For the last twenty-five years, I have watched our political system slowly turn into the shit show it is today. Ever since Bush v Gore the polarization of American politics has gotten undeniably worse year after year. Now it is completely clogged to the point we can’t move ahead (pun intended).

So, what’s wrong with being woke. This term really seems to annoy some people, especially those in political positions. It’s hard for me to comprehend how a “leader” in the 21st century can be so afraid of those of us who choose to make ourselves actively attentive to the important facts and issues of the day.

I know we live in a troublesome world, but there are still some times when something occurs that leaves me swirling in an uncomfortable state of being.

Everyday I read the news, and everyday I think “how did it come to this?” Globally, nationally, locally, it doesn’t matter, it’s all the same story.

A child has this uncanny ability to make a parent become acutely self aware of themselves. Nothing like a little one who readily relies on your every word and action to mirror back at you what you’re truly made of.

There are hundreds of millions of us, past and present, that would consider ourselves abuse survivors. Myself included. I’m sure if you took a look around at the people in your everyday life, you will most likely find someone you know who has suffered or continues to suffer from some form of abuse. Maybe that person is you.

The other day I received an email from an individual asking me why I support separating families. Fair enough question. However, I think the answer to that inquiry has been explained repetitively throughout each of my blog postings.

We all do it. Consciously or subconsciously when we first meet someone…we just can’t help ourselves from assigning this unsuspecting individual to a box. And in this box, goes all of our impressions, assessments, thoughts, feelings, biases, insights and perceptions that formed the verdict we just methodically made in regard to this person.

It’s 8:30 in the morning on a school day. My son should have been at school fifteen minutes ago. However, he is sleeping soundly after another restless night.

When we are kids we don’t have a clue what is happening to us, we just go with the flow. From the time we are born to the time we set out on our own we are perpetually indoctrinated with thought systems, religious beliefs, moral codes, customs, methods, rules…all of which come from somewhere outside ourselves.

Learned helplessness and broken heart syndrome. These are terms that are being used to describe the mental and emotional state of the United States. All I can say is “Wow!” Does this sound like the lawmakers and politicians are acting in the collective’s best interest? Does it appear to you that the people who take office actually give a damn about the people who live in this country?

Who are we? I need to ask this question because I just don’t understand what is happening. When did we become those people? The ones who, in the moment of a national tragedy, poke our heads up long enough to feel some empathy, but go right back to focusing on the inner goings-on of our lives once all the fuss dies down. That is, until the next violent event grabs our attention. Another elementary school shooting. Another mass murder. Another child killing other children.