A couple of days ago I posted on my Facebook page that I just wanted to goat. And I wanted to be able to head butt people who annoyed me. These are trying times and I think this would be quite satisfying. Instead of trying to reason with those who believe differently and are being devious, I would have as an option to just head butt them. Sounds good.

This is also in keeping with my thoughts about people being confused about criticism. Or just noticing that you have lettuce between your two front teeth and telling you about it. This does not mean you do not like the person. In fact, it means you care. We are in what is being called a culture war championed by the president of our country who finds it so satisfying to have people chant catchy phrases that promote division and then turn around and call the other side, anyone who doesn’t agree, partisan.

We are also in a time of reckoning, looking honestly at our history and seeing how much harm people with power have caused. They have played up our divisions to divert the attention of good hard working people toward other good hard working people. This is so useful for the powerful because then people fight amongst themselves rather than focus on the real problem.

I think the Poor Peoples Campaign has this just right by bringing people together who know what is like to not have power. The needs are clear. And it makes Martin Luther King, Jr’s dream come true. All people come together based on the content of their character and work together. It makes what John Lewis was willing to give his life for affirmation.

Since Ruth Bader Ginburg’s death I have struggled with feeling overwhelmed and wanting to resort to head butting. I am remembering my relief when Roe v. Wade became law. I was so tired of hearing about women using unhealthy predatory people to end their pregnancies. I can picture a women who had to keep her decision to end a pregnancy from her faith community because she knew she would be judged. She had made a careful spiritual decision. She found nurture and support from me a Pro Choice person because I respected her and counted on her to make good decisions for herself. She felt acceptance from me. We both knew life if full of complexity.

Now I wonder how to talk to people when is seems at the very least tense to have real dialogue. The goal of the right seems to be to talk so fast as so hard so that none of the other peoples ideas get in. They look offended if some one questions what they are saying. Yikes what a way to have a conversation. I want to figure out what will help. Of course voting helps. I will vote!!!!! But what comes next.