Skip to main content

When the Wind Changes

What about all that wind this weekend--pretty impressive, right? It put a chill on our house and made me want to snuggle deep down under the covers. We went from a Friday where I didn't need a coat on the playground to a Sunday where I was looking for the lining to my winter jacket.

Brr.

Perhaps it's because my daughter received her Olney Theatre Center tickets in the mail and her first show is Mary Poppins, but all this wind made me think of the line of potential governesses lined up at the Banks's house on Cherry Tree Lane. Do you remember the scene where the wind comes and blows away all the dour, somber-looking applicants? Off they go, clutching their newspaper adverts and their inside-out umbrelllas.

Mary Poppins arrives with a change in the wind and makes it clear to the children that she will leave in the same way--when the wind changes.

Most of us don't pay attention to changes in the wind in the literal sense anymore. You may remember that the Banks's neighbor Admiral Boom had his entire house tricked out like a ship and topped with a weather vane. How many of us have weather vanes these days? When we talk about "which way the wind is blowing" we're probably speaking in the metaphorical sense.

The wind has certainly changed in Howard County in the last several weeks and we are being buffeted by the growing gusts. A change in the Board of Education which has prompted last-ditch unpleasantness from those losing power. The local Democratic Party regrouping and facing the future. A national candidate whose election is bringing racist, hate-filled speech and actions.

How will we deal with these changing winds? Well, I saw this yesterday from Lisa Spangler Zovko. It's clear that she hasn't been flattened by current turbulence. She's back and she's pulling no punches.

I'm just a mom, an American. I have minimal power and not a public figure but I will say what many supposed "leaders" refuse to say:


This has NOTHING to do with political parties, and FYI I am a registered independent:


We must denounce white supremacy. We must denounce white nationalism. We must denounce the Alt Right. THIS IS NOT AMERICAN VALUES!!! This is NOT in the constitution. If you are Truly Patriotic and truly love this country you would do the same. I love the pseudo outrage if someone burns a flag or kneels during the Anthem. WHERE IS YOUR OUTRAGE AGAINST HATE???


America is GREAT BECAUSE of our diversity. America is great because we are the land of the free!! If your going to stand for one amendment but not all of our constitution you're not American.


I remember a time where we condemned South Africa for Apartheid. We CANNOT let this be the direction of this great county.

 

The wind is changing, both for good and ill. So carry a little MomZovko around with you today. I have a feeling we're all going to need that kind of strength.

 

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Getting Fresh

One of my favorite days in the Spring comes when this year’s list of Farmer’s Markets is released. That happened this week. New this year are markets in Old Ellicott City and the “Merriweather Market” which, according to the address, will be located here . I mistakenly thought at first glance that it was in the new-construction part of the Merriweather District. I find the name confusing considering its actual location. I’m going to guess that this market is an initiative of the Howard Hughes Corporation because the name seems chosen more for branding purposes than anything else.  Alas, the market in Maple Lawn is gone. The thread on the markets on the County Executive’s FB page will provide you with quite the education in who actually runs the Farmers Markets vs what people often think is going on. Short answer: they are not  chosen nor run by the county. Each market is an independent entity, sometimes started by community volunteers, other times supported by local businesses...

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...

What Kids Are Thinking

  It’s a Monday in February, and if you guessed that a lot of Howard County students have the new cell phone policy on their minds, you’d be right. It will mean big changes and it will be stressful, no matter how much good we hope it will do in the long run. But on this particular Monday cell phones might not be top of mind, as amazing as that seems. Some kids will go to school wondering if they or family members will be seized by ICE. Some will fear that their parents’ employment will be purged by the ongoing rampage of Elon Musk and his cronies through Federal Government. Some fear heightened and renewed racism as programs that supprted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are vilified and destroyed.  Some worry that it soon won’t be safe for them to use the bathroom in school anymore. It goes without saying that some kids fear going to school every day because of the prevalence of school shootings.  And look! Here’s something new to fear. That old hate group, Libs of TikTo...