I’m surrounded by people who are looking away. I call them out, I ask them how they can pretend nothing is happening. They tell me it’s too much and they are powerless so why bother paying attention. I tell them stop obeying in advance, they are not powerless. They say they don’t want the stress and fear. And then they walk away from me.
It’s so disheartening.
Thank you for reminding me that even if I’m on an island, I’m not alone in not feeling normal, at all.
I wake up utterly devastated about what’s happening. Every day something happens that’s worse than the last. Now it’s national guard in our cities. We have to do something- my friends think a national strike
This is chillingly accurate. I spent today with a newly formed group in our northern NJ town educating small businesses on their rights in regards to ICE and distributing signage and tips. They were almost all receptive and grateful. Even for many who do feel that things are wrong, they just don't know what to do, or have the bandwidth to do it. But there are definitely still some who think things are fine- unfortunately my own brother is one of them. He told our mother I'm too obsessed with "politics" and I should stop because it's stressing me out. It's like hello- there's something wrong with you if you're NOT stressed out right now!
We need to disrupt those every day normal events. I know this is mild but I wear my kufiya to the park while my child plays. I’m the only one. I wear my mask to the grocery store. Usually I’m the only one. I need to do more but I think that’s the bare minimum. I’d love to hear how others are starting to disrupt the normal.
It is a very basic but important way to show care for one another. Many people are still struggling with Covid and long COVID symptoms, and masking shows care
The Pandemic & ongoing Covid rates & frequent infections (Covid & other bc we're generally more susceptible now), Covid neurological & immune & brain/cognitive damage, the lies about this by our govt, the way they conditioned us to accept this & accept the damage to ourselves while not believing it's happening & casting the vulnerable as disposable all have a TON to do w/ what is happening now: both settings the stage/conditioning us to loss & eugenicist mindsets & policies, & giving many of us brain effects & fatigue that make it harder to think clearly, harder to fight overwhelm, harder to have empathy. I could go on but I'll stop there. Read the science if you don't know.
My heart aches. I watch and hear people looking away daily. Whether it’s in the late night show jokes or a church’s pastor’s inability to use the pulpit to speak out. I no longer recognize people I thought I knew.
Mr. Joseph, I love your writing, your insights, your beautiful spirit. I feel as if we white privileged ones are in the movie “zone of interest,” where the nazi commander lived with his family outside the burning crematorium. Let’s never turn away and remember the resistance takes many acts of courage and conscience.
Yes, it is a beautifully written account of what is happening in the US & a powerful reminder that history can teach us what we need to know if we take heed of it.
Thank you for this. I've been commenting almost on a daily basis about how no one is paying attention or caring about the things they're seeing. I cannot fathom that people are walking around like nothing is happening. I was a lifelong Cubs fan and I could not possibly care less about them right now, especially since their owners love Trump. We wanted to go to a museum in the city this weekend just to have a little joy but we're not stepping foot in the city. I don't want to walk down the streets while masked thugs are there intimidating ordinary people and kidnapping others. This is terrorism. My day to day life hasn't changed much so far, except that I'm in constant fight or flight with extreme anxiety and fear. I still have to eat and shower and do some other things, but that doesn't mean my life is normal. This is just maniacal.
There are so many people in Chicago and other places who are not acting like any of this is normal. Seek those people out, connect with them and support them.
Yes, there are folks acting like things are normal. And there are a fuck load who do not accept this. What do we do in this terrifying moment to feed that? The Fascist leaders have been taken down, what investments are needed for that to happen? If we flip this around and focus on the folks who know this isn't normal, what happens then? what are the next steps?
I struggle with the normalcy that others around me seem to project. It seems so small and useless compared to what is actually happening and yet I’m expected to participate in them without question. It’s even been said that what’s happening are policy changes that don’t really affect much and will change with the next election. As though there aren’t real people experiencing violence and cruelty right now.
This is how it happens-one step at a time. I have to admit to being guilty of being overloaded with bad news and just going on with my life with my head in the sand.
Just finished Coming Up Short by Robert Reiner, former Secretary of Labor and professor. I agree with so many of his thoughts. He turned his experience into being bullied into fighting the bullies. Highly recommend the audiobook, which he narrates.
This is not normal. We have to keep being aware that this is wrong. If you can’t march in the streets, donate to organizations that are helping these victims out.
I’m surrounded by people who are looking away. I call them out, I ask them how they can pretend nothing is happening. They tell me it’s too much and they are powerless so why bother paying attention. I tell them stop obeying in advance, they are not powerless. They say they don’t want the stress and fear. And then they walk away from me.
It’s so disheartening.
Thank you for reminding me that even if I’m on an island, I’m not alone in not feeling normal, at all.
I wake up utterly devastated about what’s happening. Every day something happens that’s worse than the last. Now it’s national guard in our cities. We have to do something- my friends think a national strike
could affect change.
True and powerful. Thanks for this post, Frederick.
This is chillingly accurate. I spent today with a newly formed group in our northern NJ town educating small businesses on their rights in regards to ICE and distributing signage and tips. They were almost all receptive and grateful. Even for many who do feel that things are wrong, they just don't know what to do, or have the bandwidth to do it. But there are definitely still some who think things are fine- unfortunately my own brother is one of them. He told our mother I'm too obsessed with "politics" and I should stop because it's stressing me out. It's like hello- there's something wrong with you if you're NOT stressed out right now!
We need to disrupt those every day normal events. I know this is mild but I wear my kufiya to the park while my child plays. I’m the only one. I wear my mask to the grocery store. Usually I’m the only one. I need to do more but I think that’s the bare minimum. I’d love to hear how others are starting to disrupt the normal.
I get wearing the kaffiyeh. But why are you wearing the mask? What does that have to do with kidnapping migrants or funding genocide?
It is a very basic but important way to show care for one another. Many people are still struggling with Covid and long COVID symptoms, and masking shows care
The Pandemic & ongoing Covid rates & frequent infections (Covid & other bc we're generally more susceptible now), Covid neurological & immune & brain/cognitive damage, the lies about this by our govt, the way they conditioned us to accept this & accept the damage to ourselves while not believing it's happening & casting the vulnerable as disposable all have a TON to do w/ what is happening now: both settings the stage/conditioning us to loss & eugenicist mindsets & policies, & giving many of us brain effects & fatigue that make it harder to think clearly, harder to fight overwhelm, harder to have empathy. I could go on but I'll stop there. Read the science if you don't know.
My heart aches. I watch and hear people looking away daily. Whether it’s in the late night show jokes or a church’s pastor’s inability to use the pulpit to speak out. I no longer recognize people I thought I knew.
Mr. Joseph, I love your writing, your insights, your beautiful spirit. I feel as if we white privileged ones are in the movie “zone of interest,” where the nazi commander lived with his family outside the burning crematorium. Let’s never turn away and remember the resistance takes many acts of courage and conscience.
Yes, it is a beautifully written account of what is happening in the US & a powerful reminder that history can teach us what we need to know if we take heed of it.
Thank you for this. I've been commenting almost on a daily basis about how no one is paying attention or caring about the things they're seeing. I cannot fathom that people are walking around like nothing is happening. I was a lifelong Cubs fan and I could not possibly care less about them right now, especially since their owners love Trump. We wanted to go to a museum in the city this weekend just to have a little joy but we're not stepping foot in the city. I don't want to walk down the streets while masked thugs are there intimidating ordinary people and kidnapping others. This is terrorism. My day to day life hasn't changed much so far, except that I'm in constant fight or flight with extreme anxiety and fear. I still have to eat and shower and do some other things, but that doesn't mean my life is normal. This is just maniacal.
There are so many people in Chicago and other places who are not acting like any of this is normal. Seek those people out, connect with them and support them.
I know there are others and here is one. https://indivisiblechicago.com/
These are a bunch of Chicago places to donate to.
https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/why-donate
https://illinoiscoalitionforimmigrantandrefugeerights-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1242232
https://immigrantjustice.org/ways-to-help/
https://support.gclclaw.org/give/467882/#!/donation/checkout
Yes, there are folks acting like things are normal. And there are a fuck load who do not accept this. What do we do in this terrifying moment to feed that? The Fascist leaders have been taken down, what investments are needed for that to happen? If we flip this around and focus on the folks who know this isn't normal, what happens then? what are the next steps?
I struggle with the normalcy that others around me seem to project. It seems so small and useless compared to what is actually happening and yet I’m expected to participate in them without question. It’s even been said that what’s happening are policy changes that don’t really affect much and will change with the next election. As though there aren’t real people experiencing violence and cruelty right now.
Thank you for this post. Sharing it far and wide.
Superbly chilling.
100%!
This is how it happens-one step at a time. I have to admit to being guilty of being overloaded with bad news and just going on with my life with my head in the sand.
Just finished Coming Up Short by Robert Reiner, former Secretary of Labor and professor. I agree with so many of his thoughts. He turned his experience into being bullied into fighting the bullies. Highly recommend the audiobook, which he narrates.
This is not normal. We have to keep being aware that this is wrong. If you can’t march in the streets, donate to organizations that are helping these victims out.
The epitome of political violence.
Incredible piece 🧩