A good friend suggested last night that I watch ‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.’ I feel like I should tell you straight away that this is one of my favorite programs. I mean we all know I’m pretty liberal socially so clearly I align with Mr. Oliver in that way. Outside of that, I just find him charming and well, hilarious. The friend was actually pointing me to a silly bit at the very end of the segment but I figured I may as well watch the whole thing. The fact that I hadn’t seen it yet had everything to do with a media diet I’m on. That’s to say that I am trying to manage my news consumption to stay sane (as I previously shared). I have found my threshold and for the most part, I’m stickin’ to it.
Anyway, having had a major news fast for a day or so, I felt comfortable watching Mr. Oliver. More than comfortable, I found it entertaining. He said a couple of things that weren’t particularly new to me, but the way he stated them really resonated and so I want to share. He shared that despite thinking whereas “market worship threatens to become a fucking death cult…extraordinary heroism, kindness, and ingenuity” has also been present and readily evident in our communities. In particular, he praised the medical community, reiterating that they “deserve, among other things, a fucking parade whenever we’re allowed to have parades again.” Last but not least, in perhaps the most succinct way I’ve witnessed it stated, Mr. Oliver stated that “right now, what we all choose to do outside of our hospitals has a direct and significant impact on what happens inside of them…the more strictly that we all follow social-distancing guidelines to the maximum extent that we can, the easier it will be for our health-care workers to do their jobs.”
Did you get all of that? There is evil but there is a shit ton of good. Our medical community (the ENTIRETY of it, not just doctors, people) kicks ass. And last but not least, do your fucking part.
I’ve spoken about these things in bits and spurts before but it is important enough to discuss again. Plus, it’s on my mind, so it’s probably on yours as well.
It is easy, at least in my experience, to feel weighed down by how inconsequential our government and business folks can make us feel. I work in the business world so I am speaking in a very first-hand kind of fashion here. And I get it, to an extent. I do. In order to keep on keepin’ on, in order to employ folks (such as moi) and to contribute to the economy, a business needs to thrive. In order for a business to thrive, it sometimes and even often, needs to make difficult and seemingly heartless decisions. No one wants to really come out and say this, but truthfully, the heart of a business is its bank account. There are some businesses that have cultures that are inherently “good” but it is not the traditional way of things in a capitalist society such as the one we live in. We can feel bogged down and depressed by this reality or we can accept it as a widely accepted truth. It tis’ what it is. It takes many different structures in our society to make us hum. Would it be nice if it were nicer? Sure would. Does it seem useful to focus there? Nah. Let’s focus on the fact that our society is widely diverse. It takes all types. All kinds. All varieties.
Don’t get me wrong, the decisions that some businesses are making or more accurately, the decisions that some government figures are making for the sake of money is fucking mind boggling to me. I mean really. Blows me away. I heard someone say the other day that they would rather be poor than dead. You know how the person responded who they were talking to “well, that’s because you’ve never been poor”. Holy shit. Can you imagine? I almost broke my 6’ barrier. I almost took a precious grocery and lobbed it at their head. I highly doubt the person was minimizing poverty or stating that they knew what it was like to live under such conditions. I am guessing he simply meant that his life was the most important thing to him. Amen.
And there are a good deal of people out there that feel exactly the same way. Their lives are more important to them. Other people’s lives are more important to them. They are willing to even put their lives on the line (ahem essential workers, medical community, etc.) to preserve life. Let’s focus on those folks, okay? We can’t eradicate the people that feel the opposite. We just can’t. They are intricately woven into the fabric of our society. Some are just built for business and money and such things, and others are just pieces of greedy shit. I mean, yeah. Some of these people are just selfish, mean fucks. Why dwell there, ya know?
It sounds cheesy as fuck but I swear, the only thing that combats evil is good. I really mean that. During the darkest times of my life, when I subjected to abuse by the shittiest of people, the only thing that saved me was love. Love for myself, love from my family, love from my friends. So much love from every corner. That love freed me. That love saved me. That is not bullshit. That is my absolute truth. Love will save us now.
That takes me to the last bit. If you love yourself and love the people you share your life with and have love for the people who are working their asses off and risking their lives to preserve ALL that love, show them love in return by doing your part. I know I sound like a broken record, but I really think it is that important. When I hear about parties or religious gatherings, I want to scream. We are so lucky to live in a world that is technologically connected. I get that it isn’t the same. TRUST ME. I am living alone. I fucking get it. Grow up. Get over it. My niece and nephew lit up my day yesterday with a musical concert. A good friend talked to me while she was out taking a walk and totally lifted my spirits. We can focus on the negative, the dark spaces, or we can try and place our energy elsewhere. Avail yourself of what is and what’s safe. Stop just posting inspirational memes. Be an inspirational person. Lead by example. Show your significant other, your neighbors, your co-workers, your family, your friends how powerful love can be.
This is a powerful moment for all of us. It really is. We can love ourselves and each other enough to move a fucking mountain. Holy shit. Let’s do this. We GOT this.
Talk to you tomorrow.
L.
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