Companions

The question of what to do about climate change just won’t leave me alone. What can I do? What should I do? I have the same questions about racism, sexism, and other oppressions. It’s been an interesting journey – learning about these, thinking about them, realizing how related they all are.

These aren’t the constant companions of every retired, white man in the United States, but I’m finding they make my life interesting. There’s always something new. (Sometimes it’s a new need to struggle with discouragement, but often it’s a new friend, a new idea, a new possibility.)

I keep finding other people who are interested in these questions, or who are at least curious about them.  I hope this blog can be your companion as you figure out your own ongoing relationship with climate change, racism, and staying hopeful and energetic.

I’ve been a kindergarten teacher, an elementary school principal, an activist, an anti-racism trainer, and a long-time student and leader of social justice peer counseling.  I’m a father, a husband, and a new grandfather!    I’ve been blessed with co-workers, friends, and family members of different races, classes, religions, sexes, and political affiliations.  They’ve taught me, corrected me, enlightened me, and challenged me.  I’m sure the readers of this blog will do the same.

Despite frequent feelings of discouragement, I still believe that together we can make the changes that we need to build a society that works for everyone and preserves the natural environment. Whether we like it or not, we are all in this together.

My real hope is that some of what appears in this blog will enable you to engage more with people around you on these issues and lead to you having your own new thoughts.

We face what may be the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced.  We’re going to need a great many of us thinking, feeling, and acting, to figure out and do what needs to be done.