”how most of us fundamentally want the same thing” - I constantly wonder about that. Why is that so hard for some to understand? What makes you think that a mother in Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, any state in the USA, Sweden or any where would want anything but peace and prosperity for their child?
I am sobbing. I haven't been on substack for months, but after yesterday, I found myself logging in here to get some comfort and this is the first post I see. Thank you for sharing your words. I am an immigrant. I chose to be here. I'm one of the priviledged ones who was able to come legally. I worked hard, I made the rich entrepreneurs richer, I too can relate to losing out on an opportunity to a mediocre white man, and I paid more taxes in a month than I ever earned in a year where I came from. I came here for the "greener pastures" that was advertised to us growing up in a third world country. The ones they have targeted with their utter contempt and hate have their own reasons, some/most may be a matter of life or death. I don't know but I chose humanity over hatred and I choose to welcome them as I was once a newcomer in this country. But after 15 years, I never felt less welcomed. I was planning to leave next year and go back to where I come from as they always say, but now that plan has become more urgent.
There is much work to do. How do we fill in the divide with rural America? How do we get women to understand they control the vote only if they vote to end the patriarchy? How do we get men to stop with the bullying? I resolve there is an answer to these questions and I will seek to find those answers.
Thank you Lyndsey. I didn’t write the below but found it powerful.
They want you to feel powerless and to surrender and to let them trample everything and you are not going to let them. You are not giving up, and neither am I.
The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving. You may need to grieve or scream or take time off, but you have a role no matter what, and right now good friends and good principles are worth gathering in.
Remember what you love. Remember what loves you. Remember in this tide of hate what love is. The pain you feel is because of what you love. The Wobblies used to say don't mourn, organize, but you can do both at once and you don't have to organize right away in this moment of furious mourning.
I'm cycling through grief, rage and shock, and I'm not even there, so I can't even imagine what you must be feeling. But you're right. We must keep fighting for what is good and kind and peaceful, like our lives depend on it, wherever we are. If not for us, for those who will inherit this world. But right now all I feel is numb.
If you chalk this up to racism and misogyny, you have missed the point entirely. Did people who voted twice for Obama all of a sudden discover their racism? This is about ISSUES. What have survey after survey said Americans care the most about in this election? The economy and immigration. Who have voters consistently said they trusted more to handle each? Trump! This is not complicated. Democrats lost because they continue to fool themselves about realities hiding in plain sight (Biden’s mental acuity, for instance). If you continue to ignore the obvious, you will continue to lose elections.
I let Mr. Joe (my mutt) into the bed after my husband left for work. And I petted him and cried a bit.
Nothing will ever be the same again because I can no longer deny how many people of ill will surround us.
Moving forward, I’ll never forget that.
If only he were mediocre. What I'd give for a George W. Bush right about now.
Thank you for these words and some glimmers of hope. I’m so devastated—for all of us—I’m at a loss for words. 💔
”how most of us fundamentally want the same thing” - I constantly wonder about that. Why is that so hard for some to understand? What makes you think that a mother in Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, any state in the USA, Sweden or any where would want anything but peace and prosperity for their child?
I am sobbing. I haven't been on substack for months, but after yesterday, I found myself logging in here to get some comfort and this is the first post I see. Thank you for sharing your words. I am an immigrant. I chose to be here. I'm one of the priviledged ones who was able to come legally. I worked hard, I made the rich entrepreneurs richer, I too can relate to losing out on an opportunity to a mediocre white man, and I paid more taxes in a month than I ever earned in a year where I came from. I came here for the "greener pastures" that was advertised to us growing up in a third world country. The ones they have targeted with their utter contempt and hate have their own reasons, some/most may be a matter of life or death. I don't know but I chose humanity over hatred and I choose to welcome them as I was once a newcomer in this country. But after 15 years, I never felt less welcomed. I was planning to leave next year and go back to where I come from as they always say, but now that plan has become more urgent.
There is much work to do. How do we fill in the divide with rural America? How do we get women to understand they control the vote only if they vote to end the patriarchy? How do we get men to stop with the bullying? I resolve there is an answer to these questions and I will seek to find those answers.
Thank you Lyndsey. I didn’t write the below but found it powerful.
They want you to feel powerless and to surrender and to let them trample everything and you are not going to let them. You are not giving up, and neither am I.
The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving. You may need to grieve or scream or take time off, but you have a role no matter what, and right now good friends and good principles are worth gathering in.
Remember what you love. Remember what loves you. Remember in this tide of hate what love is. The pain you feel is because of what you love. The Wobblies used to say don't mourn, organize, but you can do both at once and you don't have to organize right away in this moment of furious mourning.
-Rebecca Solnit
Lindsey, you captured how I was feeling this morning in a way I couldn’t articulate. Thank you
I'm cycling through grief, rage and shock, and I'm not even there, so I can't even imagine what you must be feeling. But you're right. We must keep fighting for what is good and kind and peaceful, like our lives depend on it, wherever we are. If not for us, for those who will inherit this world. But right now all I feel is numb.
Great message. So proud of you. Love you. Mary
I really appreciated this post - thanks for sharing your thoughts xx
Well said, Lindsey. Hang in there!
❤️❤️❤️
If you chalk this up to racism and misogyny, you have missed the point entirely. Did people who voted twice for Obama all of a sudden discover their racism? This is about ISSUES. What have survey after survey said Americans care the most about in this election? The economy and immigration. Who have voters consistently said they trusted more to handle each? Trump! This is not complicated. Democrats lost because they continue to fool themselves about realities hiding in plain sight (Biden’s mental acuity, for instance). If you continue to ignore the obvious, you will continue to lose elections.
Tell your children you exercised your right to vote. Trump 2024
Thank you for this, Lindsey—well written and just what I needed <3