I’ve read a lot of headlines lately. Headlines that sucker punch me, or break my heart, or turn my stomach, day after day after day:

How the American public is likely killing ourselves by cheating our way through life with AI 

How it’s now acceptable for FBI agents to have participated in bestiality and prostitution, but not January 6th investigations

How grocery and gas prices, interest rates and the national debt, conspiracy theories and book bans have skyrocketed, while literacy and empathy and funding for scientific research and support of education have plummeted. 

How it’s okay to sexualize and fake-slap and laugh at women in sports, but rarely legitimize and recognize their contributions

How it’s okay for one president’s son to be bankrolled by a Russian oligarch, but not for another president’s son to be bankrolled by China or the Ukraine

How the president wants to buy votes for $5000, but forbid us to mail them in

How it’s okay for him to bully: the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center, the supreme court, Harvard, the Federal Reserve, the National Institute of Health, female reporters, women in general, major news outlets, minorities, anyone who doesn’t kiss his ass

How he’s allowed to deface Washington by: chopping down cherry trees, paving over rose gardens, botching reflection pools, gilding statues, building ballrooms and gold courses and massive arches

How he’s allowed to defy the Constitution by denying civil liberties, court orders, and the freedom of the press…

All of this. All.

I’m a teacher by trade, and I believe in the power of tough lessons to bring about growth and change. I believe in the mantra,  When You Know Better, Do Better. 

And Mercy. We’ve seen so much. We know so much. I would like to think we’ve all learned our lessons by now. It’s time to change. To move forward.

It’s time to leave blindness and ignorance behind.