Anyone who has read Brendan’s last post, after having read my recent Facebook offerings, might think we are tramping two very different tracks through this beautiful country of New Zealand. (Kiwis call hiking trails “tracks,”and refer to hiking itself as “tramping.”) You might imagine that B is blithely enjoying this oasis of natural splendor and political calm, immune to the headlines blasting at home…
… while I am beset by political angst, preoccupied by (obsessed with?) the dramatically disturbing first days of the Trump presidency.
As is often the case with our social-media-created identities, the truth is a more complex. Brendan shares my concern, I believe, with much of the conduct of the new administration. But, perhaps wisely, he limits his venting to the longer and longer runs we are taking each morning…
…and the current event sessions we have with our kids on long car rides and at the dinner table.
I, as shown by my posts, am truly aghast at some of the events taking place in our beloved America. Nonetheless, and despite my angst, I’ve done a relatively decent job at practicing my Be Here Now mantra, especially at moments like these–i.e., when my life depends on it…
…or when, as happens a lot in this place, the beauty takes up all the attention I have…
Posted especially for one good friend who wrote with a worry that I’m squandering my time away by fixating on the US mess.
That said, it is true that social media has had a much greater presence in my life over the last ten days. And I admit have mixed feelings about that. I’m conscious that we are very lucky and incredibly privileged to be enjoying such amazing, faraway places during this time. But it’s also pretty frustrating to be on the other side of the world as these events unfold. I feel all of the concern that many of our friends back home do. And my urge to make my voice heard is very strong, perhaps stronger than it’s ever been in my life. Yet, here in NZED, we cannot make signs with our kids, or attend marches, or show up at airports, or offer legal services. (We missed the Love Trumps Hate rally in Wellington by a few days.)
So, with no other forum in which to express my opinion, I entered the only (virtual) public square available to me under the circumstances, the Facebook. And I’ll admit it’s felt pretty good to exercise my First Amendment rights by sharing an op-ed I find compelling, criticizing an Executive Order that I believe is unlawful or ill-advised, or even (now and then) posting a somewhat obnoxious political meme. However great our differences have become, I think we all continue to cherish that important constitutional right and that no good American really believes that those of us who didn’t support Trump should silence our views simply because he is our President. Seems to me the opposite is true.
All of that said, I absolutely acknowledge that FB posting is far from the highest or most effective form of political discourse, including because I know that often I’m just speaking, and listening, to people who already agree with me anyway. At times, Facebook feels like little more than one big Echo Chamber. I also know that an inartful share can inadvertently offend, even when the intent was simply to express a legitimate disagreement of opinion. I don’t apologize for my views, or for disagreeing with views voiced by others on FB, but I do regret if such offense has occurred. I know that communicating in person, with our own words rather than tweets, is much less likely to have that unintended result and probably much more likely to persuade in the long run.
Also, if I’m being completely honest, I must admit that the concerned friend I mentioned above had a good point. I know that my ability to be truly present with my family and really take in this experience has suffered as I’ve spent more time looking at my phone for “breaking news” updates or deciding which David Brooks piece to post in an attempt to get though to my Republican friends (the answer is probably none). I acknowledge that there may be some (a lot?) of times that I invoke my need to keep up with developments, or share a “critical” opinion piece, as an excuse for a little escapism. (If you somehow think that spending 10 months solid with the same 5 people, 4 of whom are your lovely children, with n0 real interruption, doesn’t trigger the need for a little escape, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you…).
Again, I don’t apologise for needing an escape now and then, but I am sorry (probably most of all to myself) for not picking a much better way to achieve it. Such as the Two Tracks shown below.
Or, other healthier options…
All of this going on is probably not of much interest to those who follow our blog for their own escape via our global adventures. But I wanted to take some time to explain, mostly to myself, why you’ve seen so much politics and so little actual adventure from me lately. I won’t promise that I will completely reform the quick trigger finger on my FB shares overnight. But I will make an effort. And in the meantime offer up a little of the adventure that has nothing to do with the Donald or our dysfunctional Congress…
