We need to recapture the flag and the democracy for which it stands. It will take work. I put on inspirational music by one of my favorite singers, you, and do what I can!
Thank you Carrie, that was a welcome boost. I love learning (but am not surprised to learn) that we ae one with the land. This makes a nonsense of the idea that we can own the land. We belong to it!
I've read this carefully 4 times now and have read all the great comments. I believe this a masterful piece of writing on patriotism -- and yes, aspirational democracy! I will be sharing this with many. You covered so many elements of what it means to you to be patriotic and honestly, I agree with all of them!
I also grew up near Lake Michigan -- less than a mile away -- and spent tons of time there year round, but especially in the summers. I went to college in a Rocky Mountain state and while that was incredibly gorgeous and adventurous and so much more, I always knew I'd be coming back to the midwest. It's definitely in "the very elements I carry around in my body." We now live about 6 miles from Lake Michigan and I'm there as often as I can be. But we also live in a county with many, many lakes and rivers. I am definitely a fresh water person! Thank you for this lovely, exceptional post.
i loved learning about the connection between where we live and what we live with forever more. the phrase"mortal memories" floated into my mind regarding how our body stores the secrets of the ground we've walked upon. when you wrote, "and so, those of us in this deep relationship with land, are always called by love to keep it from environmental disaster", it made me pause to consider how we ourselves are an environment. not only we do preserve the earth by caring for it but our own continuance as well
So many of the animals we share this land (& air and water)with have the same drive to "get back home', to a place of safety, nurturing, comfort and love. How many know that reaching home has been achieved when the star patterns look a certain way, or things just smell or taste better? I'm all for encouraging that return-to-home, but not-so-much for those who want to take someone else's land as their own, just because they think they can. I'm realizing that that has been a process for many years of mankind's history, and I'm not happy to be related to this species as it shows-up in "I want what you have" greed, but I am encouraged to see how many wonderful, generous souls are out there, willing to make the offer "what's mine is yours" offer, or "please let me help you"/let me help ease your burden"... I want to be part of that ....
Aspirational democracy; I think about the term "brave space". This is a space where you don't have to be afraid to speak your truth. Because it's not teetering on the brink of falling apart.
Sometimes I want to just say...well...from dust we came and to dust we will all return, and this country or the world will eventually recover from all of the crap we're doing to it and our bodies, whether alive in wholeness or in humus, will be a part of that. And then I think about the recent flood in Texas and the victims....and maybe my North Star is valuing every living being the way that Buddhism teaches us. We are all interconnected...right?
"I pledge allegiance to the fish and the sparrow, to the doe ....I pledge allegiance to truth....etc." Fabulous! Not pledging allegiance to a man or a party but to the "elements" that make up America. To the concept, not fully available to all yet, of equality, justice and peace. Thanks for that pledge!
And not pledging allegiance to the flag nor putting all our allegiances “under God,” which doesn’t include all Americans! I haven’t been able to say The Pledge of Allegiance for more than a decade.
"the north western corner of Indiana, that deeply love the deciduous forests and rolling hills of Monroe County" I'm puzzled, as I looked up Monroe County and it is quite some distance from the north western corner of Indiana.
Carrie, thank you for the uplifting post I needed today! Thank you for the poem, the music, the musings about true patriotism: all of them guided me through the darkness of recent times and focused me on what I can do, only do, want to do, to be and become as we all move forward. I hope it is OK that I will steal much of your illumined thinking to share next time it is my turn to lead our Compline group (I will, of course, give proper attribution.) You have enlarged my understanding; surely it has always been the salt and remnants of sea creatures in my bones that grounded me! (You see, we use that word “grounded.”) Somehow we always knew the truths you articulate for us. Thank you!
As a person that was born in Ohio, lived in Florida for most of my growing up years to return to the Midwest for a short time in high school and college, then to Georgia for a doctorate, I don’t particularly resonate with one area of the county. However, when I moved to the PNW, I felt I had come home to my soul place. Whether there is mountain dust in my bones or not, I don’t know but it is my sacred place for sure. Recently, I have felt I would like an exit plan to Europe and the land where my great grandparents came from—Switzerland. Maybe that is my attraction to mountains. It sure doesn’t come from growing up in the other flat lands in which I have lived. I am just truly disgusted with our country and had a hard time celebrating the fourth this year. I pray next year is better and am doing what is mine to do.
Living a kind with.
We need to recapture the flag and the democracy for which it stands. It will take work. I put on inspirational music by one of my favorite singers, you, and do what I can!
Thank you Carrie, that was a welcome boost. I love learning (but am not surprised to learn) that we ae one with the land. This makes a nonsense of the idea that we can own the land. We belong to it!
Lives of mistaken identity,
Of glimpses caught in passing windows.
Hearts made to be free
Grown blind to wonderous views.
We've forgotten we're indigenous,
That we belong to the land
And so have lost our place
In these unravelling strands.
Nothing beats Indiana sweet corn in the summer. Thanks for sharing a beautiful thought filled message. I love your songs and your poetry.
I've read this carefully 4 times now and have read all the great comments. I believe this a masterful piece of writing on patriotism -- and yes, aspirational democracy! I will be sharing this with many. You covered so many elements of what it means to you to be patriotic and honestly, I agree with all of them!
I also grew up near Lake Michigan -- less than a mile away -- and spent tons of time there year round, but especially in the summers. I went to college in a Rocky Mountain state and while that was incredibly gorgeous and adventurous and so much more, I always knew I'd be coming back to the midwest. It's definitely in "the very elements I carry around in my body." We now live about 6 miles from Lake Michigan and I'm there as often as I can be. But we also live in a county with many, many lakes and rivers. I am definitely a fresh water person! Thank you for this lovely, exceptional post.
Hold TX while We weep.
Oh Lord We Pray
✝️🏕️✝️
Thank you, Carrie.
i loved learning about the connection between where we live and what we live with forever more. the phrase"mortal memories" floated into my mind regarding how our body stores the secrets of the ground we've walked upon. when you wrote, "and so, those of us in this deep relationship with land, are always called by love to keep it from environmental disaster", it made me pause to consider how we ourselves are an environment. not only we do preserve the earth by caring for it but our own continuance as well
So many of the animals we share this land (& air and water)with have the same drive to "get back home', to a place of safety, nurturing, comfort and love. How many know that reaching home has been achieved when the star patterns look a certain way, or things just smell or taste better? I'm all for encouraging that return-to-home, but not-so-much for those who want to take someone else's land as their own, just because they think they can. I'm realizing that that has been a process for many years of mankind's history, and I'm not happy to be related to this species as it shows-up in "I want what you have" greed, but I am encouraged to see how many wonderful, generous souls are out there, willing to make the offer "what's mine is yours" offer, or "please let me help you"/let me help ease your burden"... I want to be part of that ....
Aspirational democracy; I think about the term "brave space". This is a space where you don't have to be afraid to speak your truth. Because it's not teetering on the brink of falling apart.
Sometimes I want to just say...well...from dust we came and to dust we will all return, and this country or the world will eventually recover from all of the crap we're doing to it and our bodies, whether alive in wholeness or in humus, will be a part of that. And then I think about the recent flood in Texas and the victims....and maybe my North Star is valuing every living being the way that Buddhism teaches us. We are all interconnected...right?
And by the way, even though I was not brought up near the lake, I love it too!
"I pledge allegiance to the fish and the sparrow, to the doe ....I pledge allegiance to truth....etc." Fabulous! Not pledging allegiance to a man or a party but to the "elements" that make up America. To the concept, not fully available to all yet, of equality, justice and peace. Thanks for that pledge!
This is also one of my favorite parts of Carrie’s essay.
And not pledging allegiance to the flag nor putting all our allegiances “under God,” which doesn’t include all Americans! I haven’t been able to say The Pledge of Allegiance for more than a decade.
"the north western corner of Indiana, that deeply love the deciduous forests and rolling hills of Monroe County" I'm puzzled, as I looked up Monroe County and it is quite some distance from the north western corner of Indiana.
Carrie, thank you for the uplifting post I needed today! Thank you for the poem, the music, the musings about true patriotism: all of them guided me through the darkness of recent times and focused me on what I can do, only do, want to do, to be and become as we all move forward. I hope it is OK that I will steal much of your illumined thinking to share next time it is my turn to lead our Compline group (I will, of course, give proper attribution.) You have enlarged my understanding; surely it has always been the salt and remnants of sea creatures in my bones that grounded me! (You see, we use that word “grounded.”) Somehow we always knew the truths you articulate for us. Thank you!
Always healing- thanks Carrie
As a person that was born in Ohio, lived in Florida for most of my growing up years to return to the Midwest for a short time in high school and college, then to Georgia for a doctorate, I don’t particularly resonate with one area of the county. However, when I moved to the PNW, I felt I had come home to my soul place. Whether there is mountain dust in my bones or not, I don’t know but it is my sacred place for sure. Recently, I have felt I would like an exit plan to Europe and the land where my great grandparents came from—Switzerland. Maybe that is my attraction to mountains. It sure doesn’t come from growing up in the other flat lands in which I have lived. I am just truly disgusted with our country and had a hard time celebrating the fourth this year. I pray next year is better and am doing what is mine to do.