Storms

I awakened last night to the sounds of what seemed to be a gentle spring rainstorm, one we badly needed. The morning revealed quite a different aspect. That rain was a fierce blade that shredded the young leaves of the trees which overhang our backyard scattering the remains far and wide. My plans for a leisurely day were sundered along with the leaves. It seems we get one of these stealthy storms every year--as if nature is issuing a warning about its mercurial behavior.

Apart from the prospect of a few hours of cleanup storms like these are not anything to concern ourselves over--just an inconvenience. The storms that occupy my thoughts far more are those gathering in our lives as we awaken each day to yet another swing of the scythe shredding the apparatus of our government and the fundamental safeguards our forefathers had the wisdom to put in place to prevent exactly what is now transpiring. The cleanup--when that is possible will take more than a short while.

But this is not another hand wringing, doom spreading missive. As real and urgent as the storm we are experiencing right now is the will of the people. In its relatively short history, our country has been tried many times--perhaps none as fully as it is at present, but tested by extremes of economic failure, by witch hunts, repression, injustice and the unthinkable division of civil insurrection. These storms did not merely pass, but by massive sacrifice, by force of will and perseverance we emerged and rebuilt, arguably better and stronger than before.

Can we do so this time? That is the question for each of us to ask, privately and corporately. Are we so divided that the prospect of rising in implacable opposition to the abuse of power, to the reversal of our traditions, the stripping of our rights, and the shameful treatment of the poor, weak, and defenseless is beyond us? If I have cause for optimism it is not by dint of any actions I have seen yet. We are still in the shock and awe phase--depressed by what we are experiencing and still rationalizing actions we would have deemed unthinkable just months ago.

The ray of hope I can see faintly comes from conversations with those who were just a short time ago ardent supporters of the changes we daily observe. They believed in the need for change and it serves no use to point out that what they thought would be incremental, tempered and thoughtful is none of those things, but rather a full on assault. As the implications emerge I am hearing not regret but something more potent--a firm rejection. Now to be clear, it is not a reversal--not by any means, but a response to the over reach, and a voicing of rejection. It is early still. There will be more suffering to come to be sure, but I would not bet against the people, as divided, complacent, and weak as we may be at this moment.

Tidal change takes time to build--it has taken decades to bring us to our current crossroad. But when that tide begins to change it is not an immediate and powerful thing. We should watch for the signs, and lend our support and own efforts as we are able. There are places we will not go, things we will not do. Firm resolve is a powerful instrument and it is surprising to me, at least, the points of agreement I see emerging. No one will rescue us except ourselves--rescue us from the ledge on which we presently stand. But we are peering over that ledge and what we have seen is an awakening not merely of fear, but of determination.

I for one do not believe we are a nation of sheep. The storm is raging outside, and much is being shredded but we have been here before, and we have shown who we are, what we can do even in the face of hellish adversity. In the end the country that will emerge will require of us a great deal to restore better, humbled and more mature than before, and ready to take our place not as a mythical beacon, or prideful dominant, but as an equal welcoming our brothers and sisters to work together for our children's future.