Artist Paul Madonna draws a weekly comic for the San Francisco Chronicle called All Over Coffee. It's one of the few things in the paper worth checking out. Normally he draws cityscapes adorned with excerpts of an unseen conversation. Today's comic in particular caught my eye.
The message itself is very powerful and made even more so by the fact that this actual graffiti can be found in the Mission in SF.
When I first saw it, my reaction was dismissive, thinking it was feel-good nonsense. But reflecting on it made me appreciate it more, and how indeed existence alone inspires hope. Whose existence gives you hope?
I think about the Palestinian refugees today on the 58th anniversary of the Nakba, still clinging to their house keys. About the Iraqis surviving and fighting the occupation and appropriation of their resources. About mothers, fathers and children; brothers and sisters; lovers and friends. About political prisoners. Hungry kids in West Oakland; sick kids in Hunters Point. The homeless guy always sitting at the bus stop. About immigrants. About everyone struggling, wherever they are, whose faces I will never see, hands I will never shake, and names I will never learn, for a life with dignity and justice.
Their existence gives me hope. And it's real - not just feel-good nonsense.
Scott- your blog just gets better and better. I regularly check in to keep tabs on activism and social movements. The articles are concise, insightful, and humorous. Rock on brotha.
Josh
Posted by: josh | May 16, 2006 at 03:41 AM
Thanks Josh! I really appreciate it!
Posted by: scott | May 16, 2006 at 05:41 AM
I feel that way about you, you know, that your existence gives me hope. I also think Josh is right on: keep writing, it just keeps getting better.
Posted by: Tulip | May 17, 2006 at 04:21 AM