The Places Where I’m From
I am from tea. From intense and better with sweetener. I am from the forest: leafy, piney, fragrant of soil. I’m from the land of the Atfalati. From oak hills, lush grass and daffodils. I am from rhododendrons: evergreen, blooming, sweet. I’m from tea time and silence. From Peter Cullen and Padear O’Cuileain (my Dad’s name in English and Irish). I’m from the avoidance of conflict and sing alongs (and root for the underdog). From Be quiet! and Trust your gut. I’m from rosaries and mass. I’m from Fermoy, Ireland, corned beef and cabbage and fresh caught crab (in Uncle John’s boat). From the lack of soccer shoes to make the team. I am from alcoholism. The walls of Grandma’s house. The family photos as long as they appear understated and no one is bragging.
I saw an article interviewing a former GOP congressman who said that he is afraid that Trump feels untouchable and the GOP is making him so with appeasement. I began to feel very tight in my chest and struggled to get a relaxed breath in. I imagined Jesus sitting next to me and imagined him holding me and and breathing life and belovedness over me. It helped my breathing to become more calm. I began to panic less and to think of how I wanted to respond. I remembered that I learned of a website recently called faxzero.com where it is simple to send a fax to our reps (a fax apparently counts almost more than a phone call, and I hate calling!)
I decided, as a white woman, I wanted to reject helplessness and that this was a great time to learn how to send a fax. I sent a letter telling my senators that I have visited Auschwitz/Birkenau and walked through the gas chambers. I pointed out that appeasing Hitler had emboldened him. I asked them to look for every opportunity to not appease or go along, but to disrupt and hold the administration accountable loudly. Being polite and speaking up gently are not enough when many are already suffering and the plan is for many more to be suffering soon.
I felt better after I finished and prayed a blessing over my senators and the people who created the faxzero.com website. And now a while later ….I feel like this exercise could bring a really wonderful rhythm for metabolizing fear and helplessness and taking one small step each day or every couple of days. And for actively insisting on the truth of who I am and who each person is to God. Thank you, Osheta! What a blessing. Now I’m also praying a blessing over you.
1 comment
Brigid, thank you for taking this action and for sharing this resource with me. I have begun to feel after emailing my elected representatives numerous times over the past year, that I will be added to some list of problematic constituents. Of course their auto-generated email replies always state that they appreciate hearing from their constituents, but I wonder at what point they no longer do???