We need to work together to get things done.
The results of midterm elections with Democrats taking control of the House while Republicans held on tight to their Senate majority illustrate the divided state of this great nation.
Tom Suozzi, a Democrat re-elected to Congress remarked in his victory speech: “Our country has been pulled apart. The vision we have to have is how to actually govern and get things done.” He said: “I´ll work with anybody, any Democrat, any Republican, any Independent, if they´re serious about getting something done.” He went on to name “life and death issues”, such as immigration, climate change, health care, and end of gun violence. But how can we work together when there´s such a great divide in values, especially when it comes to Earth Matters?
For years, Suozzi has stressed that addressing climate change is essential to our national security and that developing clean energy reduces our dependence on foreign oil.
Climate change is happening whether or not we believe in it, that is the inconvenient truth.
With climate change deniers in the White House, it can feel disheartening to work in the field of grassroots education and environmental advocacy. But the pendulum swings both ways and midterm elections give wings to great hope and encouragement in the historical many “firsts,” especially in terms of female leadership in this country. The results poured in and opened the floodgates to unleash feminine creative energy.
I volunteer for an organization called Treesisters: Women Seeding Change. Treesisters are reforesting the tropics and we center our work on empowering women. Why women? Because women birth life. It’s timely for women to step up and speak up. Why the tropics? Because planting tropical forest is a powerful way to curb the effects of climate change.
Grassroots efforts, canvassing and dedication can beat big money and special interests. Voters across the country made history by inviting record numbers of women to American politics. Adding color and creativity to Congress, Palestinian-American, Somali-American, Native-American, Muslim, women of diverse backgrounds took their seats in governance.
Deb Haaland is one of two Native American Congresswomen elected this month. She made environmental and public health the focus of her campaign. She linked historic drought in her state to climate change.
The Democratic majority in New York state Senate is especially encouraging for local grassroots environmental efforts. We trust our newly elected senators will continue to care deeply about the environment and our children. Environmental health should be first priority. Without clean air, food and water we can’t address all the other important and pressing issues.
The bipolar nature of this nation, most evident in the days leading up to Election Day, leaves us in one of two places. You’re either ‘for’ or ‘against.’ There’s ‘you’ and then there’s ‘the other.’ Political dis-ease is rooted in the structure of a two-party system that inherently divides this country. How can we stand united when there are two warring sides? How can we get things done? Healthy democracy has many voices. Lately I feel like we’re living in demo-crazy.
The Latin phrase E pluribus unum translates into “out of many, one” and was adopted by the founding fathers in 1782 in response to 13 states coming together to make one.
We need to work together to get things done.” — Tom Suozzi
Let’s start with non-violent communication in our families and extend that to our communities. At the Thanksgiving table, attempt to bridge the divide with education. Refrain from disengaging in toxic contempt or worse, lash out in aggression.
Raising the cultural consciousness takes a lot of patience. It´s like teaching a puppy how to sit or a kid how to ride a bike. Have a strategy, keep trying and trust they´ll eventually get it. Truth is, we need all hands on deck to respond appropriately to the consequences of climate change. The wonderfully diverse and sadly divided States of America need to unite in the fight against climate change. There´s no time to loose.
Those who’ve lost their sight on what matters would do well in revisiting the words of president Theodore Roosevelt who declared: “Of all the questions which can come before this nation… there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land… Conservation is a great moral issue for it involves the patriotic duty of insuring the safety and continuance of the nation.
Dr. Hildur Palsdottir, Founder of Sol Center
Port Washington
