The nature of our souls
by Elouise
Slow motion rollout
of a white horror show
Surreal white choices
(one would be too many)
to humor or ignore POTUS
A white-washed sense
of entitlement plus
White-washed decisions
to treat white-washed intruders
with white-kid gloves
Meanwhile, white POTUS cowers in the White House
Congressional Building guards caught
off-guard without a plan of attack
to restrain white-washed white folk
no game plan
no war-like riot gear
no immediate shooting
from the hip
just bald-faced white anger
sending a white message to
the world from white intruders
and white ‘defenders’ alike
Beyond this patch-up of verses, I don’t have a quick solution to our deadly, death-dealing disease that keeps strangers at a distance.
The challenge to President-Elect Joe Biden and to us as a nation is clear. It isn’t how did this happen, as though a better plan would have held back this surge. It’s about why this happened, and what we can learn from our own responses to it.
Yes, Mr. Trump incited this riot. On the other hand, it couldn’t have happened without the collusion of white America.
Distancing ourselves from our own national mess, ignoring it, or gasping in horror and then looking the other way isn’t an option. Especially for those who claim to follow Jesus of Nazareth. This isn’t about politics. It’s about the nature of our souls, measured by our willingness to begin at the very beginning. As strangers in need of each other.
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 8 January 2021
Image found at patheos.com
Telling the Truth 
I do believe we have reached a corner. Time to go around it and work towards the good leaving the bad behind and securing the good by keeping our focus on the True North our Lord. May the consequences of the those who breached the chamber doors be quickly decided with full justice from the bottom clear to the very very top. Prepare them Lord to accept with certainty that change can occur with all in mind through the channel of forgiveness both asking for and extending it. Help us Lord to listen for the opportunities to extend your Grace to those who admitted their need for such.
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Indeed. Thank you for this prayer, David. We have much to ponder on all sides. We also need all the help we can get–beginning with the help of our Creator/Good Shepherd who doesn’t have closed eyes or ears for anyone willing to accept help. Beginning with each of us.
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Elouise I can understand your anger and frustration. From a mathematical point of view the following figures are that the recent election had the largest turnout of voters. Trump got just less than 30% and Biden just more than 30% and 40% of eligible citizens did not vote. Now that things have got to this stage of disaster one can say that 70% did not vote for Biden and the Democrats so 70% of eligible citizens have little to complain about. In other words 70% either got what they voted for or at least didn’t object to. I know that might sound harsh but I am not used to thinking of a citizen NOT voting – I don’t understand that.
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Remember Lord Beari’s blogging mate Disperser. We engaged in internet dialogue for a while on the US voting system and he was vehemently opposed to our compulsory voting. But I don’t think theirs meets the definition of Democracy; Demos, the common people, choosing Cracy, a form of government. I would love to have known the outcome if all eligible voters were required to cast their ballot – even allowing for the occasional donkey votes we get here.
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I remember Disperser. He was vehement on anything he disagreed with. He was always rather it is our way or the wrong way. I enjoy voting day and I think we’ve got it pretty right
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Oh yes…I haven’t forgotten Disperser! Unfortunately, our voting system is more and more driven by wealth and influence (not just those who run for office, but those whose votes count the most). And yes, if we were a true democracy, we might be shocked at the outcomes of our elections! The proud ownership of one’s own little world is, unfortunately, what drives a lot of voters to stay away (or never register to vote in the first place). It’s almost as though the less they invest in the country, the more they can make their own ‘laws’ and follow their own instincts. I think we would do better (no proof of this, mind you!) if we didn’t have so many states. I’ve seen a number of maps that show the way we’re divided not as states, but as large areas of different approaches to (and needs for) government.
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ps I also think we are over-governed. We have our local government areas that take care of the minutiae of garbage collection, parks, etc; then we have state government which makes legislation and raises taxes specific to that entire region (New South Wales, Victoria, etc), then we have Federal, which makes legislation for the entire country, collects certain taxes and redistributes funds to states, manages defence, represents Australia on the world stage, etc etc. It would be tempting to get rid of the state level, but Australia is such a large, diverse, geographically and climate differentiated country, it would be exceedingly difficult to imagine Canberra understood all the complexities.
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Thanks, Gwen, for both responses!
Starting with this one, I’ve often felt we need to acknowledge the 6 to 8 areas of this country, and find a way to deal separately as appropriate. The one-size-fits-all doesn’t do it for local issues. In addition, those most distant from Washington, DC, feel (sometimes appropriately) misunderstood or neglected, especially in the Mid-West. The packed Northeast corridor of big cities and huge companies is another world. At the same time, I think we need to take on things like true racial equality as a nation, not as states with their own agendas, histories, and politics. Sometimes I wish we weren’t so large and spread out…but I think it’s too late. 😦
It could work (I’m still hoping!) for a full-country health option like Australia’s. Your Texas friend’s experience is horrible and all too common. We’ve turned medicine (hospitals, doctors, prescriptions) into a sometimes reluctant money-making endeavor. Sad and infuriating. I hope our new administration can come up with a half-way decent alternative.
As for Texas, your friend isn’t in the most friendly state for Democrats! Houston isn’t so bad (highly Democratic). On the whole, the state itself has some of that Wild West feeling. The kind Trump encouraged.
I’m also in favor of compulsory voting! If we want a voice, we need to exercise it by voting. We also need to make it safe for those whose votes have been unwelcome because of their color. What a mess we have on our hands. I’m grateful for people who spend their time helping people trust and understand the system enough to wait in line and cast their votes.
Thanks for your comments! 🙂
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My impression is that across the entire country of USA there is a suspicion that anything remotely representing equal treatment is regarded as Communist. So I don’t hold out much hope for implementation of universal health care.
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Precisely. The dirty word is Socialism.
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Nor do I understand citizens not voting, with this caveat: From the very beginning of this nation, certain populations (such as Native American Indians, slaves both imported from the very beginning, and those born into slavery in order to be sold in public auctions/sales) have not had the privilege of voting. Even though we have a recent (in my lifetime) requirement that every citizen will have a free vote regardless of color, attempts to suppress the votes of black and brown citizens (and others) continue to this day. Stacy Abrams (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stacey_Abrams) spent the last 10 years organizing voter registration and voting education in Georgia. Thanks to the efforts of her organization, 800,000 more citizens of Georgia are now registered to vote. Not surprisingly, they turned out in huge numbers.
On the other side of the picture we have unnumbered US citizens who have chosen not to vote for their own reasons. Even though the protesters this week were followers of Trump, I’m guessing many of them didn’t vote. Following Trump was a convenient (malleable) way to get social approval (from him) that has allowed them to show up all over the place, with the clear intent to create trouble.
Yes, you’re correct. Citizens who are eligible to vote but don’t are always a problem. Nonetheless, the turnout for this election was huge (believe it or not)! In addition, the political stakes were high and remain high. When I think about Australia’s phenomenal health care system, something we would do well to have here, I already know we’ll never get there. Profit, greed, and power mongering politicians and business people can be as dangerous as unleashed protestors who travel from one hot spot to another creating as much havoc as possible.
Well…You don’t sound harsh. For me, the most important thing I can do is live well right where I am, vote every time I have the opportunity, and pray for strength to stay focused on what matters most–the lives of real human beings with whom I come into contact. I fear we don’t have a national habit of offering hospitality to strangers. Too bad for us.
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Eloise, go back to some of your posts from three or four or five years ago and tell me that you were never as strong and forceful back then as you are now. You have grown a determination that in my reading is so admirable and I am so pleased I have got to know you.
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Thank you kindly, John. The feeling is mutual. 🙏🏻
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My Australian girlfriend lives in Texas and we regularly speak. She is so across the situation in the US, which I am not qualified to speak on, all the way over here. But I will strongly defend our compulsory voting. The right to have a say in how we are governed has been so hard-won over time. Australia had a famous rebellion called the Eureka Rebellion (1854) which first laid the seed of democracy, even though it didn’t mean women got the vote then. But it was early for us, in comparison to other countries, starting with South Australia in 1894. I read that after the abolition of slavery, many former slaves registered to vote, so alarming the population that measures were brought in to make them ineligible – a bit like the British system that originally only extended it to male landowners (a system we in Australia inherited early in the piece).
Our Medicare is a great system. It is two tiered, so those who can afford it, and want to, still carry private insurance (choice of doctor, private hospital, less waiting time – but it mostly comes in to its own for elective surgery). But everyone is entitled to care in the public health system, and if you have an emergency, you wouldn’t go anywhere else. The husband of my Texas based girlfriend died in hospital after being on life-support for a failed heart transplant. She was left with over a million dollars debt because he had been unable to attend his workplace because of ill-health in the weeks leading to the transplant. This is a guy who had served in the airforce and was now a high school teacher. She had to pay about thirty health officials a nominal sum per month to avoid being sued. He has passed now for a number of years (8?) and so now the debt will be written off.
This girlfriend also campaigned for Hilary Clinton and supports the Democrat party. All her friends accuse her of being a card-carrying Communist. I advise her to tell them she is simply Australian. We may be selfish and self-indulgent, but in all good conscience, we cannot overlook the less advantaged in our society.
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“This isn’t about politics. It’s about the nature of our souls…”
So true…politics (among other things) manifesting the nature of our souls collectively.
Souls sparked the violence, souls carried it out. Souls stood up to it, souls condemn it.
Change our souls, O Lord. Have mercy and change our souls.
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Thank you, dw! I couldn’t have said it better. Praying all is well with your soul these days.
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