In September 2019, we came out in droves to demand action on climate change. When the racial reckoning began in 2020, we checked on our Black friends. When Asian hate started, we checked on our Asian friends. Then, the trans hate started getting more media attention, we checked on our LGBTQ+ friends. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, we called our Gen X and Boomer friends who lived through and worked hard for that victory. We talked to Millenials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha to let them know how hard it was to win this concession to have autonomy over our bodies as women. Think about that. Let it sink in. We pointed to the stories of women, young women, and anyone with a vagina who had died or experienced serious health consequences because they were denied care, at least the ones reported in the media that we read about. When October 7 happened, we checked on our Jewish friends. I personally did not check on enough friends. I still feel guilt and shame for that. We mourn for the Palestinians who have no home and no one to return to.
Today, I feel like I am checking on everybody. Every day, there is a reason to check on someone or to ask myself whether I am okay. Every day, I wake up and find that my reservoir of hope is diminishing at a rate far greater than what is being added. The acts of kindness and resistance around me are encouraging, but the way that I feel like I am filling the pages of a history book for my grandkids to read about our descent into this abyss scares me.
I mourn for humanity. I mourn the slow death of science. I am petrified that our advances in medicine will trickle down to very little. The rush to erase history, people, and artifacts, bury and rewrite culture, while vilifying people, the triumph of ammunition over dialogue and discourse, the championing of capitalism over all else indiscriminately, and the modern sprint to restore order associated with dark times in history are all too terrifying right now.
What is the end game? What it looks like now is scary. How will this story end? What will we tell our children? We all have assets and privilege. How will we deploy them for the greater good?
You are reading this. Are you okay?
Thank you for these words Yves. Can you post on Bluesky as well? Encouraging us to check in on each other. Sending love to you.