Yesterday was 9/11. An Anniversary we will forever remember. I was a younger mom, grateful to be with my neighbor on a terrible day. The next day I began my life's work with my first Music Together classes and that's what I choose to remember. I will always remember that as sad as we were, coming together in a community to sing brought joy and healing to our community.
This year was different for me. I didn't want to focus on the tragedy. I wanted to get on with my day and sing and dance with the new families that came to my demo classes. I found myself feeling uncharacteristically annoyed by some of the remembrances. Don't get me wrong ~ I will always feel the pain of that day and the overwhelming swelling of pride at how we as a country came together.
I couldn't help thinking that all the "remembrances" and "memorials" in the world mean squat if we cannot get our act together and change how we live in the world. If we cannot create a community that cares for the least of these and welcomes people of all races and religions and orientations to our shores, we will continue to allow hate to fester.
When we are bickering at the national level about ensuring that ALL children have enough food to eat and that ALL people should have access to basic health care, we ignore that when people are desperate, they do desperate things.
When time is spent protecting the "rights" of gun owners, and "memorializing" the hundreds of thousands of people killed by guns in the US, we send a message to the world that we don't care about the weakest of our citizens.
I spent much of my life watching what I said. I didn't want to "offend" people or hurt their feelings or whatever. Over the last 5 years, since I hit the magic 4-0, that's been changing. Maybe that's what it is to finally grow up. Maybe I've just gotten tired of listening to people talk nonsense. Maybe my filter is faulty. I still prefer to debate and discuss. My intention is never to offend or hurt.
But I won't keep my mouth shut anymore when I see injustice or stupidity.
Caring for others is never a bad thing. Looking the other way is unacceptable. Blindly following the crowd is stupid. I prefer to live my life with my eyes open, sharing love and kindness with the world. Love will always win.
This year was different for me. I didn't want to focus on the tragedy. I wanted to get on with my day and sing and dance with the new families that came to my demo classes. I found myself feeling uncharacteristically annoyed by some of the remembrances. Don't get me wrong ~ I will always feel the pain of that day and the overwhelming swelling of pride at how we as a country came together.
I couldn't help thinking that all the "remembrances" and "memorials" in the world mean squat if we cannot get our act together and change how we live in the world. If we cannot create a community that cares for the least of these and welcomes people of all races and religions and orientations to our shores, we will continue to allow hate to fester.
When we are bickering at the national level about ensuring that ALL children have enough food to eat and that ALL people should have access to basic health care, we ignore that when people are desperate, they do desperate things.
When time is spent protecting the "rights" of gun owners, and "memorializing" the hundreds of thousands of people killed by guns in the US, we send a message to the world that we don't care about the weakest of our citizens.
I spent much of my life watching what I said. I didn't want to "offend" people or hurt their feelings or whatever. Over the last 5 years, since I hit the magic 4-0, that's been changing. Maybe that's what it is to finally grow up. Maybe I've just gotten tired of listening to people talk nonsense. Maybe my filter is faulty. I still prefer to debate and discuss. My intention is never to offend or hurt.
But I won't keep my mouth shut anymore when I see injustice or stupidity.
Caring for others is never a bad thing. Looking the other way is unacceptable. Blindly following the crowd is stupid. I prefer to live my life with my eyes open, sharing love and kindness with the world. Love will always win.
