That’s 1440 minutes every day that each person has to make the myriad of choices, big and small, that we all face daily.
Ultimately though, the one choice that will really make a meaningful difference in this world, both for individuals and for humanity as a whole, as trite as it may sound, is LOVE.
If we can tap into that emotion every day, especially the dark days, and more importantly show it in our actions, the haters can’t win.
I was lucky enough to see Rent onstage in Vancouver twenty years ago, two years after its debut. Rent is a rock musical written by Jonathan Larson, who died suddenly at 36, the morning of its off-Broadway debut in 1996. Talk about no day but today. RIP Jonathan.
I listened to the soundtrack on my road trip last month because the Victoria Operatic Society is performing the musical this fall. My nine year old will be disappointed there are no suitable roles for her. ☺️
Rent is loosely based on the opera “La Bohème” by Puccini, which concerns starving artists in Paris in the 1840s, facing the tuberculosis epidemic. Rent places the struggling artists in New York City in the 1990s, facing the AIDS epidemic.
In 2018, the messages of both these great works are more important than ever as the world faces the trumpidemic that threatens to tear apart the United States. Is that melodramatic? Maybe. I hope so.
As a white, cisgender woman growing up and living in a middle class neighbourhood in Canada, I have been spared the horrific abuse I see hurled at the marginalized, though even as a young girl it hurt my heart to realize humans could treat each other so badly.
Now being a member of another marginalized group, the disabled, I have an inkling (the teeniest for sure) of the challenges so many people face in being accepted and valued in our society.
Diversity, tolerance, love, friendship, hope, despair, addiction, disease, discrimination, the class divide and the death of art – timeless themes that we human beings should have a better handle on by now.
Instead, a Muppet-like wannabe dictator (sorry Jim Henson) a misguided, heartless president is sowing the seeds of hatred, intolerance and bigotry through his ridiculous Twitterganda and isolationism.
The strongest weapon against his particular brand of nastiness, is LOVE. Seasons of love, people, that’s what we need.
No day but today.
Have you seen Rent? If not, I highly recommend! The actual musical is way better but they did a great job with the movie which includes most of the original Broadway cast. It’s on Netflix. 😊
I propose we start a new hashtag movement. It seems the haters and the trolls are the ones who spend time and energy spewing hatred online. Rather than wasting our (precious spoonie) energy by engaging in a useless attempt at intelligent debate, let’s drown them with a tsunami of #fightthetrumpidemic and #chooselove hashtags every time they comment.
In order to stem the tide of ignorance and hate, we have to overcome the apathy, stop talking amongst ourselves and start fighting back. Who’s with me?
Fight the trumpidemic. Choose LOVE!
Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful week!
Thank you so much, Alyssa! So true – I’m not loving this migraine that’s moved in though. Grrrr… I know you can relate. Headaches are bad enough, never mind the ones that go on for days. I hope you’re having a great week. 💕
Oh dear I can definitely relate way too much! I have gone a a few days with just a av nagging headache, but a little while ago it progressed. I think it has progressed to a migraine because of stress. I hope you feel better soon and that nasty migraine leaves you alone! Best wishes sweetie ♡♡
I am with you! We don’t need to add to the growing hatred around us. We can only mend through love and compassion. You are a brave voice. Thanks for the post.
Is trump the reason? Does he bear the responsibility or do all of us? Too often hate is fought with hate, and nothing goes anywhere. Love is constantly spoken about, yet rarely practiced. Would you invite trump over to your home for dinner and conversation and treat him as you would want to be treated?
Trump is the boogie man like Russia and anything else that people can blame them for, yet how much do we look to ourselves to treat others as we want to be treated?
I acknowledge your distain for trump, but does that go both ways? If you dislike someone for any reason, are they in-turn allowed to show you the same prejudice?
Perhaps love and no hashtags. Perhaps grace and humility, rather than judgement. We can only control ourselves and expecting others to do as we do or act as we act is simply unfair.
No, it should be about conversation for sure. If people get defensive when people question their views, they probably shouldn’t be sharing them publicly.
You speak of marginalized people, yet the so-called racists and other groups are marginalized by the other side. Who is worthy and who is not worthy in your mind?
Everyone is worthy. That is the point. Being marginalized doesn’t mean being on the other side, it means being in a segment that doesn’t get considered by society as a whole.
Walk a Myelin* My Shoes 
Awesome! Choose love for sure! Loved reading it! Much better way to fight the stupid, the uneducated, and the willfully ignorant!
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💕💕💕
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This was a brilliant post Amanda! Thank you so much for sharing this and love is very important in our lives!
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Thank you so much, Alyssa! So true – I’m not loving this migraine that’s moved in though. Grrrr… I know you can relate. Headaches are bad enough, never mind the ones that go on for days. I hope you’re having a great week. 💕
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Oh dear I can definitely relate way too much! I have gone a a few days with just a av nagging headache, but a little while ago it progressed. I think it has progressed to a migraine because of stress. I hope you feel better soon and that nasty migraine leaves you alone! Best wishes sweetie ♡♡
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Thanks, lovely. You too! 💕
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You are more than welcome!!
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I am with you! We don’t need to add to the growing hatred around us. We can only mend through love and compassion. You are a brave voice. Thanks for the post.
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Thank you so much for reading! 💕
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Is trump the reason? Does he bear the responsibility or do all of us? Too often hate is fought with hate, and nothing goes anywhere. Love is constantly spoken about, yet rarely practiced. Would you invite trump over to your home for dinner and conversation and treat him as you would want to be treated?
Trump is the boogie man like Russia and anything else that people can blame them for, yet how much do we look to ourselves to treat others as we want to be treated?
I acknowledge your distain for trump, but does that go both ways? If you dislike someone for any reason, are they in-turn allowed to show you the same prejudice?
Perhaps love and no hashtags. Perhaps grace and humility, rather than judgement. We can only control ourselves and expecting others to do as we do or act as we act is simply unfair.
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You’re absolutely right, Trump does not bear all the responsibility. I don’t agree that love is rarely practiced, it depends on where you’re looking.
I’m not sure I follow all your arguments but thanks for your comment.
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Totally, we do not need to agree, thanks for being open minded. I appreciate your feedback
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No, it should be about conversation for sure. If people get defensive when people question their views, they probably shouldn’t be sharing them publicly.
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Exactly, you got a good head on your shoulders.
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Thanks, it’s a bit wobbly sometimes but it serves me well… 😜
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Ha, it’s just heartwarming to speak with another person who is in the opposite side but holds similar values.
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You speak of marginalized people, yet the so-called racists and other groups are marginalized by the other side. Who is worthy and who is not worthy in your mind?
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Everyone is worthy. That is the point. Being marginalized doesn’t mean being on the other side, it means being in a segment that doesn’t get considered by society as a whole.
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That’s the problem with society.
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