Quaint times, indeed. It's a real trip to feel wistful for the feelings of disappointment and anger about politics now that they've been replaced with abject terror.
I’ve talked with my sons about G.W.Bush and how awful he was as a president. Living through 9/11 and the aftermath —war in Iraq based on a lie. Then for me, having lived in New Orleans, to have watched Katrina destroy the city only to see the government completely fail the people in a time of desperation was gut wrenching. Complete ineptitude in leadership.
I have no words for what we’re seeing now. The lack of decency, and humanity. The greed, ignorance, and in-your-face racism is beyond comprehension. Threatening US citizens with their own military?
JB Pritzker spoke at a senate hearing yesterday defending IL sanctuary laws and pressing for immigration reform.
Chicago is (along with multiple other cities) planning to protest tomorrow (July 14th) as the buffoon is going through with his birthday military parade.
I fear Chicago will suffer LAs fate. I expect to see military on our streets by the end of the weekend.
so, i'm not up to date with US politics (bc i'm from oh-so-lovely South America), but, as a foreigner who recently experienced what's like being in the US, i just had to leave a comment. please, don't get me wrong, i'm not saying all americans live like this but the general vibe i got from the US was of drowsy numbness. it felt like this one song called The Last Whale.../etc/ from Crosby, Stills & Nash that at some point goes "it's not that we don't know, it's just that we don't want to care".
thing is, as someone who comes from a whole different culture&geographical space, i believe, despite it's political&economical issues, the US is a very "comfortable" place to live in, like a very superficially peaceful bubble. where i come from, politics wise, it's awful to say the least. but there's something about here (i'm not sure if it the energy, history&tradition or how chaotic our capital city is) that makes it impossible to escape reality. as in, here it's impossible not to see. but i've felt that in the US, it's very possible not to see&choose not to see. even told my friend who i visited there something along the lines of "if i had been born in a place like this, it would have been so easy for me to convince myself there's nothing to worry about."
because the streets of Omaha were so pretty that, having grown up there, having had those kinds of sights as my reality at a formative stage, i would have been way too content to care about what my government was doing. but we latinos are mostly very fiery people, we love complaining XD AND, SO, YES, money DOES make your eyesight blurry (saw it first hand with my friend&got very sad). i really could go on and on for hours but i won't bc i don't want to be annoying iwi thanks 4 reading @WhoeverIsReading
It seems like willful ignorance on the part of most Americans . I am reading the book “All The Frequent Troubles Of Our Days”, The true story of the American woman at the heart of the German resistance to Hitler. The similarities as to what is occurring are astounding. What is happening here in “ God’s country “( Tennessee & the rest of the USA )is appalling . Yes, I am being judgmental. I don’t believe that this monster was elected legally. I remember telling my son’s speech therapist ( my son happens to have multiple profound disabilities) that Trump was Hitler’s wet dream. This was during his campaign before his first occupation of the White House. It’s not bloodless anymore. Thank the dear lord that l have the music of Andrew Bird to help me make it through the night. So, thank you Mr. Bird.
you are so utterly right, trump is definitely hitler's wet dream. i'd say we kick trump out of the white house & replace him w/ mr. bird 😌✨#Bird4President
I wouldn’t want to do that to Mr. Bird, but Elizabeth Warren, AOC, any number of thinking, compassionate individuals already trying to make good things happen would do it for me.✌🏻
I was thinking about this song a lot after the 2024 election. Love to hear it again, even if the circumstances for pulling it out aren’t ideal… Always appreciate everything you have to say.
After what happened today to Senator Padilla - really needed to hear this song.
Thank you, Bird...... check out May issue of Atlantic story by George Packer
Katie
Quaint times, indeed. It's a real trip to feel wistful for the feelings of disappointment and anger about politics now that they've been replaced with abject terror.
Thank you for this.
I’ve talked with my sons about G.W.Bush and how awful he was as a president. Living through 9/11 and the aftermath —war in Iraq based on a lie. Then for me, having lived in New Orleans, to have watched Katrina destroy the city only to see the government completely fail the people in a time of desperation was gut wrenching. Complete ineptitude in leadership.
I have no words for what we’re seeing now. The lack of decency, and humanity. The greed, ignorance, and in-your-face racism is beyond comprehension. Threatening US citizens with their own military?
JB Pritzker spoke at a senate hearing yesterday defending IL sanctuary laws and pressing for immigration reform.
Chicago is (along with multiple other cities) planning to protest tomorrow (July 14th) as the buffoon is going through with his birthday military parade.
I fear Chicago will suffer LAs fate. I expect to see military on our streets by the end of the weekend.
Horrible. Absolutely horrible.
Stay safe.
so, i'm not up to date with US politics (bc i'm from oh-so-lovely South America), but, as a foreigner who recently experienced what's like being in the US, i just had to leave a comment. please, don't get me wrong, i'm not saying all americans live like this but the general vibe i got from the US was of drowsy numbness. it felt like this one song called The Last Whale.../etc/ from Crosby, Stills & Nash that at some point goes "it's not that we don't know, it's just that we don't want to care".
thing is, as someone who comes from a whole different culture&geographical space, i believe, despite it's political&economical issues, the US is a very "comfortable" place to live in, like a very superficially peaceful bubble. where i come from, politics wise, it's awful to say the least. but there's something about here (i'm not sure if it the energy, history&tradition or how chaotic our capital city is) that makes it impossible to escape reality. as in, here it's impossible not to see. but i've felt that in the US, it's very possible not to see&choose not to see. even told my friend who i visited there something along the lines of "if i had been born in a place like this, it would have been so easy for me to convince myself there's nothing to worry about."
because the streets of Omaha were so pretty that, having grown up there, having had those kinds of sights as my reality at a formative stage, i would have been way too content to care about what my government was doing. but we latinos are mostly very fiery people, we love complaining XD AND, SO, YES, money DOES make your eyesight blurry (saw it first hand with my friend&got very sad). i really could go on and on for hours but i won't bc i don't want to be annoying iwi thanks 4 reading @WhoeverIsReading
Amen!
It seems like willful ignorance on the part of most Americans . I am reading the book “All The Frequent Troubles Of Our Days”, The true story of the American woman at the heart of the German resistance to Hitler. The similarities as to what is occurring are astounding. What is happening here in “ God’s country “( Tennessee & the rest of the USA )is appalling . Yes, I am being judgmental. I don’t believe that this monster was elected legally. I remember telling my son’s speech therapist ( my son happens to have multiple profound disabilities) that Trump was Hitler’s wet dream. This was during his campaign before his first occupation of the White House. It’s not bloodless anymore. Thank the dear lord that l have the music of Andrew Bird to help me make it through the night. So, thank you Mr. Bird.
you are so utterly right, trump is definitely hitler's wet dream. i'd say we kick trump out of the white house & replace him w/ mr. bird 😌✨#Bird4President
I wouldn’t want to do that to Mr. Bird, but Elizabeth Warren, AOC, any number of thinking, compassionate individuals already trying to make good things happen would do it for me.✌🏻
definitely ! was only joking, birds should never be put inside cages :( 🐥<3
I was thinking about this song a lot after the 2024 election. Love to hear it again, even if the circumstances for pulling it out aren’t ideal… Always appreciate everything you have to say.