Anyway, as I whacked away in the garden today, I asked myself what exactly I've done recently that would count as political action. Here's my list:
- voted (mostly a pointless exercise as I live in a red state)
- stitched a peace pennant for India Flint's Solace Project
- stitched a quilt square for Dee Mallon's Hearts for Charleston
It's been a long time since I've demonstrated (the most recent was a very brief stint at Occupy Austin). And my political donations have been few and far between. This is Texas, after all (interesting side note: we actually lived in a blue congressional district for a while, but got gerrymandered out of it after the 2010 census).
But now, I feel the need to ramp things up a bit. Encourage family members to register to vote. Put some of my thoughts into writing here. And send my thoughts in writing to those who would govern us (both those I agree with and more importantly, those I don't).
So Patches #208-210 for July 26-28 are words that continue to echo in my head ...
And Patch #211 for today is a token of my promise to myself ...
Because "they" can't know what I'm thinking if I don't tell them.
love very much the envelope
ReplyDeleteNow to make it a practice
Deleteyou shine Liz!
ReplyDelete"One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times."
here's the link to the full text of Clarissa Pinkola Estes "Letter to a Young Activist During Troubled Times"
http://mavenproductions.com/index.php/services/dr-clarissa-pinkola-estes/dr-clarissa-pinkola-estes-letter-to-a-young-activist-during-trou/
(((Mo)))
DeleteHow perfectly timed this is ... and what inspiration there is to be found in the full text!
Before reading this, I was out working in the Texas heat, cutting brush and creating compost berms anticipating future flooding. My thoughts were on old souls versus young souls. I count you among the former and myself among the latter. What you have helped me see is that the somewhat naive, but well-intentioned 12 year old who went door-to-door wearing a black armband asking neighbors to sign a hand-lettered petition for peace, is still pretty close to the surface. I just need to dust her off and get her going again!
Wow Mo. Thank you so much for this link. It is just what I needed.
DeleteRight?!
DeleteYou have inspired me to take stock of my political efforts and to try harder. Your letters won't be the only ones.
ReplyDeleteI can report there are soon to be at least two more eligible voters ... now to write my personal (wo)manifesto to send out to various and sundry politicos
Delete