Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This month 3 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. Read through mine and at the bottom you’ll find links to all of today’s other Secret Subject participants.
My subject is: This country has been through a lot in the last few years. What is one thing that you think is the worst that has happened and why, and one thing that gives you hope for the future?
It was submitted by: Rena of The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver.
Under normal circumstances, this question would be overwhelming. I mean, to say this country has been through a lot doesn't do justice to the level of damage done here. Number one has to be the deaths, many senseless, from Covid. Beyond that is the complete chaos, the loss of any moral compass, the manipulation of our court system, the lying, cheating, stealing. . . And as each day finds us hitting a new low, yes, trying to choose just one instance would be overwhelming.
But through the past few years, I've addressed a lot of what has been going on. I've talked about the deep depths to which the republican party has fallen (and continues to fall) and my frustration at the lack of definitive action by the democratic party. I've made the case for the democrats effectively being enablers through their hand wringing and pearl clutching instead of using the tools in their arsenal to staunch some of the blood flow.
In order to refrain from making the same points over and over again, I'm going to tell you that honestly, what I think is one of the worst things that has happened is the loss of the republican party.
I'm not conservative in my beliefs in general, but I value a conservative voice in our politics. I think one of the healthiest things our democracy has benefited from is our two party system. It is a system of checks and balances, one that requires open minds, a platform for multiple views, an ability to negotiate, and the respect for opposing views and those who have them, productive discourse.
And friendships on both sides of the aisle.
Politicians able to leave the debate on the floor and share a dinner or watching a game together, buddies with a mutual respect and in many instances, genuine friendships.
Apple Cinnamon Buddy Snacks
All of that is gone. And this is a profound loss. It was all necessary for a functioning democratic government. But there is no longer a viable republican party. There is only carnage, a battlefield of lies (even those that result in death are continuing to be disseminated), gerrymandering, changing of rules, bigotry, and hatred. The republican party no longer exists. And those true conservatives out there, the voices we desperately need to hear, are either leaving politics or being voted out.
We need, yes, need, a viable, rational conservative party in this country.
You probably think that the one thing that gives me hope is the midterms. You'd be wrong. Even though the results of the midterms do show that there are many people in this country who will not (or will no longer) align themselves with a party of lies, death, cheating, bigotry and deceit, too many of those elections were won by far right candidates with nothing to offer but robotic recitation of the party line. And of the rest, too many were far too close.
What I once thought was a small, maybe 10% of the population, is now . . . still . . . despite everything that has happened, more like 45% of us. So no, sitting there with my heart in my throat through the midterms is not what gives me hope.
What gives me hope is our youth. Yes, there are young vehement Christian nationalists, Nazis, haters, but as opposed to the older generation, I see far more good, acceptance, rationality in our youth. I see they espouse less bigotry, accept their black and brown, LGBTQ+, Jewish and Muslim, disabled and mentally challenged societal brothers and sisters. Science matters, marijuana has healing properties, clean air and water take precedence over greed.
I grew up hearing, from my grandparents, my parents, and even have said it myself, that we hope to create a world, a country, a life, where our children have it better than we did.
We have failed. Dismally. Embarrassingly.
We now are in the position of looking to our children to save our planet, our society, our country.
And they have given me reason to hope that they will.
Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:
The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver
Apple Cinnamon Buddy Snacks
©www.BakingInATornado.com
1/2 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup cookie butter (speculoos)
1/4 cup caramel baking bits
1 cup cream cheese baking chips
2 cups powdered sugar
3/4 tsp apple pie seasoning
Directions:
*Mix together the Apple Chex and the Cinnamon Chex. Set aside.
*Mix together the Apple Chex and the Cinnamon Chex. Set aside.
*Place
the butter, cookie butter, caramel baking bits and cream cheese
flavored baking chips into a large bowl. Microwave for 40 seconds. Stir.
Continue to microwave and stir at 20 second intervals until the butter,
cookie butter, and cream cheese baking bits are completely smooth (the
caramel baking bits will be coated but not melted).
*Add the cereals to the bowl and gently stir to coat. Pour into a large sealable plastic storage bag.
*Mix together the powdered sugar and apple pie seasoning, add to the bag with the cereal, seal, and gently shake the beg to coat all of the cereal with the powdered sugar.
*Spread out onto a large piece of parchment paper for about 30 minutes. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.
*Mix together the powdered sugar and apple pie seasoning, add to the bag with the cereal, seal, and gently shake the beg to coat all of the cereal with the powdered sugar.
*Spread out onto a large piece of parchment paper for about 30 minutes. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.
