I read something today which resonated. The essay posited that people are exhausted at the chaos of the world around us, overwhelmed with stories of natural disasters, wars, children starving, a government that seems hellbent on inflicting as much cruelty to us and damage to the principals our nation was founded on just as quickly as it can. Our sensibilities are under attack by an unending barrage of actual wtf events over and over again on a nearly daily basis.
I read along, and I saw nothing to disagree with.
But the writer felt that when a human being feels powerless, it is a natural response to turn to ourselves to control the things that we can: our homes, divesting ourselves of the things that are weighing us down, decluttering, creating a home that comforts us an makes us feel that, there, at least, we have control, that we can find safety in our space.
I guess that I have never seen myself as Suzy Homemaker, or as they phrase it nowadays 'trad wife'. Yet here I am, cleaning like a crazy woman, taking great pleasure in my little neat as a pin house.
What am I?
Scared, maybe?
Trump’s gutting of PBS opens the door for PragerU’s propaganda https://share.google/QwcWyUfmKGk8tmVtQ
Read up on Dennis Prager's thoughts on incest.
I cleaned the top of my refrigerator today. I polished the stainless steel. Probably a coincidence, though.
I am caught between catching a bus to Washington DC to throw a sandwich at an ICE agent and locking myself in my house and digging a bunker.
ReplyDeleteI have seen that idea on several blogs. The idea that all we can do is find what peace, security, we can in our own little corner. Being nice to everyone we meet, doing what little good we can for others to try to tip the scales a little. Alas. Not much consolation for me. I think the house is ablaze, the ship is sinking, etc. and we are all with our blinders on trying to hide from an unimaginable end. To me, that behavior on our parts guarantees the ending. Sorry not an uplifting comment.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to be the pigeon on the spikes! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteThe bad news does seem to be pretty relentless now. No escaping it even in our little corner of the World.
ReplyDeleteYour article rings true, the world news is horrific, to the point I can't watch too much, looking our for those I care about is top of my list.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why someone in high office just doesn't call the orange one out and then a whole movement can be sparked off. From what I have seen there is plenty of dissent in the country against him.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Thelma, what we are seeing is leaders who are more in love with power and money than they are with representing the people who elected them. My own senator, John Fetterman, was a hugely popular mayor who turned a town around. He ran on a platform of doing the same for his constituents in Washington DC. Now that he is in there and tRUMP is elected, he was one of the first democrats to run to Mar a Lago. He feels that his job is to work with the new administration. He criticizes other democrats for ''grandstanding'
DeleteHe complained during Cory Booker's refusal to yield the floor complaining that he missed beach time with his family. He is a Democrat. Republicans simply (as a rule simply go along with it, because to counter Dear Leader leads to threats to endorse a different republican candidate next election and they want to keep their cushy jobs. We are in a very dangerous situation right now.
It's all we can do - 'you in your small corner and me in mine'
ReplyDeleteI just think it is important to construct a safe place. I can't hide there, but it is a place to consider these terrible times.
DeleteEventually, the orange one will become completely incapable of 'ruling' as Roosevelt and Nixon did. They were replaced by Truman and Ford.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that USA does not have the 'vote of no confidence' that other countries have - that means instant dismissal. Even Churchill was threatened with it during WW2 when things weren't going favourably.
We all cope in our own ways, privately. Controlling one's own environment is a sensible and calming way of coping.
Our problem is that we have an electoral college which breaks us down into districts. If 10,000 people in a district vote republican and 9999 people vote Democrat. The district is considered to have voted republican. So it is easy to see how it looks as if the Republicans are huge victors. They aren't. They are also losing ground in approval ratings. This is why Texas is trying to redraw their voting districts. They are trying to create a map that makes sure there are enough Republicans to quash any opposing vote.
DeleteThat's really not good about PBS and PragerU.
ReplyDeleteIt is not only that these people have some pretty 'out there' ideas. Some of the ideas are dangerous, like programming for the admitted indoctrination of children. Ever read about Hitler Youth?
DeleteTrump has you were he wants you, home and giving up. Don’t let him.
ReplyDeleteNo one is saying that at all! Everyone needs a safe place to recharge.
DeleteReading the news and views on social media can be overwhelming, so the possibility of escape is alluring.
ReplyDeleteNobody can be 'on' all the time. 'Home' has become increasingly important.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this today and to all the commenters too.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I can do a little bit by publishing articles I see, occasionally get to a protest, keep my anti-tRump signs in my window and pray. What is that saying about the arc of justice? Will I see that come to pass in my lifetime? I don't know.
I still do not understand how an administration can, within seven months, completely de-democratize an entire country.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have to say that I feel very much as RunNRose does while at the same time, I too seek the solace and peace I need in home and in the outdoors.
You have your own little jewel of a safe, shining place, made with your own hands. You and your husband's. It would be a sin not to find joy in your life there.
I keep my home a safe place from which I can do my resistance. Endless sand in the gears. Giving up is not an option. Nor is hand wringing without action. Those of us who have never been sheltered know this. Go you!
ReplyDeleteI know you read and stay informed and speak out when necessary. There are protests this weekend and I know a big protest will be coming for Labor Day weekend. I get emails from the groups that sponsor them and there's always a link to check for protests near where you live. I can't do much but I do what I can.
ReplyDeleteThey keep setting up calamities and then use this to implement a solution which gives them more power and money.
ReplyDelete