This is no fun to write, and yet’s appropriate to take stock of what’s happening as I write this and as you read it.
As you probably know, on this day to celebrate American freedom several thousand children are being kept imprisoned away from their families. They are stressed and they need help. I know, this isn’t a fun thing to be reminded of right now on your day off. And yet it’s happening right now.
How does this relate to cuddling and the mission of Cuddle Sanctuary? This article from The Atlantic describes The Exceptional Cruelty of a No-Hugging Policy where children have been blocked from comforting even each other.
No hugging? WTF?!
If you’re like me, it can feel overwhelming to take any action at all. I’d rather watch Netflix, finish my finances for June or go out and celebrate 4th of July. Maybe there’s a way to take an intelligent action and have a marvelous day. That’s the option I’m going for. Join me?
Here’s what we can do right now.
Contact Congress Easily
There’s an app called Countable that can make it easy to send emails or even short videos to all of your representatives at once.
In less than a minute I just sent my reps a video telling them that the Department of Health and Human Services should continue to reveal the number of children it’s separating from their families. It was easy breezy.
The next few suggestions are from the marvelous Mama Gena community:
Help the Helpers
If you’re able, make a financial donation to Together Rising. Experts on the ground say what these children need most right now are lawyers and social workers and this fund will go towards that.
Advocate for a Child
Are you good with kids? The Young Centre is looking for child advocate volunteers in Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Harlingen, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC.
You would spend time with and advocate for an unaccompanied child through their deportation proceedings. If you’re feeling called, click the link and learn more.
Cast a Spell
If you’re someone who believes in the power of setting intentions, this powerful ritual is for you. Starhawk, who created it reminds us that it “works best when it is grounded with real, practical actions in the world.” (See ideas above.)
Words of Inspiration
The Statue of Liberty has this poem inscribed at her base. The words are emotional and have special meaning today.
The New Colossus
By Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”