Storage Locker #102

There comes a time when every person has the choice whether to speak out. You can come at it from a place of principle, faith, politics, or even that dark lonely place of utter isolation. But you must decide.

Not speaking out remains an option, of course, but that too sends a message. A very loud one.

***

Yesterday, for the first time in several months, I visited my files, journals and writings. They live in Storage Locker #102 not very far from here. Not having access to them has hampered my memoir writing this year, but in its place I have committed my thoughts and feelings to essays here at Facebook instead.

It is clear that many Facebook employees are dissatisfied with founder Mark Zuckerberg's failure to take a stand against the divisive rhetoric from the top that is terrorizing our society. I support those employees; it is time for Facebook, the multi-billion-dollar empire, to take a stand.

So why would I not just show my support by boycotting this space? Because that would be choosing to remain silent.

Walking into the storage facility reminded me of walking onto a film lot. There is that eerie feeling that this is a place but not a real one. It can look like a small town. There is some bustle, there is some quiet. There are rows of buildings with doors that are closed.

I didn't realize that two of my old kitchen chairs had survived the move; I thought all furniture save a clothes dresser was gone. Sometimes it can be strange to discover which objects stir your memories, and why.

I liked those chairs because they are sturdy. When the kids were little, they would rock backwards in chairs, as all kids do, and I've never understood why. Anyway, being protective of them and also sick and tired of visits to the E.R., I acquired chairs that might make it harder for them to fall over backwards yet again.

Sometimes, on a film lot, the actor I was working with arranged an early story meeting before her daily shooting session. This was because she was filming one movie while working with us on her next.

On occasion, I was invited to stay after our meeting and watch the shoot. Making a movie is a boring process, frankly, with lots of standing around and little action. Take after take of the scenes lulls you into a state of complacency. That BTW is a sign you will never make a good producer.

Because a producer can sense the right take, whenever it happens. Time stands still.

Meanwhile, for the rest of us, including the actors, finally leaving the lot is a relief.

***

Joe Biden gave the first great speech I've ever heard from him this week. This was not partisan politics but a man taking a moral stand against the divisive rhetoric emanating from the White House. The huge demonstrations day after day are impassioned pleas for justice. The violence that breaks out on the margins stems from two sources -- the despair of the broken hearted and the evil actions of provocateurs.

The most frightening, though not surprising revelations this week involve armed right-wing militias gathering to protect Idaho from leftist insurgents or plotting to disrupt the peaceful protests by provoking police violence. This is dangerous. Democracies fall when forces like these go unchecked.

As is usually the case, ignorance and conspiracy theories are behind these developments. There are no leftist insurgents.

General James Mattis also gave a courageous speech this week. It is at moments like these that patriots find their voice.

It doesn't matter who is a Republican or a Democrat, a conservative or a liberal, politically active or not.  It doesn't matter who believes in a god or who does not. Money won't help; neither will fame. Age doesn't matter, or physical stature. It even doesn't matter whether you can hold a tune.

You can still speak.

The most positive news reaching me today was that last night, as the curfew kicked took hold in Oakland, there was no violence, no looting, no burning things down. The police stayed away, even though the crowd was huge.

Then it began. There was dancing in the streets.

"Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains
Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain
Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no keyWe can be free and we can sing, let freedom ring" -- Bill Gaither

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