February 10

This week the weight of the world has felt very heavy. Added to the climate crisis that we ignore; the omnipresence of Trumpism; the racism, xenophobia, and misogyny that is all around us, and ongoing war in Gaza, we had the Democrats in Congress buying into right wing fears and policies against migrants in return for one time approval of arms and foreign aid. It is disturbing to see such an absence of leaders who are willing to act on principle rather than fear.

So, with that on my mind, Liam asked Mony and I to go to his high school today to see Strike, Spark, Ignite!, a play that was written and directed by a Senior at his school, Arwen Ghaffar. The one act play is based on a poem by Kyle Tran Myhre To Throw A Wrench in the Blood Machine, and the play is taken from this part of the poem: "When the haunted house catches fire: a moment of indecision. The house was, after all, built on bones, and blood, and bad intentions. Everyone who enters the house feels that overwhelming dread, the evil that perhaps only fire can purge. It’s tempting to just let it burn. And then I remember that there are children inside. " The poem and play make the case for voting and taking action. It was great to hear young people make the case for being politically involved because clearly the world needs them and all of us.

Thank you Liam for taking us to the play. Thank you to Arwen Ghaffer and the cast for such inspiration. And thank you to the young person on stage looking at the set after the play eneded, and who is in the photo.