Seasons of Distress and Grief
I almost never weigh in on contemporary issues online. For a business owner, I believe it’s better to be silent. But today I’m going to post some quilt images that I took in February 2019 at Quilt Con. They were awful, and in the time since, I couldn’t bring myself to write about them.
I think it’s because I don’t know what to do with so much pain. I can’t fathom the depth of anguish that would move people to create art like this.
And much of it was made by young people. Gut wrenching. The images speak for themselves.
There were also messages of hope.
The next quilt turned my stomach.
I have more images but I will save them for another day. I have no words for what is happening right now. I will say just this:
I believe that the people whose hearts are broken by racism are not the ones responsible for the violence we are seeing in our cities. But I could be wrong.
“Seasons of Distress and Grief”
You may recognize that line from an old hymn, which has been stuck in my head for days.
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer.
I can’t think of a better description for the time we are living through: A season of distress and grief.
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Tags: current events, protest quilts, quilt commentary, quilt design, quiltcon, racism, social justice
LeAnn Ftobom
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Thank you, Diane! The portrayals brought me to tears. This is, indeed, a season if distress and grief. Praying overtime.
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Diane
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Unfortunately the news media sometimes focuses on violence which only encourages more of the same. Today’s images were I believe more the real America. One which believes in justice for all. Hopefully the ideal will become the reality and the divisions which have been sowed in the recent past will dissipate and we can join together to heal both the body and sole of our nation.
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Robin
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WOW, these are powerful statements that is amazing to me that here we are almost 200yr since the Civil War it feels like we are still fighting for the rights of others. I now live in the south, even tho many do not consider Florida the true South because it’s full of Yankees ( direct quote), I see how many people of color are treated as 2nd class citizens. We have immigrants from every state and country yet the black population is still on the bottom of the totom pole. Why? I wish someone would tell me. They are Americans just as I am. Most have family dating back further in America than mine. Yet still heinous crimes persist against them by the people we are taught to trust and obey. I’m not saying everyone of color is good and perfect but most people of this world are law abiding rightous humans. What can we do?? I think #1 is control what children see in movies,TV, and biggest of all video games. The police of today are my sons age and younger. They’re the first generation addicted to video games. Like everything, understanding starts at home. Killing does hurt and people don’t pop back up like on TV, movies or mostly video games. Children need to understand this. I’m starting to sermonize, I’m sorry because this type of police behavior bothers me when there are so many good officers of the law. Why can’t Americans accept others as equals and go on from there???
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Judy Spomer
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I agree that the ones being destructive have been brought in by some outside source. I can’t conceive how black parents have to teach their children on how to act when around our police force. My grandson is a police corporal and I pray he never treats anyone unjustly.
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Jennifer Grist
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Thank you for sharing these heart-rending images, a tiny window into a world of incomprehensible suffering for which words are inadequate.
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Jan Fitch
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Thanks for sharing these photos
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Deanna Klintworth
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when you think of it, how very sad.
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