Incoming …

Yesterday reality smacked me in the face. It’s a little crazy when that happens. It’s that wake up call that hits you like the frosty air on a super cold morning or when the alarm jolts you awake from a very relaxing beach dream.

It’s somewhat a relief that I live in CA, thousands of miles away from Washington D.C. I can live out my life in relative oblivion surrounded by sunshine, the mountains and the ocean. Pretty blissful, right?

Well, the bliss was interrupted yesterday with this letter from our local high school:

Keeping my eye on the news, ICE raids are taking place – even without warrants. Receiving this letter from the school only reiterates that it’s only a matter of time when raids will start happening much closer to home.

I’m reminded of a memory my dad shared with me many years ago. When he was a teen growing up in San Francisco, he faced a lot of discrimination and hate because he was 1) Chinese, and 2) he simply wasn’t Caucasian. When people were being rounded up for Internment, he had to wear a sign that said “I am Chinese”.

Learn more about: the Internment of Japanese Americans (1942-’45) and the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882-1943; 61 years).

I realize it may be uncomfortable, but being aware of what’s going on around us is important. Are we doomed to repeat history? It’s only been a week. Yet, it feels like a year. In case you haven’t heard, this is just a sampling of the things that have taken place since Monday (click on the underlined words to read more):

1500 rioters who attacked the Capitol were pardoned. One man was arrested on a federal gun charge a day after the pardon.
17 Inspectors General were fired at midnight on Friday. The inspectors general are independent watchdogs within government agencies who investigate and “disclose waste, fraud and abuse.” IGs are valued for their “independence, objectivity, and non-partisanship.”
ICE arrested 500 people, including US citizens, legal immigrants and military veterans.
The Birthright Citizenship Executive Order aims to deny birthright citizenship to babies born on or after Feb. 19, 2025, who don’t have at least one parent who is a citizen or a lawful permanent resident. On Jan. 23, a federal judge declared the order “blatantly unconstitutional” and blocked it from moving forward.
National Institutes of Health and sibling agency the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are suspended. This includes Higher Ed Grants that universities depend on. The loss of grants could “devastate the scientific community.”
Government web pages have vanished including: the US Constitution, Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Health & Human Services – Reproductive Health Care, Department of Labor – Resources for LGBTQI+ workers, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion pages for three federal departments.

Fear should not rule our lives. Neither should denial. If any of these changes (there are many more that are not listed, including the confirmation of a number of cabinet members) cause you pause, I encourage you do DO SOMETHING. Our government representatives need to hear from you. They are charged with the task of representing us. Let them know how you feel about these changes. Click to find your rep.

The one bright light this week was the traditional inaugural prayer service. The sermon was given by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde. She reminds us that “unity fosters community.” Yet, sadly, the “culture of contempt” is pulling us apart. Bishop Budde reminds us that we are more alike than not. Her prayer for President Trump and his administration:

In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country. We’re scared now. The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals. They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes, and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurdwara, and temples. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. See the full sermon here.

I do worry for the possible raids coming to our town. And, I am grateful for our Principal who promises to keep our students safe. Growing up in East Oakland, CA meant being a part of a very diverse community. We were all kinds of colors, sizes and perspectives. In the midst of dissention, there was always respect. And when crisis hit, we always helped one another. My hope is as we traverse this new path together, we remember to lift each other up even in the darkest of moments.