As heartbreaking as it is to lose family and other relationships over this crisis, I’m writing articles about how we can purposefully disengage AND fill these voids with likeminded people. My newsletter on community building can help us shift our focus from mourning connections that were likely a drag on our lives to intentionally reaching out to others in our community who share our pain and loss. I even recommend using the Thanksgiving season to knock on doors of those who displayed Harris signs and organize a Thanksgiving meal with those people instead of MAGA families.
We are entering a time of incredible loss, financial pain, and constant uncertainty. But we can also turn to each other, hold each other, and support each other through it.
For those of us with loud, angry MAGA relatives who can't put politics away during family gatherings this is good advice....but terrible advice for others.
This is the best analysis I've read about our dire situation here in the U.S. I plan to send it to all my MAGA friends. Not that it will make any difference - these people are in a cult. I just read somewhere on line that the polling of MAGA voters about the cabinet and other picks revealed they loved it. UGH!!!!!
Of course they do, a win is a win to them. They don't have a clue what these nominee's backgrounds are, it's a win to make the libs fret and wring their hands over them.
"Night of the Living Dead" is a low-budget, B&W horror classic -- but did you know, George Romero wrote it as a metaphor for WWII, with the zombies standing-in for the Nazis? What do you do, when the neighbor whom you thought was your friend, suddenly wants to kill you? Also note how the zombie virus spreads by eating people's brains, just like the hate message spreads by devouring people's minds. That's the reality we're living in, now.
John has spoken for me. My internal struggle is real. Will I continue close relationships with several long-time friends who voted for a despot, who will surely attack my civil rights (as a lesbian woman)? Will I pretend their betrayal of me doesn't matter in our relationship? Will I pretend interpretation of Scripture sold to them by politicians, and supported to protect their own privilege, isn't significant in our relationship? I had these conversations with them prior to the election. They made their choice. Their own privileged status is more important to them than those the despot and his funders and minions will harm even further. I just can't stomach their betrayal. I wish them well. They are all wealthy and likely won't be negatively impacted by fascism. And apparently they will throw LGBTQ citizens under the bus when they come for us. I'm thinking it's time to create a distance now. Is it self-protection, as John has noted? Maybe. I want to say it is more about standing firm on supporting those fascism will harm. I may end up being attacked for solidarity, but that has always been the risk in following Jesus, hasn't it?
I will pray for you and your well being. My longtime friend is gay, and has been married for over 25 years. We talked about what this election might mean for her and her wife. My husband and I have always been Democrats, so she knew that we were voting for Harris. Yet, she has family members who voted for the Republican nominee. I apologize. I can't even stomach him enough to write his name. Please know that there are those of us who do love, care for, and support LGBTQ citizens. We will stand beside you and do our best to help in anyway we can.
God Bless You, Alex! Thank you so much for saying so. It means a lot to know "strangers" care will take a stand with us where so-called friends and family have betrayed us. InJustices Alito & Thomas have already signaled coming after LGBTQ rights. My friends say, "Oh, that will never happen." And we never believed any USA citizen would be elevated above the law either, did we! The other GOP InJustices flat-out lied about supporting Roe v Wade, didn't they! We never believed anyone in the WH (I won't write or speak his name, especially in reference to the Office) would be allowed use the Office blatantly for his own profit! Of course, I could go on. I digress. My reply is to thank you for solidarity, as we don't know what is in store for LGBTQ citizens, though fascist governments, past and current, give us a pretty clear idea.
Has anyone heard the song by P!nk “Last Call”. I have it on replay in my brain…. I’m trying to replace it with something more positive, but it just seems so appropriate right now… 😬😢
To whom beyond our borders this may concern: I'm 78 years old, having voted in every election since 1968. This was my first ever election where i was afraid to post any sign or sticker anywhere marking my support for a Democratic candidate. Why? I own no weapons. My neighbor, a staunch Trump fan and Republican, is a war veteran armed to the teeth under our 2nd Amendment. He's not spoken a word not looked up in my direction for several years. I honestly feared for the safety of my wife (of 57 years) and myself.
There is an excellent book called "They Thought They Were Free, The Germans, 1933-45" by Milton Mayer which gives us glimpses into why people join fascism without much fanfare.
Xenophobia, scapegoating, propaganda, a Fuhrer talking about "poisoned blood." and, a church that actively (if covertly) goes along with the plans to eliminate the "parasite assassins of our way of life." (Quote by Goebbles.) The need to conform is in our DNA, as is the tribal nature of our xenophobia.
The Catholic Church was in deep with the nazis - just as evangelical christians are in deep with Trump today.
We never seem to learn - even when history is right there calling to us.
Addressing the magnitude and full weight of the devastation we’ve experienced with the acuteness and intensity of major trauma is crucial. Before we can organize to resist, the losses, dysphoria and disorientation that will continue anew for some time to come yet, must be acknowledged and respected. The full scope of the impact on each of ours lives as we thought we knew them will play out over time in new and freshly injurious ways. The foundations of our lives and what we believed were even our purposes in this life have crumbled in an instant. The existential blow is profound. We believed in a basic fundamental goodness of our fellow man even if masked by flaws that we endeavored to understand as rooted in deep pain and beckoned our empathy for them. But now their capacity for hatred, cruelty and the complete lack of any trace of empathy has been revealed in broad daylight and affirmed in the loudest of forums. They actually relish the suffering they can exact in the most sociopathic and sadistic ways. To reframe our reality is no small task. It is laden with confusion and a certain emptiness that profoundly assaults our assumptions again and again. Before moving forward we will be required to find meaning and purpose and love again. We must form new bonds that renew our hope and firm our grounding. Grief is long and hard but this is beyond grief. This is despair.
Yes, your assessment and descriptive response are absolutely what is happening. Even in our small town of under 2000 people, there are currents of it. And when we go to larger places, it is even more pronounced. I refuse to let it take me down with it, and I will not respond with nastiness in kind, because I think we need to demonstrate that we are not cowed by it. My response to a couple of people who have tried to gloat about Trump is to smile and say simply, "Be careful what you wish for, and beware the law of unintended consequences."
It's heartwarming to hear concern for our country from those outside it. Their awareness of us amazing to me. It really shows how large our community is.
Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's foes will be members of one's own household” (Matthew 10:34-36).
Jesus Christ knew there would be reckonings - we are in one again.
Pick a side - Jesus the “author of our faith” gave specific instructions on how to live.
Luke 16: 19 - 31 Lazarus and the Rich Man
There are many of us who have been resuscitated - and have seen the other side.
We are all Lazarus - and have tried to warn - but as this parable concluded - the rich won’t listen.
I was at a church meeting yesterday … arrived just a little late and one the ladies was questioning to appointment of the guy over the Military… she was voicing concerns over his suitability… they mentioned the wonderful tattoos … she mentioned his lack of if experience
Our family is fractured over politics. Some want to over look certain relatives leanings but I cannot. I’m not going to Thanksgiving this year. Not participating or carrying out my traditional role. In some ways I feel like a baby having a tantrum but sorry I’m really feeling a hard no at this time toward these family members.
As heartbreaking as it is to lose family and other relationships over this crisis, I’m writing articles about how we can purposefully disengage AND fill these voids with likeminded people. My newsletter on community building can help us shift our focus from mourning connections that were likely a drag on our lives to intentionally reaching out to others in our community who share our pain and loss. I even recommend using the Thanksgiving season to knock on doors of those who displayed Harris signs and organize a Thanksgiving meal with those people instead of MAGA families.
We are entering a time of incredible loss, financial pain, and constant uncertainty. But we can also turn to each other, hold each other, and support each other through it.
https://andrawatkins.substack.com/p/purposeful-disengagement-part-2
For those of us with loud, angry MAGA relatives who can't put politics away during family gatherings this is good advice....but terrible advice for others.
I'm addressing how we can mitigate the impacts on the most vulnerable in tomorrow's newsletter. It will be up to us to protect them. Full stop.
This is the best analysis I've read about our dire situation here in the U.S. I plan to send it to all my MAGA friends. Not that it will make any difference - these people are in a cult. I just read somewhere on line that the polling of MAGA voters about the cabinet and other picks revealed they loved it. UGH!!!!!
Of course they do, a win is a win to them. They don't have a clue what these nominee's backgrounds are, it's a win to make the libs fret and wring their hands over them.
Worse, they don’t care and have no idea what these people and their departments can do.
Imagine my situation. My only child, my daughter, is on "their" team. This is very difficult.
How will they love it as they bury their kids?
"Night of the Living Dead" is a low-budget, B&W horror classic -- but did you know, George Romero wrote it as a metaphor for WWII, with the zombies standing-in for the Nazis? What do you do, when the neighbor whom you thought was your friend, suddenly wants to kill you? Also note how the zombie virus spreads by eating people's brains, just like the hate message spreads by devouring people's minds. That's the reality we're living in, now.
I never looked at it that way, but that tracks. Thank you for pointing it out. 🤔
John has spoken for me. My internal struggle is real. Will I continue close relationships with several long-time friends who voted for a despot, who will surely attack my civil rights (as a lesbian woman)? Will I pretend their betrayal of me doesn't matter in our relationship? Will I pretend interpretation of Scripture sold to them by politicians, and supported to protect their own privilege, isn't significant in our relationship? I had these conversations with them prior to the election. They made their choice. Their own privileged status is more important to them than those the despot and his funders and minions will harm even further. I just can't stomach their betrayal. I wish them well. They are all wealthy and likely won't be negatively impacted by fascism. And apparently they will throw LGBTQ citizens under the bus when they come for us. I'm thinking it's time to create a distance now. Is it self-protection, as John has noted? Maybe. I want to say it is more about standing firm on supporting those fascism will harm. I may end up being attacked for solidarity, but that has always been the risk in following Jesus, hasn't it?
I will pray for you and your well being. My longtime friend is gay, and has been married for over 25 years. We talked about what this election might mean for her and her wife. My husband and I have always been Democrats, so she knew that we were voting for Harris. Yet, she has family members who voted for the Republican nominee. I apologize. I can't even stomach him enough to write his name. Please know that there are those of us who do love, care for, and support LGBTQ citizens. We will stand beside you and do our best to help in anyway we can.
God Bless You, Alex! Thank you so much for saying so. It means a lot to know "strangers" care will take a stand with us where so-called friends and family have betrayed us. InJustices Alito & Thomas have already signaled coming after LGBTQ rights. My friends say, "Oh, that will never happen." And we never believed any USA citizen would be elevated above the law either, did we! The other GOP InJustices flat-out lied about supporting Roe v Wade, didn't they! We never believed anyone in the WH (I won't write or speak his name, especially in reference to the Office) would be allowed use the Office blatantly for his own profit! Of course, I could go on. I digress. My reply is to thank you for solidarity, as we don't know what is in store for LGBTQ citizens, though fascist governments, past and current, give us a pretty clear idea.
😢
Has anyone heard the song by P!nk “Last Call”. I have it on replay in my brain…. I’m trying to replace it with something more positive, but it just seems so appropriate right now… 😬😢
To whom beyond our borders this may concern: I'm 78 years old, having voted in every election since 1968. This was my first ever election where i was afraid to post any sign or sticker anywhere marking my support for a Democratic candidate. Why? I own no weapons. My neighbor, a staunch Trump fan and Republican, is a war veteran armed to the teeth under our 2nd Amendment. He's not spoken a word not looked up in my direction for several years. I honestly feared for the safety of my wife (of 57 years) and myself.
There is an excellent book called "They Thought They Were Free, The Germans, 1933-45" by Milton Mayer which gives us glimpses into why people join fascism without much fanfare.
Xenophobia, scapegoating, propaganda, a Fuhrer talking about "poisoned blood." and, a church that actively (if covertly) goes along with the plans to eliminate the "parasite assassins of our way of life." (Quote by Goebbles.) The need to conform is in our DNA, as is the tribal nature of our xenophobia.
The Catholic Church was in deep with the nazis - just as evangelical christians are in deep with Trump today.
We never seem to learn - even when history is right there calling to us.
Addressing the magnitude and full weight of the devastation we’ve experienced with the acuteness and intensity of major trauma is crucial. Before we can organize to resist, the losses, dysphoria and disorientation that will continue anew for some time to come yet, must be acknowledged and respected. The full scope of the impact on each of ours lives as we thought we knew them will play out over time in new and freshly injurious ways. The foundations of our lives and what we believed were even our purposes in this life have crumbled in an instant. The existential blow is profound. We believed in a basic fundamental goodness of our fellow man even if masked by flaws that we endeavored to understand as rooted in deep pain and beckoned our empathy for them. But now their capacity for hatred, cruelty and the complete lack of any trace of empathy has been revealed in broad daylight and affirmed in the loudest of forums. They actually relish the suffering they can exact in the most sociopathic and sadistic ways. To reframe our reality is no small task. It is laden with confusion and a certain emptiness that profoundly assaults our assumptions again and again. Before moving forward we will be required to find meaning and purpose and love again. We must form new bonds that renew our hope and firm our grounding. Grief is long and hard but this is beyond grief. This is despair.
Yes, your assessment and descriptive response are absolutely what is happening. Even in our small town of under 2000 people, there are currents of it. And when we go to larger places, it is even more pronounced. I refuse to let it take me down with it, and I will not respond with nastiness in kind, because I think we need to demonstrate that we are not cowed by it. My response to a couple of people who have tried to gloat about Trump is to smile and say simply, "Be careful what you wish for, and beware the law of unintended consequences."
It's heartwarming to hear concern for our country from those outside it. Their awareness of us amazing to me. It really shows how large our community is.
If one looks at the
NBC exit polls, You will quickly see where the problem lies. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/exit-polls
This makes me think of that REM song, “It’s the end of the world as we know it.”
Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's foes will be members of one's own household” (Matthew 10:34-36).
Jesus Christ knew there would be reckonings - we are in one again.
Pick a side - Jesus the “author of our faith” gave specific instructions on how to live.
Luke 16: 19 - 31 Lazarus and the Rich Man
There are many of us who have been resuscitated - and have seen the other side.
We are all Lazarus - and have tried to warn - but as this parable concluded - the rich won’t listen.
Made me cry all over again.
I was at a church meeting yesterday … arrived just a little late and one the ladies was questioning to appointment of the guy over the Military… she was voicing concerns over his suitability… they mentioned the wonderful tattoos … she mentioned his lack of if experience
Our family is fractured over politics. Some want to over look certain relatives leanings but I cannot. I’m not going to Thanksgiving this year. Not participating or carrying out my traditional role. In some ways I feel like a baby having a tantrum but sorry I’m really feeling a hard no at this time toward these family members.