Suffer me this cover of “First they came...” It’ll be fun!
First they came for voting rights, and I did not speak out.
Well, because I was born with white male privilege, which automagically comes with voting rights. Ta Da! Minimum effort level achieved.
Then they came for women’s autonomy, and I did not speak out.
Well, because I don’t have a uterus. God is definitely an old man, and seems like a jerk at that. But shhhhh! Don’t wake him, LOL, as if - that crazy Holocaust nap just keeps going!
Then they came for contraceptives, and I did not speak out.
Because try as we might, my husband and I have not been able to conceive. As Dan Savage says, “Anything is possible for God,” and “I’m gonna keep... my fingers crossed.” Checks notes: Holocaust nap continues, so probably not gonna happen. Sigh.
Then they came for LGBTQ and yeah, Death With Dignity rights too -- and there was no one left to speak for me.
EquALLity.
For example, I and about 13,500 other American servicemen and servicewomen raised our voices a bit, and lost our careers for it. Could have been worse – many lost their lives for speaking up for equal treatment under the law. But it could have been even worse than that — many said nothing and live/lived with poor self-esteem for eternity, occasionally channeling that into hate or worse for those of us who did not.
Good people.
Truth is though, in previous legislative battles, millions of “good people” never spoke up for people unlike them. Well, because it did not affect them personally and they didn’t know anyone “like that.” Don’t get me started. Ooops! We’re there: Stonewall Riots, California Briggs Initiative, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, California Prop 22, California Prop 8, and so forth and so on. True, there have also been some bright spots, but don’t tell me those roses didn’t come with a lot of thorns.
For our children.
You may or may not be interested to know that I cringe when I hear politicians or celebrity influencers say tone-deaf things like, we’re all doing this “for our children.” Why not for adults, or anyone’s children? You know, the ones you don’t know, and will never know. Many couples, regardless of sexual orientation, do not have children, like me. Sweet then, we don’t need to waste another moment thinking about it, except for the property taxes those of us pay for other people’s children to go to school for free, hopefully to meet different people and learn something....
For those you love.
Another not-favorite cliché of mine is the sanctimonious admonition to do such and such “for those you love.” Seriously? In my talibangelical blood-family that’s a really short list. But what about the longer list of those people who aren’t horrible people but I also don’t love — should I even bother taking their welfare into account? (and am I the only one who thinks this whole discussion demeans the word “love”?)
Knee jerks.
Alas, such ruminations drive me crazy. Lucky you. But I’d suggest that it’s probably worse than that. Much worse. Social dilettantes with platforms and microphones know contemplative people are in the minority. That’s not your or my fault. They also realize such messaging absolutely works at the spinal cord level (Did you know the neurologic pathway of a “reflex” does not involve the brain?). It’s really all about knowing your audience. Effective pandering requires it!
Point is folks, your gut/intuition should tell you such cliches are offensive garbage, and no, we SHOULD NOT vote “like your life depends on it,” but like everyone’s life depends on it. Yes, even the a**hole Republicans’ lives, who you probably do not love. I sure as hell don’t love people who think or act like I’m their inferior and/or worthy of death.
Yes, even progressives have this whole pronoun thing wrong.
IMO, the true measure of America’s decline is that effective messaging rarely mentions “we,” “us,” or “our” but is all about “me” and “mine.” It occurs to me as I write this that I am definitely changing my work email automated signature. Best example since the last pandemic that wiped out millions? You should wear a mask to protect you. Do not wear a mask to protect others. That’s seriously effed up.
Do better. Vote for people you have no effing idea who they are, and will never meet them, ever. You know, the same people who were killed by people who only ever considered themselves and bitched nonstop about having to wear a mask in a pandemic. It was so hard!
WARNING! Another incoming cliché cover:
Vote like no one is listening
Vote like you’ve never been hurt
Vote like nobody’s watching,
And Vote like it’s heaven on earth.
You got this folks. Vote Democracy For Everyone.
p.s. No, I don’t want to see the pictures of your grandchildren. I already pay for their public schooling. Yes, I’m sure they are gorgeous. So are my dogs. Put down your Likebook/Xitter and look outside. The colors are amazing.
If it's not "for everyone" it's not really democracy, is it