Keep calling out your better angels

Melvin Giles

“It’s a beautiful day. Thank you for sunshine, thank you for rain, thank you for joy, thank for pain. It’s a beautiful day.” – TRINIX x Rushawn
“I smile, even though I’m hurt see I smile… it’s so hard to look up when you look down. Hate to see it when you give up now. You look so much better when you smile, so smile.” – Kirk Franklin
“Don’t worry, be happy!” – Bobby McFerrin

Hello Monitor readers,
Fresh and awesome spring greetings! Like some of us, I’ve been struggling trying to accept the changes in our government leadership, particularly, with the corporate-like mentality of profits over people and the cut-and-slash model of the everyday person. Therefore, I’ve been so happy for the late-night comedian tv shows. They provide excellent laugh therapy in our current times of what’s really up with our national fovernment and lawmakers. I started writing this column at the end of February because it seemed like our government was being run by the Keystone Cops or the Three Stooges. I trusted that by the middle or end of March that things would be more settled and grounded; and that our lawmakers would be awake enough to stop the dismantling of our great constitutional democracy instead of allowing it to become a Scam Grifter Democracy. Instead, America has continued taking a degrading fall of being unpopular and continue with a toxic bullying role globally and with our close allies and nearby adjoining countries.
For instance, on the last day of February, the world watched America be a Big Bully and lose its greatness as the world leader of justice and democracy and become the world’s image of shame by joining the forces of Russia and North Korea. Wow, I never thought America would succumb to such a toxic and Hitlerian manner.
I need help to understand or find the benefits of denying federal funds to universities and helpful mutual aid organizations while attempting to dismantle other essential departments, in order to empower states. I am also wondering about the purging of historical experiences of Indigenous, Black, and Brown people, in the name of making America great by us not being educated and knowledgeable about what has made America great even with our little and big flaws? I believe one of America’s values has been in investing in our greatness through education and documenting our great explorational work is progress in the making of a democracy (We the People, For the People, By the People).
Likewise, on the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, we heard another announcement by the chainsaw slashing and dysfunctional thrashing of our powerful democratic government. This time it was dismantling of our Department of Education! The department that ensures that America stays powerful, skillful, and capable of being the world’s freat leader. On this same day, we also heard sad and understanding responses from Canadian leaders, naming the dangers of anticipated worldwide high inflation and the cause of it! I can only send extra prayers to our federal workers and gratefulness to our first responders and frontline health staff and volunteers; thank you.
I’m starting spring with reframing and checking/catching myself when I feel that I’m falling down that rabbit hole of despair, fear, and hopelessness. I know as a country that we can and will rise again to answering the questions: “How are our children; how are our mothers, fathers, and grandparents, and how are our country and We the People? Just as the spring brings extended daylight, I am renewed and restored with new hope in these cloudy days of confusion and daily inconsistency and incompetent practices from our national lawmakers. I was so relieved that finally our Supreme Court Chief Justice attempted to put the brakes on our elected, out-of-control civil servants on behalf of the American, We the People.
Shout-outs to our branch of justices, to the America’s free-speech news networks, to our wonderful and creative artists and entertainment industries, to our health care workers, to our first and essential workers, our scientists and students of every age, to our transportation workers, and to our responsible and accountable law enforcement peacemakers, and other folks who truly have and continue to make America great, particularly, the everyday ‘We the People’. I believe it is vital that at this time, we don’t give up because of fear of standing-up, speaking-up, and sharing our truth to power in our own personal way. Yes, we want our national borders secured and we all want bad elements/people to be deported or put in jail. However, I don’t think we want a mob-mentality like the one that caused the genocide of Indigenous nations and stealing of Indigenous lands, the enslavement of African people, or the forced encampment of Japanese people, or the disempowerment of women and of the disregard and destruction of our beautiful Mother Earth. Although, I have no clue on the how, I do know that We the People can put American back together again in due time.
Please keep the faith, keep calling on your better angels and your ancestors for guidance, patience, insights, and wisdom of how we can work, play, sing, and live together without retribution but with justice, without greed but with equity, and without hate but with love. Start with one day at a time by smiling from your heart when you see someone; even giving a grateful nod to someone. We all need signs that we are not alone. Practice bringing out your light of kindness for yourself, which will be reflected in others. Be okay with expressing joy even in these unpredictable and hard times. Send good thoughts and prayers to those who have been unthoughtfully fired, laid-off, and/or kept in the dark about their families’ next steps.
We are in this together including those who are conscious or unconsciously doing harm.
And, as my opening quotes suggest, listening to music and songs that inspire and give you hope. It is darkest before the dawn and dark clouds and thunderstorms do have aftermaths of silver linings and golden sun shines. Be well, we are in tough times, however, we will arise again!
May Peace Be In the Rondo, Frogtown, Hamline/Midway, Como, and Surrounding Communities... May Peace Be In Our Homes and Communities… May Peace Prevail On Earth (MPPOE).