{"id":4619,"date":"2020-10-26T03:39:50","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T03:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nosmallthing.net\/main\/?p=4619"},"modified":"2022-07-05T14:52:40","modified_gmt":"2022-07-05T14:52:40","slug":"do-what-you-can-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nosmallthing.net\/main\/do-what-you-can-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Do What You Can Do"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"A couple days ago, I came across a poster in the window of First Slice, a coffee and pie shop by the nearby commuter station.<\/p>\n

The poster was in the style of World War II \u201cKeep Calm, Carry On\u201d notices the British government plastered throughout London\u2019s subway stations, encouraging locals to keep a stiff upper lip. The campaign to poster-ize public spaces with this motto was intended to keep morale up in preparation for Nazi bombings and other acts of aggression.<\/p>\n

Instead of the words, \u201cCarry On,\u201d under the crown, symbol of the monarchy, were the words AND VOTE.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Life has been so tumultuous the last four years. There\u2019s always been strong differences of opinion on politics and social matters, but things have never been so contentious.<\/p>\n

In recent years, people have approached Thanksgiving dinners and all range of gatherings with extra trepidation that \u201cconversations\u201d might break out, that expressing different points of view might get too heated.<\/p>\n

I have personally found it hard to take in how differently some of my friends see the world. I\u2019ve probably come off as self-righteous, and I regret that, but it has been hard for me to fathom that some people really believe Hillary Clinton and high-profile progressive celebrities run a child porno ring.<\/p>\n

I have been disturbed by how many people seem more bothered by looting in protest than by abuse of power.\u00a0 (I\u2019m not in favor of destructive behaviors of any sort, but windows can be replaced, right? Lives can\u2019t.)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been hard to believe that these few words (\u201cKeep calm, carry on\u201d) were supposed to comfort people on the eve of what might have been the end of the world, the end of THEIR world, at least.<\/p>\n

But using the words \u201cand VOTE\u201d to complete this directive has caused me to think a lot.<\/p>\n

I come back to a single human life. Amid all the problems of the world, I have to ask, What can one person do?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

And the answer comes back to me\u2026All that he or she can.<\/p>\n