Those of you blessed with good memory may remember that every year or two about this time, I revisit a song that is especially appropriate this time of year. So far, last year I updated a 2013 revisitation of a 2010 diary story blog in which I did a rewrite of a diary I first penned (typed? pecked?) in 2008. The song is May The Light Of Love by David Roth, and as I’ve said before it's the closest thing to a "grace" set to music I've ever heard. Given election results, the news from Standing Rock, and the promise of four very difficult upcoming years, I found it really hard to hear this song in the same spirit… yet I feel it’s still got a message worth opening ourselves to. Please join me after a word from our sponsor…
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As we come around to take our places at the table
A moment to remember and reflect upon our wealth
Here's to loving friends and family, here's to being able
To gather here together in good company and health
I am blessed this year; K1 comes home tomorrow- her first trip home since leaving for college in August. Our family hasn’t been together since August 25th and we are ALL excited. We also have family friends traveling up a few states to join us, and it will be a nice weekend. We have a table (currently a refrigerator and pantry!) full of plenty and are grateful to be able to say so, as we know many others for whom that is not the case. This Thursday we’ll have a blend of familiar foods and new, low-carb versions to accomodate the health needs of several of us (mashed turnips/rutabagas instead of potatoes, and a variety of new ways to prepare old favorites with no sugar and less wheat!).
May we be released from all those feelings that would harm us
May we have the will to give them up and get them gone
For heavy are the satchels full of anger and false promise
May we have the strength to put them down
::looks around:: I suspect we’ve all got a basketful of deplorables anger and other feelings we’re carrying around; some since primary season, and others of us buried under the weight since waking up November 9th to the reality of a Trump Administration.
::deep breaths, happy place, puppies::
I know many of us have been hurting deeply since Election Day. I cannot count the number of friends having trouble sleeping, eating/not eating, and many other symptoms of stress and depression. Personally, my blood sugar numbers have only JUST started to come down from a significant baseline increase fueled by the stress-related and blood sugar raising hormone cortisol. We must take care of ourselves and each other, and part of that self-care is finding a way to release what is not good for us or transform it into something less toxic and more beneficial to ourselves, our country and our world.
I believe that the people who voted for Trump and his Republican party, as well as those who chose to vote 3rd party/not vote because Purity are going to see exactly how much anger and false promise they were fed, and may WE have the strength to help them put down their mistrust in the path we offer. Lastly, to those of you who say "but the anger focuses my activism" I understand and truly don’t disagree, but I suggest laying down that anger by refocusing it into passionate purpose.
May we wish the best for every one that we encounter
May we swallow pride and may we do away with fear
For it's only what we do not know that we have grown afraid of
And only what we do not choose to hear
It is hard to wish the best to some when we are not sure they return the sentiment pretty damned sure based on their post-election actions they do NOT wish us anything but, at best, a quick one-way trip out of the country. But in order to be true to the ideals I believe we hold in common as Kossacks, liberals, and just plain good people, we must. To heed these words is hard to do; when I find myself failing, I fall back on my Unitarian Universalist First Principle: “We affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person”. I believe it is possible to uphold worth and dignity of people without having to agree with their beliefs or approve of their actions.
Ahh, fear. We are all of us afraid for what the future holds, more so than ever before, it seems to me. We need to conquer our fear by finding out what we do not know. As I think on this verse, I wonder if what it’s calling us to do is focus on what it is that THEY fear, and chose not to hear, and then try to find ways to break through and address those fears in a language they will hear. I don’t know how to do this yet. I am finding it very hard to move past my fear, aptly called the mind-killer. Every day brings news reinforcing my belief that a Trump Administration will be catastrophic for most everyone save rich white men. I need all of you to help me when I am afraid because we ARE stronger together.
As we bless our daily bread and drink our day's libation
May we be reminded of the lost and wayward soul
The hungry and the homeless that we have in every nation
May we fill each empty cup and bowl
This even more than ever. It’s likely that the next four years will see an abrupt and significant decrease in services to those who need it most; our already weak safety nets will grow yet more threadbare, and our willingness to help those in other countries may evaporate (unless they’ve got oil or have other resources Trump wants- looking at you, Russia). I extend this beyond food and shelter- we need to fight white privilege and the systemic racism and take care of our black and brown brothers and sisters. We need to lift up our sisters as they struggle for the basic human right of controlling their own bodies. We need to fill the cup of equality for each of our BGLTQ friends and family.
May nothing ever come between or threaten to divide us
May we never take for granted all the gifts that we receive
Being ever mindful of the unseen hands that guide us
And the miracles that cause us to believe
I’ve always omitted this verse when I consider the song, because I am a non-theist, and I don’t really believe in miracles. But the first line is staring at me and I don’t know what to say… we ARE divided and I cannot ‘come together’ and hop on the unity bandwagon just yet. So maybe I’ll take it as so many prayers are- an ideal to strive towards.
I’ll leave you tonight with the song’s refrain. May all of this be so. Please hold the Water Protectors in your thoughts and help if you can. I am preparing for Thanksgiving with a heavy heart; one of my favorite family-centered holidays is a day of mourning for the Native people whose land we took and whose ancestors as well as present-day members we abused, degraded, cheated, lied to, and killed.
May the light of love be shining deep within your spirit
May the torch of mercy clear the path and show the way
May the horn of plenty sound so everyone can hear it
May the light of love be with you every day
Now, on to what you really come to Top Comments for- the trio of Top Comments, Mojo and Pictures that forms the backbone of this longrunning community diary series! I am thankful for BeninSC for tonight’s formatting collaboration!
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
Note: Especially during this passionate primary season, please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
From BeninSC:
I sometimes have a soft spot for rant comments, like this one from lynn47, about voters who don’t vote.
I am also nominating this comment by OldCat for its eloquent defense of unions and what they SHOULD be. That comment was in response to this comment by msjustice, about an atrocious percentage of union members who voted for … the WRONG candidate.
Highlighted by evergreen2:
Is this comment by rugbymom, on the question of what do we do for better electoral performance in rust belt states.
Is this comment by Mother Mags highlighting THIS comment by PepeArizona, calling for a primary challenge of Kyrsten Sinema. Sounds like this is past due! (Ed. Note: I think this is the first time I have ever captured NESTED highlights!) In Liberal Equality Fraternity and Trees diary on 3 House Dems collaborating with Republicans.
Highlighted by biryanifan:
Is this comment by llywrch on ideological purity and Trumpian nominees.
Top Mojo ala mik!
For Monday, November 21, 2016, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on the subject.
1) Kos has been like this forever, since before he … by Brecht +166
2) That word cloud is stunning and completely damni … by sweatyb +155
3) THAT was the thing which for me was the last fuc … by Angela Marx +144
4) Did you know every FBI director has been a regis … by bumpinafog +123
4) It’s not even that the stories diminished. They … by sweatyb +123
6) It’s like writer Velenti went into my brain and … by AfricanLived +110
7) I will stay until exciled. … by TomP +107
8) Isn’t that sweet. … by Colorado is the Shiznit +103
9) Well, Comey did close the case after all. /s by Angryallen +102
10) I have always been amazed at the intensity of ho … by BadBoyScientist +101
10) Kos will attack here also. … by TomP +101
12) yet, we have people on the LEFT running around t … by justagurlinseattle +96
13) Too bad nobody recorded it surreptitiously, like … by JeffW +94
13) What the everloving fuck? … by MBNYC +94
15) What about firing Olberman for partisan activity? by levy001 +91
15) Exactly. Dems try to hard to play along to get a … by bumpinafog +91
17) I did go to Britefart and search her name. TONS … by bejammin075 +90
17) That fucker plea bargained a Federal Fraud case … by Angela Marx +90
19) Privatization — among other things, insurance co … by marking time +89
20) I’m wondering if the same people who screeched e … by anastasia p +88
21) The problem is that nobody reads history anymore. by solopoke +87
22) I’m with you, totally. Since Melania is now disi … by ursulafaw +86
23) He was dating Melania while still married to Mar … by cjbrown45 +89
24) Don’t read the NY Times anymore. In fact maybe d … by rssrai +83
25) If it was “off the record” (which, please, media … by noweasels +82
25) If we had a functioning press, they would have r … by noweasels +82
27) This Party is NOT a piece of shit. I’ve been in … by Wildthumb +80
28) Not signing off on the letter condemning Bannon … by lastman +78
29) R.O.F.L.M.A.O.! … by LamontCranston +77
29) As perceptive as Paul Krugman usually is, this s … by Had Enough Right Wing BS +77
2016-11-22, courtesy of jotter!