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Tulips 2025 [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-05-10

This morning I went to my coffee shop for my Friday coffee and conversation. The weather was balmy and my friends welcoming. As always the coffee was dark roast and perfect. It was a time to drop my worries.

This was the 4th beautiful day in a row. We relished it. This weekend is busy.

Saturday is the Minnesota Fishing Opener and Sunday Mothers Day. Tomorrow 500,000 pilgrims spread out across the state; about 26% of Minnesotans, 16 years and older, are licensed fisher folk. Processions of pickups towing fleets of boats go in all directions towards our 10,000 lakes. It is an ancient ritual. Winter weary fisher folk burst like tulip blossoms greeting the sun. They celebrate the Spring harvest; Crappies (pronounced Craw-peas), Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and Sunfish (Bluegill).

Spring is the time for fresh life. Life has been quietly growing underground. It has gathered strength to rise like a Phoenix from sterile Winter’s frozen earth.

Democracy Is Blooming

Across the U.S. and the World people are shaking off the ashes of dismay. We are mobilizing. Fresh ideas, new organizations, and renewed purpose bloom everywhere. The Spirit of Life crackles with vigor. It is the time to do.

What Pisses Me Off

What I’ve realized is that Trump, his cowardly enablers, and MAGA faithful, are intellectually lazy. They are morally lazy. Rather than have a reasoned, morally coherent, solution for genuine problems, they always opt for quick, short sighted brutality. Making everyone else a scapegoat for their failures. They find hating is easier than understanding. They embrace lies and deceit because truth and honesty demand self knowledge and courage. They refuse to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

Democracy Is Not Easy

Democracy is the hardest form of government. If we chose, each of us has a voice to contribute to solving our problems. To be effective, each of us must take the time and energy to stay informed. We must be willing to question and decide for ourselves what is right and wrong.

For democracy to work requires people to exercise their minds and ethics. It’s not easy to be honest with ourselves, holding ourselves responsible for our thoughts and feelings. Democracy means that we listen to each other. We listen and work to understand our various points of view. All this takes time. There are no quick fixes. There is no room for impatience. There is plenty of room for civil engagement.

Lastly, Democracy is about Us and not a We and Them. The goal is to create a society that recognizes our uniqueness. And yet, provides the opportunities and resources for a full life. Not happiness but something more significant. The feeling of belonging and being respected for what we uniquely contribute; Meaning.

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