Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day!
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| Christopher Columbus and crew met by indigenous people upon arriving in Not India in 1492. Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day, an idea that seems to be growing in popularity, and not a moment too soon, I would say. |
Poetry Sunday: Don't Hesitate by Mary Oliver
How about we share another Mary Oliver poem? After all, you can never have too many of those. In this one, the poet seems to acknowledge that it is often hard to simply live in and enjoy the moment, perhaps because we are afraid it can't last. She urges us to give in to that moment and fully experience the joy. Although "much can never be redeemed, still, life has some possibility left." Don't Hesitate by Mary Oliver If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is no...
We don't have Indigenous Peoples' Day in Binghamton, New York yet, but Columbus Day is mainly celebrated now (besides "Italian Pride") as an opportunity for all the high school bands in the area to compete in a parade. No commemoration or remembrance of what happened to the indigenous people of upstate New York.
ReplyDeleteIndigenous Peoples' Day seems like a very appropriate idea to me. Perhaps it will catch on.
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