“Peace through strength”?
Bullshit.
How about
peace through compassion
peace through commitment
peace through diplomacy, through communication
peace through a meeting of minds, however small they are
peace through common goals
peace through disarmament
peace through understanding
No one person can solve this, because
No one person caused it
It just feels that way
No, that man is propped up by millions of smaller weasels
with smaller minds, smaller thoughts, smaller world views
There is only one way we can have peace right now in our country
and it ain’t just through politicians (although the geezers could step aside, which would help)
It’s through determination and clear-headedness
through organization and strong mutual support
through harnessing and sharing radical love
but also, when needed, an abundance of WTF energy
Because what the actual fuck in going on here?
© 2025 Sharp Little Pencil/Amy Barlow Liberatore
For What’s Going On? The prompt is peace. That subject is so fraught at this moment. It’s easy to grab a beer (or a joint) and reach for the remote. Watch those bizarre shows where grown people put themselves through hell in hopes of winning fame. Or the ubiquitous talking heads on the news – whatever the issue, whichever side… maddening and biased. And how late-night comics keep trying to make this funny is beyond me. I can’t laugh. This shit is as serious as a heart attack and about as funny as a crutch, as my mom used to say.
Politicians may be useless, but pick up the phone anyway. Then, get in touch with your senior neighbors, your single-parent neighbors, your Queer friends, your Latino neighbors. They need your full-throated support.
Because doing something is way better than what most people are doing right about now. And keep praying, but match it with action. Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 