Thank you Don. I needed to hear these words. I too wake each morning exhausted. I love my country. The promise of her. I’m angered at what I see happening to her daily. It’s like watching an assault and being helpless to intervene. I’m not crazy. I’m not overreacting. America is dying and I’m exhausted by what I feel each morning as I open my eyes. Thank you for reaffirming that I am not alone in my grief, not alone in my fatigue, not alone in this fight.
Thank you, Don, for expressing my feeling so eloquently. What I feel moat, though is angry and frustrated, I want some decent, good, people to seize authority and trample these bigoted, misogynistic, racist assholes, into the ground twisting their feet into them.
There was so much more good we needed to do for America, things like educating every child to the best of that child's ability regardless of where they live. Like making racism illegal - Yeah I know you can't legislate morality, but you can make it illegal to publicly express it (and no, I'm not black or brown - I'm white, but ashamed of those who stupidly think the lighter the skin the better the person, bullshit. We're all the same animal with only cosmetic differences.
I am fortunate to be really, really old (92) so my days are drawing to a close. I am truly sorry that all the things I thought we had accomplished in the 1960's and 1970's started blowing away in the 1980's to be fully destroyed now.
I am very grateful for your comments. We cannot take this 24/7. We owe it to our families and friends as well as our own physical and mental health to get away from this. I can only take 3-4 days a week. Thank you for being here for us.
It's bewilderment........that's the feeling, not empathy, not grief, not saddness because all of those feelings are linked to an experience we can relate to. Most Americans have no ability to relate to what is happening and how the current administration is behaving. It is completely counter intuitive to who we are as a nation and the experience in our lifetime of Democracy
Don I am black 72 year old woman but I wake up every morning Jim Crow and thanking God for a new day we are being tested and never give up!! You fight with every breath in your body. Our ancestors have survived slavery,Jim Crow the civil rights movement,police killings of African Americans .We are survivors. We need to support our candidates who are going to fight for us Need to stick together and fight The United States government are sending people to concentration camps in El Salvador, grabbing people off the street, dismantling the government, destroying Medicaid and Social Security. We live in a country who does not take care of their
veterans In the end the people will revolt. Remember old people shit”The revolution will not be televised.”
You summed up my feelings exactly. I feel like I'm stuck in a tunnel of slow depression. Slow because I still have moments of hope...still love being with family and friends. It makes it seem less real, somehow, being with those you love...to help block out the reality of what's actually happening in our world. Truly, it seems like a nightmare. Can we please wake up now and be 'normal' again?
We are not crazy. We are Tired. And geez, did I need this. This space is like therapy. To know we are not crazy and not alone in feeling the heaviness of our caring too much. Taking a break is required to keep moving I am doing what I can by supporting voices like yours financially, by going to protests like #HandsOff and going to see Bernie and AOC tomorrow in Folsom, CA. We can only do what we can do, and know it is enough.
Having survived my hood during the blood drenched days of the grimy 90’s I lean on what got me though it.
My hood of 60,000 lead all of New York in homicides when the city lead the country. East New York would average around 130-200 murders a year. I’ve should’ve be killed about 100 times before 95.
These were the 1800-2200 homicides per year during my adolescence. Sure my mom’s was thrilled.
These were “I’ll be dead by 18 or maybe 21…if not dead maybe locked up” years.
It was common to kick it with your friends and casually discuss your funeral look, suit for mom and the family or freshest fit for the last hurrah?
My moms came to me at 17 and said “what if you aren’t dead by 18 or 21, are you just gonna walk in somewhere and demand a job off that reality”?
It stopped me cold. I had to stay engaged. I had to keep reading. Stay curious and stay out of East New York as much as you can under 18.
It worked. That strategy is how when the next round of bullshit cropped up in my 30’s.
2011 I get evicted. Same thing in 2013. I was THIS close to being homeless. Had to live with an older Dominican Jehovah witness couple in the Bronx for almost five years.
Cut to today. I make the most ever in my life and because I didn’t make a bad situation worse-no kids, cars or anything to rock my world financially I’m not out here struggling.
I’m killing it. My current job is how I made a shit ton of money in 2020. You read that right.
And I work in security! (Too much to get into but the job is fire life safety director a very New York job not really used elsewhere in the country. It’s tied to NYC’s 300+ commercial buildings).
I only got here because in my two worst moments of my life I stayed locked in. It meant at times completely ignoring the things I can’t partake in or news that means very little since I was dead broke. I found ways to stay busy that didn’t involve money.
And even though now money is not the issue it once was those low income distractions work just fine with king dumbass back in office.
Thank you Don. I often find myself asking, “why does hate keep winning “. There are so many that suffer to the benefit of the rich. I know we have to keep in mind that we the people are the ones who need to instigate the change. So many are fearful of clowns 🤡 with money. So many in positions of power, bow down out of fear of the clown king…the not at all great pumpkin. We have to encourage each other. Laugh a little, cry a little, be our sisters and brothers keeper. Tears of sorrow can become tears of joy, if we faint not.
Don Diaries ... How important is it to visualize what we're all GROWING through? Your words resonate the anxiety we all experience with this administration. Yet...knowing you have created a platform for us the feel inclusive with you and others. We may be tired but we're not giving up. Thank you Don...you are an inspiration...even when you need a break. Love you ♥️
Thank you Don. I needed to hear these words. I too wake each morning exhausted. I love my country. The promise of her. I’m angered at what I see happening to her daily. It’s like watching an assault and being helpless to intervene. I’m not crazy. I’m not overreacting. America is dying and I’m exhausted by what I feel each morning as I open my eyes. Thank you for reaffirming that I am not alone in my grief, not alone in my fatigue, not alone in this fight.
We are living in the book 1984, I keep waiting for the MAGA people to wake up. I cannot be the only one that sees Trump has no clothes on! Right?
Don, this is an amazing article. You have captured what we feel. I do find away to get away from it. You have been my sanity.
Hey Maureen!
Thank you, Don, for expressing my feeling so eloquently. What I feel moat, though is angry and frustrated, I want some decent, good, people to seize authority and trample these bigoted, misogynistic, racist assholes, into the ground twisting their feet into them.
There was so much more good we needed to do for America, things like educating every child to the best of that child's ability regardless of where they live. Like making racism illegal - Yeah I know you can't legislate morality, but you can make it illegal to publicly express it (and no, I'm not black or brown - I'm white, but ashamed of those who stupidly think the lighter the skin the better the person, bullshit. We're all the same animal with only cosmetic differences.
I am fortunate to be really, really old (92) so my days are drawing to a close. I am truly sorry that all the things I thought we had accomplished in the 1960's and 1970's started blowing away in the 1980's to be fully destroyed now.
I am very grateful for your comments. We cannot take this 24/7. We owe it to our families and friends as well as our own physical and mental health to get away from this. I can only take 3-4 days a week. Thank you for being here for us.
It's bewilderment........that's the feeling, not empathy, not grief, not saddness because all of those feelings are linked to an experience we can relate to. Most Americans have no ability to relate to what is happening and how the current administration is behaving. It is completely counter intuitive to who we are as a nation and the experience in our lifetime of Democracy
Nailed it! Excellent writing, I can relate to.
Don I am black 72 year old woman but I wake up every morning Jim Crow and thanking God for a new day we are being tested and never give up!! You fight with every breath in your body. Our ancestors have survived slavery,Jim Crow the civil rights movement,police killings of African Americans .We are survivors. We need to support our candidates who are going to fight for us Need to stick together and fight The United States government are sending people to concentration camps in El Salvador, grabbing people off the street, dismantling the government, destroying Medicaid and Social Security. We live in a country who does not take care of their
veterans In the end the people will revolt. Remember old people shit”The revolution will not be televised.”
A daily mantra: Be strong.
You summed up my feelings exactly. I feel like I'm stuck in a tunnel of slow depression. Slow because I still have moments of hope...still love being with family and friends. It makes it seem less real, somehow, being with those you love...to help block out the reality of what's actually happening in our world. Truly, it seems like a nightmare. Can we please wake up now and be 'normal' again?
We are not crazy. We are Tired. And geez, did I need this. This space is like therapy. To know we are not crazy and not alone in feeling the heaviness of our caring too much. Taking a break is required to keep moving I am doing what I can by supporting voices like yours financially, by going to protests like #HandsOff and going to see Bernie and AOC tomorrow in Folsom, CA. We can only do what we can do, and know it is enough.
Thanks for saying exactly how I feel. I shut off all media and then I feel guilty for not watching. It's a Catch 22!
It is a comfort that I'm not alone.
Having survived my hood during the blood drenched days of the grimy 90’s I lean on what got me though it.
My hood of 60,000 lead all of New York in homicides when the city lead the country. East New York would average around 130-200 murders a year. I’ve should’ve be killed about 100 times before 95.
These were the 1800-2200 homicides per year during my adolescence. Sure my mom’s was thrilled.
These were “I’ll be dead by 18 or maybe 21…if not dead maybe locked up” years.
It was common to kick it with your friends and casually discuss your funeral look, suit for mom and the family or freshest fit for the last hurrah?
My moms came to me at 17 and said “what if you aren’t dead by 18 or 21, are you just gonna walk in somewhere and demand a job off that reality”?
It stopped me cold. I had to stay engaged. I had to keep reading. Stay curious and stay out of East New York as much as you can under 18.
It worked. That strategy is how when the next round of bullshit cropped up in my 30’s.
2011 I get evicted. Same thing in 2013. I was THIS close to being homeless. Had to live with an older Dominican Jehovah witness couple in the Bronx for almost five years.
Cut to today. I make the most ever in my life and because I didn’t make a bad situation worse-no kids, cars or anything to rock my world financially I’m not out here struggling.
I’m killing it. My current job is how I made a shit ton of money in 2020. You read that right.
And I work in security! (Too much to get into but the job is fire life safety director a very New York job not really used elsewhere in the country. It’s tied to NYC’s 300+ commercial buildings).
I only got here because in my two worst moments of my life I stayed locked in. It meant at times completely ignoring the things I can’t partake in or news that means very little since I was dead broke. I found ways to stay busy that didn’t involve money.
And even though now money is not the issue it once was those low income distractions work just fine with king dumbass back in office.
Find that peace and lock in.
Thank you Don. I often find myself asking, “why does hate keep winning “. There are so many that suffer to the benefit of the rich. I know we have to keep in mind that we the people are the ones who need to instigate the change. So many are fearful of clowns 🤡 with money. So many in positions of power, bow down out of fear of the clown king…the not at all great pumpkin. We have to encourage each other. Laugh a little, cry a little, be our sisters and brothers keeper. Tears of sorrow can become tears of joy, if we faint not.
It is nice to know that I am not alone. I am so tired. I hope that it will end, but I know it might outlive me.😭
Don Diaries ... How important is it to visualize what we're all GROWING through? Your words resonate the anxiety we all experience with this administration. Yet...knowing you have created a platform for us the feel inclusive with you and others. We may be tired but we're not giving up. Thank you Don...you are an inspiration...even when you need a break. Love you ♥️