They gaslit us,
setting smoke streams
of lies
polished with name-calling and hypocrisy,
the facts of lost reality
obscured.
Thousands forget to think,
forget even how to be,
discard their humanity,
zombiefied,
lifeless and blind
listening to those braiding fiery rumors into half-truths
and cruelty
they no longer bother to
hide.
Lost ones become ghosts,
staring into their screens,
asking robots
what they should think,
and
who they should be.
Recent news has been so disheartening. I had a friend say last week that someone might find the shirts she’s printing that read “Big fan of human rights” to be a controversial political statement. She countered that it was a political statement, but that it shouldn’t be a controversial one. And it certainly shouldn’t. I mean, do people really want to argue that they’re against human rights? Seems ignorant, to say the least, but it’s what some are doing apparently. At what point does a country founded on democracy, equality, and freedom become one that promotes intolerance, inequality, and violence? Apparently, we’re there, and I’m appalled. A bright side is seeing that the majority of our country agrees with me, despite the obnoxiously loud voices of the minority, who accidentally happen to be in charge due to a large number of people not voting last election.
One uplifting point to keep in mind is that many people who seem to be on the side against human rights in social media comments are actually bots. And some are actually being paid to argue online, in a freshly pathetic low for humanity. So, if you’re like me and feeling disheartened, take heart in knowing that it’s truly a very small, if loud, group promoting the disharmony. It’s only a matter of time until peace returns, though I’m no fortune teller and don’t know what that path will look like.
I’ve heard others talk about how, in times of overwhelming instability and stress, we can focus on the most immediate places where we have a positive impact. Our immediate families, communities, and other direct connections; these then expand as others do the same. With that in mind, I focus on my family, my friends, my church, and my students, and bringing positivity, truth, and critical thought where I have the largest impact. The image above reminds me of the peace that I can still strive for in this time. Take care. ❤️
Words and Coffee Writing 