There is a brutalist cement structure in Doylestown Pennsylvania called the Mercer Museum ( https://www.mercermuseum.org/ ) It is a fascinating place filled with all things American from Conestoga wagon, whaling, blacksmithing, lace making…. to the tools of glass blowing and every other type of invention or industry that was birthed, evolved or died between the shores of this country. It is a tribute to imagination, problem solving, efficiency, the short lived trends of American life, culture and the diversity of ideas that were born here.
It also speaks to the growth and adapted nature of this country as it grew into a global super power. Some of the best minds came here to get educated, freely think, and build a foundation and future to the generations that came after them.
For most of this country’s time line though, it was racist, misogynistic and classist. Based on the flawed sciences and regions beliefs that divided and decided the fates of human beings. Owning or the exploitation of others is not acceptable publicly today. Yet it was during the growth years of this country, leveraged for economic gain until it could no longer be tolerated. That began the changes that have taken too long and still fall short of correcting the issues created by the these original governing structures and beliefs.
As hard as that is to accept, we live in a country that does have the capacity to change, and evolve to a better version of itself. Civil rights, Women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, Environmental laws, all these were fought for and won. One would think they would not have to be proven. Human beings are human beings…. rights are for all. The united together, equal under the law and yet these ideas of separate, inequality persist.
Right now in this country the antiquated obsolete beliefs about the value of someone based on class, religion, gender, and the color of their skin is creating a defining moment with this election and the Supreme Court. The will to take action in order to change the entrench behaviors of hate in order to form a perfect union requires the disruption and destruction of these ideals.
Like the many objects and tools filling the walls and floor of the Mercer Museum, these ideologies that lead us away from our humanity need to evolved out. Find an end for being used in the governing of people. That should the short and long term goals of this country. Because until we stop dividing each other, the future will always be based on the same principles that nurture hate over love and the idealogical cracks that are built into the system will widen and weaken bringing us back to this same place of wreaking this country.
Shaman @ Large 