March Musings

 by Mary Reiman

March seems to be such an in-between month. Not winter, not spring. Not warm, not cold. The sweet aroma of spring after the rain last week, the bite in the air from swirling snowflakes this week. March zigs and zags and so do I... 

So, with thanks to those who send me on the quest to read and reflect and ponder … 

March Musings... 

It’s been two years. The CDC Museum COVID-19 Timeline (who knew there was a CDC Museum, let alone that they had such a concise timeline). Here are several of the highlights from the timeline: 

* March 11, 2020    The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. 

* March 13, 2020    President Donald J. Trump declared a nationwide emergency. 

* April 13, 2020      President Trump announces that the U.S. will cease funding to the WHO.

* January 21, 2021  President Biden resumes funding to the World Health Organization. 

We have learned so much...about ourselves and about others...in the past two years. 

March 8th was International Women’s Day. This day had even more meaning this year as we pay tribute to women around the world. There is truly no more important time than now to acknowledge the courage and tenacity we see in the faces of the women leaving their homes, their husbands, their communities to take their children to places of safety. Hopefully, to places where kind and generous citizens of the world will open their arms, providing food, shelter and love. 

 

March 4th post from Heather Cox Richardson (thanks Ross) 

“Every day, people write to me and say they feel helpless to change the direction of our future.  I always answer that we change the future by changing the way people think, and that we change the way people think by changing the way we talk about things. To that end, I have encouraged people to speak up about what they think is important, to take up oxygen that otherwise feeds the hatred and division that have had far too much influence in our country of late. Have any of your efforts mattered? Well, apparently some people think they have. Last week, President Biden’s team reached out to ask if I would like some time with him to have a conversation to share with my readers.” 

Follow the continuation of this post along with her daily updates (free or paid subscriptions) at Letters from an American. 

March 7th ‘You Should Be Weary Right Now’ (thanks Susan) 

As we read and watch and pray about the issues in front of us this month, I find myself exhausted. And then I feel guilty. I have no reason to be tired or whine about my headache, so I found solace in these words from John Pavlovitz, in his post You Should Be Weary Right Now. “...That weariness is confirmation that your heart is working properly. It is your humanity responding to so much inhumanity around you.” 

February 27th Lincoln Journal Star asked for our thoughts. Have you filled out the survey yet? You must, you must! They want to know what issues are most important to us. If there had been a comment section, I would have asked that the next governor work to bring people together, not tear us apart. But alas, the survey focuses on key issues and it is well worth the 10 minutes it takes to fill out the form. Do I believe the gubernatorial candidates will actually read the results of the LJS survey? Hope springs eternal! You have until Tuesday, March 15th (the ides of March). Please fill out the Nebraska citizen survey and share your opinions. If not now, when?