Mike’s Rumblings – 08-25-23

This is an audio version of Mike Murphy‘s Friday rumblings. This is a regular post on Facebook that I’ve turned into a podcast. I decided Mike’s words needed a wider audience. You may agree or disagree with what he says, but there is certainly much food for thought contained here. You can friend Mike on Facebook for the printed version or read it below Rumblings. 8.25.23 1. Roland Martin, author of the book “White Fear”, believes that a good chunk of White America is running scared, knowing that the clock is ticking and in 20 years or so people of color will be in the majority. So, what do people do when they are afraid? The smart ones decide to find out why fear is taking over. Is this fear rational or irrational?  Others (not so introspective)  just reactively grab on to their fear, head to a rallying area, and go on the attack. Martin is convinced one of the rallying points is CRT – Critical Race Theory – which he describes as “a boogeyman” term to refer to any discussion in school about the history of systemic racism in America and the contemporary reality of ongoing systemic racism.” He believes fearful white people simply do not want that analysis provided because they don’t have a rebuttal to it. He’s right. CRT is a rallying cry for anything and everything having to do with race. Bad actors in a variety of intertwined movements love using it because they know it scares their peeps and when the peeps tremble in fear, that’s a good thing.  It helps cement their power and influence. Pretty sick, huh? 2. “If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there’s shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.” ~ Harriet Tubman I want what this woman said and experienced taught in schools.  3. I just finished the book, “Wild by Nature: From Siberia to Australia: Three Years Alone in the Wilderness On Foot”  by Sarah Marquis, a National Geographic Explorer,  who solo walks long, long distances in all kinds of interesting and potentially scary places. Her definition of adventure is  “Any enterprise where the risk is considerable and the chances of success, dubious.” Wow. Most people’s understanding of an adventure doesn’t include the words ‘considerable risk with dubious chances for success.’   That’s why we need ( at least I do) people like Ms. Marquis who do extraordinary things and seek out  maximum adventure. She stirs my heart and imagination. And that stirring prods me to be braver, to risk a bit more, and to dream bigger dreams. I’m never going to be her. I just need to be the best version of me I can be.  4. Catherine of Sienna lived in the 1300’s. The Center for  Action and Contemplation tells us that “She called on men to recognize the God-given mission of women affirmed by Jesus, enshrined in the Gospels, and confirmed by the history of women in the church. She called on  women to refuse rejections, to demand equality, to speak their spirituality, to give their God-given gifts, whether these gifts are called for or not, called holy or not, legitimated or not because no one, not even the church, has the right to deny the gifts of God or the God who works through the gifts of women….”