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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI never post this kind of thing but DAMN I'm depressed.
I grew up in the super duper red South when it wasnt even known as red. Ive mentioned that my people can be among the most diverse in the nation without it being knownI mean, drag was part of New Orleans since before we were a country.
But I went to a high school that was integrated while I was there, in 1970. I had a grandfather (disowned) who was both a state patrol and a KKK member. So youd think I could hitch up my drawers and fight on.
And I will. Im lucky to live in one of the most liberal, diverse parts of the country (Well, there are damn near no black folks here but thats just a function of how slow people are to leave familiar places). But Im terrified for my beautiful biracial grandchildren who may be denied and hated and discriminated against, even here in the PNW. I weep for my many gay and trans friends, my Southern friends and relatives, some of whom are reasonable human beings. Im sad for women of childbearing age who will suffer and die without support. Im afraid because I damn well know that it takes nothingNOTHINGto be generous and kind and loving toward others except letting go of the community of fear and hatred. And Im just plain depressed that this country has gone so far off the rails itll be a very long time before we find our way out of this labyrinthine hell. If ever.
If youve got an optimistic word Id appreciate one right now. Because OUR community is based on caring and helping people thrive. Ach.

LoisB
(9,830 posts)nolabear
(43,636 posts)I keep reminding myself that loud and predominant arent the same. Then SIX unelected mofos ruin countless dreams.
Okay. Tits up. 😄
50 Shades Of Blue
(11,092 posts)nolabear
(43,636 posts)But theyre trying to hamstring him at every turn. And it pisses me off.
mahina
(19,590 posts)100% here with you for all of it. I feel exactly the same.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)Im down but not out. And I appreciate every one who feels the same but goes in anyway.
blm
(114,025 posts)And there are many of us.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)You know how divided it is. I was in Durham and the Research Triangle. My late in-laws in Winston Salem literally had Jimmy Carter sleep in their house when he was running.
And then there are those other parts. So hard.
wnylib
(25,204 posts)Keep fighting. You are not alone. Biden is president. And we will win in the end, even though it does not look like it now.
We have more fights ahead of us. But each outrage from the right only makes me angrier and more determined.
If we stick together in unity and keep fighting, we WILL win out.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)RKP5637
(67,112 posts)give up everything and move away. It's horrible what some states are turning onto, filled with vile hatred. And now I am beginning to fear what the US might become. It is damn depressing.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)Theres so much richness. But so much bigotry still.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)my way out. I could care less now about the warm weather and some beautiful scenery. There are now better places to be. I don't want anything to do with the south of the US. IMO it reeks of bigotry in many places and across the political spectrum.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)It had so much richness, and now its just not worth it.
Grasswire2
(13,807 posts)"Look forward, not back."
It might have sounded nice if we were all well-intentioned in America.
A concept of DETERRENCE through CONSEQUENCES for bad/harmful acts would have us in a totally different position now.
Grasswire2
(13,807 posts)Dark n Stormy Knight
(10,281 posts)expanding the court. Ds need to recognize that this is not a drill. The Rs will destroy everything if not stopped. We need to use every tool possible to halt their extreme, radical agenda.
GenXer47
(1,204 posts)Those are about it.
You didn't even mention the existential crisis, the absolute certainty: climate collapse.
Sorry to offer both salt and pepper but that's the way things come at us now.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)while fighting over the stupidity things. Ach.
yardwork
(65,939 posts)No question, today is a bad day. But we the people can elect more Democrats and turn things around. We have a strong, wise president on our side. We can do it!
nolabear
(43,636 posts)Covid kept me from working for Joe the way I did for Hillary. But now? Hell yes.
Hekate
(96,882 posts)This will not break us.
Believe him. This will not break us.
I will give you all I have to give today, a virtual DU hug, and my thanks for your being here.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)And as family we can help others. I know that. But Im tired of being tired. It doesnt exactly bring out my best side.
ShazzieB
(19,933 posts)I love that. It's going to be my new mantra. Thanks, Joe, and thank you for calling this to my attention!
peggysue2
(11,709 posts)I truly believe we'll get this turned around. Those that fear and/or hate modernity are on a losing mission. The past is not viable or reachable for any longer than a flickering moment. No doubt, there will be pain in-between. Progress has always been hard and bumpy but it endures the long journey. The future will not be denied, no matter how hard these people try to turn back the clock to some mythical, whacked-out Golden Age.
We'll win this thing. Holding together and heaving forward.
bronxiteforever
(10,209 posts)Remember, Red: Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies. Andy Dufresne
CaliforniaPeggy
(153,283 posts)From my probably top favorite movie!
It brought the tears.
bronxiteforever
(10,209 posts)You keep hanging in there with assurance that you are one of the good ones and god knows the world needs you! We are in this together.
CaliforniaPeggy
(153,283 posts)We are all in this together, and we're all necessary.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(153,283 posts)
nolabear
(43,636 posts)I happen to be a huge fan. Red is one of the best narrators in fiction, and the end of that novella one of the most satisfying.
Thanks. I needed that.
Lonestarblue
(12,459 posts)their right-wing white evangelical white supremacist backers and rejecting their propaganda. It may take a few years for them to become the kind of constant voters we need, but they will get there as they see how their lives are being impacted by stupid decisions by right-wing politicians and courts. One encouraging sign is that younger people are leaving extremist religion behind. Voters are also seeing how nasty and hateful Republican legislatures are when put in control of womens lives and LGBTQ+ rights.
The job for Democratic leaders is to publicize this loss of rights and get young voters to the polls. The overturning of Roe, the obvious privileging of extremist religious beliefs, the end of affirmative action, and the saddling of young people with huge debt should be enough to get them to vote in the future.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)But I do have to remember theyre strong and determined. I teach them sometimes and just adore them. Could we possibly have been so lovable?
barbtries
(30,265 posts)I can only tell you that I understand because I'm feeling the same damn way.
it is so fucked up.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)So lets hold onto one another.
Joinfortmill
(17,640 posts)nolabear
(43,636 posts)Stronger Together.
Bluethroughu
(7,059 posts)Ignore them until they resign. They are corrupt and illigitimate...they are partisan and on the take from benefactors. They are lawless, shameful, hateful, useless illegitimate justices.
Ignore the court.
The Wizard
(13,106 posts)nolabear
(43,636 posts)Im 68 and it irritates me to no end to see Kavanaugh and Barrett up there. Term limits are sorely needed.
Bluethroughu
(7,059 posts)The first thing out of her mouth before she could even open the door all the way for me to see her was, "term limits"!
Great minds think alike!
The Blue Flower
(5,784 posts)Things will bet better if we don't give up.
Timeflyer
(3,063 posts)and the power-drunk people behind them. Trust that you don't hear about the successes, small though they might be, on the ground. Stay strong, raise hell, and don't stop.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)I love FL and hate that the fierce rascals who love living there get subsumed by the bigots. Shoot, have they forgotten they drop a drag Queen in a high heel on New Years Eve in Miami? This too is Florida until they get run out.
Or not.
Quakerfriend
(5,757 posts)during the Bush years feeling this way.
My young son wanted to put a peace sign decal on the car & I didnt think that was a good idea (!) given the political climate that followed 9/11 and the Iraq War.
But, boy how things changed when we elected Obama.
We shall overcome!!
nolabear
(43,636 posts)Thanks for the solidarity. It really helps.
thatcrowwoman
(1,230 posts)But were not alone. Were living through it together.
Your knowledge that it takes nothingNOTHINGto be generous and kind and loving toward others except letting go of the community of fear and hatred is profoundly and simply powerful.
I think thats a key to how we dont give up, by being generous and kind and loving toward others. And also toward ourselves, my sweet mama would remind us.
She would also advise us: If youre tired, dont quit. Rest.
Sending some sweet Shalom your way, peace be with you, nolabear.
🕊thatcrowwoman
nolabear
(43,636 posts)Your mama sounds like good people. As do you. Thank you for the love. ❤️
marble falls
(64,111 posts)nolabear
(43,636 posts)We can get the drop on em when they least expect it.
Wild blueberry
(7,514 posts)Get some good sleep. Walk outside. Be with friends.
Then get back up and keep working.
Like planting an apple tree you may not live to see bear fruit, but plant it anyway.
It took women over 70 years to get the vote.
Hugs!
nolabear
(43,636 posts)They are indeed doing good work. Sometimes against a sea of troubles. Thank you.
Think. Again.
(22,261 posts)nolabear
(43,636 posts)
mountain grammy
(27,616 posts)but I'm fighting back.. I'm 75 and have no fucks left to give. Even when my children, all Dems, or Democratic friends whine about Biden's age or a million other reasons like "he doesn't have star power??!!" whateverthefuck that means, and "I wish we had another Democrat to run" and blah blah blah.
I'm standing right up and saying, he is our President and is running for re-election. That's it! That's all! We support him wholeheartedly. No primaries, no challengers.
The bottom line is this: HE'S OUR NOMINEE AND WE WILL VOTE FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'S DOING A FANTASTIC JOB AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. sorry for shouting.
He got the railroad workers to not strike and continued to press the companies until finally, after the fact, sick days were approved. He never gives up and neither will I! And, nolabear, I know you won't either.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)about how much the things hes gotten done get ignored. I hope he gets the support he deserves in what I do think will be another term.
CaptainTruth
(7,509 posts)I feel your post. There are times when I get down but then I think to myself "WTF am I doing? I don't have time to be depressed, there's too much work to do, work that must be done if we want to save our country."
nolabear
(43,636 posts)They help tremendously. Thank you for yours!
CaptainTruth
(7,509 posts)I feel so much of what you feel! If we are to save our country, we need to work together.
We cannot forget that. We must stick together & work together & I will always be there, arm-in-arm with fellow Americans like you.
Don't ever feel like no one cares or it doesn't matter. We ALWAYS care & it ALWAYS matters. Know that!
Botany
(73,659 posts)If you can take them for a walk or a picnic and live for
the moments when they smile and laugh. And always
remember you're directly above the center of the earth.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)And theyre lucky, because their family will do anything for them.
What an interesting perspective about being above the center of the earth. Gives me much to think about. Thank you.
Botany
(73,659 posts)

I have always been into great literature.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)You and I would get along. 😍
Evolve Dammit
(20,383 posts)
Response to Evolve Dammit (Reply #42)
ancianita This message was self-deleted by its author.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)Of ourselves and one another, eh?
Evolve Dammit
(20,383 posts)
ancianita
(40,173 posts)You can also look for good news out in the world, and try to see good news and small wins as signs of better days ahead. Humans want peace and good lives for themselves, their friends and families. All of us together can withstand the very small number who are so fearful that they often know not what they do, or fear.
Still, we can lose perspective about human suffering when we dwell on our own, so to help others feel better might help you feel better, too.
Our speck of time is precious and worth being grateful for. Every day, small joys, truth, love, smiles and kindness do win out.
You'll come out of this. Because you want to.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)Yes, the encouragement is wonderful to see. It can be hard to ask for, but Im glad I did. Thank you.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)counter plans on how to rectify this all. Geez we are just simple people who care. We work, we vote.
But jhc where are our leaders that are supposed to be leading and fixing and laying out plans ?? Perhaps it's in the works? I'll stand down.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)In ordinary times Joes plans are excellent. And they still are. But I would like to see some healthy grandstanding about them. We need to drive that home.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)unless you have what they have. We free thinkers are everywhere. Why it's so easy for the other side. All dumbed down. Everyone at a few places. All uniform thinking
Master utters short phrases and repeats a million times.
BUT, don't we have media experts? Or maybe it's the state of the media that makes media experts non-effective?
Certainly above my pay grade. But it would be nice to know greater minds making progress. Although it has been 6 1/2 years!
Initech
(104,323 posts)Right wing hate propaganda is 100% the root of all of the problems currently facing this country. If we are to get out of this nightmare hell world they created, we need to de-Fox this country. I don't care what it takes, it must be done.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)Now and then when I feel down Mr Bear smiles and says Rush Limbaugh is still dead, you know.
Elessar Zappa
(16,313 posts)Id say social media has been even more instrumental in our demise than Fox News or radio. So many conspiracy theories are birthed on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, 4chan, etc.
CaptainTruth
(7,509 posts)nolabear
(43,636 posts)I might be pissed off again tomorrow but I wont despair. Not with so many good folks around.
RainCaster
(12,397 posts)They are increasingly desperate to keep their power. Even in red states, more than 60% of the populace disagrees with the RW agenda.
Nolabear, we are in the majority. Remember that as the right grows more crazy about their losing stance. In history, this will be a small bump as we improve our stand about what must be done for the people.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)We just have to be a tad more fierce about it, yes?
RainCaster
(12,397 posts)Repukes do that. All I can do is affect my little part of the world. So that is my only concern. Taking that attitude helps keep me sane.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)Yes. We do what we do.
Its morning now. I slept well.
RainCaster
(12,397 posts)wryter2000
(47,776 posts)But it bends toward justice. MLK Jr. If he could say that after all hed been through, I believe him.
nolabear
(43,636 posts)Ill think of his courage and try to live up to that, however small my contribution may be.
calimary
(85,524 posts)You came to the right place anyway, but especially on a day (and evening) like this.
We're up here in the PNW too, and are almost literally drunk with delight at all the tall trees! Can you get out for a little walk through some leafy green areas or local parks? It'll feed your spirit and distract you from your troubles because it's just so damn beautiful! That tends to work for me. I can't believe the views up here - can't see the river or the volcano peaks, but who cares, for all those trees? Find some natural splendor to ease your worried mind and sinking heart.
I hope you'll keep this thread, too. It's bound to help lift your spirits even if only a wee bit. But every wee bit starts to add up, after awhile. We've got a good guy in the White House and the Senate is ours, and a Democrat in the governor's job. and chances are good that the Supreme Court will have thoughtfully kept enough of us pissed off that we will vote and make sure our friends are at least reminded about it.
I've never heard so many people in news stories and in man-on-the-street interviews lately - urging people to vote! And that's all we have to do: VOTE! Just remember, there are more of us, anyway, than the other guys have, so we have a built-in advantage already.
On a personal note - I'm SO glad there is DU. With everybody here. It's a feel-good tonic of a site, and as our own beloved Skittles once observed - "someone's always here." I can't tell you how often the mere thought of that has buoyed me up and kept me going. It's worth keeping in mind whenever you need your spirits lifted.
And somebody really is always here!
nolabear
(43,636 posts)As the song says, Ive seen fire and Ive seen rain
And for a lot of years Ive had you folks to share it all with. I couldnt appreciate that more. We are in small what I wish this country to be in large. And thats very important.
I miss Skittles. Hope shes well.
calimary
(85,524 posts)Here's hoping it's just the demands of work taking up most of her time.
Maru Kitteh
(29,850 posts)I sincerely hope that helps even a little, because its true.
Jamastiene
(38,198 posts)but they cannot change our minds. Those of us who are against the bigotry will stay against bigotry. We will fight as long as we can and new generations will fight en masse as time goes on.
It's a never-ending fight. The overall war is never "won." It's just battle after battle after battle, back and forth, forever. That is what I have figured out so far about civil rights and human society in general. It's not about age or any of the other things people think it is about. Bigots don't "die off." New generations become bigots too. That one is one of the worst ones that people believe. It always irritates me. My grandmother was against bigotry against POC and gay people way back in the 1980s before she died in her 80s. Age doesn't determine whether a person is bigoted or not. Their ideology does.
It is about who is on the latest bigotry bandwagon. The people on the latest bigotry bandwagon will eventually get chewed up and spit out by the people they thought were their friends and things will shift the other way for a while, only to shift back later after that. Back and forth forever. I'm sad that it is that way, but it is.
Knowing that, pick your battles and take care of yourself is the best advice.
Take a break if you need to. It can be incredibly disheartening, but it is a long haul fight.
I'm still trapped in the red south in one of the worst counties imaginable. Walmart is our major employer here other than the medical facilities. I certainly can't afford to go to college to become a doctor and I'm disabled anyhow. I refuse to let them win. I know I am a good person and try my best to treat others with kindness until they give me reason not to. Even in that case, I tend to just avoid them if they are unkind.
Numerous people in my hometown heard about me being raped for being a lesbian and made it their mission to meet me to tell me God hates me, I'm going to Hell, and I should get raped over and over until I submit to their hateful version of God and learn to like it. I know I don't deserve that. I now tell them, After them. They need to show me by example and "learn to like it." I tell them that now with no regrets or shame.
They can't win if they can't break me. They haven't broken me. I don't always have the stamina as I have gotten older, but they still haven't won as long as I am me and I am alive and I know I deserve better than their hatred.
I will fight when I can. The rest of the time, I will enjoy my music and art and my cats. While I am living the best life than I can, under the circumstances, they are the furthest thing from my mind, despite knowing the town I live in is already a theocracy run by extremists almost as cruel as the Taliban, if not the same as them. It's overwhelming to type that. It's overwhelming to fight that alone too. It's not 100% on my shoulders alone to try to enlighten people who refuse to listen either though. That's how I look at it. Don't let them win, but take time for yourself to enjoy your family, friends, activities, and hobbies and whatever else you normally enjoy until you can do something to fight back.
The big picture is not 100% on your shoulders. This fight is not 100% on your shoulders, meaning it is not your responsibility to try to fight alone. Don't try to put all of the responsibility to fight on your shoulders. It will crush you, for no good reason. You aren't being fair to yourself if you try to do that.
No one person can change it all and we have to regroup and fight back as we can, with a plan that will work. Right now, no one has a plan. There is no plan yet. Other than supporting the ACLU to fight every civil rights violation coming out, I honestly don't know the answers either.
So, we tread water and wait. Literally, all we *can* do is take a break until we figure out how to fight them back.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,927 posts)"They" are dying out. They'll never be completely gone (sadly, but probably won't), but they will be very outnumbered in the years to come. Even Texas is purple and has a chance to be flipped in 2024.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)a bit left.
We will never go fully for one side or the other, and as long as there is talk, there is hope. Even fighting talk.
The debates keep us engaged and we can't simply dive into the despair that invites ignorance and loss when 90 percent of us lose what little we have to the 10 percent.
The fight makes us stronger.