My sister and I are very different. To begin with, I am older, the first-born, while she is 6 years younger. I was often the one to hold her hand when she was small, to keep her from wondering, or touching things she shouldn’t. I was also the one put in charge, when Mom and Dad were not there. (Not their best idea, but everyone survived.)
She watched me as an emotional teen, fight with my parents about such things as the morality of the Vietnam War, and the horrors of discrimination against African-Americans. (That was before we called them black, as we are white, and now they are just Americans.) She also saw me argue about everything I wanted to do as I struggled to get permission for everything from shaving to staying out all night for prom. I was the break-in kid.
My sister learned it was easier to get forgiveness than permission for small things. She didn’t argue about politics and issues of the day with Mom and Dad. She saw it didn’t get me anywhere, but upset and crying, so she just kept her own counsel.
We had another sister between us. Karen got killed by a drunk driver when she was just 21. I was 24, my sister 18. I was married, expecting my second child, and I lived out of state. My birth family, my parents, sister and brother became a unit. I belonged to a separate unit. The course of the family changed. My stay at home parents became outgoing, for my brother and sister, getting involved in sporting activities with them, and traveling the country with their new friends and parents to sporting events.
I had children young, went to college as a returning adult student, lived in several states. My sister went to college straight out of high school, got married after college, therefore having children at a later age, and lived close to our parents and brother.
I’ve been thinking about these differences the past few days. We have a political situation that is affecting children. I am upset and rather than posting blogs, I’ve been posting my concern for these children, and concern about the political situation that has caused this crisis on Facebook. My sister has been taking care of her grand-babies, who are babies. My grandchildren are from age 1 to 17.
I haven’t just posted on Facebook. I have written to my Congressman and Senator. I can’t wrap my brain around what is happening in my own country. Because politics is so upsetting to me, I had cut back on my news viewing, and even stopped responding to political social media posts. But now I am upset and following this story every day. My friends probably know how I feel, but I am keeping it out there. I shared personal information that should show them why I feel so strongly about the current situation.
My sister’s page is silent. She is dealing with an infant granddaughter whose breast feeding mother just had to return to work. She is remaining friends with everyone, and quietly talking in the background, gently, when she thinks she will be heard. When she posts, it will be pictures of her dogs and the babies.
My sister’s voice may prove to be the most effective.
#UniteImmigrantFamilies
It’s so true! I’m with you. It’s not my country, but I’m horrified beyond horrified. Today I saw a photo of Trumps wife with a jacket on that said “I don’t care, why should you?” or something to that affect while visiting the “camp” the kidnapped children are being held in. A picture is worth a thousand words, is it not? And why isn’t he being charged with kidnapping? Because if anyone else did this, it would be considered kidnapping!
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I am deeply distressed. If I was president it would be a different story. I am so confused, and feel helpless.
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Everybody does. It’s like pre-war Germany. Scary shit. Sorry that’s the only way to describe it.
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I don’t want to go that far. I think it detracts from the current issue.
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April, I absolutely relate to your feelings. I live in a red state and a deep red community. But we mustn’t let these sad times defeat us. When the polls open in November–and they will–vote. Vote these terrible people out of office. And if the Dems we put in are terrible then we should vote them out as well. Your vote is a silent bit of power to help those children find their parents and to help this nation find its decency. Bless your heart. I, for one, am proud to know you. 🙂
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Such encouraging words are hard to come by these days. Write our representatives and vote. And maybe drop a few dollars in a defense fund.
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I feel closer to you knowing that little piece. I know it is very sad how they are handling the immigrants
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Amazing story, thank you for sharing!
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