March 8 was International Women’s Day, though if you typically rely on Apple or Google’s calendar, you might have missed the designation. Google removed all cultural events and designations from its calendar last year, and Apple appears to have selectively removed the March 8 designation. According to a recent New York Times article, there are close to 300 words and phrases that have been targeted for removal on a wide scope of federal websites and documentation. “Women,” “Black,” “pregnant persons,” “privilege,” “cultural heritage,” and “climate change” are just a few examples. Chances are if you are a living, breathing human, you will find offense with the idea that the vocabulary of our very being is in the process of being erased.
Clearly, that is an impossibility, though there are those who appear to believe that if words were to vanish, the entities or ideas attached to them would cease to exist. Remember “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne? The basic premise is that whatever your dominant thoughts are is what you attract and what you manifest. Take, for example, someone who wants to be a different weight. According to the book, you must first ask for what you want – picture it in your mind. Then, you must believe. And, finally, be ready to receive. Before you disregard this technique of getting what you want, consider the truths of the practice. In reality, if you focus your thoughts and intentions on something you want to achieve, the natural progression may very well be achieving it.
One might imagine why there would be individuals who believe that if they concentrate their efforts on the erasure of all of the things they dislike or don’t agree with, they just might be successful in their destruction. Fortunately, this country is made up of many more individuals who believe in accessibility, activism, activists, advocacy, advocates, affirming care, all-inclusive, antiracist allyship, as well as those who strive to break down barriers for Black, BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQ, women, pregnant persons, Native Americans, and vulnerable populations. Libraries, and the people who work for them, are perfect examples of those who believe in equality and serving all community members regardless of their socioeconomic status.
I’d like to think that we might revisit the idea of “The Secret” for the sake of manifesting goodness, truth and progress, rather than bathe in the greater negative forces at play. We can remain engaged, thoughtful, deliberative, and focused on living in the confines of a community we choose to create. We are fully aware that though there may be an army of people hitting the delete button, we are not going anywhere. Our ink will not disappear.
Image created by the author.