It’s certainly been a while. I’m not sure what draws someone back to the keyboard to write a blog to no one in particular, but nonetheless here i find myself, tapping away in the back garden watching the dogs try to find one last morsel to eat in the garden, looking for inspiration. Although, 2020 isn’t a year that needs much inspiration for writing. To say there has been a few “goings on” would be somewhat understating the fact. They say that great art comes from great hardship. I will try to dispel that myth in the next few paragraphs.
First we had The Virus. The type of thing Hollywood has been writing scripts about for decades, professing to depict the end of the human race only to find a cure at the last act. Well, the end of humanity isn’t near and there’s no miracle cure in sight, but there certainly is a virus in our midst. Known as Covid-19, it has shaken the world in a way that leaves no hiding place under the bed to escape from it. It doesn’t seem to care who you are. Young or old. Black or white. However, the biases in our system seem to be highlighted. The prophetic news outlets will claim that African Americans are more vulnerable, or that children could be next. We are now 6 months in to our new way of life. Covered faces. 6ft apart. No handshakes or embraces. It seems that the virus targets vulnerable people, already experiencing other issues. However, the saddest statistic of all is that the virus seems to highlight socioeconomic hardship, particularly in the US, where the richer you are the more chances you have of surviving. Poorer sections of the population, without the healthcare coverage or the confidence in the system to protect them, seem to be suffering the most. There are those that will point out New York City as dispelling this hyperbole. However, put that city’s stats under the microscope and you’ll find that the poorest boroughs are suffering the most. I’m not a professor, doctor or any kind of specialist. I fly a plane. It is still clear to me that once again we are conveniently escaping the harsh reality of the system in the US. The wealthy and mainly white middle class, of which I would likely be classed as a member, are getting away with it, for the most part, and the financially poorer of those in our society are suffering simply because of their status.
Well, I hear you mutter, what are you going to do about it?? I don’t know yet. I don’t know what I can do yet. I don’t know what my first step will be yet. I am writing this out to help with that. Perhaps I will get the virus and get to see firsthand how some benefit from status and some don’t. Without that experience, I can tell you for sure. I can only provide conjecture.
Now on to the other virus. Racism in the world. I live in Minneapolis, the epicenter of what will likely become known as some form of revolution of 2020. A human revolution, or even, evolution.
Two weeks ago George Floyd was murdered by a policeman, not 3 miles from where I am sitting now. The policeman stood, or knelt, on his neck for 8mins and 35seconds. He cried out for him to stop. He didn’t. What followed was 7 days of civil unrest that we haven’t seen since the 1960’s (a time I wasn’t even alive). It spread far across the country. Particular damage was done in Minneapolis, where citizens rioted for many nights in a row. Property was damaged. Lives were lost.
Then the world began to awaken. At least, I hope it has. We are only a couple of weeks in to this new new world. People like myself, middle class and white, are asking ourselves some very uncomfortable questions. It took me a number of days to come to terms with what my role was in all of this. Sure, I could exclaim the standard rhetoric, but anyone can read a meme and share it, without believing in it. I was very uncomfortable and uneasy with where I sat and how I was reacting. However, I found myself fatigue ridden with the awkward and uncomfortable feelings I was experiencing. I was only dealing with this for a week! African American and other minorities have been dealing with this fatigue for centuries! And here I am whining about dealing with it for a week.
I’m still not convinced about which lane I will ride it on my journey to helping society to fix the broken system we clearly live in. I know that voting this year will be of upmost importance. Probably the most significant vote in my lifetime. I am decided that I will act accordingly and ensure others have the information they need to act similarly. Your biggest power comes from your vote, from the most local of elections to the highest of offices.
It’s easy to talk a good game. I need to put that in to practice. Writing about it might be the way to hold myself accountable. I don’t know yet, but I’m ready to find out.
Good luck to us all!
P.s. I don’t proof read these things, or reread what I’ve written. It is as it comes out of the keyboard. Forgive it all or don’t. It’s up to you.
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