Summer always seemed so long when we were young. I know that's a cliche "old person" thing to say, but it is so true. As a teacher, I am deeply fortunate that I can take the summer months to do everything that couldn't be done during the school year, and of course, plan for the next. I am grateful that I was able to spend this summer working to build the Resident Evil HOA Lectures, LLC. As in my previous newsletter, I have heard from so many people who are truly suffering in HOA Hells and who find my work to be of some sort of benefit or support to them. As I've said, even if one person found it to be comforting or empowering, it would be worth all of it.
If anything, my time working on this and with all of you has galvanized my resolve to carry forward and keep fighting. The atrocities I hear about on a daily basis are infuriating. It is always shocking, but not surprising, that people are capable and willing to treat others the way that they do in HOA Hells. It's shocking in that you're hearing it directly from someone and you think, "This can't possibly happen in America, can it?" It's not surprising, however, in that it seems like everywhere you turn, people have similar stories over and over and over.
It's also not surprising because, as a historian, I have seen this human dynamic playing out in every era and in every civilization. Of course, there are cycles of peace and growth, but then the wheel turns. A tyrant or psychopath rises to power or there is an environmental catastrophe that spurs war and destruction. In Hindu theology, Shiva is both creator and destroyer. It is the cycle of life. Yet that doesn't mean that we can't or shouldn't fight to prevent those cycles.
The Great American Experiment rejected the Old World structure of King-as-Demi-God and attempted to form a democracy, as the Greeks had for a time. The innovation of this philosophy is that phrase etched into every American heart, that all are created equal. We are all accountable to one another. We have the right and obligation to call it out when someone or a group of people are violating our common rights.
At least, in theory. In practice, well, that's what we're fighting for. Freedom, so easily lost with a nod, can only be won back with a fight. I can't think of a better way to have spent my summer than to create a way to share all that I have learned with all of you. It really could be a full-time job. I do hope to remain at least somewhat active once the semester starts. Teaching is a more than full-time job, so often what happens is that anything aside from it that I do doesn't even end up on the back burner. It ends up in containers in the back of the fridge. I truly hope that doesn't happen with this. I do want to dedicate my free time to finish building the foundations for REHL and to continue to help and support all of you.
I am grateful to you. You give me the hope and drive I need to keep working. I truly do feel that together, we can fix this.
All the best,
Amanda
