Dear Unpackers,
Hey there, friends! Hope you all have been doing as well as possible. Over here, we’re thinking about the news, and we’re wondering: How do we decide which issues really command a change in your life, versus the ones that you observe mostly as a bystander?
Carrie here. We all know how overwhelming the news can be. About 66 percent of Americans attest to news fatigue. (Side note: Consider this a quick shout-out for the value of local news, which can connect us to our physical world and inspire a sense of community.)
Assessing what to put into our reality, and what to keep at an arm’s distance, can feel fungible and clumsy.
In an essay about the state of covid, Dhruv Khullar wrote, “For individuals, fighting the pandemic can feel a bit like combating climate change. Why recycle when policymakers allow carbon emissions to rise inexorably? … But it’s also true that individuals retain some agency.”
Swimming in the variables of time constraints, personal fulfillment and the needs of the world can stymie decisions and actions in the first place. This leads us to an idea. What if we all ran on our own personal platforms and picked our agenda items, like politicians running for office?
It could work like this: We pick our issues and commit our time. Maybe it’s voting rights, mental health, or wait, don’t forget about the sea turtles. Those are the issues we engage with and embed in the rhythm of our day-to-day lives—the ones where we go to the meetings, talk about with friends, and fundraise. Then, with additional issues, we stay informed, donate whenever/whatever we can, and stay open to shifting our platforms.
Readers, what do you think?
Water Cooler Convo
Carrie: Emily! Have we discussed the healing powers of Poetry Unbound yet? Love these podcast episodes. They are pretty short (i.e. about 15 min) and Pádraig Ó Tuama’s readings feel both essential and honest.
Emily: No! I’m into the short, 15-min podcast concept though (especially with my new TikTok brain). I’ll listen to one TODAY!
Carrie: Your TikTok brain? You terrify me, ER!
Emily: Okay but seriously, who out there wants to talk about Severance with me? Megan? Carrie, have you watched yet? C’mon guys I need to discuss!
Carrie: What’s up with all these shows that start with S, like Succession, Severance and Station Eleven?
Carrie: In the world of reading, I flew through Educated by Tara Westover and Treasure Island!!! by Sara Levine, and I would recommend both. You?
Emily: I loved Educated!
That’s a wrap for today, everyone. If you can, tell us what you think of the personal platform idea.
Have a great weekend.
Your pals,
Carrie & Emily