I'm Gonna Think About Frogs

I am stressed the fuck out.

My friend made the comparison that the state of the world feels like a “frog in the pot” situation. If you put a frog directly into boiling water, it will try and jump right out. However, if you put a frog in a pot of tepid water and slowly turn up the heat, it will be less aware of the gradual build until it is too late. Though 2020 has been a quick temperature jump, it clear that each tragedy, moment of chaos, and blind eye turned is slowly turning up the temperature even more.

I thought the pot was already boiling.

Is that naïve? Is that bad? Am I stupid to believe that things would be better at this point? Am I losing my optimism? I have no answers to any of these questions. All I know is that I want to donate to Lebanon relief funds, but I also need to afford groceries in a month. I know that I can’t go back to work because the coronavirus is still being treated as a political issue instead of a pandemic. I know that congress is deciding to go on vacation rather than helping their represented. I know that I am a frog sitting in a pot of water that I can feel getting hotter, and I don’t know how to get out.

How much better is life outside the pot?

Outside of the pot, a warehouse just blew up in Lebanon killing almost a hundred people. Outside the pot, China is forcing people into concentration camps to be “re-educated” because they are Muslim. Outside of the pot, countries who put in effective measures to contain COVID-19 and protect their people are successfully reopening and enjoying their summer. Outside of the pot is not glamorously perfect or an escape from the reality. However, there are frogs that have a healthy living environment that fosters personal growth and general safety. We can see the achievable personal and systematic opportunities that exist if we don’t try to boil the frogs alive.

Okay, so the water doesn’t have to be boiling. Why does it keep getting hotter?

Someone is turning up the heat and not actually checking the frogs. He claims to be checking the frogs and keeping their best interests in mind. However, he’s just “seeing” through the steam-filled lid and pretending that the frogs are fine. He’s not acknowledging how many frogs are dying from getting sick. He’s not acknowledging how many frogs are getting killed for the color of their skin. He’s not acknowledging that he is taking away the frogs’ resources to get out if they need to.

This great melting pot that we’ve been taught to believe in is getting pretty hot, and it doesn’t need to be. Let’s get rid of the guy who keeps turning up the heat and replace him with someone who actually knows how to follow a recipe for success. It’s only a matter of time before the pot boils over.

Go to www.vote.org to make sure you are ready for election day.