We are having one of those times again where people are talking about keeping the politics out of crafting.
When anyone asks if they can just shop at the store and not talk politics, the answer to that is yes. You are welcome to shop in the store without talking about any topics that are hurting your current sanity. I know some days it feels like my sanity is holding on by a very frayed thread. *And if you don't want to tell us that you can't talk about something, just let Tony the Topic Change Goat do it for you.
Personally, I don't think there is any decision you can make that is completely void of politics or effect on the humans and world around you. And yarn is my art, its my joy and release and expression. So it is going to be inherently "political". I could never say I don't care about what is happening to others humans sharing this world with me.
I am a giant fan of the show The Good Place, so I definitely recommend you watch it if you have not yet. But there is a huge plotline where they discuss how even buying flowers for someone can be overall a negative in the world because of all the many little things that went into getting those flowers to the store. How the land the flowers were grown on was acquired, how the farming effected the surrounding environment, the treatment or pay of the workers caring for and harvesting and transporting the flowers, the gas or plastic used in the packaging and transportation of those flowers. Point being, just because you are not actively aware and processing all of those things, they are still happening.
The things that are happening right now are and have been visible. Ignoring them or actively avoiding acknowledging what is happening is not going to make anything better. Assigning a political party to specific decisions and actions and then pretending that the who will excuse the what, is not going to make anything better.
And criticizing or arguing about the best or 'correct' way to organize and support and just survive what is happening is not going to make anything better either. Make a hat, send a little money, go to a protest, help make signs or give rides, or even just sharing the information about what is going on. These are all valid. So is quietly making sure that you and your community are safe. Loud is not the only way to be helpful.
And if you have nothing to give because you need help right now, reaching out can be scary when so much is going on. But please reach out to us at Rebel Purl or to people you know you can trust.
It is so important to keep up your own sanity. Don't let the rage swallow you. Don't give in to feeling helpless. Dance and sing and be with each other. We need to keep the love and joy going to remember why we are fighting.
We at the shop are doing what we can. We are making hats and handing out constitutions. We are collecting hats for people who don't craft or don't yarncraft. We are sharing information about what is happening. We are making signs and protesting. We are trying to build community with our neighbors and friends and fellow crafters. We are trying to be there for each other. And we are trying to stay sane and loving. Which on some days means talking about puppies instead of politics. We are doing our best to be a safe place to rest or to rage.
And we are crafting.
-Mary