Action 26: A Step

So Glad You Are Here!

In less than 10 days I will either be dancing along with half of the American population,

(and the HUGE majority of nations throughout the world)

OR

I will crawl under my covers to build my strength to face the next four years.

This election is so very important.

This election is so very important, because it is a STEP in one particular direction, 

rather than another.

A step towards supporting the middle class or not …

A step towards protecting women’s rights or not …

A step towards choosing who we love and marry or not …

A step towards working against pollution or not …

A step towards immigration laws that give a fair chance or not …

A step towards American jobs on American soil or not ….

A step towards world politics based on respect and cooperation or not …

And most certainly a step that believes ‘loving our neighbors’ includes guaranteed health care for that single mother diagnosed with breast cancer five states away, rather than simply a prayer and 

a casserole delivered with a hug.

This election means:

A Step … in one particular direction, rather than another.

A Step … right along Obama and Biden and Michelle and millions upon millions of other Americans.

I am so very grateful to take this step right along with you! 

Your truly,  Bena

Peep and the Parade    by Bena

_________________________________________________________________________

A STEP is a mighty thing …

 …. when we take it together.    

_________________________________________________________________________

Oh, one more thing.

I have decided to write one more blog after the election, and then give Peep a rest.

It has been an amazing six months of thinking and writing and sketching.  I thank all of you who have hung in there with me.

See you after the election.

In the meantime, don't be surprised, if you happen to see me practicing a few new dance moves.

Yours, Bena

Action 25: Forward

Welcome!

I have a friend who says, “I’m not voting!”

She says, “In 2008 I voted for CHANGE.  CHANGE didn’t happen.  I quit.  I am not voting.”

Once again, it takes me a few days to figure things out. 

In my opinion, there are two kinds of change.

The first, I’ll call Switch Change.  The other, I’ll call Vision Change.

Switch Change looks a bit like this:

The best indication of Switch Change is a sore neck from whip-lash.

Up-Down

Right-Left

Front-Back

In many ways our society loves Switch Change. 

It gives us quick results.  (Think crash diet.)

AND

It is highly entertaining.  (UpDownRightLeftFrontBack)

There is just one problem with Switch Change.  

It doesn’t work.

The fat comes back …. The whip-lash hurts.

Since Switch Change doesn't cut it, how about Vision Change.

Unlike, Switch Change, Vision Change can be boring and so very, very slow.

For people like me, who barely have an ounce of patience, Vision Change can drive me nuts.

And yet,

if I want change,

TRUE CHANGE,

it’s all about VISION.

Think of an ocean liner …. thousands of tons …. moving over the immense ocean.

Let’s say we are standing at the railing looking out.

Blue and blue and blue and blue and …..

The ocean liner adjusts its course by a few degrees.

We feel nothing.

A month later …. still nothing.

A year later  ….  barely an inch.

Four years later …. just a foot.

And yet, what started small, with time, becomes OH SO BIG.

Change by vision is gradual, and steady, and slow….

And oh so boring….

UNTIL…

we look back

and say,

WOW!

CHANGE HAPPENED!

Yours truly, Bena

Peep and the Parade by Bena

______________________________________________________________

Four more years of CHANGE … with vision!

_____________________________________

Action 24 ... regardless, THANK YOU!!

So glad you are here.

OK

The debate was a flop.

TOTALLY  ....

....   crawl under the covers, kind of terrible ….. 

And yet, I’d like to say:

Dear President Obama,

One flopped debate means nothing in comparison to

FOUR YEARS

of

courage

sincerity

perseverance

compassion

brilliance

grace

and

a vision worth fighting for!

Yours truly,  Bena

 P.S. Just  please do better in the next debate, for all those that STILL don’t get it!

Action 23: Avoid the OOOOPS!

WELCOME!
The presidential debates start on Wednesday.  I am excited!
This blog is dedicated to one of the topics (out of many) that I care about.

When you read this blog, you'll be confused at first.  
Don't worry.  
It will make sense in the end.

drip .... drip .... drip ...

The roof is leaking.

 BAND-AID #1 

Wait for ceiling to dry. 

Paint over.

  

DRIP…DRIP….DRIP…

The roof is leaking  HARDER.

BAND-AID #2

Scrape off loose paint. 

Paint over.

  

DRIP…DRIP….DRIP…

The roof is leaking   HARDER.

BAND-AID #3 

Ignore spongy ceiling. 

Paint over.

  

DRIP…DRIP….DRIP…

The roof is leaking    HARDER.

BAND-AID #4

 Ignore black mold. 

Paint over.

CRASH

Oooooops

The house fell down.

Who could have guessed?

Let’s try that again:

Oh no … oh no … oh no  …  our country is running out of gas.

 BAND-AID #1

Sign agreements with countries

that don’t like us.

OH NO … OH NO … OH NO  … OUR COUNTRY IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS.

 BAND-AID #2

Wage war on countries

that HATE us!

  

OH NO….OH NO….OH NO …

OUR COUNTRY IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS.

BAND-AID #3

Suggest a pipeline of the dirtiest crude oil

ALL THE WAY FROM CANADA TO TEXAS

 through 1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8 American states.

OH NO….OH NO….OH NO…

OUR COUNTRY IS RUNNING

OUT OF GAS.

 BAND-AID #4

Suggest we lower gas prices to $2.00 per gallon

(Wait a second  …. now I’m really confused!)

CRASH

Oooooops

The country crashed.

Who could have guessed?

Pick the best candidate.
Let's work on avoid the ooooops!

Yours truly,  Bena

Peep and the Parade by Bena

______________________________________________________________

Forget  BAND-AIDS ……  makes sense!   

_____________________________________