Painting With Light

“Approaching Storm Over Deerfield Beach” © R.L. Herron

I seem to spend a lot of time lately listening to political rhetoric. Not because I want to. It permeates the airwaves every day and, like an approaching storm, is sometimes difficult to avoid.

But avoiding it is exactly what I wish I could do.

I’ve never been a particularly political animal. Oh sure, I have preferences and often wish they were better shared by others, but would rather not – in most instances – get into an argument with friends over them. It’s too easy to lose friends that way.

There are a few people who have known me to get uptight about certain issues, but only a few. I always regret letting off steam that way.

I’ve never been able to change anyone’s mind by giving them an unwanted dose of mine.

I do let my elected representatives know how I feel about issues, both when I agree with them and when I don’t. That’s only fair. To represent me, they need to know how I feel.

But friends I would rather just keep as friends.

So I try to bite my tongue over things that go against my personal opinions. There are many contrary positions and I hope I’m always open to listen to facts that will change my mind.

However, I’ve often wished it was possible to designate where my particular tax dollars are actually spent. Not in the directions any political party designates, but by my actual personal choices.

I know the first thing I would vote to continue would be programs that help the less fortunate among us. What better use of my tax dollar than to help someone in need?

I would vote to remove any elected official who is discovered telling blatant lies to further his/her own political agenda. Why would I trust someone like that to do right for my country?

I would vote to keep our troops out of harm’s way unless we are actually under attack.

It has nothing to do with politics. It’s a personal opinion. I don’t think we have a responsibility to police the world and I will never be a fan of war. Ever.

I would vote to recall any representative who tried to disallow collective bargaining.

I’ve never belonged to a union, but our history as a country is one that ultimately demands fairness and compromise. Why shouldn’t a person be able to bargain as part of a group to receive fair compensation for their work, provide for their families and have their voices heard?

I would vote to remove any representative who acted to eliminate restrictions on the dumping of pollutants into our air and water. Do you know anyone who wants the environment to be less safe for their grandchildren?

I would vote to remove any representative who would try to restrict measures put in place to make workplaces safer. Isn’t the safety of another human being something that should be paramount in our thinking?

Do we need another Triangle Shirtwaist Factory disaster to remind us of things like that?

All this sounds political, I know, but I don’t think about the politics involved. I’m not a member of any political party. I’m a humanist.

I think about my children and my grandchildren and our future generations. It has nothing to do with politics.

But that’s just me, right?

God, I certainly hope not.

“Little Swimmer” © R.L. Herron

As young as they are, my grandchildren are very capable swimmers.

There is no need for intense observation and concern regarding their actions. They are very much at ease in the water. Watching them is actually relaxing and relatively stress-free.

If only life in general could be more like that.

Unfortunately, humanity is a very fickle, ill-mannered species. It often seems the whole earth is in need of a disciplinary “time-out” — but there is no cosmic planet-sitter.

Even if there were a planetary pre-school, it would likely not be capable of preventing much of the mischief homo sapiens can create.

The cries of “Mine!” — “No, mine!” echo around the planet. Sadly, we are a species well known for letting our childish behavior, tribal differences, political disagreements or ethnic arguments erupt into violence.

Yet war is such a savage way for human beings to behave. No one who has ever been involved in war — even remotely — would disagree. There are no winners in war.

Such conflict is so universally repugnant a prohibition against it is built into one of our most accepted agreements on global behavior — the United Nations charter. The only exception to war’s illegality is for self-defense.

That exception is also a damning indication of our sorry, brutal nature.

Despite our best intentions we anticipate the need to retaliate at some point, so we make a provision for it. War is such a widespread, common occurrence the idea of a period without it seems almost quaint.

I worry now for my grandchildren as I did for my sons.

I hope there is a period of “quaintness” in their future. A long one. A period without strife. Without hatred. Without violence. Without war.

A period that — like watching my grandchildren swim — does not require constant, intense vigilance to ensure their safety.

That probably makes me an old-fashioned idealist, but I don’t care. For the sake of my grandchildren I can at least hope.

I have seen war and know you need hope to foster all those quaint ideas like friendship, trust, harmony and peace. For the sake of all the grandchildren in the world I can do my part to make this a better place, and I can hope.

If enough of us do that we just might have a chance.

“The Red Bench” © R.L. Herron

It’s been interesting to observe all the activity in the world these past weeks. There are many emotions involved, but that’s the best way I can describe it. Interesting.

It has been alternately exciting, terrifying, demoralizing, fabulous and frustrating.

The happenings in the Middle East have conjured images both wondrous and awful. Wondrous that so many people, in so many countries, are now clamoring for democratic reforms; awful in the violence and bloodshed that ensues.

But you don’t have to travel thousands of miles to find frustration.

Right here at home the political posturing causes me to react the same way, because it is at once demoralizing and frustrating.

Where has the idea of compromise gone?

Where are the champions of the common good? Why are we trying so hard to destroy all the hard-earned advances won by collective bargaining? Does anyone seem to care that our middle class has become a citizenry that is rapidly becoming second class?

We seem to have forgotten how to have civilized debate in this country.

Our political system is full of self-serving rhetoric designed only to “tear down the other guy” while making our own side seem grand. In the process we are losing the ability to work together.

That attitude and ethic is what made our country great, and we seem hell-bent on destroying it.

Maybe we need a place, like the red bench above, just to meet, sit and discuss our issues. Or maybe it should be a place just to calmly rest and reflect.

We could all benefit with a little more thought behind our actions.