Politics

People are not their jobs, but…

~ MaryG ~ 4 Comments
Daily writing prompt
When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?
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The first person that comes to mind when I think of the word “successful” is Ketanji Brown Jackson. I think I most admire people who are very smart and accomplished by typical standards (valedictorians, Ivy League graduates, etc.), but who choose careers not entirely based on financial remuneration. Accomplished judges, scientists, writers…they impress me. They have so much power and influence and can push humanity forward. I think we really want our “best and brightest” in those kinds of jobs.

Now, if Ketanji Brown Jackson had used her brilliant mind, work ethic, and Harvard education to go into something like, I don’t know–investment banking–I wouldn’t blame her, but I also wouldn’t admire her so.

Do your part

~ MaryG ~ 4 Comments

What principles define how you live?

I think I’m more pragmatic than highly principled. I want to live in a peaceful world, where everyone gets along, and basic needs are met for all. I believe in democracy and capitalism within reason. I believe the government should provide basic services, including education, and should get involved in regulating and overseeing private industry to protect us and our environment. I believe there are certain things that only government can do, like protect our civil rights and bodily autonomy, including protecting us from gun violence.

I believe it is an individual’s responsibility to act in a way that contributes to society and if possible, don’t burden others. Work, pay your taxes, raise decent children, exercise, floss, and for goodness sake’s VOTE, even when it’s a real pain in the ass. Like tonight.

Massachusetts towns have this crazy form of local government called Town Meeting. It’s incredibly time consuming as people can stand up and pontificate ad nauseum on anything from a new firetruck to a new bylaw regulating backyard chickens.

Tonight there’s a zoning question around guns. Pro second amendment people will pack the meeting, as will parents and others who want to limit the number of firearms businesses in town. I’d rather stay home and watch Hotel Portofino on Masterpiece, but I will go to Town Meeting. Because you gotta do your part.

This is Article 9. It’s not as interesting as Masterpiece, but showing up and voting YES is the least I can do.
The simple version

Look for the Glimmers

~ MaryG ~ 6 Comments

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

The best piece of advice I ever received was probably something about not worrying too much, because most of the things you worry about don’t actually happen. My father said that my grandmother’s saying was “Don’t Borrow Trouble,” which meant: don’t concern yourself with problems that aren’t directly facing you.

I appreciate that advice, but I feel like there are so many very real things to worry about in 2023, it’s a bit like telling people to bury their heads in the sand. Women in about a third of the United States have lost their bodily autonomy, a convicted rapist who led an insurrection is the leading Republican presidential candidate, the US government is about to shutdown because of that rapist’s supporters, and we’ve had at least 470 mass shootings so far this year.

So yeah, you should worry.

But don’t become hopeless. My minister says to “look for the glimmers.” Glimmers are those little moments that give you peace and hope.

My glimmer for today is that some women in my church organize our activism and make it SO EASY for me to help! All I have to do is pay for the stamps, and they hand me a neatly organized bundle of postcards, stamps, address labels, and a script. During the week, in my spare time, I write out the postcards.

This week we’re writing to Virginians.