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A Dead Human, Mourning, and Cheering. [1]
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Date: 2022-09-13
Welcome to the Street Prophets Coffee Hour.
I didn't know enough about her to have very strong feelings about the lady's passing. Apparently Queen Elizabeth II went peacefully, at home in her own bed. Surrounded by people who loved her. We should all be so fortunate.
I know that people who never got to meet her in person are sincerely grieving for her now. And that others, who also never got to meet her, are cheering. For some, the world is a sadder place now, while others are saying good riddance. I imagine that could be expected at the death of almost any very well-known public figure. Especially one who had a direct impact on the lives of millions.
This prompted me to reexamine some of my own attitudes.
Maybe Elizabeth was a lovely person. Maybe she was a monster. Maybe, like the majority of us, she was a combination of these and other things in varying proportions. Which is to say, a fairly normal human being. She was someone's mother, someone's grandmother, someone's friend. Somewhere, someone has lost a person they loved. And that is a loss no matter who you are.
I used to think that I'd be thrilled to wake up some morning and be greeted with the news that suddenly ours was a World Without Donald Trump. That'd I be cheering even. I still think that the world, and our country in particular, will be safer if not calmer once he's gone. Or at least, I hope so. But somehow, and I'm not even sure how it happened, I doubt I'll be throwing a party. I think a quiet sense of relief is more likely for me.
I won't tell anyone else that they shouldn't throw a party either. That they shouldn't cheer, dance in the streets, celebrate. I, my family, and my friends have suffered abuse from MAGA folks who were empowered by Trump to say truly hideous things. Make horrifying threats. Act in threatening ways. I know very well that others have suffered actual, tangible harm. Irreparable loss. It's not my place to tell them how to feel when the day comes and the headlines blare the news of his passing.
But I don't think I would be able to join in any celebrations.
In spite of everything, he's still a human being. The loss of any human life is still a loss, if only to those who felt something for that person. Even those who felt only the most intensely negative things. If the target of your dislike, your disdain, your rage and your hate is gone, where then do those things go? Hopefully not inward upon yourself.
All of us enter this world as a screeching, squalling, demanding little bundle of smells. We also enter as a little bundle of potential. A life cut short before that potential can be realized is a tragedy. But no less a tragedy is a long life marked by the squandering, even misuse of that potential. When such a person finally dies, their ability to do any good thing with their potential is ended. Forever. If that's not a tragedy I don't know what is.
So, yeah. I will almost certainly breathe a sigh of relief when Donald's gone. And Putin. And Bolsonaro. Steve Bannon. Alex Jones. I could probably list several more. But I won't be cracking open the champagne. If you want to, go right ahead. I'm sure you'll be in good company. I won't ask you to pour some for me. But I also won't try to chastise you for enjoying some yourself. All of us must follow the dictates of our own conscience.
Elizabeth, I never knew you. But your passing has encouraged me to examine my conscience. I thank you for that.
Thank you for reading. This is an open thread, all topics are welcome.
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