(Originally posted on FB on 3/2/21)
Families are still displaced all over the county in hotels, RV’s, friend’s homes. Meanwhile, empty FEMA trailers sit on the edge of the county fairgrounds waiting to be placed. Two weeks ago, at the city council meeting there were people in Talent protesting the placement of these trailers in the local little league field. Because their little league experience is more important for them than allowing people who have been burned out of the town to return home.
Meanwhile, the children have returned back to school, thankfully, which means they are being bused from all over the county. The few who have found apartments/homes have done so outside of the county. Only those with more resources could get the very few remaining homes anywhere near Talent/Phoenix. So the children are all bused at irregular times, separated from siblings. Preschoolers getting on the bus every day at 5:30am.A fire affected friend of mine was justifiably disgusted at the little leaguers and expressed a desire to leave this area because of them. Sadly, I told her that through my activism and time spent in multiple city councils in conservative and liberal towns, “they” are everywhere. They are a confluence of people with low empathy who focus on me/mine and are supported in this mindset by capitalism/materialism, colonialism and conquest culture sometimes veiled as religion.
It can be confusing because they express care, but the care is always about them and their family, never about the collective or the underprivileged. They are of all cultures because many came here for the American dream (capitalism/colonialism) and/or they survive this harsh bootstrap landscape through assimilation and Stockholm syndrome. (Hence, Latinx for Trump) And as always, more resources, more privilege limit the ability to empathize.
In the US, many are also direct descendants of settler consciousness that has normalized perpetration over those they separate themselves from and dehumanize (i.e. “savage,” MLK, BLM!). When you see those images and wonder who those people were yelling at MLK, Ruby Bridges, engaging in slavery, killing natives. This is the same mindset. THEY are not going away.
In the web of life, there are takers and givers, some with low empathy, some high, some driven by fear, some love. (some may call their me/mine interest, love, but if you dig, it’s fear/control, every time)
The Kogi, indigenous people of Colombia call this element that exists all over the world, bent on destruction, extraction, abuse of Mother Earth and each other, the Younger Brother. Please watch their documentary (link in comments). You will see the distinct difference in human development between an Elder Brother and a Younger Brother.
Some are stuck in adolescence, and unfortunately this country allows those a huge voice so they can injure already broken down and discouraged people who have lost everything, further, by making them listen to people caring more about their little league field.
I’m saying all this so we don’t waste any more time trying to figure out/change this element. They are not going away with their destructive and self interested bent.
WE MUST RISE like the sprout lifting up out of decomposed earth.
WE MUST STAND like the ancient oaks and redwoods who have seen these humans at their game for centuries.
Again and Again.
It’s the only way to bring balance, save the Mother and our children.
(And always,always care deeply for ourselves. See my previous post)
Fire Update and Straight talk about Showing up