I was frustrated and angry with a friend's easy cynicism. She'd stopped by this morning for a cup of tea as she does at least once a week. Naturally the conversation turned to politics. It usually does if I'm in the room.
She immediately found refuge in her usual cynicism, a mind set I view as nothing less than an easy cowardice.
Want a different government? Then get off the couch and go work towards it. Don't tell me that government has never paid attention to working people or the poor and then look at me blank faced when I bring up Roosevelt's New Deal, LBJ's passage of the Civil Right's Act, Medicare, and the War on Poverty. How about a robust and well funded public school system lifting millions of people out of poverty since its inception? Isn't that "our" government?
Don't go off on how disgusted you are with Congress without bothering to check the facts about just which party has been doing the most damage to the middle class and the poor. Hint - it isn't Democrats.
Or how about the very medicines you rely upon for a normal life while living with MS? Checked out how many of "our" tax dollars are spent on the research and development of those?
That's "our" government at work too. And all of it happened because of people just like us. It's our government because we make it so.
The very vote you say doesn't make a difference is the vote people fought years to have. People died so you can vote. Men and women fought and died so children would not have to spend their childhood in coal mines and textile mills. And you say what we do doesn't matter?!
Nothing seemed to penetrate her determined apathy, not even speaking my heart of hearts. I don't have a choice when it comes to paying attention and doing what I can. Cynicism is not a luxury my children and grandchildren can afford for me to have.
They are why it all matters. I'm not abdicating my responsibility to them by throwing up my hands and saying like my friend that, "Nothing I do matters."
I'm not abdicating my responsibility to family, friends, neighbors or people I haven't even met yet.
So that's how my morning started on this third day of Labor Day weekend. A weekend none of us would be able to enjoy without the efforts of those who refused to believe that their efforts did not matter.
They never gave up or gave in to the false comfort of cynicism.
Neither can we.
I wasn't going to write about any of this today. Then I saw the email from the Obama for America campaign and words started falling into place.
This is both a Labor Day rant and plea.
On this Labor Day you can support American jobs. All the merchandise for sale at the Obama for America Store is made in the good old US of A.
You can make a difference. You'll be supporting American jobs, saving some money and helping the President's reelection. Three for the price of one! Now that I think of it, it's actually four for the price of one. You'll get a package in the mail. Did I mention that shipping is free? Another good thing to add to the reasons for doing a little online shopping today.
Now that's a good way to spend a little of your time this holiday weekend.
Just don't forget the code SUMMERSALE.
We can celebrate Labor Day, beat back cynicism and take action. Not bad. Not bad at all. :)
Something else you can do in honor of this Labor Day is go read Denise Oliver Velez's wonderful tribute to the men and women who actually did build this country.
A Labor Day tribute to work and workers
It is a brilliant musical honoring of the history that has shaped our lives, one we cannot afford to forget.
Above all, don't forget to register and vote. You can help GOTV. Write letters to your local paper. Or make sure folks register and get to the polls.
Every single thing you do DOES matter - greatly.
Happy Labor Day!