We recently finalized a national election. On that hopefully we can all agree.
But now everyday things are quickly changing that are not at all familiar to me.
Our government is acting like they have become our parents, too.
They are using their power to tell us exactly what we can and cannot do.
Last time I looked, none of us are kids. We are adults, paying for their bills.
It is their job to spend our funds wisely and not burden us down with frills.
Recently, the meaning of words I thought I definitely knew
are being switched from a bright red to some new shade of blue.
Nancy Pelosi has banned the use of words like daughter, sister and mother.
The leaders also frown upon using gender pronouns such as son, father and brother
These are only words—not sticks and stones that can break our bones,
but what about reverse discrimination for paying back local farm loans?
The COVID-19 Relief Bill from which we were all happy to receive a stimulus check
contained a provision somehow intended to racially level the playing deck.
If they were honest and wanted a discussion, they would have called it reparation.
Instead, they threw it into the relief bill so it got hidden in their gigantic creation.
If you are a farmer of color who took out a loan,
that debt can be forgiven 120 percent but exempts white farmers alone.
I thought the Constitution provides we cannot discriminate on the basis of the color of our skin.
Seems the new law has a blatant racial bias but this time targets simply a different color of kin.
“Woke” used to be something I would do before getting out of bed.
Now to some it means we have to be cautious about everything that is said.
My high school mascot—a Native American warrior—is now perceived as somehow bad,
when we were once so proud to display his uniqueness. I think that is rather sad.
Even the beautiful Santa Maira ship logo someone now claims is offensive.
After all these years, why are some suddenly becoming so defensive?
The good news is, in this community we mingle well together and treat each other with respect.
After all, isn’t that down deep what most of us realistically desire and expect?
The Golden Rule, of course, is no longer in the schools taught.
Neither are many ideals for which our forefathers and newcomers sought.
All people work much better together than standing way far apart.
An honest discussion of issues would certainly be a good start.
We all need to remain vigilant and let our local and far away representatives hear,
“Please do not divide us into conflicting tribes. We are all Americans, and that is what we hold dear.”
Susan Chapman writes from Santa Maria. Send a response to letters@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 29 – May 6, 2021.
