Triangular Reflections

Some of you political animals (like me) may be familiar with Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor during the Clinton administration and Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley, and his recent writings in which he sadly commented that he felt compelled to wear a black armband during our nation’s 250th anniversary. Many of us had similar emotions as we went through the Fourth of July celebrations. In my family’s case, we nevertheless ultimately chose to tilt optimistic and continue to appreciate the positive side of our national equation, despite deep and dark shadows that feel like a permanent variable within. No American flag waving, but no black bands either; we understand both sentiments.

Within the TW dynamics of June, there was cause to be optimistic, along with a basic line of logic that tells us that we may not be able to easily steer political currents that swirl nationally, but we can engage democracy in our local civic fabric and do with it what we can. In June, we had two events in The Shed that I think gave us all hope; the first meeting of the TW Resilience Club led by Cullen Ridgway, and a presentation from Erin Axelrod, a lead coordinator of the non-profit organization Lift Economy. Both events brought together a dozen or so people, all of them exploring and searching for ways to maintain or improve their control of their freedom and connection to others around them. Our views of “resilience” and “community” differed, but it felt like all of us walked away from those meetings with a sense of connection. Something worthwhile going on in the little Shed, and it brings a kind of relief that we live in a place where such things can stew and manifest beyond.

In the same month, some of us also engaged in a less rosy necessity … pushing, for a second time in a year, to protect a family of friends and immigrants from the hostility and disrespect that has come to shadow so many lives in the last years, in the form of the threat of ICE deportation. And again, we were perhaps able to be just a little more effective as a unified community, rather than motivated by atomized individuals with a notion of Americanism, one based on inclusion and appreciation of labor, rather than exclusivity and rejection. (See Community Action: Support Obdulio.)

It’s a “Two and a Half-Centennial” for America for sure. I feel the hopeful half (my parents are immigrants, my partner Mayumi is a naturalized citizen, and we have our little Triangle!) and fearful half (ICE and revanchism lurks deep). Happy Half-Centennial to All, with fireworks and responsibilities, to our Triangle supporters!

By Serge Glushkoff
TW co-founder

The views expressed above reflect the author’s opinions and may not represent those of Triangle Works or its members.