Sheryl Weikal
People who have followed me for a while know I often say that the purpose of a system is what it does. And countries are systems, so if the US elects people like Donald Trump, that's its purpose. If Israel invades all its neighbors, that's its purpose.
2:47amopenvibe
Show threadSheryl Weikal15h ago

It applies to people too. At the end of the day, what we say doesn't really matter. What we DO does. We are what we do. And I actually don't think that's overly simplistic.

I know some people don't like me because of that. Someone told me today that I'm dangerous because I hate this country.

Show threadSheryl Weikal15h ago
But I want to be clear: I love the PEOPLE of this country. It's the government I can't stand. The government is a system, and frankly it's an abusive one. It's always been an abusive one. And I'd like you to consider that love and trust and loyalty should be earned.
Show threadSheryl Weikal15h ago
We say the government should be run like a family or household or business when it comes to finances, but would you love a boss or spouse or parent who treated you like this? Who lied to you and hurt you and people you cared about? Why should we reflexively love a country that doesn't love us back?
Show threadSheryl Weikal15h ago
I say that we should love each other. We should love each other enough to demand better. I say that JFK had it backwards. It's time to ask what our country can do for us - not for the military industrial complex, not for Israel's ambitions of regional dominance, and not for corporate stock prices.
Show threadSheryl Weikal15h ago
Here's what your country CAN do for you. It can give you universal healthcare. It can make sure you have a safe place to live, a stocked pantry, and a great school to send your kids to. It can make sure that your job pays a living wage and your work isn't exploited by billionaires.
Show threadSheryl Weikal15h ago
It can take tax money from the people who have more wealth than they can spend in a dozen lifetimes and corporations who will never have to feed a single child instead of from single parents. It can give you childcare so you can go to school and work. It can give you a habitable planet.
Show threadSheryl Weikal15h ago

It can take us to the Moon and Mars and beyond. It can pay reparations for the wrongs we've done and it can return stolen land and stolen cultures.

And all that's required is for all of us to agree that's the government we want. Seriously. That's it. We just have to say that everyone deserves it.

Show threadSheryl Weikal15h ago

That's a country I would love: a country that loves its people. I want us to love each other enough to say that we're a community, and a community takes care of each other.

And all it costs is that everyone else has it too. You just have to be okay with not being better than anyone else.

Show threadSheryl Weikal15h ago

Do you love your country? Then love the people who are your country. Love them enough to say there's no such thing as a handout. Love them enough to say you're not better than them. Love them enough to demand your country take care of your neighbors.

Then I'll love it too.

Show thread14mission15h ago
@theleftistlawyer Our abusive government is unfortunately, at least in part, because its what part of our dysfunctional national family wants.
It's a challenge to love that part of the people, but one should try.
Though it really is more likely to lead to progress than dwelling on hate.