The arc of history is long, but it bends towards justice.
Today was quite a depressing morning. The news from Egypt are sobering, and I'm having flashbacks to Iran in 2009 - which reminded me of this video from that uprising, set to a song that was sung during the '79 revolution: My Elementary Schoolmate. (It used to be on youtube, but has since been taken down. I'm very grateful I saved it.) Lyrics under the cut.
My elementary schoolmate.
You are with me and my comrade all the way.
We’ve suffered together.
Your tears and sighs are mines as well.
Engraved on this blackboard are our names.
Remaining on our bodies are still the scars of the lash of tyranny and injustice.
This uncultured landscape of ours is covered with weed instead of the green of grass.
Either good or bad, dead is the hearts of all its people.
Your hands and my hands must rip these veils apart.
Who else, except for you and I, could cure our wounds?
Then I discovered that in Iowa the Constitution was amended to take away the rights of same sex couples to get married. I don't understand this. Egypt, horrific though it is, is something I can wrap my head around. Evil regimes very rarely just give up and give power back. But why would anyone want to take other people's rights away from them, just for the sake of it? (ETA: Olberman said it best here) *is sad* I wish that I could link you to the absolutely wonderful interview with Elton John and David Furnish that was in the Sunday Times Magazine. (I think they're a bit *old* to be parents, but then doctors have given IVF to women the same age, so... *shrug*) I wish them, and their little son, all the best.
Anyway, despite the beautiful sunshine outside it was not a good morning. And then there was a knock at the door with a parcel from kerkevik (well not just from him, but it's a LONG story) with Doctor Who novels for me and one of the most touching letters I've ever received, and I was reminded of how we all, in all the little things we do, can slowly make things better. To end on a quote:
We don't stop being human when we lose our hearts; nor when we lose our heads. And every last vestige of humanity can be drained from us, but as long as somebody, somewhere cares, we are not dust.
the_royal_anna
My elementary schoolmate.
You are with me and my comrade all the way.
We’ve suffered together.
Your tears and sighs are mines as well.
Engraved on this blackboard are our names.
Remaining on our bodies are still the scars of the lash of tyranny and injustice.
This uncultured landscape of ours is covered with weed instead of the green of grass.
Either good or bad, dead is the hearts of all its people.
Your hands and my hands must rip these veils apart.
Who else, except for you and I, could cure our wounds?
Then I discovered that in Iowa the Constitution was amended to take away the rights of same sex couples to get married. I don't understand this. Egypt, horrific though it is, is something I can wrap my head around. Evil regimes very rarely just give up and give power back. But why would anyone want to take other people's rights away from them, just for the sake of it? (ETA: Olberman said it best here) *is sad* I wish that I could link you to the absolutely wonderful interview with Elton John and David Furnish that was in the Sunday Times Magazine. (I think they're a bit *old* to be parents, but then doctors have given IVF to women the same age, so... *shrug*) I wish them, and their little son, all the best.
Anyway, despite the beautiful sunshine outside it was not a good morning. And then there was a knock at the door with a parcel from kerkevik (well not just from him, but it's a LONG story) with Doctor Who novels for me and one of the most touching letters I've ever received, and I was reminded of how we all, in all the little things we do, can slowly make things better. To end on a quote:
We don't stop being human when we lose our hearts; nor when we lose our heads. And every last vestige of humanity can be drained from us, but as long as somebody, somewhere cares, we are not dust.
the_royal_anna