This newsletter was written before the election. When I re-read it now, I realize that my worst fears have come true. I had so much hope and faith in the folks of this country, that they would do what was right and come together. I decided to still publish it for you to read. It is almost like getting a glimpse into the future and seeing the dire consequences about to unfold, but still not being able to change the arc of our destruction… much like our neglect and arrogance when we ignore the changes in our climate caused by our continuous neglectful pollution of our seas, land and air. So, here it is… sadly, our future and the impact our decisions have on all our lives and our children.
We are on the cusp of yet another presidential election, one that will determine whether we continue living in fear, separated and divided or working together towards a better world. Someone once said that discrimination was put on this earth to teach us compassion and love. Well, I guess you can call this time that we’re living in a “crossroads.” One that we each will have to decide come November the kind of world we want to live in. The consequences of our choices will impact our children and whether or not this planet will survive our neglect and arrogance.
I wonder… how we will feel when this next generation looks us in the eyes and asks us what part we played in saving our planet? What kind of president did we vote for? One that brought us together or escalated the hatred and fear of anyone who was different or that we disagreed with? Did our institutions protect us, or did they leave us at the mercy of a dictator and those whose primary interest was only for profit and power?
I remember a story of a young Filipina student who stood before the University of California’s Board of Regents and pleaded for them to not raise their tuition in order to pay for their increased salaries, because so many students who came from poorer families would have to drop out. She looked at each of them, and with tears and hope and said: When you look into the mirror tonight will you be proud of the decision that you made here today on behalf of the students, or will you be ashamed?
Sadly, they voted to increase their salaries by raising student tuitions. To this day since that day forward, I have wondered what happened to that brave young Filipina student? Did she drop out? Did she abandon her dreams? Did she leave disillusioned and disappointed in the adults who were supposed to be there to serve and support the students?
I wonder… had the Regents voted not to raise their salaries, would she have felt so empowered, heard and seen… that one day, years later, she would become our next President of the United States? I guess we will never know. Life is like that. We pay for the choices we make and for the ones we don’t.
As for me, I want us to wake up the morning after the election and feel good again. Proud of our country and of those who live here. Feeling safe to be different. Valuing our differences. So, when I look at the Statue of Liberty I can once again believe in the words that are engraved: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
