Ever since Reagan, the slippery fool, said that "government is the problem," those on the right have been enjoying a paroxysm of rage against anything that made society fairer for everyone, whether that be health insurance, taxation, or housing. Now, Trump has done one thing that pleases them no end: he has raised both of his tiny middle fingers toward our Constitution, and his posse is ecstatic. I don't share your optimism that because Trump is shallow his movement is too. There are deep pockets of dark money ready to be spent to make sure we think that screwing ourselves is in our ultimate best interests. Alas, as Adlai Stevenson noted when an aide told him that every thinking American will vote for you, Sir, "Yes, but we need a majority."
I hope to read its honest opposite column one day, whenever we get to the other side of the dark abyss we’re currently (inexorably) sliding into like pebbles caught up in an avalanche.
Well, David, this MM reads like a dirge, which I presume is your intent; and after reading the Scotus majority decision in the Alabama redistricting case — a decision that shat all over an opposite finding by the same Court only two years ago — that in fact returns us to a Jim Crow South, there is no other recourse but to write an obituary for ca. 65 years of successful struggle to attain even a modicum of democratic representation for Black people in the former Confederacy.
Hoods on, the Old South shall rise again!...and so it has.
Thank you, Mr. Kurtz. Today's newsletter encapsulates exactly how I feel. I've always repeated the quote that "action is the antidote to despair" and I've been very politically active, but now I can barely summon the energy.
Now that’s a column! I agree with so many comments that you have put into words what I cannot. Wish it were on a happier subject. The country has weathered worse, history has shown us, but we have gone backwards for too long now. I hope I will be around to see the accountability and movement forward again.
Excellent, David. I suspect you speak for the many. At any rate, your words resound with the truth of shared experience and expressed well what I'm simply too tired to convey.
Wonderful post. And..don’t give up. We out here in the grassroots are knocking doors, making calls, registering voters and more…one at a time. Activism makes a difference. Also, here’s a recent piece I wrote on the grief and trauma of this moment. An excerpt:
"We are all experiencing the trauma of this moment. Too often, there seems no possible way or time to respond or process; the assaults happen daily, each worse than the day before. We are hyperaware that our democracy is on life support. The forces of this racist oligarchy threaten the integrity of our democratic republic, the stability of our country and for many, our physical and emotional safety.
In many traumatic situations, persisting amidst horror can mean the difference between survival and death. As in battle, getting through is the only option. Numbness becomes adaptive, until it isn’t.
How do we acknowledge and metabolize our ongoing trauma and resulting losses? Can we take the time to grieve so we may continue to act? Do we resist the urge to go numb, to withdraw, be immobilized with fear and despair, so that we may continue to combat the forces that threaten us, our neighbors and our democracy? How do we avoid living with constant incandescent anger, a response which threatens to subsume any joy in life?"
I believe that attending to loss is an essential part of resisting this authoritarian takeover.
If we go numb, we can’t act. Let’s all take action
So painful to read, so shocking, unbearable the despicable, unfathomable blows every day. This nightmare must end, and it will. There still are too many humans of good will, connected by the power of true values and meaningful ideas in the United States of America. Eventually, they will prevail.
Well said, Mr. Kurtz. I always enjoy reading your writing, but today's post got me in the gut.
We are all grieving each day's losses. Thank you for putting it into words
Ever since Reagan, the slippery fool, said that "government is the problem," those on the right have been enjoying a paroxysm of rage against anything that made society fairer for everyone, whether that be health insurance, taxation, or housing. Now, Trump has done one thing that pleases them no end: he has raised both of his tiny middle fingers toward our Constitution, and his posse is ecstatic. I don't share your optimism that because Trump is shallow his movement is too. There are deep pockets of dark money ready to be spent to make sure we think that screwing ourselves is in our ultimate best interests. Alas, as Adlai Stevenson noted when an aide told him that every thinking American will vote for you, Sir, "Yes, but we need a majority."
I agree that the movement is not shallow. It has a deep, fanatical religious core. That frightens me most.
Well said indeed.
Destruction and cruelty are the name of a game.
“that it overcomes our capacity to mourn.” That is it EXACTLY! Thank you for putting it into words
I love you for your values and honesty. Deep thanks, fellow human.
Thank you David for shining a light into the dark heart of this regime.
Stand up, people! Register to VOTE!
Resist, persist and move forward! There ARE more of us then them. Join your local grassroots movements!
Well said and true of me. I take some comfort that others are sharing these feelings because there is power in numbers.
This perfectly describes how I am feeling. Thank you for saying it so well.
Thank you for the honest gut punch.
I hope to read its honest opposite column one day, whenever we get to the other side of the dark abyss we’re currently (inexorably) sliding into like pebbles caught up in an avalanche.
Well, David, this MM reads like a dirge, which I presume is your intent; and after reading the Scotus majority decision in the Alabama redistricting case — a decision that shat all over an opposite finding by the same Court only two years ago — that in fact returns us to a Jim Crow South, there is no other recourse but to write an obituary for ca. 65 years of successful struggle to attain even a modicum of democratic representation for Black people in the former Confederacy.
Hoods on, the Old South shall rise again!...and so it has.
Thank you, Mr. Kurtz. Today's newsletter encapsulates exactly how I feel. I've always repeated the quote that "action is the antidote to despair" and I've been very politically active, but now I can barely summon the energy.
Now that’s a column! I agree with so many comments that you have put into words what I cannot. Wish it were on a happier subject. The country has weathered worse, history has shown us, but we have gone backwards for too long now. I hope I will be around to see the accountability and movement forward again.
Excellent, David. I suspect you speak for the many. At any rate, your words resound with the truth of shared experience and expressed well what I'm simply too tired to convey.
Wonderful post. And..don’t give up. We out here in the grassroots are knocking doors, making calls, registering voters and more…one at a time. Activism makes a difference. Also, here’s a recent piece I wrote on the grief and trauma of this moment. An excerpt:
"We are all experiencing the trauma of this moment. Too often, there seems no possible way or time to respond or process; the assaults happen daily, each worse than the day before. We are hyperaware that our democracy is on life support. The forces of this racist oligarchy threaten the integrity of our democratic republic, the stability of our country and for many, our physical and emotional safety.
In many traumatic situations, persisting amidst horror can mean the difference between survival and death. As in battle, getting through is the only option. Numbness becomes adaptive, until it isn’t.
How do we acknowledge and metabolize our ongoing trauma and resulting losses? Can we take the time to grieve so we may continue to act? Do we resist the urge to go numb, to withdraw, be immobilized with fear and despair, so that we may continue to combat the forces that threaten us, our neighbors and our democracy? How do we avoid living with constant incandescent anger, a response which threatens to subsume any joy in life?"
I believe that attending to loss is an essential part of resisting this authoritarian takeover.
If we go numb, we can’t act. Let’s all take action
https://mindyoshrainmd.substack.com/p/grief-in-response-to-trauma
So painful to read, so shocking, unbearable the despicable, unfathomable blows every day. This nightmare must end, and it will. There still are too many humans of good will, connected by the power of true values and meaningful ideas in the United States of America. Eventually, they will prevail.