It never fails to amaze me that every year about this time, there’s some ‘controversy’ that pops up. Sometimes it’s Starbucks cups, Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas, or the commercialization of the holidays- this year it’s a song from 1953.
Now look, I get that we live in a culture that has to always have something new to be angry about- it’s an easy way to display your biases so that everyone understands where you fall on the political spectrum and make a lot of noise without actually having to /gasp change anything for the better.
Let me be very plain. I do NOT care where anyone falls in this debate on these song lyrics. I have my own opinions, and I don’t particularly feel the need to go trumpet them. There’s actual things wrong in the world that I’d rather put that energy towards actually doing something about- like the fact that we are presently in violation of international law for repelling minors seeking asylum at our borders. That’s worth being upset about, in my book.
But screaming slogans on social media doesn’t fix that. I sometimes think part of the reason we have outrage culture is because we feel so fucking powerless to help or hurt anything going on around us. If I let it, the fact that there’s children who don’t know if they are ever going to see their parents again who will spend tonight inside a fucking cell will rip my heart into pieces. Because it’s horrible, inhumane, and cruel. And I’ve used my voice in every way I’m given to cause change to happen. But those kids are still all alone, and I can’t do a damned thing about it and knowing that, really understanding it, makes me feel ways I can’t even put into words.
So what do I do?
Well, what I hope lots of people are doing right now- finding common ground between myself and the folks that are a part of my world. Trying to remember to be a little kinder, a little warmer, a little more hopeful and pray like hell that the caring that is inside me can become just a little infectious, spark a little love and feeling about what it is to be human. To laugh together, and find places where we can all love each other for who we are, and forgive for who we aren’t.
I’m not going to lie, friends. This year it’s particularly hard for me to feed that spark in myself- for a lot of reasons that have very little to do with the political landscape and a lot more to do with the fact that the circle of people infecting me with hope and joy and love and kindness is shrinking. People are giving into this pointless argument over a song that I personally hate a little less than ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ and for what? What do you gain, internet cool dude points?
I don’t get it, and I guess I probably never will. All I know is it’s making certain end of year maintenance bits very easy- if someone is out there blasting their opinion merrily away about this shit like it is the be all end all fight of the century, well, it’s like the trash taking itself out.
Thanks, I guess.
Curiouser and Curiouser 