No Place Like Home

My bride and I just went to see the new WICKED movie. Those who remember the stage performance may be surprised to learn there are two new songs, one called No Place Like Home.

This song spoke of “A place that seems to be devolving, and even wanting to. But Oz is more than just a place. It's a promise, an idea, and I want to help make it come true.”

Elphaba (the “Wicked Witch”) then asks “Why should a land have so much meaning when dark times befall it? It's only land, made of dirt and rock and loam. It's just a place that's familiar, and home's just what we call it. But there's no place like home.”

I sat listening to this song in the dark and found myself harkening back to the daily headlines, where Mr. Trump and his acolytes seemingly would like nothing better than to chase us all out of our homes…and arguably the country.

From there it was a short leap to many of my friends who have spoken about leaving the US for places like France, Italy and Malta. Truth be told, I’ve given the idea a great deal of thought myself.

But this song spoke to me, especially when Elphaba said “When you want to leave, discouraged and resigned, that's what they want you to do. But think how you will grieve for all you leave behind. Oz belongs to you too.”

One could argue that the lyricist was speaking to all of us, especially when they point out “Those who would take it from you spout a lie to sell yourself. You go their way or go. It's them we'll be defeating.”

Here’s the thing: it’s easy to read the daily headlines and feel overwhelmed. Yet attending events like a No Kings rally, or getting involved with a local Democratic club, candidate, or cause of your choice, helps restore faith that we’re none of us fighting this alone.

In New York Harbor there’s a great green lady who promises “Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" And though the Library of Congress has removed the original poem from public view and our president has forgotten that his mother was an immigrant, she reminds us  of the importance of the green lady in the movie I just experienced, who shares with us these words of wisdom:

“If we just keep fighting for it, we will win back and restore it.

There's no place like home. I’m staying to fight for it.

See you at the ballot box!

Rob