Memorial Day in the warzone
2021-May-31, Monday 01:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mellowtiggerI don't know which America you live in (if you do), but I live in the part that's an active warzone.
I mentioned last year that roaming over a map of USA gun violence data, I could spot by eye only 2 areas with worse conditions than my area of north Minneapolis: certain areas of Chicago and New York. This article makes it clear that neighborhood in Chicago is worse than my Jordan neighborhood. Regardless, it's a reality that most Americans do not acknowledge. I lived here in the Twin Cities for nearly 20 years and knew that north Minneapolis had a bad reputation, but I had no idea how bad it really is until I moved here. That's why I keep writing about it. This reality has to pierce the consciousness of the average American before it will finally lead to policy changes that help.
I don't know who this photographed memorial is for. It appeared about 2 weeks ago. As the crow flies, it's about 1/2 block from my house. I don't know who died or how they died. I walked over there today and took this photo. I completely neglected my plan to update the memorials of Jordan neighborhood webpage. I walked for a few years, I took photos of memorials I witnessed, but I failed to upload them and update the page. Which makes this picture an even more embarrassing reminder of my insufficiency to change life here. I sometimes am late hearing about stuff in my neighborhood. Remember that intersection where I ducked down in my car to avoid bullets? Somebody died near that same intersection after a hit-and-run last week.
I know this day is supposed to be about soldiers. But people here live in a warzone, and nobody gave them body armor to support their bravery. Nobody promised cheap and lifelong medical care if they receive injuries while here. Yet still they live here, amongst the flying bullets.
So I'm rededicating today's holiday to the unknown citizen on my block. They get a memorial of balloons and candles and no fanfare whatsoever.
I mentioned last year that roaming over a map of USA gun violence data, I could spot by eye only 2 areas with worse conditions than my area of north Minneapolis: certain areas of Chicago and New York. This article makes it clear that neighborhood in Chicago is worse than my Jordan neighborhood. Regardless, it's a reality that most Americans do not acknowledge. I lived here in the Twin Cities for nearly 20 years and knew that north Minneapolis had a bad reputation, but I had no idea how bad it really is until I moved here. That's why I keep writing about it. This reality has to pierce the consciousness of the average American before it will finally lead to policy changes that help.
I don't know who this photographed memorial is for. It appeared about 2 weeks ago. As the crow flies, it's about 1/2 block from my house. I don't know who died or how they died. I walked over there today and took this photo. I completely neglected my plan to update the memorials of Jordan neighborhood webpage. I walked for a few years, I took photos of memorials I witnessed, but I failed to upload them and update the page. Which makes this picture an even more embarrassing reminder of my insufficiency to change life here. I sometimes am late hearing about stuff in my neighborhood. Remember that intersection where I ducked down in my car to avoid bullets? Somebody died near that same intersection after a hit-and-run last week.I know this day is supposed to be about soldiers. But people here live in a warzone, and nobody gave them body armor to support their bravery. Nobody promised cheap and lifelong medical care if they receive injuries while here. Yet still they live here, amongst the flying bullets.
So I'm rededicating today's holiday to the unknown citizen on my block. They get a memorial of balloons and candles and no fanfare whatsoever.
no subject
Date: 2021-Jun-01, Tuesday 04:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-Jun-01, Tuesday 10:17 pm (UTC)1) Plans. Maybe it's just a variant of the sunk cost fallacy, but I have planted things here that I intend to see bear fruit, literally. I planted cherry tree, and I want to eat the fruit. I planted apricot tree, and I want to bake a cobbler. I planted bayberry bushes, and I want to make a candle for Christmas. I'm not leaving, because I've already put plans in motion here that I want to see completed.
2) Endurance. My house was one of the problem houses on this block before I moved here. I don't know what would happen if I left it. As long as I'm here, I know that this property is not contributing to the violence out there. Which means that the overall suffering may be reduced by some tiny amount just by staying. While I endure, that's maybe a trivial but more-than-zero improvement. If I knew a hand-picked replacement who would carry on the good fight, then I might consider relocation.
3) Curiosity. If I keep staring closely at the problem long enough, then maybe I'll finally have that eureka moment when I think of one change that could turn it all around. I already know the many systemic issues, and I know the disappointing collective resistance to implementing them. Maybe there's something new that nobody's said before. Maybe I could find it, if I don't turn away. It's a terrible puzzle, and I want to solve it.
4) Dumb, stubborn hope. I believe the area is worth saving. I disapprove the environmental metaphor of dumping problems in the river and letting them wash downstream, so they're "somebody else's problem". I believe that many (I'm not saying all) troubled people can change if they have a reasonable goal and support to get there. I can imagine a better future with changed societal standards and systems.
no subject
Date: 2021-Jun-02, Wednesday 12:06 pm (UTC)I have one foot out the door, looking for a different city and state ...
Be safe ...