Monday, January 6, 2020

Epiphany

I am grateful.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to wish me a "Happy Birthday" and/or a "Happy New Year," and a special thank you to everyone who has donated to my facebook birthday fundraiser for Center for Domestic Peace. While $200 may seem like a small amount of money to many of my friends, in this crowded world of non-profits, every dollar counts.

Just as importantly, thank you to everyone who spends time helping someone or at least not hurting someone or something, unless it was in self defense. How you interpret the term "self defense" will likely depend upon your life experiences.

After all, our life experiences color or clear our perspective.

My favorite birthday gifts:
- a handwritten love letter from my husband
- a video of our daughter trying to coax my grandson to wish me a happy birthday and to say "I love you"
- a casual (and yummy) dinner with friends who support my candidacy for POTUS, even if they seem a bit perplexed by it.

One asked "What do you think your chances are?"
My answer:
"Pretty slim, but better than if I didn't give it a go."
Or something like that.

We need systemic change. Systemic change is only possible with robust civic engagement. When we have a third of the population sitting out an election, that tells me that a third of us are unable to get to the polls, we feel there is no point, or it is a "combination of the two." Or, could it be that a third of the people do not see themselves reflected in the people currently in power?

I know I certainly don't.

And, I don't see myself or most of the people I know reflected in the current Democratic candidate pool. I appreciate them all for standing up, even the old white guy billionaires with the "white knight" complex(es?)

The people with money always see themselves reflected, because it takes a lot of money to run for office. Why does it take so much money to run for office? Because the people in power, with the money, make the rules, because our society equates money with success.

What I am here to tell you is, there is a point and this is that time.

When voices are being silenced, when citizens are being prevented from voting because of skin color, this is when people who still have a voice need to speak on their behalf.

This is that time.

When people cannot get to the polls because they have no transportation, this is when we need to carpool, or "get on the bus." When one party is actively suppressing votes of the other party, that is a time when the good people who have to abandon that party and register for the other party.

This is that time.

The change we need and want is only possible with fresh perspective and participation of a larger portion of our population. We cannot sit idly by while American citizens are being denied the right to vote. It is un-American and a danger to our democracy.

When we speak truth to power and power turns a deaf ear, it is time for the people to become the power.

We, the people cannot become the power whem some of our people are being denied the right to vote.

We cannot sit this one out.

This time, I have more to offer than my vote. I know what it feels like to feel alone, abused and abandoned. I know what it feels like to be betrayed. I know what it feels like to speak and not be heard.

I also know what it feels like to get up to try again when you are tired and I know what it feels like to open your heart to love again after a betrayal. I know what forgiveness feels like.

There comes a time when we need to stand up, fight back, and win. We fight the best way we know how: with love and kindness and the arts.

This is that time.

Ox,
Mari

P.s. I originally posted most of this on facebook.

To donate to my POTUS campaign, please go to Act Blue and search for "Mari Tamburo." I am listed just under Marianne Williamson.
All I ask for is $1, because the DNC rules for the debate require more than 150,000 individual donations.





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