Because I'm in the Virginia 11th District, I currently have no representative in the House. Gerry Connolly so wanted to hang on to power that he literally died in office last month after a cancer diagnosis & Glenn Youngkin (R) is slow-walking the special election to replace him, since the 11th is pretty solidly Democratic right now. So I called reps from adjacent districts (Don Beyer & Eugene Vindman). Their phones were answered by actual humans (no VM, no "this mailbox is full, call later, which I get when I call our senators). I thanked them for working through a really ratty week, & just asked them to urge their bosses to do everything in their power to stop this. I'm not sure I feel better, except that I was reminded that some people are in fact putting their humanity forward, & I am grateful for that.
First off, I am so angry on your behalf that you’re currently un-represented. I absolutely love, though, that you chose to spend this week reaching out and connecting.
I also don't have a House Rep (CD-7 AZ, of the late beloved Raul Grijalva, whom I do wish had passed the torch before dying in office). May we have representatives soon, and continue to be a persistent voices in the meantime.
I heard the news and this was the first place I wanted to be. Thank you, Garrett, for all you do and all you keep encouraging and fostering in all of us. Not just today, but today I really needed it a bit extra ❤️
That means so much. I wish we weren’t in this, but in a world where we are it’s a gift to offer a place where other folks find a little shelter from the storm
You are preaching the perfect two-part message. "Get up off your @sses" & "Love thy neighbor - esp. people who voted for Trump". Thank you. It's that second one that is not being sufficiently heard by our brothers and sisters on the "left". Thank you.
I had the chance to take this morning of work and take my children (both under age 5) to library story time, which is held outside in the shade of a big oak tree in the summer when the usual room is taken over by the Parks and Rec summer camps. And singing silly songs and reading library books with a bunch of moms and dads and nannies and grandparents and children's librarians is just the best alternative to anxious doomscrolling. We overfilled the bookbag with picture books after, and then Jahri's World (a delightful local children's musician who is intentionally inclusive of kids with autism) was down by the pond putting on one of his pop-up shows. It was such a good reminder of the good, what we are for-- for families being together, for green spaces with big shady trees, for libraries and books in all sort of languages, for music, for being together with each other. We will have to fight harder for these things but they are worth fighting for.
Oh I love that morning and you are absolutely right-- we aren't just putting up barricades to keep up the bad stuff. What we're actually doing is noticing all that is sacred and good and beautiful and doing everything we can to help it grow.
Today how many Congresspersons lost healthcare, lost health coverage, lost nutrition and or food options for their children OR had their tax rate increased? Correct - absolutely zero. Lisa Murkowski’s words ring in my ears “this bill is not advantageous for many Americans”(as she pushes the “yes” button). Dead wrong Lisa - what this bill does is kill, stress and terrify your citizens. Let’s use real language not fluff. Fear. Terror. Loss of healthcare loss of food. The numbness of Congress to reality is beyond belief. They are bought and paid employees of the billionaire class. As I type - Bezos wedding was how much? We live in an incredibly incredibly greedy me me me me Country. People are used and thrown aside. Congress can’t afford to vote conscience- assuming they have any.
I’ll tell you one thing I know - everything changes and I for one am getting stronger every hour of every day. My legs are strong, my focus is clear, sisters and brothers of conscience cross the land. My love, my passion, is way way stronger than the sickness that pervades and you can expect to fight until I can’t walk, write or breathe.
Nothings new here guys. King was here. Ghandi was here. A million fights have been fought. Mussolini died. Hitler died. Idi Amin died. Dictators die. And my heart is stronger every
Because I'm in the Virginia 11th District, I currently have no representative in the House. Gerry Connolly so wanted to hang on to power that he literally died in office last month after a cancer diagnosis & Glenn Youngkin (R) is slow-walking the special election to replace him, since the 11th is pretty solidly Democratic right now. So I called reps from adjacent districts (Don Beyer & Eugene Vindman). Their phones were answered by actual humans (no VM, no "this mailbox is full, call later, which I get when I call our senators). I thanked them for working through a really ratty week, & just asked them to urge their bosses to do everything in their power to stop this. I'm not sure I feel better, except that I was reminded that some people are in fact putting their humanity forward, & I am grateful for that.
First off, I am so angry on your behalf that you’re currently un-represented. I absolutely love, though, that you chose to spend this week reaching out and connecting.
I also don't have a House Rep (CD-7 AZ, of the late beloved Raul Grijalva, whom I do wish had passed the torch before dying in office). May we have representatives soon, and continue to be a persistent voices in the meantime.
So well put
I heard the news and this was the first place I wanted to be. Thank you, Garrett, for all you do and all you keep encouraging and fostering in all of us. Not just today, but today I really needed it a bit extra ❤️
That means so much. I wish we weren’t in this, but in a world where we are it’s a gift to offer a place where other folks find a little shelter from the storm
You are preaching the perfect two-part message. "Get up off your @sses" & "Love thy neighbor - esp. people who voted for Trump". Thank you. It's that second one that is not being sufficiently heard by our brothers and sisters on the "left". Thank you.
We all deserve to feel welcomed in, that’s for sure.
I had the chance to take this morning of work and take my children (both under age 5) to library story time, which is held outside in the shade of a big oak tree in the summer when the usual room is taken over by the Parks and Rec summer camps. And singing silly songs and reading library books with a bunch of moms and dads and nannies and grandparents and children's librarians is just the best alternative to anxious doomscrolling. We overfilled the bookbag with picture books after, and then Jahri's World (a delightful local children's musician who is intentionally inclusive of kids with autism) was down by the pond putting on one of his pop-up shows. It was such a good reminder of the good, what we are for-- for families being together, for green spaces with big shady trees, for libraries and books in all sort of languages, for music, for being together with each other. We will have to fight harder for these things but they are worth fighting for.
Oh I love that morning and you are absolutely right-- we aren't just putting up barricades to keep up the bad stuff. What we're actually doing is noticing all that is sacred and good and beautiful and doing everything we can to help it grow.
Today how many Congresspersons lost healthcare, lost health coverage, lost nutrition and or food options for their children OR had their tax rate increased? Correct - absolutely zero. Lisa Murkowski’s words ring in my ears “this bill is not advantageous for many Americans”(as she pushes the “yes” button). Dead wrong Lisa - what this bill does is kill, stress and terrify your citizens. Let’s use real language not fluff. Fear. Terror. Loss of healthcare loss of food. The numbness of Congress to reality is beyond belief. They are bought and paid employees of the billionaire class. As I type - Bezos wedding was how much? We live in an incredibly incredibly greedy me me me me Country. People are used and thrown aside. Congress can’t afford to vote conscience- assuming they have any.
I’ll tell you one thing I know - everything changes and I for one am getting stronger every hour of every day. My legs are strong, my focus is clear, sisters and brothers of conscience cross the land. My love, my passion, is way way stronger than the sickness that pervades and you can expect to fight until I can’t walk, write or breathe.
Nothings new here guys. King was here. Ghandi was here. A million fights have been fought. Mussolini died. Hitler died. Idi Amin died. Dictators die. And my heart is stronger every
single hour of every single day.
These words spoke deep to my soul, Ken. Ready to keep on going by your side, stronger every day too.
I am grateful to have Substack to come to in dark times. I am grateful for the White Pages.
So grateful to you too Chiara!
Thank you, Garrett.
Love one another and do everything we have capacity to do.
We got this!
We do, Nathaniel! Appreciate you!