I meet on the street or anywhere else I go. I understand some might be unstable or angry or be a true enemy to my health and safety. But I will still see their humanity hiding there, and if I have a chance, I will do what I can to reach in and touch it. I am also smart enough to sense and avoid danger when I see it. I will not teach my granddaughters hatred and fear, rather their antidotes, love and faith. I believe love is the defining principle of the universe. Love is what we are made of, love is where we are going. Love is what saves us.
I’m not without judgment; I’m not without sin. Yet I believe that ego does not always serve our highest purpose. Nor does greed. We are stuck between our need to survive and our ultimate goal to transcend the limits of our humanity and to embrace our Godliness.
Some might call me weak for my compassion and belief in humanity’s goodness at its core. But I am not weak. I am full of the courage to seek my path and to stand up for who I am and what I believe. You want to see a Mama Bear? Just threaten my beloveds.
Are my beloveds threatened now by this election and this president-elect? I don’t yet know. Are my beloveds threatened by an enemy without? That, I pray will not come to pass. But the future is yet to be written and I am a patient woman. I’ll give government a chance to make a future or to destroy it. There will be many rainbows and silver linings among the storms. There will always be a guiding light in the darkness. That much I know for sure. There is beauty in nature and there is only God.
I did not take to the streets in the 1960’s, but I might do so in 2017 or 2018. My eyes and ears are open. I will not bring a gun, but will bring my words and my fierce heart.
And I will make art. Talking to my wonderful son the day after the election, we agreed we’d make art. Art may endure beyond politics. Art expresses what is inside. Art lets us be who we came here to be.
And that is the most important thing of all. That, and to do good in the world.
Compassion might be the defining characteristic of my blueness. Unless there is a war on American soil, I will never have a gun in my home. Nor will I allow anyone to bring one in. I am not afraid of the people I meet on the street or anywhere else I go. I understand some might be unstable or angry or be a true enemy to my health and safety. But I will still see their humanity hiding there, and if I have a chance, I will do what I can to reach in and touch it. I am also smart enough to sense and avoid danger when I see it. I will not teach my granddaughters hatred and fear, rather their antidotes, love and faith. I believe love is the defining principle of the universe. Love is what we are made of, love is where we are going. Love is what saves us.
I’m not without judgment; I’m not without sin. Yet I believe that ego does not always serve our highest purpose. Nor does greed. We are stuck between our need to survive and our ultimate goal to transcend the limits of our humanity and to embrace our Godliness.
Some might call me weak for my compassion and belief in humanity’s goodness at its core. But I am not weak. I am full of the courage to seek my path and to stand up for who I am and what I believe. You want to see a Mama Bear? Just threaten my beloveds.
Are my beloveds threatened now by this election and this president-elect? I don’t yet know. Are my beloveds threatened by an enemy without? That, I pray will not come to pass. But the future is yet to be written and I am a patient woman. I’ll give government a chance to make a future or to destroy it. There will be many rainbows and silver linings among the storms. There will always be a guiding light in the darkness. That much I know for sure. There is beauty in nature and there is only God.
I did not take to the streets in the 1960’s, but I might do so in 2017 or 2018. My eyes and ears are open. I will not bring a gun, but will bring my words and my fierce heart.
And I will make art. Talking to my wonderful son the day after the election, we agreed we’d make art. Art may endure beyond politics. Art expresses what is inside. Art lets us be who we came here to be.
And that is the most important thing of all. That, and to do good in the world.
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