Maybe It Ain't All Bad...

(Warning: some of you might get mad at me over this but here goes....)

I was just thinking about the government shut down and my brain took a few crazy turns.

First of all, I am truly, sincerely concerned and praying for the everyday people in our country who have lost income, benefits or are in harm's way - Hurricane Karen is storming towards north towards the Gulf Coast: 

"Due to the Federal government shutdown, NOAA.gov and most associated web sites are unavailable.Only web sites necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained."

David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal

I wish from the bottom of my heart to thank those like the tiny group of air traffic controllers here in Las Vegas who are volunteering (no pay) their time to keep planes and their passengers safe.

 I'm sorry the our national parks closed but tickled that our struggling state parks are benefiting with increased visitor numbers. Yes, Las Vegas does actually have things other than casinos and fake world landmarks. Lake Meade National Park - our closest - ought to be called 'Pond Meade' due to the massive drop in water levels making its most prominent feature the wide white 'bathtub ring' around it. We've lived in Vegas for almost 20 years and for me the experience is what I imagine picnicking on Mars is like...

Six miles further out, Valley of Fire State Park is just a breathtaking place and has incredible 3,000 year-old Indian petroglyphs. I'm always amazed at how many of our local residents have never even been. True, summer time temps aren't actually conducive to a lengthy hike, but it ranks higher of the two, IMO.

Helping people discover their own state's natural wonders and supporting their maintenance is good, right?

Posts about the government shutdown clog up my Face-book news-feed worse than diapers down the drain; I wouldn't stick my feet in that water to comment even if they were on fire. I keep hearing lines like 'us against them' but exactly who 'us' and 'them' are is as difficult for me to discover as a dot in the dark. It's not just Democrats vs Republicans and it can't be a good vs evil battle because that would mean half of us are evil. Paraphrasing more than one brilliant thinker: evil is born when good men see a wrong and do nothing about it. I refuse to believe Americans are all bad...

 

Last time I remember America feeling this divisive I was just a child. Back then, 'us' and 'them' water fountains made a lasting impression on my young mind. 

Actually, fifty years ago, my mom took my kid brother and I to a parade downtown. It was huge! We'd never seen so many people! A couple of men nearby offered to shoulder my brother and I so we could see it. I can't remember how long we'd been there or what came before it but when the crowd around us began to shout and cheer, Kev and I knew something exciting was coming. We were on the corner as a long black convertible came by. Riding in it, a kind-looking man smiled and waved at us; a pretty lady dressed all in pink - even her hat! - sat next to him. It turned and suddenly, a string of Black Cat firecrackers sounded. I remember my eyes meeting my brother's in shared glee: we loved firecrackers! All I recall after that was literally being dragged down the street - my knees were bleeding; people were screaming and crying. 

The whole world screamed and cried.

If you don't instantly know what I'm talking about, Google 'November 22'. Better yet, watch what that kind-looking man had to say about America. Once upon a time...

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