Thanks, Doug, for letting me know I didn’t completely miss the mark by finding humor (bleak humor) in your written words. I feel for you, being surrounded by MAGAs. I live in Oregon, and they’re fewer in number here, although I had some fears of getting run down by a pickup truck when I attended our local President’s Day protest. I actua…
Thanks, Doug, for letting me know I didn’t completely miss the mark by finding humor (bleak humor) in your written words. I feel for you, being surrounded by MAGAs. I live in Oregon, and they’re fewer in number here, although I had some fears of getting run down by a pickup truck when I attended our local President’s Day protest. I actually sent my adult children a reminder where my will is located. But the event was very strongly positive. I’d find it very difficult to have close family members who voted for Trump as you do, and feel fortunate not to deal with that burden. So many others here share that with you, apparently.
The attacks on science and health are so self-destructive and will be crippling for a long time. It’s been noted many times that destroying is easy; rebuilding is hard and time consuming. And the “official” lying is so egregious! I think the MAGA mindset of being “willing to die for Trump” will delay a correction even after the pain becomes obvious and personal.
As I told my children, we have the advantage of intelligence and education to hopefully give us survival tools. The uncertainty over the future is gnawing. My son is suffering huge self-recrimination for having brought life into this world, with a four year old and two year old to worry about. This really was the fabled make-or-break election. I struggle to find words of solace for him, without insulting his intelligence. I recently suggested he use a mindset of how he would parent a child with a terminal illness; he would give them the best life possible for whatever time they have left. What parent’s heart can survive that? He suffers for them, and I’m suffering for him.
Maybe ignorance is a better survival tool than intelligence?
I wish I had facile words for healing and hope. But that would just be more dishonesty. At least here we can share truth. For now. And the knowledge that we are not alone; that is surprisingly (and maybe illogically) comforting.
Let’s do our best with self-care. There’s no down side to that, and maybe even a future light. As you wrote; a few rays of hope. Be well, Doug, and thanks for your thoughts.
And thank you so much for your thoughtful words -- they touched me deeply.
And you have read me perfectly. I am indeed as depressed as I have been since the deaths of my parents two decades ago. I know... I should be happy I've been able to go that long without such a serious depression.
I understand completely how concerned your son is about the future for his children. Perhaps we can take some solace in the thought that enough people will begin to feel that same concern about their children and realize that, as our "child," this country is suffering from a deadly illness that requires all of us to work together to nurture it back to health. The Senators and Representatives must be the first and strongest to do so.
Thank you for your participation in the President's Day protest. I'm waiting for one close enough for me to join as well. Like you, I've told my sister where she can find all the necessary legal documents. She's happily agreed to adopt my pup as well, if necessary.
These are clearly depressing times. Unimagined even by those of us who knew this next Trump administration was going to be hell.
Thanks, Doug, for letting me know I didn’t completely miss the mark by finding humor (bleak humor) in your written words. I feel for you, being surrounded by MAGAs. I live in Oregon, and they’re fewer in number here, although I had some fears of getting run down by a pickup truck when I attended our local President’s Day protest. I actually sent my adult children a reminder where my will is located. But the event was very strongly positive. I’d find it very difficult to have close family members who voted for Trump as you do, and feel fortunate not to deal with that burden. So many others here share that with you, apparently.
The attacks on science and health are so self-destructive and will be crippling for a long time. It’s been noted many times that destroying is easy; rebuilding is hard and time consuming. And the “official” lying is so egregious! I think the MAGA mindset of being “willing to die for Trump” will delay a correction even after the pain becomes obvious and personal.
As I told my children, we have the advantage of intelligence and education to hopefully give us survival tools. The uncertainty over the future is gnawing. My son is suffering huge self-recrimination for having brought life into this world, with a four year old and two year old to worry about. This really was the fabled make-or-break election. I struggle to find words of solace for him, without insulting his intelligence. I recently suggested he use a mindset of how he would parent a child with a terminal illness; he would give them the best life possible for whatever time they have left. What parent’s heart can survive that? He suffers for them, and I’m suffering for him.
Maybe ignorance is a better survival tool than intelligence?
I wish I had facile words for healing and hope. But that would just be more dishonesty. At least here we can share truth. For now. And the knowledge that we are not alone; that is surprisingly (and maybe illogically) comforting.
Let’s do our best with self-care. There’s no down side to that, and maybe even a future light. As you wrote; a few rays of hope. Be well, Doug, and thanks for your thoughts.
And thank you so much for your thoughtful words -- they touched me deeply.
And you have read me perfectly. I am indeed as depressed as I have been since the deaths of my parents two decades ago. I know... I should be happy I've been able to go that long without such a serious depression.
I understand completely how concerned your son is about the future for his children. Perhaps we can take some solace in the thought that enough people will begin to feel that same concern about their children and realize that, as our "child," this country is suffering from a deadly illness that requires all of us to work together to nurture it back to health. The Senators and Representatives must be the first and strongest to do so.
Thank you for your participation in the President's Day protest. I'm waiting for one close enough for me to join as well. Like you, I've told my sister where she can find all the necessary legal documents. She's happily agreed to adopt my pup as well, if necessary.
These are clearly depressing times. Unimagined even by those of us who knew this next Trump administration was going to be hell.