 |
| "Storm Coming," Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Photoartdb Consulting. |
It's been a while since writing this blog has been at the forefront of my "to do" list. Have been watching the current political circus from afar, reading books to educate my aging mind, teaching when I'm invited to do so and caring for family and household matters. Live in a little house that needs a lot of TLC in the winter. Just finished replacing some steps when finally had a near fall myself as well as other folks special to me and watched my aging 91-year-old father have to navigate the steps to feel safe walking up them to come up and sit on my front porch. That's my main priority these days - health and welfare of those I love. Well, a few things have stirred me to write another edition of my blog to celebrate the end of 2017 and recognize the incoming challenges of 2018.
At the forefront of a New Year, agricultural issues as well as the economy are top of mind at our family farm. The current political shift in Washington and Jefferson City makes me wonder why things always seem to move four steps forward and then three steps backward. It's been that way for decades. It is also the reason that at this stage of my life, I remain a diehard Independent where political parties and issues are concerned. Obviously, the system is not working well or to the satisfaction of anyone except maybe the top 1% of this country. Things that looked hopeful, like the recognition by the last administration of the danger of environmental destruction needing to be recognized on a global scale, have come undone by an administration that obviously cares more about money than people despite what their political rhetoric claimed.
This time of year, the wind rarely comes from the South where the CAFO neighbor sits so it's better going outside and doing whatever needs doing in the dormant yard of my little piece of the world. Nice to breathe the crisp air without gasping or putting on a mask. But that North wind cuts right through you in Southwest Missouri, as well as in other parts of the country being hit by the now renewed term "Bomb Cyclone" on the East Coast where many friends reside. Been listening to some new music and one song by Brandi Carlile spoke to me, as what can happen in the hurricanes as well as a tornado both in life, weather and other ways. Just would like to share it now because it speaks to so many things politically and emotionally because "you can dance in a hurricane, but only if you're standing in the eye ..." Hope you enjoy it, too, and just using this to illustrate a point with no other monetary gain. Just sharing some good music this morning to go with the thoughts:
"The Eye" by Brandi Carlile on Youtube
Our family and some good close friends were hit with a lot of upper respiratory illnesses at the end of the year even the ones living in the city as well as country, despite being vaccinated as recommended by medical professionals. It always amazes me when sitting in a church congregation or a school auditorium or the place where the public is gathered how people cough without covering their mouths or do not carry cough drops. Often, if they see you looking at them, they just say "Oh, it's only allergies" like it is nothing contagious. Well it spreads germs anyway, so it's still recommended to cough and cover as we were taught to do by my mama so long ago. Allergies or not. Health seems to be declining in my part of the world and I do believe that the prevalence of Monsanto products tossed in the wind over decades and other unhealthy environmental factors like corporate farming deteriorating our natural habitat have an impact on what used to be considered a "healthy way of life" on the farm. But that is just one woman's opinion.
Even my poor domesticated pets are suffering the consequences and lost one of my furry friends this past year who'd been part of my life for over 14 years. Friends who have asthma or other autoimmune conditions that come with aging bodies avoid long visits because, as one of them confessed to me after a several week stay while she had some work being done on her house in St. Louis, that she had to resort to her inhaler more than she usually does in their big city home. Pretty poor testimonial to "living clean" in the country air. A nice road trip to Colorado in the Fall of 2017 reminded me of what it was like to breath crisp, clean air and drink water straight from the tap in the kitchen. It was a nice change from my little house in the Midwest where I rely on bottled water and watching when I go outside to preserve my own lungs.
There are a few things can be done by an individual to make a difference and this is only my advice, not an edict of what you should think. You all seem intelligent enough to think for yourself:
1) Get involved at a local level. Volunteer for those things you love and believe need to be preserved for our future generations. Consider these choices carefully. Advocate for causes that you believe will make a difference for our future generations, because our time is past. My choice is to support a few organizations - art-related, agricultural-related, faith-related and education related - because these are the things that I believe will sustain our culture and prevent further degradation of the human race. One in particular that I chose to donate a good amount of time to this past year and money to help sustain them was the Missouri Rural Crisis Center (MRCC). Our family has been in the farming business for a little over 80 years - multigenerational. Not me individually because I was the kid who left the area, went to college and lived in other states before landing back here a little over three years ago now. Even if you are not a farmer yourself, the membership is inexpensive and information disseminated by MRCC is good to know whether you live rurally or in the city. They have a Facebook presence and website where you can sign up to be informed, even if you don't join. Personally, I like to put my money where my mouth is so I gave them more of a donation than I did other organizations close to my heart in 2017. You can join the mailing list, volunteer or become a member. All the information is on their website so it's a good place to start your learning about this good organization: Missouri Rural Crisis Center Website
MRCC has a Jefferson City Lobby Day coming up next Tuesday, January 9th. It's not too late to be part of the solution and here's an excerpt from their email to folks who've expressed an interest in being involved. You can connect on their website as well. Don't sit on the sidelines and complain. Be part of a solution.
|
Ikerd is a former professor in agricultural-related subjects at the University of Missouri who now writes and speaks on the subjects of clean water, clean agricultural practices and other things of interest to our family farm. He has lived both the corporate and rural scene, seen the dangers of corporate farming trends and knows his subject matter. He recently published a writing on his website about the importance of clean water, a commodity in serious danger from the runoff of Monsanto product-laden fields and corporate farming operations. Here's a link to his website so you can read this intelligently written piece and get involved if you want by receiving his newsletter and knowing what he reports on a national, local and international scene. This newsletter is something I've signed up to receive in 2018 so I can stay informed on what is going on at a larger scale:
Another writer that I've been following for a few years now is Robert Reich and his economic works and articles. As a former Clinton administration member, Reich is now a professor of Economic Public Policy at UC-Berkeley. His book, Saving Capitalism piqued my interest in 2015 so downloaded and read it before the last election. Now, I'm a diehard fan of his as well. The words made sense to this victim of the great Economic Crisis of 2007-2008. It was also interesting that he stayed independent without endorsing either presidential candidate in the last election.
Although economic policy is not a big interest of mine because I really don't understand the subject matter that well as a former art photography and liberal arts major in college, his writing makes this history much more understandable for the average American who may not have been schooled in this subject area. Heck, even the new math being taught in grade schools baffles me a bit.
His recent Netflix documentary really brings it home for me and in a personal way as well. The graphics and explanation of what he outlined in the book are brought to light in a significant way. He has a good message at the end of it that every American should ponder carefully. As a "child of the television generation" born in the 1950's, sometimes the synopsis executive summary view offered by the documentary medium suits me best in this era of "information overload."
A few years back, his film crew came to our part of the world and used my brother as an example of one independent farmer impacted by the economic crisis. A few of us volunteered to discuss politics, which normally we do not do at family gatherings -- too many 'free thinkers' who agree to disagree on many things like political stuff. We still love each other and respect disparate viewpoints, thank goodness, as should all families and friends who choose to engage in discourse of a political nature. Anyway, check out Reich's work. It's worth it. He does little vignettes on different economic subjects as well as advocacy work that is being done nationally. I watch many of his Facebook posts and check the website regularly to see what's happening. You can find out about the documentary and other things he's doing off his website and Facebook offerings. Here's a link to help get started and a cute cartoon from his website and a Chattanooga newspaper that I love sharing with friends who still have fooled themselves into thinking that trickle-down economics will work -- yeh, probably as well as it did in Reagan's era, right?:
If you prefer Facebook to check the information of the world while posting comments, jokes or photos to personal friends and family members, here's the link to Reich's Facebook page where you can see some of his video episodes about what is going on right now:
Stay strong and be committed to those people and things that you believe in. Get involved. Will end this blog with a song and another piece of art that says it all for me. Believe what you want, but a lie is a lie. "Alternative facts" was my favorite made-up phrase from this past year's media reports on the current administration in Washington D.C.. Made me laugh a few times when it first emerged as a communication phrase but that laughter turned into tears when really thinking about what it meant. It's a lie - not an alternative fact.
Will end this little missive with the repeated disclaimer that I am only stating a personal opinion and get no compensation for supporting what I support or talk about in this blog. Think what you want. We still have Freedom of Speech and Thought in this great country, thank goodness. I write because despite all the tragedies on a worldwide scale, I still believe in the human factor and that we can change things if we get involved and do something to change things - be that getting out and voting in local elections or carrying a sign to show that we will not go quietly into the night without exercising our right to protest. That's what a true democracy allows. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Check out the crowds that gathered in Washington, D.C. to protest what is happening from Reich's website and Facebook page and know that is the truth. Government for the People, By The People. We can still make a difference - even if one voice shouts in the night, others can join and make things happen. Leaving you with a song is my preferred way. Dave Matthews is another voice I've been listening to a lot lately. He and his work with FarmAid as well as Founder Willie Nelson appeals to my country girl heart and this song says a lot about what is happening today, as well as yesterday. From YouTube, here's a clip from a 2005 concert of the song, "Stand Up!"
Dave Matthews Band Live at Red Rocks performing StandUp on Youtube
My advice for 2018? Choose freely while you still have the choice to Stay Strong. Stay Focused. Stay Informed. Stand Up For What Is Right! Until next time .... go take a walk down a country road and enjoy the sunrise or sunset like my dog and I do on a regular basis. We live in a beautiful country.
 |
| "Sunset at The Little House," Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Photoartdb Consulting |
Comments are by this individual writing the blog and no other company, nonprofit or other organization has approved or endorsed them. Am not a scientist, so can't claim my own scientific research but just comment on what is happening. These words are my sole opinion and no one else is responsible for these remarks. Anonymous comments not accepted. Stand up for your opinion. Thanks for your thoughtful and kind responses. Please keep language clean and our farmlands green. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your feedback! :) Will respond if you have requested one. And do not claim to be an expert on farming. Please go talk to a farmer or contact your local university. Otherwise, appreciate your honest and kind treatment of me and anyone else who chooses to comment. Have a great day!