Enough – in so Many Ways

My daughter painted these little canvases for me several years ago – a reminder that my life has enough – a reminder to appreciate what I have, to find joy and happiness in what I have.

I have made this image my header now – because that word – “enough” – can be taken many ways. It is, indeed, a reminder to me to appreciate what I have, but. . . These days it also represents my hands reached out imploringly, begging the world to just STOP! Please. Stop.

Federal troops dragging peaceful protestors off the streets in Portland, with no identification, no reading of rights, hauling people into vans to take them – where? It makes me wonder – are protesters a modern version of Jews? Deep sighs of sadness creep out as I ponder what our country has become. A president ignoring the wishes, the pleas, of the state’s governor and the city’s mayor – a president denying citizens the right to peacefully protest, a basic freedom given by our constitution. A president using brute force to quiet those he wishes not to hear.

In all of this, I do not condone the behavior of those more radical protestors who do damage, who incite violence. I do not doubt some of them are from the city itself, but I wonder how many came in from outside areas just to stir up trouble. As those on the other end of the political spectrum from me wonder how many of the mothers who came out in defense of the peaceful protestors were “actors” – I wonder how many of the rioters were outside thugs.

I have had enough of our society overreacting, making judgments without checking facts, taking offense instead of giving consideration to the opinions of others, calling names, labeling based on a few words.

I have had enough of those naysayers who deny the viciousness of Covid 19, who refuse to wear masks when out in public, showing complete and total lack of consideration for others because they have the “right” – they are “free”.  In my mind, refusing to wear a mask is not unlike driving after drinking. Yes, you have that freedom, until you put the lives of others at risk.

It comes down to this – yes, I have enough in my life. But, yes, I also have had enough of the short-sightedness of our government, of those who refuse to use the brain they were given to think things through, to fact check, to recognize we are all human, we all have failings, but we all have virtues, and we all have the right to express our opinions, which can readily be done without venom. We need to pull back that forked tongue and remember how to be kind.

Enough!

On a more lighter note, I have finished the Ruana mentioned in a previous post, and here it is: