DUKES FANS
As we
move into a new month, there is beauty all around us. Summer is on the horizon,
and the last few days in the Philadelphia area have featured warm weather, bright
blue skies, slight breezes, and amazing skies. Migration has brought back the sounds
and sights of a ton of different birds and butterflies. Our gardens,
window boxes, and yards are fully alive with a wonderful mix of flowers and
blooms.
IMPORTANT
CITIZEN STUFF: please take note
CO-INCIDENCES-2
Citizens are now in their
third month of shelter in place. COVID numbers across the nation continue to
climb. Millions are unemployed and food insecure. On top of those co-incidences
has come the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, and
days of unrest, protest, violence and looting. These things do not cancel each other out -- life is not like that.
They are “co-incidences” -- things that are going on simultaneously. But the cumulative
effect of them on us is powerful, wide-ranging and undeniable. As a human,
I have to respond to it all.
I am not going to go into the details of any of these latter things;
people have been counting the numbers of COVID deaths, seen and felt the
ways in which our lives have been turned around, and have had to make huge
adjustments in just about every aspect of our lives. Folks have at least
seen the video of George Floyd’s last nine minutes of life under the knee of a
Minneapolis policeman and heard about the outrageous and tragic circumstances of
the deaths of Ahmaud and Breanna. What I have to focus on now is how I deal
with all the hurt, rage, confusion, tiredness, and anger that this unfortunate combination
of things is having on me. What I have to do is to feel and acknowledge each of
these feelings, and then move to a space where I can respond in a way that does
not make things worse, and hopefully can help make at least some things better.
In the 1960’s many of us
used to say, ”If you are not a part of the solution, then you are a part of the
problem.” In many ways I still agree with that. That means that if there are
things I notice and declare as “wrong” or “unfair,” then it is up to me to take
some action. I cannot wait for government or someone else to address it. I
noticed it, so I have to respond.
Attached to the newsletter are some links to groups, resources, organizations,
and suggestions on how to look at, confront, and work on making needed changes
in our society around racism and inequality. These are some things each of us
can do, no matter what our color or background happens to be. If you are
already involved in such work that is great, and a link in the attachment may
lead you to something more you can do. If you do not know what to do or you
have not thought about things to do, perhaps you can find something of
interest.
I believe that we humans
have a need to and a call to respond to all that is going on around us -- the good,
the bad, and the indifferent -- as well as we can. That means I will continue to
walk outside, birdwatch, and appreciate the late spring. I will continue to visit
a slew of museums and nature cams online and to marvel at the sky. I will continue
to make one new recipe a week. And I will try, in at least some small
way, to continue to try to help this country and the world heal. To try and give
support to some folks who are trying to do the same. And to take some steps, however
small, toward creating greater peace, acceptance understanding, and inclusion
for all. I am a human. I am built for this.
Tuesday, June 2 PA Primary Election; PLEASE VOTE! (Note,
if you vote using an absentee or mail-in ballot in the 2020 GENERAL PRIMARY the
deadline to return your ballot is 8:00 PM on 06/02/2020. Your county election commissioner’s
website can help you find locations of drop boxes:
Montgomery County: https://montcopa.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5177
CENSUS 2020 The census helps the Federal government decide on
things such as voting districts, grants for Federal aid, transportation and
highway funds, and a hell of a lot more. It is one of the ways our tax dollars
get back to us in our own areas, so it is essential that as accurate a count as
possible is taken. COVID means the door to door census is on hold, so our
online completions are even more important now. Please go to:
SOME WAYS
TO HELP LOCAL AGENCIES DURING PANDEMIC
I know a lot of you are
already supporting some of the groups working to meet some of the challenges
associated with COVID-19. If you are looking for more or other ways to be
involved locally, here are some suggestions:
Food
Philabundance https://www.philabundance.org/
Links to local Food Banks:
UPCOMING
DUKES GIGS
June gigs
for the Dukes have been postponed
Missing
Dukes Sounds?
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