Stealing Shamelessly

This was posted to the local Burning Man list, and I think it bears repeating here. Since I was the one who posted it, I hereby give myself permission to quote myself.

Well, this is a first.

I don't think I've ever agreed with a thing [Very Conservative Fellow] has posted to this list, but he's just put, very bluntly, what I've been trying to tell people all week.

We've all made the joke. We've all laughed at the Jesusland map. We've all been only sort of kidding about packing up and getting the hell out. It's a way to relieve stress.

Do I think that there will be the mass exodus [he] predicts? No. But I know some people will leave. A fellow I work with has already filled out his application for Canadian citizenship. And I was very close to being one of those people on Tuesday.

Then I started thinking it through: this is my home. I've never felt more certain of that than I am right now. I don't agree with many of the things that this country has done, and I expect to disagree with a lot more in the future. But I'll be damned if I let a pack of lunatic thugs chase me out of my home, merely because a slim majority fell for their lines.

Look at it this way: if we go, maybe we'll improve our own quality of life. Maybe not, I can't really say. But what about your parents, your friends, the lives you've built here? What about the people who aren't as privileged as we are, for whom picking up and starting fresh halfway across the globe isn't an option?

Stay and fight for them, and you can improve everyone's quality of life. Suddenly, that feels worth it to me.

So go ahead and forward the emails, make the jokes, look at the immigration laws, smile, and feel better. But don't get lured into believing it's the only, or even the best solution.

Humor helps us right now. And tomorrow, action helps us even more.