Latrinsorm
05-10-2022, 03:25 PM
this is a graph of the Consumer Price Index (green) and total American deaths (yellow) over the past ten years on the same % scale:
https://imgur.com/YOO6hm7.png
we're told the economy is what everyone really cares about, we say the economy is what everyone really cares about, we talk about kitchen table issues
we don't talk about the kitchen tables' empty chairs
.
this is the same graph with the daily new cases of COVID in the United States (red) since April 1st on the same % scale:
https://imgur.com/ZiDZLyf.png
we don't have any sayings about how we have to draw air into our lungs and shortly thereafter expel it, we breathe automatically
there aren't any quotes about how the body has to shut down and enter torpor every few days, we sleep automatically
you can't find an aphorism about how ignoring a problem is great, we do that automatically too
we have sayings and quotes about what's NOT automatic in order to remind us that we are capable of more
that there is something in all of us that can choose
we have to say "neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented"
because neutrality and silence are automatic
we have to choose to take a side, choose to speak up
we have to say "folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn't. they kept going, because they were holding on to something"
we have to say "that there's some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for"
because turning back is automatic
we have to choose to keep going, to hold on, to fight
and we have to say "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
because doing nothing is automatic
we have to choose to do something
we all see the lines on the graphs,
we all know what they mean, and
when so much of us and so many others tell us it's over,
it's not worth it,
it's too hard,
it's too weird,
we have to live our lives,
it's time to move on,
everyone else has,
i say to all who keep choosing to do what's right:
you are not alone
https://imgur.com/YOO6hm7.png
we're told the economy is what everyone really cares about, we say the economy is what everyone really cares about, we talk about kitchen table issues
we don't talk about the kitchen tables' empty chairs
.
this is the same graph with the daily new cases of COVID in the United States (red) since April 1st on the same % scale:
https://imgur.com/ZiDZLyf.png
we don't have any sayings about how we have to draw air into our lungs and shortly thereafter expel it, we breathe automatically
there aren't any quotes about how the body has to shut down and enter torpor every few days, we sleep automatically
you can't find an aphorism about how ignoring a problem is great, we do that automatically too
we have sayings and quotes about what's NOT automatic in order to remind us that we are capable of more
that there is something in all of us that can choose
we have to say "neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented"
because neutrality and silence are automatic
we have to choose to take a side, choose to speak up
we have to say "folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn't. they kept going, because they were holding on to something"
we have to say "that there's some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for"
because turning back is automatic
we have to choose to keep going, to hold on, to fight
and we have to say "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
because doing nothing is automatic
we have to choose to do something
we all see the lines on the graphs,
we all know what they mean, and
when so much of us and so many others tell us it's over,
it's not worth it,
it's too hard,
it's too weird,
we have to live our lives,
it's time to move on,
everyone else has,
i say to all who keep choosing to do what's right:
you are not alone