With The Bad Comes Some Good

The U.S. government is in the midst of day four of its shutdown. Or pseudo-shutdown, since it appears that large segments of the government are still at least partially open for business.  For the most part agencies that support national security remain open; active duty military personnel are working and getting paid while most of the entryways into our country and the FAA is making sure our skies are still safe.  The departments of Education, Commerce, Interior, and Justice along with numerous others are mostly closed and operating with minimal staffing.  Even the National Park Service has closed their parks, museums, monuments, and green spaces to the public.  These closures and their impact reach far beyond those employees who are not able to work and receive paychecks.  State and local governments, small businesses, and the entire U.S. economy is being negatively impacted by this ongoing impasse.  And why does the government find itself at such an impasse to begin with?  Everyone seems to have an opinion, one that points the finger at the other side but Marlin Stutzman, a Republican Representative from Indiana probably said it best with "We are not going to be disrespected.  We have to get something out of this.  And I don't know what that even is."  Brilliant!

 

But of course Congress is open and working, although how much work is being done is a topic of great controversy.  Members of Congress, the very people whose inability to reach consensus, got us into this mess, are getting paid since their salaries are funded from a line item that is separate from the Federal budget.  However, some members of Congress are refusing their pay either through holding it in escrow or donating it to charitable causes until the budget is passed. Senator Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC) explained it best when he said, "I shouldn't get a congressional salary while other federal employees are denied the ability to go to work."  But not all members of Congress are so giving. Mike Lee, a Tea Party Senator from Utah who initially said he was keeping his paycheck because "I am working.  I will continue to be paid." has now changed his tune and is pay to charity. (Umm.....what about those other Federal employees who are required to work yet not receive their paycheck until this debacle is resolved?).  As of yesterday, 123 lawmakers have publicly announced the donation of their checks until a resolution is reached.  But that certainly leaves a lot who feel as though they deserve their money.  Do they?

But there is a bright spot in all of this doom and gloom.  Outside of the political muck that is suffocating Capitol Hill, individuals and businesses large and small are reaching out to help those people who are hurting because of the shut down.  I've seen support groups spontaneously pop up with the sole purpose of supporting their colleagues, neighbors, or even complete strangers who are furloughed or not receiving their pay checks.  Sam's Club, a membership only mega-conglomerate that is a part of the Walmart empire, and not my favorite business by any means, has reached out the the Department of Defense community by offering free memberships to military families for the duration that stateside commissaries are shuttered.  For those families who live paycheck to paycheck and rely on the reduced food prices found at military commissaries, this offer may mean the difference between feeding one's family or going without.  And USAA, a large military and public sector friendly bank is offering no-interest loans for select federal employees whose paychecks stop.  Inside the Beltway restaurants and bars are advertising "furlough specials" with all day happy hours and reduced meal prices for people with federal identification (Congress excluded).  The Bishop of the National Cathedral has offered their garden for weddings that had been planned for the National Mall and are currently not allowed because the park is closed.  Charity organizations throughout the Metro DC area are putting out calls for furloughed employees to volunteer and a homeless shelter in Alexandria, Virginia has gone as far as organizing a furlough volunteer day.  Fibre Space, a quirky yarn shop in Old Towne Alexandria has been hosting free knitting lessons for furloughed employees all week long.  Other local businesses are offering similar incentives in an effort to support their local communities. 

 

I know this is just a short list of the outpouring of support that is being offered but it demonstrates how communities are amazingly resilient and have a history of rallying together when the going gets tough.  These bright spots remind me that people are genuinely good and do care about their fellow human beings.  We've seen it time and time again and we are seeing it now that when the going gets tough, Americans get going.  Now if only Congress could work together as well.  Short of that I hope they are noticing that a solidarity is forming and it is a solidarity against them.  And that should scare them.

On Human Kindness And Understanding

My blog post from yesterday sparked a lot of conversation between myself and friends, both those I know in real life and the ones I only know virtually.  I've been blogging for a year and a half and yesterday's entry received more hits in its first twelve hours than most of them do over the course of a full week.  While many of my posts are personal, they really aren't about me; their themes transcend far beyond my personal world.  I'm neither the first person nor will I be the last who experiences personal heartbreak and joy, has strong reactions to current affairs, and generally wonders what is happening in the world around us.  As I've said so many times before, my hope is that through my writing I can help bring about an awareness of situations, make my readers think, and more importantly create the start of conversations that need to take place. And with yesterday's blog I seem to have done just that.

I've received an amazing number of messages from people who read that post.  There were much appreciated offers of sympathy and support but the most poignant ones of all were those from people who shared their own disturbingly similar personal stories.  It saddens me that so many of my friends have also experienced the life shattering pain that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy.  Regardless of the circumstances around each friend's miscarriage, two consistent themes arose from yesterday's messages.  First, each person felt scared, alone, and initially blamed themselves for having caused the miscarriage.  The second theme, a continuation of the feelings of loneliness, was that most people were afraid to share their experiences with others but when they did, they realized that they were very much not alone.  And I think that is a powerful message that transcends far beyond miscarriages and into life itself.

How often do any of us really know what is going on with the person next to us? We may be quick to be judgmental (I know that at times, I am, but I am really trying to work on this), about the actions of others but do we really know what is driving those actions. If a co-worker is always sad, short tempered, or in a foul mood, do we know why that is?  Is the normally cheerful person suddenly withdrawn?  For most of us, it is much easier to broadcast our good news than it is to share the bad.  We may internalize our problems because we are deeply private, in shock, or just plain scared.  Eventually these unspoken problems are likely to manifest themselves in other ways that we and the people around us might not understand.  And this is OK too.

Now I'm not advocating for public dishing sessions around the office water cooler.  Perhaps your co-worker is in chronic pain from a medical condition, has just suffered a loss, or has recently received devastating news.  Unless they choose to share the information, it isn't any of your business if the person next to you is suffering an illness, a loss, or an unnerving disappointment.  What is important is that we all take a step back and not be so quick to judge.  We can show our support just by being non-judgemental.  What isn't said can be even more powerful than what is said.  I beg of each and everyone of you to take a moment to think about why someone might be saying the words they are or reacting in an unusual way.  Don't judge; just try to understand.  Be kind and show some compassion and understanding.

If even one person who reads this thinks about what I have written and acts upon it, I will feel like these words have made a difference.  And trying to make a difference is really why I blog.