Category: Politics

Disability Aids

Meme - Feeling Invisible

Those who know me, know that I firmly believe in equality when possible. I know that some people are very happy to see the “end ” of DEI…I will never be one of those. I use tools to aid my work and life. That does not make me or my work any less. Note that I said tools, I don’t use Generative AI. I use my phone to write as I have debilitating arthritis. That gives me the option when I need it to voice to text the words and edit the mess later. My glasses have a blue light filter on them because I am mildly dyslexic. This is another tool.

    I am capable of reading but I have been known to buy audio books when I have had eye strain or severe headache symptoms so I can rest and still enjoy the story. There are people I love who need the audio version to be able to retain what is read. I see this as another tool.

Our society has developed a lot of tools to make sure that those who are suffering from various disabilities are not unable to be successful in life. That doesn’t mean you have to be productive or anything to be worthy. It just means you don’t have to be limited in your life because of disability, at least that there is potential to be able to do whatever you want to do.

I personally feel like anyone who wants to put it in the effort should not be denied the chance. As someone who has multiple disabilities I would not want to be told that I am unable to do anything because I am disabled. I want it to be my own personal choice if I can attempt to do something.

Diversity is a word that means that the world can not turn into a place where hatred reigns.

Inclusion is a word for saving space for everyone at the table.

Equity is a word for everyone is given equal chance.

Becoming Fiction

Poetry

By Serena Mossgraves

I live in a world where biography's  
Indicate fictional characters 
Which apparently means there is naught 
That we in the real world could learn from them... 
 
History is become  
the darkness that clouds  
what lay ahead of us, 
Instead of shedding light 
on where we have been. 

And as I struggle 
                  to light the path 
for those around me 
Feeling as though  
                 this might just be a war  
I cannot win... 

I realize that even if I 
am becoming fiction... 
I still will never be the person 
that they want in the end....

I was watching a video of The North Omaha Cat Lady. Incredible creator. She was reacting to a comment claiming Anne Frank was a fictional character. Admittedly that inspired Serena’s Poem, and broke my heart. Anne Frank was an incredible young lady. There have been very few biographical books I have enjoyed over the course of time I have been a reader, and her diary was one. The other that stands out was the nine days queen…the story of Lady Jane Grey.

Please if all of the best historical people are to become fiction…then let us still learn from their example. Just because something is fiction does not stop the truth behind it. We can learn from history, from fiction and from each other if we just open our hearts and our minds.

Right now is a scary time to be alive, especially if you live anywhere in the USA. I really try not to be too political on here as I don’t feel like that is what most people come to my blog for. However, having said that…Sometimes it hurts to be self aware in a time of political turmoil and unrest.

Thursday Thoughts

Politics are a nasty thing. They always have been. I take after my grandmother where politics are concerned and I am fairly proud of that.

She didn’t read newspapers or watch the news because she didn’t want to feel any worse about the way things were. I don’t do either, but nowadays all a person has to do is open social media and they will find themselves bombarded with current events.

Quite a few of my friends are talking about taking social media breaks because of the mental health strain that comes with the current events. The problem is that for some of us social media is the only time we actually do socialize. Loneliness doesn’t help mental health issues.

This is why we need books and art. We need creative people to make the world less hard to accept. Music, movies, books and art bring the world a light and right now the world is so very dark.

So I will be doing my best to post more art, and make more poetry and stories to bring a light to the world. I ask everyone to do what they can to do the same.

Tuesday Tunes

Tuesday Tunes

Lyrics –

Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swingin’ in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin’ from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulgin’ eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burnin’ flesh

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather
For the wind to suck
For the sun to rot
For the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

My 2 cents –

I hate the direction American politics have taken lately. I feel like the songs from the past are relevant again. Though the topic was not a good one, Billie Holiday had a gorgeous voice and made the song seem like such a beautiful thing. I am leaning into the older blues and jazz music lately…Because it seems to be relevant again…and that make me sad.

Tuesday Tunes

Lyrics –

There’s a devil inside me

Keep me close to your breath and your heart

White sands build these mountains, beauty at the start

Climb so high till your feet can’t touch the ground

Head so clouded, you’re right where I want you now

I become your medication Get off on numb sensation

Know every single weakness Bring out your inner demons

This devil digs deeper down inside of me

Will you get out of me

Will you get out of me

I’ll tempt you with my siren song

Close your eyes and just sing along

I can feel you thinking

One more kiss is all I need from this

Do you crave me, or am I just your escape?

From the darkness that resides inside your brain

Call me devil baby, but you know the truth

The only thing that you fear is you (It’s you)

I become your medication Get off on numb sensation

Know every single weakness

Breaking you down to pieces

This devil digs deeper down inside of me

Will you get out of me

Will you get out of me

I’ll tempt you with my siren song

Close your eyes and just sing along I can feel you thinking

One more kiss is all I need from this

There’s a devil inside me

Head so clouded, you’re right where I want you know

This f **ing devil! This devil digs deeper down inside of me

Will you get out of me

Will you get out of me

I’ll tempt you with my siren song

Close your eyes and just sing along I can feel you thinking

One more kiss is all I need from this

This f **ing devil’s white grip Is all I need from this

My 2 cents –

Ever get a song stuck in your head and not be able to put your fingers on what the song is? This was my song this week. All I had was the rhythm. Then the boyfriend randomly decided to play it. whew, that cleared the song from my mind.

Tuesday Tunes

Lyrics –



Ramblers in the wilderness we can’t find what we need
We get a little restless from the searching
Get a little worn down in between
Like a bull chasing the matador
Is the man left to his own schemes
Everybody needs someone beside em’
Shining like a lighthouse from the sea

Brother, let me be your shelter
Never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you’re low

Brother, let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home

Face down in the desert
Now there’s a cage locked around my heart
I found a way to drop the keys
Where my failures were

Now my hands can’t reach that far
I ain’t made for a rivalry
I could never take the world alone
I know that in my weakness I am strong, but
It’s your love that brings me home

Brother, let me be your shelter
Never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you’re low

Brother, let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home

And when you call and need me near
Sayin’ where’d you go?
Brother, I’m right here
And on those days when the sky begins to fall
You’re the blood of my blood
We can get through it all

Brother, let me be your shelter
Never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you’re feelin’ low

Brother, let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home

Brother, let me be your shelter
Never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you’re low

Brother, let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home

My 2 cents –

I am currently on a binge….

Tuesday Tunes

Lyrics –

You don’t know fear

Till it’s calling from behind

And the streets that are familiar

Seem to stretch out at night

They dragged her to the woods

They couldn’t leave Anne on her own

And the press paraded pictures

Of a dead Marylin Monroe

And I will always choose the bear

I will always choose the wolves

No matter what they do

They wouldn’t blame my clothes

And I would rather choose to die

Let my body decompose

Cuz even when you’re ash

They will never let you go no

Careful of the stranger

A face you’ve never met

You’ve seen them in your churches

they’re sleeping in your beds

And history will teach you

They were all such willing wives

Sacagawea was a child

When her body lost its rights

I will always choose the bear

I will always choose the wolves

No matter what they do

They wouldn’t blame my clothes

I would rather choose to die

Let my body decompose

Cuz even when you’re ash

They will never let you go

The waves let them take me

The walls let them fall It may not be many

But enough to doubt them all

And when I tell the beasts

All the things you would do

They would cry as well

And fear you too

I will always choose the bear

I will always choose the wolves

No matter what they do

They wouldn’t blame my clothes

I would rather choose to die

And let my body decompose

Cuz even when you’re ash

They will never let you go

I will always choose the bear

I will always choose the wolves

No matter what they do

They wouldn’t blame my clothes

I would rather choose to die

Let my body decompose

Cuz even when your ash

They will never let you go

Cuz even when your ash

They will never let you go,

no

My 2 cents –

I have been seeing a lot of feminine Rage songs appearing on the music scene. I can understand why…and I can relate to way too many of them. Still it is something that bothers me because it feels like we are going backwards as a country.

Book Birthday

Cover Image

Poetry is designed for politics. Have you read mine?

Thursday Thoughts

Meme - I am Done

Can I please go back to avoiding the news?

Serena’s poem this week came from a news story about a child being drowned by their own parent. it’s not an uncommon story…but I’m getting tired and old. I have never been able to understand what drives a parent to kill their kids. I don’t understand why parents abuse their own child either. I have had some issues where I have made mistakes but I am not talking about that. I am talking about the ones that purposely hurt the kids. I don’t understand why.

Innocence is not a reason to hurt. If you can’t handle kids don’t have any. Some people just should not be parents.

Thursday Thoughts

Meme - I am Done

I avoid politics.

I really don’t want to have the discord in my soul that politics brings. However, I have found myself being drawn into the fray a lot more lately.

I purposely did Fighting Ignorance as a volume of political poetry because I found myself actually mad about the political issues that were coming out.

I remember thinking that everyone was pushing me to have opinions on politics when I was trying to survive being a young adult in a world that was trying to destroy me. So I refused to get involved. It did the opposite of what everyone was trying to do.

I wanted nothing to do with the news, because it would add more stress on an already tired me. Terrorism was not the people who came from a far to change my country…it was the nightly news telling me that humans were doing such awful things to each other.

I now see the political climate and wonder why we are going backwards. I read a new bill that will make voting harder for those who are like me. My birth certificate and my drivers license have two different names. My name was changed as a child. It was supposed to be changed on my birth certificate as well and due to a paperwork snafu it was not.

I keep seeing more political issues that make me feel like this country is not a safe place for me to live in, and I have no ability to do anything about it. This is why I hate politics. It engenders fear.

I am going to keep hoping for things to turn out well, I will be voting…even if my voice is probably not going to be heard.(1 live in a red state and with the electoral college in place only 51% of the vote is needed to make the choice. So my voice is likely to be unheard.)

I don’t like politics and I don’t like that I have no voice in the way my life is going to be run.

Terrorism is not always an external thing. Sometimes it’s the nightly news telling you world events.