By Tim Wood
You know, sometimes I forget how accustomed I’ve become to instantaneous, constant information. I use my phone mostly for research. Hardly anyone calls me, and I can block out whatever I don’t like or want.
My phone is more like a tool for me and I love having all that info at my fingertips, literally. My guilty fear is that I’m participating in the harming of earth’s nature and sometimes feel “the phone” makes me lazy as well as hypocritical. But I’m pretty well committed to it, just like the vast majority of people in the world. (Even homeless people make sure they have a cell phone handy).
The price I fear we all pay for this “convenience” tool is an innate weariness tinged with some slight depression because so much of what we scroll through is “depression forming” data. We’re shaking our heads instead of nodding our heads; maybe even placing our heads in our hands. But we pay the devil in order to dance with it; I’m referring to what is spewing mostly out of Washington D.C., for far too long.
(Sigh …)
But lo and behold, what did I wake up to find all over my phone feeds on the morning of June 19th? …
First off, the history of Juneteenth with the announcement of slavery’s emancipation: Just think about how all the slaves in Texas must have felt on June 19, 1865.
Then, all the hilarious memes regarding the recent, new and improved swamp that Trump first drained and then created anew: what a perfect metaphor for the man himself.
Then, on to the dignified and uplifting reports from the Obama’s new presidential cultural center in north Chicago; the cohesive speeches and reactions which were all in themselves about strengthening our democracy and the importance of empathy.
Then finally turning to the aftermath of New York City’s grand party with a real parade celebrating the Knicks’ win with all of the “we are united” speeches and joyful celebrations; all that, without a single, horrendous event, while the city hosted millions of celebrants: It is possible!
Joyfulness: This was the strange, long missed feeling that came over me while reading about all the good stuff spattered all over the place for a change; and on a relaxing, righteous Federal holiday to boot!
I knew, of course, it would be short-lived; no doubts; but here’s what came to mind: When this present administration comes to an end, and it will come to an end, I look forward to feeling joyful once again on a daily basis. It may not be the joy of celebrating one’s team winning a championship but it will be joyful reading about the restoration of our precious democracy and, hopefully, reinstating all the nation’s guardrails and rules of law that have been recklessly damaged; perhaps even making them stronger.
This scenario, this vision, will take a lot of work, time and expense, but I believe we will rebuild our federal government better and stronger than ever and participating in that huge endeavor will bring me the joyfulness I remember well and have missed so much.
Tim and Kristy Wood moved to Beaufort in 1974. He worked as a carpenter in both restoration and new home construction, as well as operating a shop specializing in custom woodwork, Wood on Wood Specs. He is semi-retired, involved with fine woodworking and formerly sat on the City of Beaufort Zoning Board of Appeals.