“They have clearly told us who they are—now we must say just as clearly and loudly who WE are.” These are the wise words of my friend Steve Nolan, a licensed social worker who served time in the military in the role of an evaluator for personnel’s fitness to serve. When the current occupant of the Oval Office was elected in 2016, alarm bells went off in Nolan’s mind and compelled him to write American Carnage: An Officer’s Duty to Warn. This short (83 page) paperback which was published in 2020 is essential reading for anyone else who is alarmed about the impact of the words and actions of the president, or should be. Nolan spells out succinctly the danger presented.
One of Nolan’s roles was Chief of Combat Stress for Paktika Province in Afghanistan. In addition, he ran a clinic for the VA that treated veterans with PTSD. This experience lends credibility and puts him in a position to make authoritative statements without claiming to diagnose the man.
Five years after American Carnage: An Officer’s Duty to Warn was published, we are still very much on high alert, very much endangered by the words and actions of a man who self aggrandizes every chance he gets, plays the victim card, speaks in the third person, which is called Illeism, demonizes the media and those who disagree with him.
I’ve known Steve for many years and have stood with him and Barbara Simmons, who is a devoted peace activist and Executive Director of The Peace Center in Bucks County, PA at peaceful protests and rallies in our community. This power couple sets an example for putting legs under intention for a safer world for all of us.
The quote at the beginning of this piece was Steve’s response to a post I had made that described VP Vance proclaiming white pride. Why would anyone be proud of the amount of melanin in their skin? How does it make one inferior or superior? Yes, many in the administration endorse white supremacy. They represent those in the electorate who feel the same way. Shaking my head in disbelief that anyone would teach their children that culture, religion, education, background or skin tone is a reflection of someone’s worth in the world.
I grew up in a working class immigrant family, with white skin, Jewish religion and culture. We had a melting pot mix of friends of various backgrounds and traditions. Our parents took us to The World’s Fair in NYC in the 60s and annual international festivals in our community for many years so we could learn about the world. Although they never said it, my parents wanted us to see ourselves not only as American citizens but global citizens. I would sit in the car with my dad as he listened to KYW (a news station in Philly) and when I would ask him why he wanted to spend so much time immersed in the news, he told me that it was important to know what was going on in the world. It was balanced with listening to rock and pop stations like WFIL, WMMR and WYSP. They wanted us to have a well rounded cultural education, so we listened to Rogers and Hammerstein musicals too, with South Pacific being one of my mom’s favorites. The song “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” was a revelation to me because I didn’t understand why anyone would teach their children to hate. My mom explained that she didn’t understand either but they weren’t teaching my sister and me, to hate. Heck, she wouldn’t even let us use that word. We watched All in The Family and my father highlighted the paradox of Archie Bunker whose satirical performance was meant to point out the absurdity of racism and sexism.
Inclusivity was an important concept as I grew up. We were encouraged to make friends at school, in after school activities, in volunteer opportunities, and in our neighborhood, not leaving anyone out. Now at 67, I enjoy what I call ‘overlapping soul circles’ of friends from various aspects of my life. We had our annual holiday party last weekend and as we sat in my living room and introduced ourselves, I asked folks to express their intention for the new year. Some had personal goals such as improving health or writing a book. Others set intention for being a more active peacemaker. I shared that and also that I wanted to bridge the chasm between ideologies that are our present reality. I am open to having conversations with those who don’t share my values. Admittedly, I want to listen to learn how they came to see the world as they do AND to plant seeds for change of mind and values. See, the thing is, after DT is out of office, either via the end of his term, or more likely before then, with the end of his life, we need to find a way to live together. The toxins spewed during his two administrations need a major Hazmat cleanup.
So, who am I that I want to show the world?
I am a peacemaker.
I am a lover of the world.
I am a tree hugging, crunchy granola hippie.
I am a parent and grandparent.
I am a social worker who believes in social justice.
I am a voter.
I am a wordsmith.
I am an interfaith minister who says that love is my religion and God is too vast to fit into any one box.
I am a patriot.
I am a lifelong learner.
I am a FREE HUGGER
I am an outspoken advocate for those who don’t have a voice or the safety to use it.
I am an Opti-Mystic who sees the world through the eyes of possibility.
Who are you and what do you want to show the world?
—
