The “Find Out” Period Is Going to Be Brutal
Protect your peace, but keep moving forward.
Even toward those who wish me harm, I do my best to seek empathy, not for them, but for my peace.
The “find out” period of this term is going to be brutal, especially for seniors, low-income Americans, etc.
It’s easy to say, “I told you so,” but we have to acknowledge that revenue-driven echo chambers have dismantled our collective communities.
There are a number of people who like what’s happening right now. The deportations, the billionaire tax cuts (??), the liberal tears, etc.
But that percentage is gonna shrink as Grandpa’s removed from his nursing home, medication prices skyrocket, and crime soars in what people thought of as “safe areas.”
We treated conspiracy theorists with kid gloves, and as bad actors found revenue in racism and misinformation, everyone from content creators to Jeff Bezos multiplied their net worth, monetizing fear and societal anxieties.
Professional mouthpieces used microphones and cherry-picked info to scare the hell out of people across this country.
We’ve “both-sided” hate, allowing things like diversity, equity, and inclusion to become debated.
Women’s bodily autonomy? Debated.
The lives of Trans people? Debated.
We let people say, “All lives matter,” knowing damn well they didn’t mean it.
We saw people fly every flag but the American flag and still let them call themselves patriots.
People saying, “My vote doesn’t matter,” is the byproduct of centuries of advocacy and struggles, allowing you and me to sit out elections when we want.
My rights are a byproduct of heroes like Fannie Lou Hamer. The comfort we’ve felt stems from generations of work that many of us can’t even fathom.
We’ve staked our flags in individualism, capitalism, money, money, and more money, and as we climb the ladder, we seek out heads to step on, never satisfied because the lie says “more, More, MORE!”
And even if you say you’re happy… are you? Happy people don’t often hold this much anger toward people they don’t know.
I don’t know what’s next. I’ve got theories, but doesn’t everyone?
I get a difference in opinions - I don’t want everyone to think like me, but as long as alternative facts are presented as acceptable, the Musk’s of the world will continue to monetize our downfall.
The reality is everything that’s happening today was predictable. There was a literal playbook, and many still chose the circus.
Still, the majority of Americans did not choose this, including our kids and their kids.
This season is gonna hurt, but somebody in our past fought for us. We’ve gotta pay it forward.