ManicDDaily

I post the picture above because it is a picture made by my mother, whose ashes are now buried, with my father’s, in Arlington National Cemetery.

It feels late to make this post; days have gone by since Trump’s crass and illegal campaign stunt in Arlington.

But it is hard to get Trump’s stunt out of my mind. Perhaps because both of my parents are at Arlington.

And when I think of Arlington, I cannot help but think of the immense pride they took during their lifetimes in the fact that my father’s long military service (active duty in two wars) qualified them for burial there.

And when I think of Arlington, I also cannot help but think of how beautiful my parents’ actual funeral services were; how kind and caring the Arlington Staff is, how unfailingly they honor the veterans buried there, and their families.

Maybe the quality of the place is hard to grasp if you do not have family there. I grew up in DC and visited Arlington several times as a child, and yes, I felt moved by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and, especially, by JFK’s eternal flame. And I remember, even as a child, of how serious Arlington felt, how sobering, how impressive.

But the day my father’s ashes were buried there, with caisson and honor guard, I developed a very different understanding of Arlington. Suddenly, all those headstones were people. And the love and devotion, sacrifice and loss, of those people became very real. And the dignity and beauty and quiet of the place with so very many of those headstones in its expanses of that deep green grass, filled me (and fills me always) with grief, and awe, and gravity.

So, I forgive those who are not as outraged by Trump’s conduct as I am. Perhaps they just don’t know what Arlington is like; perhaps it is hard for them to realize how terrible that thumbs-up photo feels.

But anyone who wants to be commander-in-chief should know. They should understand what Arlington means. They should not let their campaign use phrases like “hollowed [sic] grounds.” Any person who acts in that way should not be in control over the fates of soldiers, and their families.

Please don’t give him that control.

Dear All,

I know it still feels early. But it’s also not early.

Especially since there will likely be many efforts to make voting difficult, especially in battleground states, and especially for people who look as if they may be voting for the Democratic ticket.

So, make sure you are registered. Help others get registered. Get to where you need to be whether traveling by car, duck, or little spotted dog!

Don’t be overconfident, but also don’t love hope!

As Kamala and Tim say, when we fight, we win! Nothing can happen without you!

You’ve likely heard the Chinese curse: “may you live in interesting times.”

We are certainly living in such times. Current events are difficult to even look at–I often find myself putting my hands up over my eyes.

So much is negative—the Supreme Court seems not to care about the constitution, much less the planet.

We have long seen a GOP that is afraid to challenge their incumbent, that bows down to a craven and dishonest narcissist.

But now we see a Democratic party seemingly also afraid to challenge their incumbent. I don’t see Biden as craven. He is infinitely preferable to Trump.

But in the last few months, he has aged dramatically. The presidency will do that to presidents who take it seriously.

And here’s where Biden, albeit a good man who has done a good job under really difficult circumstances, falls to narcissism and, even to a level of dishonesty–not lying like Trump–but a lack of awareness.

What can we do? I don’t know. But I feel like it’s important to do something. So, I have written the White House, written and called my Democratic senators, written the Biden campaign (replying to the donation emails they send me endlessly).  I have urged him to step aside, to let someone else take up the torch.

You can email the White House at https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/. You can only call from 11AM to 3PM on Tuesdays through Thursdays at the White House comment line. Here is the number of that White House comment line: 202-456-1111.

Please try.

Thanks.

Have a good weekend! (Slow down!)

(All rights reserved, as always.)

Blossoms!