Watching is Helping
The Power of Observation
When I was a kid, my mother encouraged me with the oft-repeated, “Watching is helping.” She was redirecting me from who-knows-what, but when it was time for her to make pie, I’d welcome the refrain and scurry to grab the kitchen stool closest to her.
While she rolled out the pie crust, I saw how she floured the board, settled the crust into the pie plate, trimmed the edges, cut the apples, and dotted the butter before topping it off and crimping the edges. From the scraps of crust, I tasted the slightly salty dough and knew it was going to be good.
It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized she was also clearing space for herself, keeping me under her watchful eye without my interfering or making a mess or interrupting her process. It was advice and encouragement, with a dash of admonishment. I could be useful, she was saying, just by being present and engaged. I thought I was helping her, when in fact I was invested in each of those pies and, ultimately, learned how to bake one myself. Now two more generations are hearing, “watching is helping.”
Can I Get a Witness?
I was reminded of the power of observation when I read this New Yorker story about a talented and colorful baseball coach who stood up for his teen players when they were confronted by ICE agents in New York City’s Riverside neighborhood. Though players were initially scared away from returning to practice, an immigration attorney volunteered to be present when they next gathered. Gradually the players returned, knowing that they had, at least, a witness.
Just showing up to watch makes a difference. A couple attorney friends of mine in Minneapolis are doing this as well, observing immigration court cases involving teens. Being there is its own form of documentation. Firsthand accounts and personal notes, even if not shared publicly, become the front line in the fight against falsehoods and disappearing people.
Documenting the Before Times
Last week it was reported in The New York Times that Trump has told National Park workers to report any signs that '‘disparage’ America. It’s shocking to think of historic fact being removed from displays and didactics for the sake of aligning with this thin-skinned president and his vision of a great (whitewashed) country. Nevermind learning from our mistakes or investing in education and science.
The part that struck me, though, was the reference to a University of Minnesota-led program, supported by librarians and historians, to document existing signs before they are removed. To date, nearly 2,500 signs have been photographed and submitted to their Save our Signs website. Watching is helping.
I know more than a few of you are bone tired of reading the news and feeling the feelings. This sense of hopelessness expands as we consider our own powerlessness.
To that I say, feel free to stay in your lane, focusing on areas of personal interest. Just keep your eyes open, because watching is helping, observing is documenting, documenting is preserving history, and writing history is telling your story. You don’t need to be the central character to participate. Maybe watching is the extent of our part in the fight to improve the world.
Or maybe watching turns to action. When I.C.E. is in the neighborhood, when basic rights are denied, when the signs are removed, vocalizing what we see creates a safer community. Today’s story about the supportive presence of neighbors in Los Angeles, literally blowing whistles when ICE agents are approaching, demonstrates the impact on community, settling nerves and finding power in being present.
Related Bits
Running parallel to the National Parks sign-removal story is the announced withdrawal of the United States from UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. I’m most familiar with UNESCO’s work preserving cultural heritage sites around the world and promoting the sort of tourism that benefits – even rescues – local economies. I’m watching.
As Stephen Colbert remarked after his Late Show cancellation (to go into effect a few months down the road, after this season), “They made a mistake. They left me alive.” We can be confident that Colbert will keep watch.
Soundtrack
When I started writing this last week, I was inflight and listening to “Bob Dylan: the 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration” (1992). At the right moment, this song: “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding).
How can I not include this? Can I Get a Witness, by Marvin Gaye.
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Recently visited Mt Rushmore National Park I saw a sign posted on the walkway up to the Visitor's Center. " Subject to NPS regulation, this area has been designated for First Amendment activities. Such activities are neither sponsored by nor endorsed by the NPS." I didn't see anything like this at Badlands NP but perhaps it isn't as big a draw. The night lighting at Mt Rushmore was fairly straightforward in its explanation of immigration and the growth of the country, but several people felt it needed to be brought up to date. Not sure what they meant by that.