While I was recovering from breast cancer that had metastasized to my bones, a galaxy of love, hope, expertise, archaic body wisdom, and light guided me toward healing. I am once again experiencing this amazing galaxy, only this time it’s engaged in healing something bigger than me.
Love
Three events held by the Biden-Harris administration have helped thousands of Americans express their love for over 500,000 people who have died from Covid-19. On the eve of the inauguration, President Biden, First Lady Dr. Biden, Vice President Harris and Second Gentleman Emhoff stood in silence during a ceremony at the Lincoln memorial. Lights reflecting in the pool before Lincoln’s statue were enhanced by sacred music, played and sung.
This past week these same four caring persons once again stood in silence during a ceremony at a White House draped in black and surrounded by hundreds of lights. A day later, members of Congress stood in silence on the steps of the capital surrounded by lights as two songs were sung to acknowledge the sorrow of Americans who have lost loved ones to the pandemic.
Hope
Last Sunday my friend Aracely drove me to a parking lot at Lane Community College to receive my first Pfizer vaccine shot. As we approached, the white peaks of eight canopies came into view. Orange vested guides directed us to one of four lanes of cars that moved slowly and steadily past the canopies. After providing my appointment confirmation number, papers handed in the car window required me to give related health information to guide the vaccinators. Next, I received my vaccination card.
As we waited in line, Aracely registered on her phone to get a Lane County vaccination appointment. Then she sent messages to family members urging them to register. Surveying all of the people, each performing one small step in this meticulously executed and documented process, I said, “Can you imagine the amount of planning, negotiating, purchasing, shipping and training of thousands of personnel that went into getting me this vaccination in a safe manner, plus tracking all vaccinations to know when I need to come back for the second shot?”
Upon reading my paperwork, the vaccinator went to check with a doctor to be sure it was okey to give me the vaccine. He affirmed that since my oncologist had told me “get either vaccine ASAP” she could vaccinate me but I should wait in the 30-minute lot so they could watch for any adverse reaction. Waiting nearby, I recalled something Elizabeth Warren said during the Democratic primary in 2020, “Hope is not delivered to us; it is created by us.”
I am in awe of the care, expertise and dedication that went into saving my life. Since taking office the Biden-Harris administration has organized the largest logistical operation in our nation’s history, creating hope within us of a future without the threat of Covid-19.
Expertise
Our nation has been in freefall for a long time. Yet we have some of the most experienced and competent leaders in the world. The problem is that they have not been in positions to actualize the changes necessary to get us back on track economically, politically, and culturally.
During the transition from winning on November 3 to being inaugurated January 20, Biden-Harris did an extensive search to find diverse individuals with expertise in economic planning, national and international statecraft, and scientific innovation. It is heart warming to see the grandson of immigrants fleeing anti-Semitic violence nominated as Attorney General; the first Native American nominated as Secretary of the Interior, the body responsible for Native American lands and policy; and the first women to be Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of Energy (to name a couple).
Archaic Body Wisdom
Climate change is real. Previous climate changes ended civilizations such as at Angkor Wat. Earlier peoples possessed an archaic body wisdom that put them in touch with nature and its changing patterns while contemporary humans are often separated from nature and are in denial of changes occurring in our natural environment. Whereas earlier peoples could migrate to more hospitable lands, now over 7 billion people live on planet earth.
Wherever we are, we need to re-connect and re-partner with nature. The amazing thing is that it is precisely in doing so, i.e., getting our energy from sun, wind, waves etc. that we can create good jobs for everyone and handle the extremes of weather that are our new normal. As we stop exploiting and destroying animals, we give nature a chance to regenerate. Any organic gardening we do (rooftop, patio tower, backyard, community, etc.) can bring back the bees and butterflies that pollinate our edible plants.
The pandemic brought a halt to former economic activities, many of which were not moving us into a sustainable future. The American Rescue Plan is about ending the pandemic, recovering from its devastation, and building back better.
Light
Light and darkness are a continuum. Each has its place. During periods of darkness, seeds germinate. But when they are ready to grow, they need and move toward light. Light allows us to see what was hidden in darkness. Not all seeds are benevolent. Today’s light has revealed how the seeds of hatred and ignorance have been allowed to grow unchecked.
The gruesome pandemic has shed light on injustices that have existed in our country and world for centuries. Just as worldwide migrations shed light on the way industrialized northern countries have exploited resource-rich southern nations, so have the disproportionate deaths among persons of color revealed the multiple ways that our nation has disadvantaged those brought here as slaves from Africa and those original residents whom Euro-Americans eliminated and pushed aside.
It is time to address what light has revealed.
