Headlines & Polls. Two days ago, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, we put on what is now our new normal “outdoor” accessories and took part in a peaceful protest. What was supposed to just be a family-oriented neighborhood protest, grew bigger than anyone could have thought possible.
Headlines & Polls
Yesterday, the headlines made me stop and take a second look. As reported by USA Today, the headline read: “Four in five voters say the nation is ‘out of control’ poll finds.”
Normally, I’m not one to put stock in polls. After the 2016 election when pollsters got it so wrong I took it to heart that I would never again listen to the polls. Or, if I did I’d take them with a grain of salt. And yet, this poll struck a chord with me. Because, I (we) feel it. The constant barrage of daily headlines is exhausting and inescapable.
Out of Control
To date, the death rate from COVID-19 has reached and gone beyond 113,000 deaths, while over two million cases have been reported. States have reopened and the number of new cases is soaring. We’ve seen unimaginable video of police brutality, videos no one should have to see. Yet, they need to be seen if voices are to be heard and change is to come. In that vein, people are taking to the streets in record-breaking numbers. The unemployment rates are higher than they’ve ever been since the great depression. And, of course, we are in the countdown to one hell of a presidential election.
Bittersweet
We are still isolating and because of that we haven’t been able to join in the DC protests. What was supposed to be a family-oriented neighborhood protest grew to include over 1,500 men, women and children with police escorts and main thoroughfare lanes closed to traffic. It was a bittersweet moment in that people came together to make their voices heard, but this time the polls are spot on. The nation is out of control.
โThose who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” John F. Kennedy
- Tuesday Takes. Each post in the series focuses on one or two photos, or possibly a video, from our travels, as well as the background story behind the photo(s). Tuesday Takes are shared in random order with no rhyme or reason as to why. It will be a surprise for all of us.
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Patti you are an inspiration. It must have felt wonderful to stand up and speak out for change (and do it safely).
Abi really know how to wear his mask. Frank often looks like he’s wearing a big diaper on his face. He also often wears them upside down.
There’s going to be a BIG learning curve with that one :).
spanky recently posted…Our Experience Flying during the Coronavirus
I don’t know about being an inspiration, but thank you. It did feel good to get out, especially because we’ve been aching to go in to downtown DC to stand and march with the protesters, but the crowds are thick and we’re at an age of being uber careful about social distancing.
After marching in Denver while on a visit and protesting about family separation, I am so ready to march, yell and carry a sign again. It must have felt good to join in and voice your support for change!
It did feel very good, Anita, especially because we were aching to protest in DC, but the crowds were just too big for any kind of distancing. We’ll get back in there, hopefully soon.
What’s happening in the world right now is incredible – I don’t really have the words for it. The BLM protests are going on across the UK now too, we didn’t go into central London (glad we didn’t after seeing the awful far-right shit that was going on) at the weekend but did attend a protest more locally in Croydon. There were a lot of people there despite the coronavirus. We can only hope that this is a real springboard for change. Hope you guys are well x
I couldn’t agree more, Amy. We’ve been watching the news out of the UK as well and you’re right, there really aren’t any words that properly describe the chaos. Hoping for change as well, especially come November elections. Stay safe out there.
Patti, conditions were right for the perfect storm and we got it.
I Googled the definition of a perfect storm and you nailed it!
*a particularly bad or critical state of affairs, arising from a number of negative and unpredictable factors.