I left Facebook a few days ago. Why? Because I was developing hate for people because of their opinions. And I know that is wrong.
As a person of faith, I have been taught to love all people the way God does. He loves us not because of who we are, what we do, what color our skin is, what faith we believe, or anything else that we like to think that divides us into groups; He loves us because that is who He is.
I’ve been feeling fearful lately, fearing for our country, fearing for the next generations, fearing the chaos. I am a person who desires calm, stability, and reasoning. Some relish the fight; they relish instability.
The worst is feeling alone in these troubled times. While we fight about which political party is more violent, we are missing the point: the reality is that individuals who are clearly lost are looking for reasons to be violent. It’s almost always young white men who are angry beyond imagination, and who see the only route to their desperation is to cause unimaginable pain to others.
We try to feel connected through Facebook. And we fail over and over again. This morning, I felt some comfort in reminding myself that I am not alone in this. My feelings are not unusual. My fears are common. My connections to those I love are more important than ever.
We are being lied to and manipulated by people in power. Maybe it would benefit us all to step back and look at what is actually being said by both sides. With the government shutdown, I have worked to do that. Learning much I didn’t know. I didn’t know illegal immigrants can’t get general health care. What they can do is go to an emergency room and receive treatment. Everyone should want that. The problem with the Big, Beautiful Bill is Congress has to come up with money to afford the tax breaks given to the most wealthy among us. Taking people off health care is very unpopular, but blaming it on immigration is much more palatable for many.
We’ve never felt threatened. It’s a beautiful city along Lake Michigan. My children have worked and lived there for many years. And I watch Gov. Pritzker of Illinois trying desperately to keep the National Guard out, but the news keeps getting worse.
Last night, I watched a news report featuring our Homeland Security Secretary on a rooftop with a sniper apparatus set up above groups rallying. What is she doing? Why do we have her as a person with so much power in our country? That is a question worth asking.
Fighting the sadness, I am choosing to cheer on the people who have trained and prepared themselves for months and years. I’m going to look for the beauty of the day. And when I look at the National Guard, I will think of my brother and others who have served in that capacity. I will believe they don’t want to be there anymore than we wish they weren’t.
Nancy Johnson
Brighton
