Hello, reader. How are you doing? This post about how I avoid news started as a letter. My good friend sent out a mass email to her friends about how to make a difference in the current political climate, about 70 people cc’ed. I read her email and many replies until finally I felt like saying something.
Many progressive and liberal people who care about the world and our country are suffering in great pain about the current state of politics. I’m sorry they are hurting, and I relate. But I’m an anarchist–I never thought the government was going to be fair or just. I never trusted the government to take care of me. I’m working without pay, in a homegrown way, not waiting for an org. I’m doing the work as I see fit, according to my own abilities.
As they say–chop wood, carry water. I’m going to help people with art, love, community, radical mental health, and cooking dumpstered foods for houseless persons regardless of who is president. Democrat, republican, socialist, fascist? Whoever is ruling us, it’s always the oligarchy. I’m sorry that’s true. The people with the least power are always in danger.
As long as there are houseless hungry people, I will feed them. That would be amazing if a leader or system actually cared for all of its people. Until then, I’m roasting the surplus squash and making tasty vegan soup for the folks living out of tents by the roadside.
This is my letter about why I avoid the news. You can see many of my values peeking out between the sentences.
why I avoid news
I avoid news because it derails me from my life’s work, which is work that builds up well-being and community. My role in society isn’t to worry and stay alert to threats. My role is to
- connect
- create
- vision
- dream
- love
- make art
- feed
- write
- nurture
- share
Of course it’s possible to do many things. But when I try to engage news, I am on the floor, not wanting to live anymore. So I trust that other smart people are paying attention to news, as I do my work ceaselessly to build a better world while not knowing Details of Doom.
Many realities are real–the news of my garden is real, what the bees are doing, what is pushing up green leaves right now. The news of my dreams, the news of a river near my home. “The news” is not for me, which sounds irresponsible to some, but it’s ok for people to help in all different ways and specialize as we need to.
how to care
For a long time I’ve been this way. My difference is most obvious during election time when I don’t follow the predictions or events around who will be president. People ask, “Don’t you care? Aren’t you afraid?” as if riding the wave of elation and terror is the only way to care. I care very much about this world and using the gifts my ancestors gave me, so I do what I need to do to stay functioning and keep love alive and changing.
Yes, I am afraid of losing what I have, but I was recently homeless–I’ve lost both my parents–I don’t own a home or property, I have no children or grandchildren, and the truth is, I’ve never been safe. Or I’ve always been safe, in the hands of Mother God. The only safety I know is in the embrace of people I love who love me, and in community. So I work to build that.
I never thought the government was on my side or working for people like me. The government is working for people who have wealth, to maintain wealth, and that’s never been me. I’m disabled and haven’t worked for money in more than ten years–I’ve never had a full time job. I have no retirement plan.
The government is for rich people to get richer in whatever way, while tipping their hats toward human rights or Parent Earth’s well being in tiny ways for show. That whole process isn’t for me, so I do my own thing.
what work is
My own thing is
- running a radical mental health collective
- cooking Food Not Bombs
- making zines
- disabledly interdepending with my spouse Ming
- prayer, singing, and ritual
- disabled dance
- making art
- growing gardens
- learning about bees
- blogging
- fat liberation
- loving my friends
- learning a ton
- cooking delicious foods
- caring for my body
- pleasure
- touch
- advocating in the community where I live for justice
That’s good work, and I support Ming in doing more meeting-based organizing work with powerful people. Yesterday Ming gave the mayor a tour of the community where we live. I made sure Ming was up, fed, and dressed in time to do that.
Ming is good at talking to people and likes to be around overt, public power. The power I prefer (though of course they’re not mutually exclusive) is the power of knowing the seasons, being close to the earth, plant knowledge, communication skills, fun and humor, parenting that nurtures, and friendship that strengthens me to be who I am. Friendship makes me stronger to do what I’m here on earth to do.
apology
I’m sorry you’re hurting about what to do to resist or combat violence of the current government, and I’m sorry if you feel hopeless. I’m sorry you’re feeling crushed, worried, terrified, and harmed, as nature is harmed, and you see hard-earned progress eroded. My heart is with you.
I did interfaith volunteer peace work for many years in Nevada, while I lived in community as a non-Catholic Catholic Worker. People I worked with got upset about this or that nuclear waste plan or war behavior. I felt lesser-than for not staying informed of the latest violence-news.
But I was using my energy to do other work.
- showing up at the air force base
- cooking a ton of lentils for hungry protesters
- making a new sign
- risking arrest
- following up about a grant
- replying to a journalist
- reminding a board member about a meeting
- welcoming the stranger
- supporting young people just learning about what harms the world contains
I don’t need to know details, to know that killing people is wrong. I contributed what I could based on my unique skill set. And based on my unique weaknesses also, which are valid weaknesses that I didn’t choose.
That’s how I feel now also. It’s not an avoidance of responsibility–I take my responsibilities seriously, and I know myself well enough to know that following a play-by-play of the misery of cruel power makes me want to give up. So I protect myself from that. My sensitivity is a gift in and of itself, not a problem.
Thank you for hearing me if these ideas could be helpful to you. Maybe your sensitivity is a gift also.
forest
If our culture could be compared to an adventure party in the woods a la D&D, way more people are standing sentry than need to. We’ve been taught that watchful worry is how to care.
But many of us can’t handle the profound distress. Many of us are more suited to care by cooking, visioning, weaving blankets, connecting friends, tending plants, making pottery. That work is no less valuable, though it’s often associated with women and queers, so it’s considered adjunct, optional, maybe irrelevant–often less valuable.
Let others think what they will. I know the truth that love is the most powerful force on earth.
Not saying to ignore reality. Why I avoid news doesn’t apply to everyone. Just that we deserve rest and to work according to our gifts, not all having the same gifts.
One reply on “why I avoid news”
Well said.