Wow Nia! Your writing is so fantastic, makes it difficult to believe it comes so hard for you! Thank you for expressing my own feelings about the state of things. Take care of yourself, I want to read more of you!
“...It was a manipulated long con over the course of my lifetime” is absolute truth. Florida is filthy from calling it for Bush to Roger Stone, gold toilets and spring break debauchery. The Supreme Court is bought and sold. It’s Opposite Day every day. No accountability since the Civil War. The phony angry “Christians”. The guns. Hell yes it’s depressing and getting harder to shake it off but try again - nothing makes the right wing nuts more furious than Black joy, powerful women, and a clean election. Fight to win 🏆
And I love making the right wing nuts furious. Sort of like them “owning the libs” I guess. What a sad state of affairs, but hell, they started it, and we ignored it for way too long. Fight back, or whimper and die
Wish I had said all that. No, never worked as a stripper. Don’t have the ability to compartmentalize to the extent that would take, so I imagine. But I remember all those chaos points and my gut reactions. “Did you lose your mind all at once, or was it a slow, gradual process.” Ongoing, I think. Glad the writer’s block has abated…
Would they turn you in? Hell yeah, they would. Count on it. And would they turn away? Hell yeah. The best you could say for some is they'd be so afraid it'd be "Back to the garden." Nazi Germany ain't got nothing on some of our countrymen, despite what we were taught in elementary school. But it's not everyone. It's not a majority.
They're better organized, but so were the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. The law held and punishment's going out. Jack Smith has a hammer and he looks like he REALLY wants to use it. Good for him. Maybe he can. Will that save us in '24 from the insane gerrymandering MFers? Maybe not. But if they start coming for people, it's on. They won't win. They'll get some and they'll do damage, and then they'll go down themselves. Helps if you're older, maybe lived long enough. Then you just do the math. Two for one? Three? Scout the tree line facing the driveways. In the meantime, keep your head down. Tell me that's not going on all over this country.
So I think that's what it is. Not quite the retirement we planned? Sorry, my dear, it was a good run, sort of. In the meantime, let it go, status quo. Don't dwell in it, even as they try to to make you. They're driving themselves insane. Hang on to ours as long as we can. Steer clear. Do a good days work. Get some exercise. Spend an extra minute with a nice view. Plant some flowers. Watch the bees pollinate. Read another book. Plan for the future. Get some rest.
Thank you for honestly telling your story. It's so important for people to know that others are going through the same thing that they are. In my opinion, there is no "normal". Everyone is a culmination of their experiences. I hope you find peace and joy. By the way, I tried EMDR once, and only once. It was so intense that I could not do it again and had to stop after just a few minutes. I recently read "A Fever in the Heartland" by Timothy Egan and it really put the whole MAGA thing into perspective for me.
Yes, I was shocked that I had not heard about the information in this book. The KKK in the 1920's in Indiana. The author also gives a lot of information about things that were going on throughout the U.S. during this time period. Good reading!
Nia, thank you for your story. Truly fantastic writing/expressions.
K. Collins would never stand up to trump as she is not strong enough. So while there are few, stronger people do exist in our society, think of you and Greg.
When many Americans are in a trance-like state of conformity, and you are not, it's painful and depressing, especially when we don't know what we can do about it. Keep writing what you can, when you can, because you obviously know you can't not write. (Plus this was great and we need more, please).
Nia, somehow, you've captured most of my life and my feelings about what's been going on the past 15 years or so. I have been a ridiculously voracious reader since I was old enough to read anything, and that's been about 60 years. Now, there just aren't enough hours in a day for it, but I still read every day. Currently, it's a book mentioned on Rachel Maddow's Deja News podcast, with the magnificent title of "Communists and Perverts Under the Palms," about the Johns Commission in Florida in the 50s and 60s going after "Commies," Blacks, in reaction to Brown vs. Board of Education, and desegregation in general, and when that fails, the gays. Florida has always been an asshole state, apparently, and it's like DeDumbass has read the Johns Commission report and is repeating everything they did to see if it works THIS time.
You have also pinpointed exactly when this Fail State started: the election of Obama. I might even go farther back to Newt Gingrich and his "Contract With (On) America" in 1994, but Obama is probably the catalyst for all of this. Any THINKING person knows why, but they deny their racism so much, it's like even THEY believe it. McConnell's statement about making Obama a one-term president, the Tea Party, Mango's birther bullshit, the constant obstruction from supposedly normal Republicans, all of it barely coded language for their racism and hate. Then the Orange Sociopath came along and because we were all asleep at the switch, got elected. Allegedly. The downhill slide hasn't even slowed down, what with his minions and clones in the legislature, and his nihilistic followers in the field. I DO know that he won't be re-elected, but that is cold comfort. The next time I want to see him in Washington is in a tacky, gold-plated casket in the rotunda, just before the big, HUGE State Funeral. You KNOW that's what he picked when they asked him what kind of funeral he'd like as a former president. Asshole.
So, we slog on, because some of us are too old to be thinking of things like moving out of the country if this continues, in addition to the fact that just on principle, they can't have it! It is NOT "their" country to be taking back, and I won't live somewhere in Canada, watching the U.S. turn into Nazi Germany. "Deja News," indeed. We've been here before and will probably be here again. It's simply OUR turn to resist and fight on.
Nia, thanks so much for your brutal honesty. Just this morning I was thinking, when will THIS ever be over? As a Jersey girl, I've been living in a fog for seven + years, because I was never fooled by Trump; just didn't realize just how many people would be and that level of idiocy is mind-numbing.
Greg, Greg... fabulous. Sandy
Keep fighting Nia. Thanks.
Wow Nia! Your writing is so fantastic, makes it difficult to believe it comes so hard for you! Thank you for expressing my own feelings about the state of things. Take care of yourself, I want to read more of you!
Ditto!
Brilliant Nia, an absolutely brilliant summarization of the state we are in & I completely relate to your angst ridden GenX upbringing. Keep at it ❤️
“...It was a manipulated long con over the course of my lifetime” is absolute truth. Florida is filthy from calling it for Bush to Roger Stone, gold toilets and spring break debauchery. The Supreme Court is bought and sold. It’s Opposite Day every day. No accountability since the Civil War. The phony angry “Christians”. The guns. Hell yes it’s depressing and getting harder to shake it off but try again - nothing makes the right wing nuts more furious than Black joy, powerful women, and a clean election. Fight to win 🏆
And I love making the right wing nuts furious. Sort of like them “owning the libs” I guess. What a sad state of affairs, but hell, they started it, and we ignored it for way too long. Fight back, or whimper and die
Wish I had said all that. No, never worked as a stripper. Don’t have the ability to compartmentalize to the extent that would take, so I imagine. But I remember all those chaos points and my gut reactions. “Did you lose your mind all at once, or was it a slow, gradual process.” Ongoing, I think. Glad the writer’s block has abated…
Would they turn you in? Hell yeah, they would. Count on it. And would they turn away? Hell yeah. The best you could say for some is they'd be so afraid it'd be "Back to the garden." Nazi Germany ain't got nothing on some of our countrymen, despite what we were taught in elementary school. But it's not everyone. It's not a majority.
They're better organized, but so were the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. The law held and punishment's going out. Jack Smith has a hammer and he looks like he REALLY wants to use it. Good for him. Maybe he can. Will that save us in '24 from the insane gerrymandering MFers? Maybe not. But if they start coming for people, it's on. They won't win. They'll get some and they'll do damage, and then they'll go down themselves. Helps if you're older, maybe lived long enough. Then you just do the math. Two for one? Three? Scout the tree line facing the driveways. In the meantime, keep your head down. Tell me that's not going on all over this country.
So I think that's what it is. Not quite the retirement we planned? Sorry, my dear, it was a good run, sort of. In the meantime, let it go, status quo. Don't dwell in it, even as they try to to make you. They're driving themselves insane. Hang on to ours as long as we can. Steer clear. Do a good days work. Get some exercise. Spend an extra minute with a nice view. Plant some flowers. Watch the bees pollinate. Read another book. Plan for the future. Get some rest.
I could also relate to you on so many levels. That's awesome, Nia. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for honestly telling your story. It's so important for people to know that others are going through the same thing that they are. In my opinion, there is no "normal". Everyone is a culmination of their experiences. I hope you find peace and joy. By the way, I tried EMDR once, and only once. It was so intense that I could not do it again and had to stop after just a few minutes. I recently read "A Fever in the Heartland" by Timothy Egan and it really put the whole MAGA thing into perspective for me.
Another book to read! Thank goodness for Kindle or I'd need a second house! Thanks, Gail.
Yes, I was shocked that I had not heard about the information in this book. The KKK in the 1920's in Indiana. The author also gives a lot of information about things that were going on throughout the U.S. during this time period. Good reading!
Nia, thank you for your story. Truly fantastic writing/expressions.
K. Collins would never stand up to trump as she is not strong enough. So while there are few, stronger people do exist in our society, think of you and Greg.
When many Americans are in a trance-like state of conformity, and you are not, it's painful and depressing, especially when we don't know what we can do about it. Keep writing what you can, when you can, because you obviously know you can't not write. (Plus this was great and we need more, please).
Stay Nasty 😉
Nia, somehow, you've captured most of my life and my feelings about what's been going on the past 15 years or so. I have been a ridiculously voracious reader since I was old enough to read anything, and that's been about 60 years. Now, there just aren't enough hours in a day for it, but I still read every day. Currently, it's a book mentioned on Rachel Maddow's Deja News podcast, with the magnificent title of "Communists and Perverts Under the Palms," about the Johns Commission in Florida in the 50s and 60s going after "Commies," Blacks, in reaction to Brown vs. Board of Education, and desegregation in general, and when that fails, the gays. Florida has always been an asshole state, apparently, and it's like DeDumbass has read the Johns Commission report and is repeating everything they did to see if it works THIS time.
You have also pinpointed exactly when this Fail State started: the election of Obama. I might even go farther back to Newt Gingrich and his "Contract With (On) America" in 1994, but Obama is probably the catalyst for all of this. Any THINKING person knows why, but they deny their racism so much, it's like even THEY believe it. McConnell's statement about making Obama a one-term president, the Tea Party, Mango's birther bullshit, the constant obstruction from supposedly normal Republicans, all of it barely coded language for their racism and hate. Then the Orange Sociopath came along and because we were all asleep at the switch, got elected. Allegedly. The downhill slide hasn't even slowed down, what with his minions and clones in the legislature, and his nihilistic followers in the field. I DO know that he won't be re-elected, but that is cold comfort. The next time I want to see him in Washington is in a tacky, gold-plated casket in the rotunda, just before the big, HUGE State Funeral. You KNOW that's what he picked when they asked him what kind of funeral he'd like as a former president. Asshole.
So, we slog on, because some of us are too old to be thinking of things like moving out of the country if this continues, in addition to the fact that just on principle, they can't have it! It is NOT "their" country to be taking back, and I won't live somewhere in Canada, watching the U.S. turn into Nazi Germany. "Deja News," indeed. We've been here before and will probably be here again. It's simply OUR turn to resist and fight on.
All in with you, Steve. Thanks.
You had me at "congealing constipated mass of rotting nihilism." Thanks!!
Nia, thanks so much for your brutal honesty. Just this morning I was thinking, when will THIS ever be over? As a Jersey girl, I've been living in a fog for seven + years, because I was never fooled by Trump; just didn't realize just how many people would be and that level of idiocy is mind-numbing.
https://fb.watch/llHevSD1Wq/?mibextid=l2pjGR
I have trouble finding his latest. So thanks, MaryPat!