Finally! The ice and snow are starting to melt at Collington. I am almost 84 years old and am a born and bred Southerner. I was raised in Nashville, Tennessee, attended college and graduate school in North Carolina and spent 50 years living and working in Washington, DC. I remember one very cold snap growing up in Nashville but nothing like the deep freeze which has engulfed us and millions of others in the eastern United States this winter. It seems like it has been months, but I know it has not been much longer than a couple of weeks of frigid temperatures, but with all the bitter ice and snow, we are ready for a break. Hey, it is mid February in Maryland. Signs of spring are supposed to start happening around this time.
So what is the story? The Trump climate change deniers will cite the bitter cold, snow, and ice as evidence that climate change and global warming are a hoax. The Trump haters like me will cite this as punishment by a Divine Deity for our reckless and evil ways.
The forecast is for temperatures rising into the low 50s by the weekend, perhaps accompanied by some rain, but hey, anything is better than the ice we have had and which still blankets the ground as I look out my window. I am hopeful it will all soon be washed away, opening the door for a crocus or two to peep up out of the dirt, followed soon by forsythia, dogwoods, daffodils and azaleas.
I am also hopeful for signs of renewal in our troubled country. This can only be described as an act of faith. There are no guarantees that we will come out of this Dark Night of the Soul and become a kinder and gentler nation. Just as the tiny crocuses will soon start to pop up, I am hopeful and believe that we will see popping up more acts of kindness and resistance. These will grow and ultimately triumph over hate. We are fundamentally a decent people. Immigrants have made us great, and the good people here outnumber the bad. I would argue that it is not even close.
What signs do I see of renewal? There are many. Trump’s popularity has plummeted. He is the least popular President in history at this stage in his presidency. The courage and resistance of thousands of ordinary people in the Twin Cities is awesome and inspiring. Organizations across the country are forming to help immigrants. Given my somewhat fragile health, I have not been very active yet, but I belong to several resistance and immigrant support groups in the county where we now live. They are accompanying immigrants as they face the authorities and possible deportation. They are capturing the ICE brutality on film. Their numbers are growing. And they aren’t giving up. And establishment churches are stepping up. Catholic churches here in suburban Maryland are playing a big role, and mainline Protestant churches are joining in the fight as well. I was especially impressed with the bishops in the Episcopal church speaking out against the ICE onslaught. Good for them! The rector of the small Episcopal church Embry and I attend in DC is a strong supporter of the effort to honor and accept all people.
The awakening of middle class Christian churches and Jewish synagogues reminds me of the role many religious institutions played during the civil rights movement. This had a big impact on me when I was a seminary student in 1966. That summer Embry and I worked with SNCC, the most radical civil rights organization, in Southwest Georgia. It was an experience of a lifetime. Then there is the “No Kings Movement” with massive marches and demonstrations planned for the spring. Colleges and universities are starting to show some backbone. The press remains free. Trump has not been able to rig the next election, at least not yet. And more and more ordinary people are speaking out, writing letters to their representatives, demonstrating, and saying enough is enough. These are all signs of hope, just like the tiny crocus starting to peep up from a long winter’s sleep. Do not despair and become cynical: the crocuses will be followed by forsythia, daffodils and azaleas.
I know. Some are saying “pipe dream.” Those who have been following my posts know that I tend to move from despair to hope, then back to despair, and the cycle repeats itself. I have been around long enough to have my share of cynicism and negativity. But we can’t let this get the best of us. The stakes are too high. History will be the judge. The question for people of good will who find ourselves in the middle of dog fight we would rather not join is this: what did we do to make a difference. We don’t have a choice on this one. We can’t just watch it from the sidelines.
As I look out my window on the beautiful Collington grounds, I still see mostly snow, but I think I also see some green patches that are starting to form. I know soon I will see crocuses popping up.
Inspiring Joe. A perennial crocus. You were in Albany, and tou are now,
Popping up in Collington. Wonderful call of Spring. Thanks.
The Nashville blizzard of ‘51 saw a new record low of -13 with ice, snow and power loss much like what happened there two weeks ago. Our house was the only only one on the street that didn’t lose electricity. My cousin and family moved in with us as they had no power.
Also you may recall our senior year in high school when it snowed heavily every week from late 1959 to mid March.
Agree that the thaw also is setting in the national politics. But November is still a political eternity away. So much is in timing of events before an election. Trump appears to be softening, but it may just be a head fake. And if the Dems get greedy and embrace the more extreme and controversial policies of their recent past, they may easily blow it. IMO
As always, wise counsel.
I love this post Joe! It has given me much needed encouragement at the end of this week. Thaw is happening and we are beginning to see hope springing !