January 20, 2021.
Watching the images of Washington DC locking down for the presidential inauguration, I feel a terrible sense of loss. A feel a loss of the celebration we should be enjoying right now. More people turned out in the last election than ever in history and we chose Biden/Harris to lead our country. Georgia turned blue and its run-off races balanced the Senate. I want to celebrate this. I want to run through a field of daisy’s blowing bubbles to celebrate the first ever woman and person of color to serve as the Vice President. This is a historic and joyful event and I feel like it has been stolen from us by a bunch of selfish, entitled white dudes (and their associates) who believe they are entitled to more power.
Stop the Steal!
I think about the past year and all the covid hardships: isolation, economic uncertainty, anxieties about our health and the devastating loss of loved ones. As I watch the red line of infection rates continue to climb the chart, I think about what might have ameliorated these losses. I think about basic public health efforts like wearing a mask and implementing track and trace procedure with mandatory quarantine. I wonder how many people would still be alive if we had done this. And I feel like personal safety, economic security and actual lives have been stolen from us by a bunch of selfish, entitled white dudes (and their associates) who scream about their freedom and their entitlement to ignore the public good for their own convenience.
Stop the Steal!
It’s MLK day today and I think back on the 50 some years since his murder. I think about his sacrifice and the many efforts made throughout history – striving for social equality so we can live in a peaceful, equitable world where no one is judged by the color of their skin, gender, ability, sexuality or religion, etc. I think of all the people who have devoted their lives to make this world better and I feel this dream has been stolen from us by a bunch of selfish, entitled white dudes (and their associates) who have always had a bigger piece of the American pie and refuse to share.
Stop the Steal!
I watch an angry white man on the news with a bullhorn screaming that no one will ever be able to take his guns away and I think about all the people killed by guns: the senseless murders, the domestic violence and femicide, the school shootings. And I feel like our safety and the safety of our loved ones are being stolen from us by a bunch of selfish, entitled white dudes (and their associates) who are so weak and anxious that they need to carry a weapon around no matter what that privilege costs the rest of us.
Stop the Steal!
When I first heard the slogan ‘Stop the Steal’ in relation to the presidential election I knew the lack of factual evidence of election tampering wouldn’t matter. The discourse behind ‘Stop the Steal’ is not really about the election. It is about a bunch of selfish, entitled white dudes (and their associates) who believe they are losing their unearned privilege as the USA becomes less and less homogenized. They believe their extra serving of pie is being taken away from them. They believe it is being stolen. And they want that to stop.
Stop the Steal!
But the truth is, the unearned entitlement of this group of people has been the ultimate story of thievery. They have been taking more than their fair share – stealing pie – for way too long. And it’s time we call them out and demand that they stop. So, to all the selfish, entitled white dudes (and their associates) put down your bullhorns and stop screaming! You are stealing our peace. Put your guns into a locked closet or better yet melt them down and make a lovely art project. Get some balls and go outside unarmed for a change. You are stealing our safety. Put on a damn mask and care about someone besides your own pathetic self. You are stealing our health and our collective recovery from covid. And be sure to wear your trump gear, orange arm bands or carry your confederate flags so we won’t confuse you with decent white men (and their associates). You are stealing their reputation.
To all the selfish, entitled white dues (and their associates) STOP eating all the damn pie! You have been stealing all your lives and it’s time you learned to Stop the Steal!