I feel so many things, of which anger is one. Despair (sometimes). Disheartenment (not even sure that's a word). Vulnerability (I mean firing everyone at the top of the military not only suggests using it against US citizens but also must make us a tantalizing target because we are in such disarray). I have yet to rally; that's on my list. So far I've been avoiding Whole Foods and switched to a search engine that doesn't use AI so that hopefully I'm having less of an environmental impact (I don't want those damn AI results anyway). Shopping local. No Amazon. Writing letters to thank folks who are taking a stand, like Angus King and the governor of Maine. None of it feels like enough but every little thing counts, including sharing your opinion. I really value it!
I believe my answer to your question is "Yes, if not more" because my parents are the Christian Nationalist flavor of MAGA. And now I feel the rage nausea coming on again.
I just need to update this thread on the nightmare I had last night. All I remember is that I was talking to my father (already a dream as we don't talk anymore) and screaming. "Just one fact. Just give me one fact" LOL. "What a woild "
You have to keep showing up, speaking up, calling for town halls, calling for accountability—everywhere from everyone. Write and phone.Write enlightening articles. You can do it and you must. Every small action you take is magnified by all the other people doing the same. Find out what all elected officials plan to do about the situation—the School Board, the library Board—-everyone. They are closer to the levers of power and you put them in those positions.
Your articles are very helpful and I appreciate them and you. You have unique insights spanning the Black culture and the white. I think that invaluable. I look forward to a great coming together. I want all Americans happy, free and able to be upwardly mobile.
Be angry. All these letters from folks who somehow thought cuts would not include them were pretty damn stupid. Not only did they endanger themselves, they endangered the rest of us too with their vote. Same idea as those who don’t choose to get vaccinated imposing their “freedom” on the rest of us. And we all know how awful this administration could get, and we have known it all along. But people wouldn’t listen. Now I have to suffer for them? It is too much to bear. But some things must give us hope. Lawsuits. Protests. Not everything is going well for Trump. And best of all Germany can help the EU split from the U.S., and Ukraine may be saved from Herr Trump. It isn’t time for despair.
“The ones who voted for Trump never gave a second thought to what a world without EBT, WIC, Head Start, or free lunch for children would mean for them. Farmers who voted for this never thought about how cutting off food for starving people in other countries would affect them.
They voted us into this political shit show thinking the awfulness would only affect Black people, brown people, LGBTQ+ people, or whoever else they perceived was taking what they think of as theirs. They think of misery like it’s a laser beam that only gets pointed at the undeserving.
That they've had a come-to-Jesus moment doesn’t make me feel sorry for them. These same people were fine with Trump when they thought he’d only hurt people they didn’t care about. The only reason they’re concerned now is because things are starting to look bad for them. That doesn't just make me angry, it disgusts me.”
Yup, they deserve it quite frankly imo- the problem is that everyone will suffer and is suffering with them. And most of them are still that full of hate and resentment that they will be willing to suffer so long as the others they hate suffer like them too— that’s the kind of evil we’re dealing with, period, harsh & cold truth.
I agree it's maddening, Marlon. I recently questioned myself on the "I hope you're happy" now thing that readers like us often pose to ourselves when thinking of maga voters. Do I *really* hope these un-critical-thinking (amoral/immoral?) voters are "happy now"? I include all members of my biological family and my two step-children in this gross characterization, including my 90yo Mom who is at risk of losing her Medicare and Social Security. And then I thought, I don't really *want* them to merely be happy. I want them to consider their vote, to regret it, and to act differently in the future. I don't *necessarily* want them to suffer, but I do want them to have a personal come-to-Jesus moment. We'll see. Thanks for verbalizing my sentiments, too.
I’ve been trying really hard to just focus on what I can do today to be a menace and gum up whatever works needs gumming up. I didn’t say I was good at doing that. But I need to start focusing on anything other than the anger I feel. 😞
I declare, in North Carolina we do not throw sweet potatoes. We calmly walk over to the aisle with cast iron skillets, pick one up, and while still a good distance from the intended target wind up and fire. You do have to start easy with the 6 inch skillets which still pack quite a wallop, work on your aim, and build up your arm and shoulder strength before trying to fling a 12 or 16 incher. Or, pick up one of the big ones without any practice or training and go full El Kabong on them.
As if I wasn’t angry enough already, we just saw that MSNBC has canceled Joy Reid and watched the very sad, final Reid Out.
I would be angry too if I was in regular contact with people who supported Trump for any reason other than having talked themselves into Republicans being better for Israel more than 10 years ago. (I went to a pre-primary event for Wesley Bell and the attendees were told that they could vote in the Democratic primary without its affecting their being able to vote for Republicans in the fall :() I am instead a combination of aghast and disgusted. Democrats need to come up with some appeal to the people who are sorry but I have decided that it would be worse if the voters were sufficiently tuned out that they were never sorry at all.
Thank you for your post. I too am so angry, as well as discouraged, disappointed and baffled. I’m also grateful to be able to read or listen to the thoughts of you and others such as Heather Cox Richardson.
I’m with you-angry, exasperated and extremely worried. I don’t know how to deal with the anger I feel towards those who voted for this destruction. I feel like they did this to our country so they should be the ones to fix this mess we’re in. No free pass. They broke it, they bought it.
That being said, we’re approaching general strike territory. There has to be a concerted effort to make businesses and Republican lawmakers understand the power of the people. They’re enough of us to cause real trouble and we need to act very soon. Waiting for the conclusion of lawsuits (which may or may not be adhered to) will not stop the destruction this administration is hellbent on achieving. If we do nothing, our country will be lost.
I haven’t been myself since November 5th. My soul IS fury. I push myself through the must-do activities, while I learn to manage what has become disgust-filled tolerance of Trump supporters who still cling to hope and parrot right-wing propaganda. I don’t care that they are lost to the stupidity of this administration, because I know they will eventually learn their lessons in the worst ways possible. I’m angry that people like me/us have had to carry the weight of knowledge for what may come next, while simultaneously resisting it.
It’s almost unbearable,isn’t it. The extreme level of this assault on the American people by a president is unprecedented. Cruelty is the point and those that support it, voted for it, do not deserve our sympathy or understanding. It didn’t have to be this way and the fact that enough people in our country made this choice, allowed this to happen is the hardest thing to process. We have to fight back, there is no alternative.
Thank you for putting these feelings into words… it shines a light on how many of us are feeling but just can’t put together the right words to express it. I really felt this post in my soul!
Speak on it! You captured it perfectly. What the hell did they think was going to happen? They didn’t think. And if they did, it was only of themselves. We’re not supposed to say what Hillary did; we’re supposed to have empathy for those who thought they needed what he was selling. But how could they not know the truth? The fact is, everyone who voted for him was either stupid, selfish, racist, or sexist. There is no other answer. And now they see the horror and want to whine? F them.
Thanks for always sharing your thoughts, experiences and feelings. I am with you in all those feelings - anger, rage, fear - daily interrupted sleep thoughts. On that front, I have found that only a 2.5 g sleep gummy works and am appreciative of getting the better sleep (and it’s legal here). I have a transgender child so it’s a double challenge here.
I am attending in person protests and finding that both community and actions help to feel less hopeless. The power of the consumer is also a real one and is showing up across the businesses impacted and then that makes the news and shows there is resistance power.
I also have Trumper relatives and associates and I also find they are still very enthusiastic, eg. “Just wait, it will be great!” types of comments. I think that the divisive rhetoric and blame game has cemented a divide among us that makes it difficult, maybe impossible, for me to influence any thinking of the Trumpers. But I do think that once “they” really start to feel the pain that will be inflicted on everyone for these tax cuts, that they might realize they have been conned… I am just worried if it will also be accompanied by the loss of democracy and our ability to vote again.
So for now I will just keep on making donations, economic impact, speaking out, protesting and spreading all the truths I can until I die.
I feel so many things, of which anger is one. Despair (sometimes). Disheartenment (not even sure that's a word). Vulnerability (I mean firing everyone at the top of the military not only suggests using it against US citizens but also must make us a tantalizing target because we are in such disarray). I have yet to rally; that's on my list. So far I've been avoiding Whole Foods and switched to a search engine that doesn't use AI so that hopefully I'm having less of an environmental impact (I don't want those damn AI results anyway). Shopping local. No Amazon. Writing letters to thank folks who are taking a stand, like Angus King and the governor of Maine. None of it feels like enough but every little thing counts, including sharing your opinion. I really value it!
Kate, I think any good and kind word or action is helpful right now. Always. Community will be our strength. 💫
I keep telling my therapist, “ I am so angry! I am mad at everyone! Am I the only one angry?”
How can people be so stupid, so many of them, neighbors, my siblings?
What you are doing IS
doing something. You just helped me feel
like I’m not the only one. Please keep doing what you do!
LOL I fired my therapist yesterday because he said it was catastrophizing to be so upset about “a little overreach.” Yeah, no. G’bye.
OMG gone ! I agree, he is supposed to be neutral but HEAR you.
I just don’t have the wherewithal to argue with him about whether things are actually bad or not. That isn’t going to be helpful to me.
I believe my answer to your question is "Yes, if not more" because my parents are the Christian Nationalist flavor of MAGA. And now I feel the rage nausea coming on again.
I feel you, Rachel.
So many loses Rachel, may you find your moments of comfort.
We need each other now 💫
I am sorry for you
I just need to update this thread on the nightmare I had last night. All I remember is that I was talking to my father (already a dream as we don't talk anymore) and screaming. "Just one fact. Just give me one fact" LOL. "What a woild "
You have to keep showing up, speaking up, calling for town halls, calling for accountability—everywhere from everyone. Write and phone.Write enlightening articles. You can do it and you must. Every small action you take is magnified by all the other people doing the same. Find out what all elected officials plan to do about the situation—the School Board, the library Board—-everyone. They are closer to the levers of power and you put them in those positions.
Your articles are very helpful and I appreciate them and you. You have unique insights spanning the Black culture and the white. I think that invaluable. I look forward to a great coming together. I want all Americans happy, free and able to be upwardly mobile.
Be angry. All these letters from folks who somehow thought cuts would not include them were pretty damn stupid. Not only did they endanger themselves, they endangered the rest of us too with their vote. Same idea as those who don’t choose to get vaccinated imposing their “freedom” on the rest of us. And we all know how awful this administration could get, and we have known it all along. But people wouldn’t listen. Now I have to suffer for them? It is too much to bear. But some things must give us hope. Lawsuits. Protests. Not everything is going well for Trump. And best of all Germany can help the EU split from the U.S., and Ukraine may be saved from Herr Trump. It isn’t time for despair.
“The ones who voted for Trump never gave a second thought to what a world without EBT, WIC, Head Start, or free lunch for children would mean for them. Farmers who voted for this never thought about how cutting off food for starving people in other countries would affect them.
They voted us into this political shit show thinking the awfulness would only affect Black people, brown people, LGBTQ+ people, or whoever else they perceived was taking what they think of as theirs. They think of misery like it’s a laser beam that only gets pointed at the undeserving.
That they've had a come-to-Jesus moment doesn’t make me feel sorry for them. These same people were fine with Trump when they thought he’d only hurt people they didn’t care about. The only reason they’re concerned now is because things are starting to look bad for them. That doesn't just make me angry, it disgusts me.”
Yup, they deserve it quite frankly imo- the problem is that everyone will suffer and is suffering with them. And most of them are still that full of hate and resentment that they will be willing to suffer so long as the others they hate suffer like them too— that’s the kind of evil we’re dealing with, period, harsh & cold truth.
I agree it's maddening, Marlon. I recently questioned myself on the "I hope you're happy" now thing that readers like us often pose to ourselves when thinking of maga voters. Do I *really* hope these un-critical-thinking (amoral/immoral?) voters are "happy now"? I include all members of my biological family and my two step-children in this gross characterization, including my 90yo Mom who is at risk of losing her Medicare and Social Security. And then I thought, I don't really *want* them to merely be happy. I want them to consider their vote, to regret it, and to act differently in the future. I don't *necessarily* want them to suffer, but I do want them to have a personal come-to-Jesus moment. We'll see. Thanks for verbalizing my sentiments, too.
I have always thought of my anger as a call to action. Filling up my neighborhood with mantras, stealth posting flyers.
Getting some inspiration from my Substack writers, thanks Marlon.
I’ve been trying really hard to just focus on what I can do today to be a menace and gum up whatever works needs gumming up. I didn’t say I was good at doing that. But I need to start focusing on anything other than the anger I feel. 😞
I declare, in North Carolina we do not throw sweet potatoes. We calmly walk over to the aisle with cast iron skillets, pick one up, and while still a good distance from the intended target wind up and fire. You do have to start easy with the 6 inch skillets which still pack quite a wallop, work on your aim, and build up your arm and shoulder strength before trying to fling a 12 or 16 incher. Or, pick up one of the big ones without any practice or training and go full El Kabong on them.
As if I wasn’t angry enough already, we just saw that MSNBC has canceled Joy Reid and watched the very sad, final Reid Out.
https://youtu.be/010aaw1Ajo0?si=joCN36LbTqdNQLFK
Yes, I am angry. Grateful for you. Please keep posting. 🤗
I would be angry too if I was in regular contact with people who supported Trump for any reason other than having talked themselves into Republicans being better for Israel more than 10 years ago. (I went to a pre-primary event for Wesley Bell and the attendees were told that they could vote in the Democratic primary without its affecting their being able to vote for Republicans in the fall :() I am instead a combination of aghast and disgusted. Democrats need to come up with some appeal to the people who are sorry but I have decided that it would be worse if the voters were sufficiently tuned out that they were never sorry at all.
Thank you for your post. I too am so angry, as well as discouraged, disappointed and baffled. I’m also grateful to be able to read or listen to the thoughts of you and others such as Heather Cox Richardson.
I’m with you-angry, exasperated and extremely worried. I don’t know how to deal with the anger I feel towards those who voted for this destruction. I feel like they did this to our country so they should be the ones to fix this mess we’re in. No free pass. They broke it, they bought it.
That being said, we’re approaching general strike territory. There has to be a concerted effort to make businesses and Republican lawmakers understand the power of the people. They’re enough of us to cause real trouble and we need to act very soon. Waiting for the conclusion of lawsuits (which may or may not be adhered to) will not stop the destruction this administration is hellbent on achieving. If we do nothing, our country will be lost.
I haven’t been myself since November 5th. My soul IS fury. I push myself through the must-do activities, while I learn to manage what has become disgust-filled tolerance of Trump supporters who still cling to hope and parrot right-wing propaganda. I don’t care that they are lost to the stupidity of this administration, because I know they will eventually learn their lessons in the worst ways possible. I’m angry that people like me/us have had to carry the weight of knowledge for what may come next, while simultaneously resisting it.
It’s almost unbearable,isn’t it. The extreme level of this assault on the American people by a president is unprecedented. Cruelty is the point and those that support it, voted for it, do not deserve our sympathy or understanding. It didn’t have to be this way and the fact that enough people in our country made this choice, allowed this to happen is the hardest thing to process. We have to fight back, there is no alternative.
Angry, frustrated, sad, and then fury. All leading to little sleep. And then faking it through work like everything is fine.
Thank you for putting these feelings into words… it shines a light on how many of us are feeling but just can’t put together the right words to express it. I really felt this post in my soul!
Speak on it! You captured it perfectly. What the hell did they think was going to happen? They didn’t think. And if they did, it was only of themselves. We’re not supposed to say what Hillary did; we’re supposed to have empathy for those who thought they needed what he was selling. But how could they not know the truth? The fact is, everyone who voted for him was either stupid, selfish, racist, or sexist. There is no other answer. And now they see the horror and want to whine? F them.
The willfully uninformed, who depend on the persuasive ideologies of the MAGA types.
Thanks for always sharing your thoughts, experiences and feelings. I am with you in all those feelings - anger, rage, fear - daily interrupted sleep thoughts. On that front, I have found that only a 2.5 g sleep gummy works and am appreciative of getting the better sleep (and it’s legal here). I have a transgender child so it’s a double challenge here.
I am attending in person protests and finding that both community and actions help to feel less hopeless. The power of the consumer is also a real one and is showing up across the businesses impacted and then that makes the news and shows there is resistance power.
I also have Trumper relatives and associates and I also find they are still very enthusiastic, eg. “Just wait, it will be great!” types of comments. I think that the divisive rhetoric and blame game has cemented a divide among us that makes it difficult, maybe impossible, for me to influence any thinking of the Trumpers. But I do think that once “they” really start to feel the pain that will be inflicted on everyone for these tax cuts, that they might realize they have been conned… I am just worried if it will also be accompanied by the loss of democracy and our ability to vote again.
So for now I will just keep on making donations, economic impact, speaking out, protesting and spreading all the truths I can until I die.