The Light Returns in Love and Creativity
February 1, 2025
I was a young adult (probably more accurate to say that I was an older child) when I started my first day and first round of college at Northern Michigan University. For years prior I had listened to an odd assortment of music that can best be described as carrying social justice messaging.
Activist musicians such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Sam Cooke, Mahalia Jackson, Woody Guthrie and many more sang of the human need for equity, equality and justice. Social justice and human rights have driven my career, my writing and my heart since childhood. I think a part of me was born “woke.” Yes, I honor my compassion and sincerely wish a larger portion of those in power could do the same.
At that turbulent time we fought to end everlasting wars. We advocated for the basic civil liberties of all human beings regardless of religion, color or cultural background. Our raised voices drove a lot of change in those years. Slow and steady changes in the Civil Rights laws, women’s rights, improved access to health care, recognizing the need to preserve the planet with the establishment of Earth Day and awareness of conservation.
The Stonewall Rebellion opened the gates for rights and respect for LGBTQ individuals, bringing awareness to their needs and rights. Unfortunately that took way too long and Transsexual people continue to suffer as evidenced by being removed from the Stonewall statue’s plaque last week. Here is the NPR story: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/14/g-s1-48923/stonewall-monument-transgender-park-service#:~:text=%22This%20decision%20to%20erase%20the,said%20in%20a%20joint%20statement.
We also saw the clean air act initiated and voting rights acts were passed during that time. Finally, President Johnson drove and got through Congress, the Great Society Act. This was a series of programs, incentives and laws which aimed to end poverty, reduce crime, abolish inequities and make strides in environmental improvements. These were enormous gains, all of which are being challenged under our current administration. We were proud of those successes and the hours spent to have our voices heard in marching, meeting and making a collective effort.
Today, we are seeing the crumbling of our American society and our form of democratic governance through over 500 executive orders with a design to override and ignore the checks and balances of our government. Many people are stunned, many are stricken, many are suffering and will suffer.
We are watching non-vetted and unqualified people decimate our regulatory system under the guidance of someone who has a vested interest to do so and has neither the experience nor credentials to do this work. We are insulting our long-standing neighbors with threats of tariffs, annexing them into part of our territory and renaming continents, canals, and bodies of water after America or symbols of this country. All of this is shameful. It appears that all of these chaotic actions are designed to improve the lives of those who already want for nothing. We now have American Oligarchs shaking hands with their Russian counterparts.
Let me be clear, I am an independent voter to the left of center. My comments are not political. My comments are made through the lens of social justice. We are the People, not the oligarchs-wherever they are from. It is heart breaking to me to watch Lady Liberty crumble, so I am doing something about it, today and every day. I make my home, my writing and my heart a sanctuary. My hope is that you will join me.
If you are feeling as I do, here are some ideas:
- Donate dollars to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) to litigate against the crimes being done against our culture. https://aclu.org/
- Donate dollars to the SPLC (Southern Poverty Law Center) to litigate and develop educational programs to teach about and prevent racial & civil injustices. https://www.splcenter.org/
- Make your feelings known by how you spend your money. https://www.newsweek.com/american-businesses-supporting-donating-donald-trump-list-2027957 and https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3450401/companies-that-donated-heavily-to-trump-and-only-t
- Donate to the American Red Cross. As the President stated, Federal help from FEMA was denied for those afflicted by the California wildfires unless they conducted elections in their state as Mr. Trump demanded. This makes voting rights a bargaining chip which is both illegal and immoral.
- To ensure you are getting a true story or information, follow it up with a Snopes fact check or other reliable fact checking agency. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/
- Other areas include the Arts, which are looking at big federal cuts. The Kennedy Center has had the Board changed and Mr. Trump invited himself in. National Public Radio and Television (PBS) is also looking at significant cuts.
- Don’t be fearful, speak the truth as you know it, in any way that you can.
- I have seen many homes with banners or flags outside stating they will continue to care for all human beings, the environment, etc. These are inexpensive and available. For now this seems inoffensive and safe. We cannot assume it will remain so. Blue painter’s tape on your mailbox is similar to the banner. Understand we do these at some risk.
- Attend every local meeting of your senators and representatives and ask tough questions.
- Speak your truth in kindness and commitment.
- Be fearless. Be strong. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.
These are mostly small things in the scope of worldwide chaos, but they are something to get started doing. There is a shred of hope in action. Be mindful, this is going to be a rocky ride. Hang on to yourself, your ethics, your humanity and compassion through all the mayhem.
I will leave you with two quotes. The first is from the Reverend Martin Luther King, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. The second is from Joan Baez, social justice advocate, “Action is the antidote to despair. We must move past indecision to action.”
I normally do not speak on this platform about politics, but I cannot stand by and watch our society crumble without at least sharing my truth. I hope you will do the same. A loving, supportive environment and culture is a significant component of human well-being.
You can reach me at sandy@asandyplace.com if you want to voice your thoughts.
Please, in these troubled times, take care of yourself, your loved ones and your community.
Respectfully,
Sandra (Sandy) L. Place
