‘What’s important?” is one of my favorite lines from Stuart Little, E.B. White’s classic children’s book. I return to that question for guidance whenever I feel stuck. Today, when prices have been and continue to rise on everything from eggs to dolls, I find that the real answer to what’s important leads me to our country’s very foundation.
- As people are being denied asylum, even though the Statue of Liberty has been welcoming the poor and “wretched” since 1886, even though some of our greatest innovations have been brought about by immigrants, e.g., Alexander Hamilton, Albert Einstein, Madeline Albright, Levi Strauss, Miriam Makeba, and so many others;
- As words and concepts such as slavery, gender, diversity, equity, inclusion, racial prejudice, etc. cause books to be taken off shelves at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy and other places, and Freedom of Speech, as enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, is being denied to We the People;
- As Freedom of the Press is being threatened by frivolous lawsuits; and We the People are being denied factual, independent journalism; and misinformation and disinformation are making it difficult to discern truth, and therefore create uninformed or misinformed decisions at the voting booth;
- Funds that have already been allocated via the people’s representatives’ votes in Congress to our national parks, medical research, Social Security offices, grants to help states house migrants, food assistance and so on, have been impounded illegally by the Trump administration.
All of this and much more adds up to our very form of government eroding into authoritarianism. The rising cost of food and toys is but a distraction. “Look here, don’t look there.”
No. I answer, “what’s important?” by saying our Constitution must be adhered to. No one is above the law. We the People must raise our collective voices and speak up, as we have, and continue to do so.
On Sunday, May 18, thousands of people, including me, participated in Hands Across Chicagoland. The Oak Park contingent was one of many groups along Ogden Avenue. I’m gratified to report that the majority of vehicles driving by honked and showed their approval. Like fear, I believe courage is contagious.
A military-style parade through the streets of Washington D.C. is being planned to commemorate the president’s birthday on Flag Day, June 14. Meantime, peaceful rallies are being planned everywhere else, including Scoville Park, to declare “No Kings Day” on June 14. Go to indivisible.org to register.
This is what’s important.
Iris Yipp is the former longtime co-owner of Magic Tree Bookshop in Oak Park.
Iris Yipp
Oak Park