Many years ago I worked in the intensive care unit of a psychiatric ward at Mercy Hospital. Armed lightly with my newly minted bachelor’s degree in psychology, my task was to be a custodian of psychotics, suicidal depressives and bipolar sufferers. Once in a while we’d also get a patient experiencing drug-induced hallucinations.
[This guest article from my daughter, Serra Sewitch-Posey, is a call for authenticity, heart and bravery in the midst of our chaotic, uncertain times. May it inspire you as it did me.]
We are all confused and afraid. We are desensitized to horrific things. We go about our days planning dinners, doing our jobs, watching our shows. I feel distant, buffered from the madness unfolding at the White House, the constant “breaking news” email updates. I am buffered by my privilege, for now. My life has not been personally affected. I don’t feel the danger.
I feel strangely hopeful and alive. I like where I’m at in my life. I take walks and fold laundry and bake peanut butter banana muffins.
Continue readingAmong the flurry of executive orders President Trump issued in his first days returning to the White House is the removal of prior executive orders that established actions required of federal contractors (including sub-contractors and grant recipients) towards improving the representation in their workforce of historically disadvantaged and excluded segments of our population. Such “affirmative action” programs have had a contentious reception over the decades since the most famous executive order, 11246, was issued by President Lyndon Johnson, one year after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Every Presidential election cycle this question is posed: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” The implication is that whoever is occupying the Oval Office is the singular cause of how we experience our economic and social environment. While the Presidency does have strong influence in certain aspects of our economy and our society, there is much less impact from a President’s actions than the question implies.
