Beloved Community

~ MaryG
Daily writing prompt
What’s something you’d love to see in the future, but know you probably won’t live to witness?
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I grew up on Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, Free to Be You and Me, Zoom and Schoolhouse Rock. Even the rigid old Catholic Church (my nemesis) got a makeover in the 70s as a result of Vatican II. (Think felt banners and folk music). Also, I was a Camp Fire Girl, which was much more “hippie granola” than Girl Scouts.

Camping with the Camp Fire Girls in 1975

Granted Reagan and AIDS in the 80s put a dark tint on my rose-colored glasses, I still somehow believed we were headed toward a more perfect union where the “general welfare” was the goal.

Kids who grew up in the 70s have the Preamble to the Constitution lodged in their brains forever thanks to Schoolhouse Rock!

The election of Barack Obama in 2008 brought those old feelings back. Justice, equality, peace, happiness, community seemed achievable.

MLK’s vision of the Beloved Community resonated strongly with many 70s kids who also loved Sesame Street and other PBS shows promoting those ideals.

I now feel as if I was living in a highly privileged bubble, which has been unequivocally popped.

I’d like to stay positive for the sake of my kids and grandkids, but I just don’t know if we’re going to see anything like that in my lifetime.

We’ve gone so very far in the other direction.

A UFC Fighting Cage being erected at the White House in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday—kinda just says it all.

8 thoughts on “Beloved Community”

  2. Not posted yet, but you and I are on the same page with this prompt. I love the way you structured this, though, very powerful to see tangible touchstones that showed we were, or really believed we were, heading into better character and kinder times.

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    1. WordPress pointed out to me that I wrote a nearly identical post shortly after the election, but slightly more hopeful. I’m sure you will express “our” feelings a lot more poetically than me. Looking forward to reading your post!

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      1. Your post is perfect, and yes WP is having fun pointing out things like this. I got a Groundhog award today, for using the same title. Sigh. 🙂

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  3. It sure does say it all. So dispiriting. I came of age in the 70s when Democrats and Republicans actually got along. Imagine that! So much essential environmental legislation was passed during the 70s. And here we are. I sure hope we can claw our way out of this mess.

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