I am a flea

Last weekend (the last weekend of April) the progressive side of me felt completely overwhelmed. There were protests that were important EVERY day! Saturday was a protest about Darfur where there is genocide occurring. Sunday was an antiwar protest and Monday was the Immigrant protest day. It just seems like there are SO many issues that really matter to me that are just being glossed over and not changing. Global Warming, the war in Iraq, the threats against Iran, the budget cuts to Education and health care, immigration, our (the US) relationship to the world, tax relief for the rich, testing as the solution of failing schools. I felt totally ineffective and ready to give up. What good would protesting every day of the week do???

Then on Wednesday I had a chance to listen to Marion Wright Edelman from the Children's Defense Fund. She ended her talk by acknowleging that many people are feeling ineffective in their efforts for the poor and for peace and for children. Her answer to how she keeps going is a story from Sojourner Truth.

Facing a heckler in an audience once who said he did not care for her anti-slavery speech anymore than he would a bite of a flea, Truth replied, "Perhaps not, but Lord willing I'll keep you scratching."

So, I have decided that I am going to be a flea. I cannot do much, but I can keep decision makers itching. For my own sanity I need to prioritize what I put effort into, but I need to be consistent in what I do. I am going to write my senators and congressmen. I am going to stand in protest against the war and for those who cannot defend themselves (children, homeless, immigrants). I encourage anyone who reads this to join me in being a flea.