Privilege and Vigilante Behavior

One week ago today the Idaho Legislature convened a Special Session called by the Governor.  Unfortunately, it did not begin well.  In fact, it went so poorly that Idaho once again made national news.  An unruly crowd forced their way into the House gallery.  In the process a glass window was shattered.  They filled the gallery which had been marked for social distancing.  They were not wearing masks and some were carrying guns.  The speaker of the House acquiesced and allowed them to stay if they were quiet.

This white right wing group of protesters was given special privilege.  No other group would be allowed to do this.  There was a public uproar.  What if a bunch of Black Lives Matters protesters had behaved this way?  There is no doubt that they would have been arrested.

In fact, I was part of a group of peaceful people who protested for Add the Words (equality for LGBTQ people) 5-6 years ago.  We stood silently and caused no damage yet we were arrested.  Many people pointed out this double standard.  On Thursday I accompanied a group of clergy who delivered 17 letters from Interfaith clergy to the Governor’s Office.  The letters expressed concern about this incident.

The next day these people returned.  They were loud, rude, and refused to socially distance as required.  Some were armed.  One of the legislators left because she felt unsafe.  Later, several people were finally arrested when they refused to cooperate.

This alarming behavior and our leaders’ poor response make members of the legislature and the public unsafe in the people’s house.  Unfortunately, this is just one example of the entitlement of the extreme right in this state and around the country.

We have a group of Black Lives Matters protesters who have been peacefully assembling regularly.  Their first big event in June was huge, the largest ever at our Capitol building.  About 5,000 people gathered outside, listening to speakers and music.  Nearly everyone wore a mask and the event was peaceful.  There were people driving around on motorcycles and in trucks carrying flags and Trump signs.  They honked and yelled profanities but the crowd ignored them.

Since that time a group of armed white people carrying American flags have shown up when they hear the BLM group is planning a protest.  They claim they are there to protect property and police (who don’t need their help) but instead they harass and intimidate people.  One time an 18-year-old was walking around with an automatic weapon, his finger on the trigger.  The gun went off but luckily nobody was injured.

Recently we read in the paper about the armed right wing militias roaming the streets in northern Idaho.  They claim to be there to protect from Antifa (which isn’t there) and are welcomed by local officials.  Instead they harass the young protesters.

These scenes are repeated in other parts of our country.  The other day a 17-year-old shot and killed two protesters while he was there to “protect.”  Angry white extremists with guns are being given a pass to threaten and intimidate people they don’t like.

This is alarming.  What has become of our country?  We have an authoritarian president who incites violence, encouraging these vigilantes.  Local conservative officials give them privileges that the rest of us do not have.  We need to take back our country from extremists and work for equality for all.  Our choice in November is clear—democracy or authoritarianism.  Vote!

A Change of Seasons

I felt it the other day.  Summer is coming to an end.  There’s a nip in the air that appears just before the sun sets.  The days are getting shorter. 

Right now I am sitting on my deck enjoying the sunshine and the sound of the wind blowing through the trees.  A cold front has arrived bringing cooler temperatures and clearer skies.  This summer, in the middle of a pandemic, my yard has been my refuge.  Friends have referred to it as my oasis.  Our acre is a lot of work but it helps me keep my sanity while isolating at home.  It is peaceful.  The greenery, the multitude of colors, the birds, the critters bring joy to my heart.

What will I do when winter is here and this is all just a memory?  How will I handle being stuck inside?  I worry about this.  I will have to find ways to bring the color and sounds inside.  That will be my challenge.

Blackberry Pie

 

Plump black berries hang in clusters

Just waiting to be picked

One by one I pluck them

And drop then into the bowl

Squatting, I reach for more

Sometimes the best are hard to get

I pull my arm back, berries in hand

My arm is covered in purple juice

I stand and walk inside with my bounty

 

As I wash my hands with soap

Trying in vain to remove the stain

Old childhood memories flood back

Each summer we visited the country

My grandma would hand us a coffee can

And we’d head to thick blackberry bushes

Then return with stained hands and shirts

We gave the berries to our grandma

And she would bake a wonderful pie

 

Now I make the pie that grandma made

I cut the lard into the flour

Carefully I roll out the dough

Then place it in my favorite pie tin

The plump juicy berries go inside

Sprinkled with sugar and tapioca

More dough on top then into the oven

Soon the house smells amazingly sweet

The bubbly pie is pulled from the oven

We wait for it to cool with anticipation

 

Cheers to 40 Years!

This past Sunday, Bob and I celebrated our 40^th wedding anniversary.  It was not the celebration we had planned—we had hoped to do a European river cruise—but the pandemic changed our plans.  We did a quiet little celebration on our patio just for the two of us.  We hung up decorations and put a red tablecloth on our patio table.  Dinner was ordered from a local restaurant, we picked up a cake from a nearby bakery, and we added champagne to our weekly grocery order.  It was important to make this landmark anniversary special; at our ages we don’t know if we’ll make it to our 50^th.

We pulled out our wedding photos which we hadn’t seen for ages.  Many of the people who were there that day are no longer with us.  There was a photo of a cousin with her young family; she died recently and it made me smile to see her.  How young we were!  I asked for lots of photos of our guests and I’m so happy that we have them.  There were lots of family members, church members, coworkers, childhood friends, college friends, and neighbors.  The ceremony and reception were in the redwoods.  I had dreamed about having my wedding among these trees since I was young.  We had a band for the entire event.  It was a great party.

We’ve had a good life together.  Just three years after our wedding, we moved from California to Idaho.  We raised two daughters who both now live in North Carolina.  One is married and the other had planned to marry in September; that wedding has been postponed a year, another victim of the pandemic.  We have a lively young grandson and expect more grandchildren in the next few years.  Life is good—especially when you have the right person at your side.

Written on 7/29/20