REASONS FOR HOPE

 

   Given the latest white supremacist decision by SCOTUS--gutting the Voting Rights Act--it may be hard to look with any optimism towards the future. I get it. I read Jay Kuo, Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Reich and others who clue us in to how hard things are right now for so many in our once fairly decent country. "Fairly decent," as long as you were white, cisgender, middle-class, and more. But hey. Let's not get our knickers in a twist, as the Brits say. Let's think about some reasons for hope, as the title of this new blog suggests.

 

--The MAGA base is cracking these days. The Iran war has split this base with a widening crack as Trump had promised no new foreign wars. But, if you had trusted anything he said, you should not be surprised.

--the MAHA base is fracturing with the White House as RFJ Jr. ("I know, let's cut the penis off a raccoon!") is kowtowing to Baylor and Monsanto. Women with kids, besides us, have reason to be concerned.

 

--the EU has just released 90 billion dollars in a loan to Ukraine, which had been held up by the autocrat Orban.

--The Russian economy is in very poor shape now, although with the war in Iran, they are getting some monetary relief in the sale of their oil in the world.

--This Easter Vigil saw the largest number of Catholic converts coming into the church in many a year, if ever. Apparently, younger folks are looking for some spiritual grounding, a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves, and to have a faith life which gives them hope and sustenance. I am down with this!

 

--Our fabulous Pope Leo 17th is being what a spiritual leader should be: standing witness to those in poverty in the Third World, pushing back against the Iran war, telling Trump that his immigration policies are unjust, cruel, inhumane, and more.

--We have seen 3 top Catholic Prelates come out against the war and the treatment of immigrants in Cardinal Cupich, McElroy, and Archbishop Higgins from NY City where the awful Cardinal Dolan presided for many years, being in Trump's pocket.

--Many Federal Courts are pushing back against the more egregious violations of our Constitutional law in the last 16 months. In CA now ICE agents must wear body cam and show identification and warrants when entering a house.

--Maine just passed a law forbidden any AI data centers to be built in their state which is a real victory. As we know, these centers tend to be build near poorer neighborhoods, often Black communities, and use phenomenal amounts of energy and water. They also pollute the area tremendously creating heat islands.

 

--It is Spring. Yes, it is one of the worst tick years in memory (Check out the role that white-footed mice play in the tick-borne diseases and how we need to increase the populations of their predators--owls, bobcats, foxes, and weasels.) , but the sun is higher in the sky, we have many more hours of daylight (14 hrs.and 10 min.!), the warblers are returning, and I saw our first hummer on April 29th, the earliest in memory up on Briar Hill Rd. And if you garden, you may have already planted peas, carrots, lettuce, kale, fennel, and other cold-weather crops. Recently, I put in these starts: leeks, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, and beets.

--I am hopeful that the law protecting Haitian immigrants will not be repealed, although with these white-supremacists in power, who knows what will happen?

--Rebecca Solnit, the wonderful author and activist (Please buy her, "The Beginning Comes After the End" just superb.) posted today on FB something new to me called, "Destruction Damage." This signifies a change in behavior of not only individuals but also nations after something deemed necessary becomes hard to get. See the fuel shortages of the 1970s which then spurred U.S. Auto Manufacturers to produce more fuel efficient cars. Recognize now that the closing of the Straight of Hormuz will most likely spur countries to invest more heavily in solar and wind energy. 

--On a personal note, my two sons are doing so very well, despite health challenges and overall very full work schedules.

--And in our sweet town of Williamsburg there is a cafe, Tangle Chocolate, which makes their own superb chocolate, baked goods (often GF), terrific coffees and teas, and much more. The owner's joy at creating this town center is infectious. Suzanne also brings in many events, both musical, literary, culinary, and more. Worth a visit!

 

--Arthur Brooks, a Professor at Harvard, now has a column in the Atlantic about wellness, and has posted that there are several ways to increase your own happiness. Be present. Tell your brain, "Here I am, watching birds from my deck. How lovely!" Smile, lift your lips, even when you do not feel like it, as this bodily gesture tells your emotions to lift up. There is a third, but with my aging brain, who remembers? 

And another reason for hope is this: despite 3 kinds of cancer I have reached the grand old age of 80 years. I am beyond grateful.