If you will be offended by reading my liberal political views, you can skip this post.
The man with Mount Rushmore tattoos that I posted yesterday had a long wait to get finished. I sewed him up last summer but just couldn’t get excited enough to finish him because of what I viewed as his over-the-top patriotic tattoos. We were in the midst of the election season (which I’d been sick of for many months by that time) and once the election was over, I was feeling even worse about him. I’m glad I didn’t just heave him into the trash. My view of things started to change around the time of the Womens’ March in January.
I started thinking of the Pledge of Allegiance. As children, we recited it every school morning and I don’t think I have thought about it for years. But those words, Liberty and Justice for all– they kept buzzing around in my head. And then apparently, I’ve reevaluated my definition of patriotism. Oddly, I’ve never in my life felt so patriotic. When so many of the things that I believe represent the good of this country are under threat, everything looks different. And every day-
The level of crazy that is happening every day continues to be a creativity killer. I am still finding the crisis mode to be distracting and exhausting. But, I push on because those times when I succeed in getting lost in my work are like a brain refresh.
So many things- the tide of hate that this president unleashed starting so long ago during his campaign, the work to destroy protections for our environment, the abandoning of science-based policy decision making, turning public education into a profit center for a very few, (actually working to make just about every part of the government into a profit-maker for a few,) alienating so many of our allies, the whole Russia connection, and health care, and all the lies. And the tax returns. And Twitter. omg
My goal is to do a political post approximately once a month. It is my contribution to #resist and #persist.
Thank you, Mimi, for sharing your thoughts. They are shared by so many of us. Art has never been so important and I’m glad you are finding a way to keeping working through.
I find myself,depressed, mentally exhausted, not at all creative, which is bad since that is my job. I want to jump in feet first or shut down… it is all disorienting. Thankfully I can talk it thru with my smart husband and that helps.
Interesting, your thought that all this political upheaval is a creativity killer. I am having such a hard time focusing on anything! I admire your ferocity.
Rant on.
m
I love your work, and I love that you are resisting and persisting! It is exhausting and draining, but it’s what we have to do.
I’m right there with you Mimi. It can be so disheartening but I have managed to find some glimmers of hope – people standing for the rights of everyone, and resisting the hate and ignorance that this presidency has enabled.
Keep being one of those that shine a light!
Your views aren’t so much liberal as they are American. Thanks for your encouraging words. I love your work so much! Katie
Mimi, to a man my American contacts are all fiercely anti- orange man and I can’t fit the life of me see how this situation happened. I am suffering a similar situation over so-called Brexit and can only assume that sane people who built the protections we enjoy became complacent and didn’t do enough to stop the hateful juggernaut. Our education systems and media are failing a large proportion of our populations and thus a substantial proportion is ill- equipped to make good decisions. I fear for the world. Keep on creating- it’s our refuge from chaos x
Great post – and I love the awakening realisation that it is *very* patriotic to love your country and thus earth by resisting and opposing the idiots that rule them, instead of just slavishly following their every whim. I’m over the pond in England – and despite me disagreeing with everything our horrible Tori government stands for, and hating that a tiny minority chose to leave the EU, I still love this place, and want to fight for the good in it. I’ve only started getting out of a creative rut myself, and am now filled with hope. To a greater future!! :)
I feel the same way, and it is comforting to know I am not alone. Thanks for sharing this. Love your work, as always.
I hear you! I’ve had to develop a routine that keeps work and politics completely separate – no listening to NPR while I quilt. The routine that’s currently working for me is to read all my news in the mornings (I subscribe to the Washington Post and the NYT), make some phone calls to my awful Senators and Congressman (I’m in NC) and then completely change gears. I do some no-pressure doodling in my sketchbook with quiet music for about 15 minutes, maybe go for a walk if I’m super angry, and then I get down to creative work. It’s a constant struggle to be engaged without being angry all day long. I can’t do good work when I’m angry.
I have been having a similar reaction and I think many people are similarly effected by the political atmosphere which seems to be worsening. Resist and persist and using your blog to do it is certainly a good move.
Mimi. I totally agree with you! I live in the country near a small town (Florence, TX). I drove into Austin on Jan.21 to march in the Women’s March at our state capitol (50,000 showed up – biggest march in Tx history!) I marched the whole 17 city blocks and then stood for hours listening to speeches. At 67 with arthritis in my knees and left hip, this was a challenge. But I am so happy I did this. I plan to go to another rally in Austin in April in support of SCIENCE. For your readers interested, there is a website (www.resistancecalendar.org) which you can put in your state (or city) and see all the planned rallies and marches coming up. May I say how much I have enjoyed and been motivated by your blog! I found you many years ago and have been an avid follower even though this is the first time I have made a comment. Thank you for sharing your amazing talent. Margaret
I’m with you Mimi! If there were ever a time to not be silent ant to speak out, it is now.
I could not agree with you more, Mimi. I marched in the Womens March in Montpelier, vt in Jan. and have been so frustrated by those who seem to think that any march is beneath their dignity.Women wouldn’t even have the vote if other strong women had been too cool to march.We are all feeling crazy these days.
I agree with you completely! Keep speaking out! I love your blog, and your work-you are so inspiring!
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