My Response to “Diversity is not our Strength” tweet by Steve King (R-Iowa)

“It’s a small world after all … “ the song went as my boat ride passed children of all ethnicities, holding hands across the world at Walt Disney. It was Diversity. Inclusivity. Love. 

It's a Small World Walt Disney 

My mother, an immigrant from Greece, had become single by the time we moved to Florida. I was 8-years-old, my brother three years younger, and she had little help from anyone aside from friends. She taught belly dancing, and her friends from Syria, Turkey, or Lebanon turned our place into the United Nations. Memories of whirling dervishes, their laughter, and joy shared among these women, echoes in my heart and memory. They found each other in an otherwise isolated existence living in Central Florida and formed bonds to last years.

This was the early 80’s, my mother was tall and beautiful in a striking way. Exotic. She stuck out of every crowd. Her broken English I never noticed until someone pointed it out, or if I were away a while I’d hear it.

At 13-years-old, we moved to Key West after my mother married her friend, Kamal, from India, and we lived there for a time. Turned out Kamal was gay. (Long story there) I have fond memories of his sister’s Tandoori Chicken, unable to sleep, but the stomachache was well worth the indulgence.

While we lived in Key West, my mother met a Cuban man, and with the help of his son, translated the passions running between them. We moved to Miami and she learned to cook arroz con pollo and café con leche. I had a new family, five brothers and a stepsister, all born in Puerto Rico. I loved learning about their cool jobs, and wild adventures. I was 15 when my stepsister told us she was gay. My oldest stepbrother was also gay, the one who explained dreams and astronomy, and understood the abstract ideas I enjoyed talking about. The youngest of my stepbrothers lived with us. Close in age, we bonded over teasing and taunting, while forced to share a home for a year, before I left for college.

This is my America. Diversity is my America. In the melting pot of New York City, I’ve found a home., and now married with children to a Jewish man.  

 Dear Steve King (R-Iowa)

 I have no trouble calling out racists or bigots. 

We have but faith: we cannot know;
For knowledge is of things we see
And yet we trust it comes from thee,
A beam in darkness: let it grow.

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Diversity strengthens ME! I have faith in the good people of the earth moving toward unity. #OneLove   

We who believe in LOVE, PEACE, AND EQUALITY ... have been hurt and shocked to our Foundations!

I wanted to share something a little different with you today. Many of us have been writing, calling, and speaking out, sharing stories, and advocating in solidarity for truth and justice. Coalitions are building and people are finding their power once again.  So long as we can keep the fake NEWS out of our lives we can get things done.

A dear, dear, friend and Jazz Vocalist, Audra Blu sent this to me and asked if I could share. I’ve been suffering terrible anxiety since the election and her note helped me. 

It’s from the side of illumination, not fear…

 

There is a crack, a crack in everything ...
That's how the light gets in. ~Leonard Cohen

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You and I and the rest of the anti -Trumpers must slow down and take it easy Now. It's time to do a 180 on this! It's time to get back to our TRUE SELVES AND HEAL!

We who believe in LOVE, PEACE AND EQUALITY  ...
have been hurt and shocked to our Foundations! 

We held on for dear life believing that the bad stuff that Trump was talking about would have an adverse effect on the country. And for the most part, it has, however, we forgot who WE truly are and let it go straight into our hearts. There was not enough objectivity and we became sick from the poison of that which we hated. We got a DTRUMP INFECTION - WE GOT THE DTRUMP COOTIES!

WE need some Spiritual healing and rest from being fed pure hate and poison for months on end.  Now is the time to get back to our centers, and get our hearts and minds strong again. We lost our hope and joy.

Remember the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane when he asked, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by."

I'm not a so-called Christian, (Me, either) but I love this radical and revolutionary socialist (Me, too), Jesus and this style! He was asking the same thing we were when DTRUMP won! Jesus finally had to say okay and accept what was happening. And, according to the story, Jesus rose from the dead and we will too!!!

When opposition has its roots in issues of principal, we need to hold to our integrity and individuality. We, Lovers of Justice and Truth, got a little too close and danced with the darkness. We started believing more in the dark than the LIGHT ... without even knowing it!!! The Universe knows this and is saying, "keep your eye on the prize and watch for the Light in the dark"!

We were putting our faith into a person instead of the spiritual reality of Yin and Yang. Instead of knowing that everything balances out completely and "This too shall pass!"

When it does, we must be ready and strong but most of all, strengthen our HEARTS to know when and what to do and say when the tides begin to change!

We must avoid becoming involved with vulgar or base people who do not share our values.

Everything that could have gone wrong has. It seems at times that the Universe is conspiring against us, but when opposition to progress is at its peak, it has nowhere to go but down. That's when THE LIGHT often emerges. With the right attitude and persistence, Good Fortune returns in the end.

Estrangement can arise from a failure to clearly see the world. This kind of thinking leads to isolation. All that is necessary to reverse this kind of cycle is to observe the world more closely, without prejudice and to be honest about possible errors in our attitudes.

This is about a true Revolution!

Fire evaporates water, and water puts out fire. So Change often; causes conflict; conflicts bring about change. This is a Time in the cycle of human affairs when things are stirring up, and with a hint of dramatic changes in the air.

In order to succeed, revolutions must be in alignment with certain laws of nature and good timing. They must begin at the right moment, gather support from a broad base of people, be guided my sincere and capable leaders and most of all must address real needs.

The strength of the forces of change will always be in proportion to the urgency of the need being a champion. This is true in government, economics, art, education, and in our personal lives.

Revolutionary change points to a period when chaos arises from order. Let's remember that not all order is good, and not all chaos is bad. Chaos is often an integral part of the way things evolve- - - as any parent and modern scientist will confirm. This is a reminder to have the courage to radically change and renew the way we bring ourselves to life. In this way, we can Channel chaos to cross and unleash a new power on behalf of the good.

Combat between forces of dark and light are cyclical; WE can become aware of these Cycles and master them by preparing in advance. In periods of drought, even with storms, a new season awaits.

Thank you, Audra