"No man is an island..."
Even the wealthiest men depend on the rest of us
Some years ago I delivered a sermon on community and “the interconnected web of all existence” at my local Unitarian Universalist church. I opened my remarks with this famous poem:
To my mortification, as the truth of Donne’s words hit me, I burst into tears in front of the entire congregation.
In fact, as I write this, tears are once again streaming down my face. Our common humanity is a truth so self-evident that my heart breaks as I watch what’s happening now in America.
Decades ago, my high school choir sang a gorgeous version of “No Man is an Island.” (I cried singing it then, too, so I shoulda known…). Have a listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing it, and get teary with me.
Unaware or Disbelieving?
MAGA voters, who were so earnestly looking forward to benefitting from re-electing Trump, are going to be gob-smacked when the shit of his policies hits the fan of their daily lives (actually everyone’s lives, whoever we voted for). Partly it’s because they believed his promises, partly it’s because they believed the Fox News etc propaganda, and partly because legitimate journalism is simply not reaching them—or they refuse to look at it.
Soon they may be singing: “I never thought the leopards would eat my face…” [If you’re curious about the origin of the phrase, Francesca explains here.]
I’ve spoken with folks who were unaware that Musk and his team of college-age tech bros are seeking have already gotten access to our most personal data at both the Social Security* and Treasury Departments. (What could possibly go wrong?)
Or that journalists, attorneys, judges and whistleblowers who dig into or fight back against President MuskTrump’s illegal actions risk getting “doxxed” and their families threatened. The Department of Justice is no longer the third co-equal branch of government as laid out in the Constitution. Silly us! Under AG Pam Bondi the DOJ belongs to Trump, whose goal is vengeance against his perceived enemies.
So far, the only people benefitting President MuskTrump’s actions are their billionaire buddies, dogsbody sycophants, pardoned criminals, Saudi and other foreign oligarchs, and of course Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, they’re ruining the lives and livelihoods of everyone besides themselves, and instead, aiming for world domination. Greenland! Canada! Panama Canal! A resort in Gaza (once we remove those pesky Palestinians…)!
*No, Social Security is not cutting checks for millions of people who are dead or as much as 150 years old. Musk amplified this lie to his millions of X followers, not understanding that years ago the SSA figured out a way to deal with those with unknown exact dates of death…it’s a problem with the old COBOL software.
It won’t be long before President MuskTrump and their dupes experience the painful repercussions of this vengeful cruelty. As the bell is now tolling for many innocent Americans, the bell will soon toll for these would-be overlords, because the snoozing majority is waking up and starting to fight back. Watch this blast from the past:
What can you do???
At the risk of being repetitious, get curious! Stay informed! Your next door neighbor’s opinion may not be reliable. Thanks to the internet, we live in an age where Titillating Lies spread like wildfire, while Truth is still putting on her shoes, so check several sources. The three biggies (NYT, WaPo, Wall St. Journal) still employ fact checkers. So do the Atlantic and The New Yorker. PBS, NPR and your local public radio station are pretty damn reliable. I’ve also suggested many Substack journalists in previous posts.
If you don’t want to subscribe to a jillion sources, go to your local library!!! You can read a dozen different current newspapers and news magazines. Ask the librarian for guidance! FREE!!! How cool is that!
Call your representatives! Early and often! The 5Calls website makes it super easy.
Get local! Go to your city council and school board meetings. Attend public meetings when your congressperson or state rep holds an open house. Ask uncomfortable questions and insist on straight answers (ha!).
PUT YOURSELF IN THE WAY OF BEAUTY
I have felt like literal SHIT for several days, thanks to a bug that hit my lower gut Friday morning. Soooo much 💩💩💩💩💩. Where had it been hiding for what must have been years?
Because I haven’t been out to seek current beauty, I am forced to trowel in my photo archives. Last February I arranged these daffodils in a low bowl my younger son made in a college ceramics class.
I can’t wait to get out and see what’s beginning to pop up in the neighborhood…
Cheer me up, please. What’s popping in your neighborhood? Send pix! Comments! Questions! It’s getting very boring alone on the couch.
I called my congressman, Ted Lieu today. Found out that he had a town hall meeting last week on You tube. I posted this on my FB page to remind people that by calling our congressmen they do WANT to hear from us. And that our interest might motivate THEM to organize to inform us. Never underestimate that a small deed can produce a mighty result.
Sorry to hear about your tummy trouble. Good column but I live in Newton, MA, where my Senators (Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey) and Representative (Jake Auchincloss) are sincere liberals who are speaking up everywhere about the evils of Trump and they don't need calls from me. I watch MSNBC all day and read Heather Cox Richardson and subscribe to The Contrarian with Jennifer Rubin. I am too old to go barnstorming across the USA. I really don't know what I can do to prevent our country from being destroyed by Trump and his minions.