Keep the Fires Going

Last weekend, my husband and I finished watching the sixth season of All Creatures Great and Small on PBS. James Herriot wrote many books on his experiences as a small- town veterinarian in England, and this show is based on his books.

At the end of the sixth episode, the country gets word that the Japanese have surrendered and WWII is finally over.  The town decides to have a picnic and one resident shares how important it has been to keep the fires burning in support of all those who had to go to war, and all those who didn’t come home. At the end of the night, they climb a hill and light the signal fire.  As their fire roars to life, the camera pans out to the landscape, and signal fires dot the horizon. I felt a sense of awe as the characters experienced a sense of community, of country, of knowing they survived something terrible and “We are all in this together.”

I can’t help but think of how important our signal fires are now in this time of our country’s dark hour, especially in Minnesota. 

Those at the top know they have more power when they can divide us and have us turn against each other.  By their own admission on their website, ICE admits that 73% of those detained by raids are not criminals.  After talking to family in Minnesota and attending informational meetings on what is happening across the country, we are not always in a position where we can keep our neighbors safe.  But we cannot stay silent. We cannot condone this use of illegal force that is ripping the fabric of our society apart.     

We can be a witness in the streets, and march with our fellow Americans. Even if you aren't someone who can march, there is always something you can do. Buy groceries for those who cannot leave their homes, keep vigil at ICE detention centers, write letters,  send emails, make 5 calls a day to our legislators. We must accompany our brothers and sisters of color for we all come from families of immigrants. We can come together in community, and honor those who are at risk by keeping the fires burning, in whatever way that looks like for you. There has never been a more important time to stand up for the truth.   

“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”

Desmond Tutu

Photo from Sparetyre.org