Stop. This.

I haven't written for a while; there's been vacation, general busyness, normal life, and a non-specific apathy.

It's something we take for granted--those first-world problems of ours. That being said, I'm grateful I am able/allowed/enabled to take advantage of my first-world life, and share my thoughts with you.

It's good to take breaks from the computer, from social media. It's good to not think; not think about the things in the world that you cannot control, the people you cannot convince no matter what. It's good to think about your family and your friends and how good life, in general, can be. That may be in the form of meandering thoughts, or it can be as specific as writing that gratitude down on paper. Taking that break and going out into nature--that's as good as it gets, in my opinion. It's hard to be troubled by the weight of the world when you're watching water dribble over stones, or look into the trees to spot the sunlight and the shadows.
But then you return to reality.
The reality of people in this world who are risking their lives to get to another country because life in their homeland is so much more risky. The reality, while we cannot personally witness it from our comfortable homes, hits us with photos of drowned toddlers and pregnant women, captured on film gasping for air after having been teargassed.
The reality of racism. The reality of those whose white privilege is much a part of their being that they cannot even fathom that they are racist, that racism exists, and that there is a GREAT need to do somethings--many somethings--about it. Yes, I'm talking about you--you who feel compelled to state " #AllLivesMatter " without stopping for a moment to think about what is driving the " @BlackLivesMatter " movement. 
The reality of mass shooting after mass shooting in this land of plenty and beauty; it's so jarring, and so unreal that there are those among us who will deny the roots of this evil because it hasn't yet happened to them...yet. And, when gun violence DOES happen to them, in whatever form, they will be shocked...SHOCKED...that it could happen in their little world, in their safe space. They will then be spurred into action, to tearfully call for something, ANYTHING, to be done, but it will be too late, for they will already have lost someone dear to the death that comes out of the end of a barrel of a gun.
You return to the reality of a nation that has so much, that can do so much, that can contribute so much to the rest of the world, and yet that very nation is so fragmented and uncivil, so uncaring and so unthinking that its' political system is broken, and the rest of the world looks on with stunned incredulity.
Some days, it's just too hard to care; there's just too much to care about.

That Time When I Agreed with Todd Rokita...Twice

This afternoon, I attended a Town Hall meeting, hosted by Representative Todd Rokita. I am on his mailing list, I've read his posts on his Facebook page, and I not only voted against him, I've taken him to task many times, including a couple of Letters to the Editor.
So you might guess where this is going.
His choice of venue for his Town Hall was odd--the local Assembly of God church. I went alone, and was immediately intimidated by all the older, conservative-looking white people who went in to the sanctuary. I grabbed the literature (copies of his Power Point), and was handed a card, so I could write down a question.
I entered the sanctuary, and was immediately taken aback by the Christian music that was filtering through the sound system (can't it just be quiet? Why do we always seem to need music?). I sat toward the front, which meant I really couldn't see who was there, nor how many were there (the J & C reporter estimated 85). I felt really alone in this crowd.
I wrote down my question, which was in response to his statement concerning a now-debunked anti-Planned Parenthood video. I can't remember the exact wording, but it was something like this: "In light of your desire to defund Planned Parenthood, I would like to know what you will now provide for women's health? Planned Parenthood provides contraception, pre-natal check-ups, and cancer screening. If you also want to repeal Obamacare, what--precisely--will be provided especially for low-income women?" I did plan to ask a follow-up, that would remind Rep. Rokita that defunding would not make abortions go away, it would just make them much more unsafe.
The minister opened with a prayer--"God the Father", but kindly left it at that...Did I mention I felt really alone in this crowd? 
Six people stood up, and took turns reading portions of the Constitution. PORTIONS (especially did NOT read the 14th Amendment...).
He talked about the recent Iran Treaty ("It's bad....I haven't read it, but I've been told..."), education reform, improving our infrastructure by increasing the gas tax (!), pushing for a Balanced Budget Amendment, and reforming Medicare and Social Security. For special effect, there was a "Debt Clock" running on the overhead screens the entire time he was talking (but please note there was no mention of how the debt got that high in the first place, nor the fact that it's probably not increasing as rapidly as the clock would have you believe.)
Rep. Rokita then opened the floor for questions. As Pastor Bradford read the question (selected at random from a big box on the chair beside him), the person asking the question stood up. Rokita responded, and there was then an opportunity for the questioner to ask a follow-up. This was where the whole Town Hall got bogged down, and they ran out of time after 10 or so questions. They did not get to my question, which would have covered quite a new topic.
BUT WAIT! HERE'S THE REALLY GOOD PART!!!
The African-American woman sitting right next to me had her question read: "How can a business protect themselves, when they face lawsuits for refusing to cater a gay wedding?"
WHAT???
[I could have had such a conversation with her afterwards, but I didn't.]
WAIT.....
Here's the first time I agreed with Rep. Todd Rokita. He said, "The laws in our country are based, pretty much, on English Common Law. That law says, 'If you are selling goods or services on the King's Highway, you must serve everyone. I agree with that."
Yes!!! He said that. He said that again and again and again, as more and more questions and follow-ups were asked. He also said. "You don't have to be in business. It's not a right."
Now, don't get me wrong--he also said the marriage equality question was one best left to the States (I should have asked him when we could vote on his marriage, but I didn't).
But baby steps.
The second time I agreed with Rep. Rokita was when he was asked, "What can we do to assist you?" Part of his answer was this: "Get involved in the process. Attend meetings like this, and ask questions. Write to members of Congress. Have difficult discussions with people you don't necessarily agree with. Try to understand everyone."
So, there you have it. I attended a Town Hall meeting feeling fired up to disagree with absolutely everything that came out of Rep. Todd Rokita's mouth (and yes, there was plenty of disinformation coming from there). But I sat and listened to a man I had never actually seen in person, and I learned things. I learned that we agree on at least two things.
Get involved. Sit through your discomfort with open ears. Speak when you can, and ask difficult questions. But listen to the answers too.