Now that the presidential election is officially certified (miraculously violence-free!); now that the moving trucks are booked; now that Santa has closed up shop for the season and the new year has dropped its saggy ball upon our heads; now that Orange Julius is set to march back into our nation’s capital with his army of rapacious legionnaires set to retake the office he once desecrated, the question I’m left with is this: must I still care?
I get it. Shit, I’m exhausted having “fought” and resisted since 1972. While the fight has brought progress, see how it has also brought about those who would hinder, even reverse progress of any kind. I mean, book banning? Really? When did that ever work?
So while my voice will be raised in the appropriate places at the appropriate times, I’ll concentrate MY fight locally (I live in Texas so….) and help those who will be affected by the return of the troll to the bridge once again. To the best of my ability and with what energy is left, to help keep this “more perfect union”.
I agree with you, but I am so very weary. History will not be kind to me if I do not snap out of this malaise and hopelessness. There really are only two ways for us to go: forward or back, because we won’t stand still. I want to hibernate for 3.5 years then come back out and start fighting again. I’ve even written about that a couple of times. But reading this essay reminds me that I can’t do that. Even though my representatives do not care and have made that very clear in their condescending and dismissive replies to my letters, and even though the president elect certainly does not care what I think, I still need to talk. And write. And participate. Dammit.
I agree with so much of this, but I struggle with what "speaking out" actually looks like in 2025.
For a lot of people, being active on social media or other similar platforms was a way of using our voices for a long time. To me, at least, social media seems to be less about connecting and more about consuming. We are both the product and the customer, yet folks like Musk and Zuckerberg enjoy the spoils. It was never sustainable, but will become even less so.
Yes, we need to use our voices, but increasingly it needs to be IRL.
I want to acknowledge that I am taking significant liberties by speaking to you as if I know you, even though I am just a reader. I genuinely appreciate your time and consideration of my thoughts and hope to add a valuable perspective.
I recommend viewing the situation from a different perspective because, as you mentioned, you've expressed these feelings before. Yet, you still feel compelled to resolve the conflict between caring for America and objecting to its leadership.
You're describing burnout because your internal conflict is the best example of what any citizen would feel, especially if faced with a prolonged conflict. Yet, considering that the natural state of our world has always been a protracted conflict, it does us no good as citizens to wake up each day in a state of conflict. Instead, let's all recognize the burnout and take a moment to reframe our mental state. What we are experiencing has happened before and worse in other countries. Imagine, in today's world, we as citizens learned our president had a stroke, and his wife was the one running the country for the last 6 years (Woodrow Wilson) unbeknownst to us all.
This is exactly what I wanted/needed to read. I am so glad to have found your writing. As a retiree on a fixed income, I am only able to participate at the "free" level, but that does not diminish my appreciation.
P.S. I rewatch the YouTube excerpts of HIGNFY almost daily and so far, it's working: I'm remaining sane. Looking forward to the new season.
Michael, I wanna thank you for caring, and for letting people know you care. Especially for someone whose career was built on irreverence and is putting something on the line by talking about real issues. If more entertainers were willing to do what you do, we'd be better off.
Yes, our taxes may go down and our bitcoin may go up. But there’s also WWIII to consider. We are kind of already in it, and it would be nice to have a competent leader to guide us through the terrible unknowns which are most certainly forthcoming.
Are our international alliances at risk? Most definitely.
Will we remain a beacon for the free world, a nation to be trusted? Seems unlikely.
Does Trump actually give a shit about Israel? Nope, not really. All you “single issue “voters are bound to be disappointed.
Will Trump thrust his tongue even more deeply into Putin’s ass? What happens when we withdraw our support from Ukraine?
Will he try to help Assad out of the jam he’s gotten himself into? TBD, but Tulsi Gabbard will certainly try if she’s confirmed as the next director of national intelligence.
Now that he’s a second-term president, his “I don’t give a shit about anybody or anything but myself“ approach to everything will begin to shine through more clearly.
Tuning up my mindfulness skills… I’m pretty sure I’ll need them over the next four years and beyond.
One thing you can do is let the people in your life who voted for him know that their vote changed the nature of your relationship with them. You shouldn't necessarily cut them out of your life, but you should make them aware that their vote was reckless and hurt you and you are therefore less eager to see them. Carrying on business as normal with those individuals gives them permission to continue to behave absurdly as they suffer no real identifiable consequences. Until this reaches people personally, they won't even consider changing.
This has been a reality for me since 2015. People, who for all intents and purposes, seemed reasonable decent people proved to be either wholly ignorant, selfish, stupid or mean. Or a combination of those adjectives. How can I interact with people who chose to be any of these? Who are they?
I lack patience. Suffering fools was never a character quality I had. Now, when I walk into a room I can't assume that all are decent until proven otherwise. Now I assume they are crazy, self-centered jerks until they prove they're not.
I now turn my back on people. Once they show the dark within, I turn around and leave. No further interaction is required.
This is beautiful. I go from hiding from all news to keep from despair & sadness, to energetic optimism that we will somehow survive & emerge stronger as a country. All I do know for certain is that I’ll fight for what’s right till my last breath. Thank you for beaming your light!
I get it. Shit, I’m exhausted having “fought” and resisted since 1972. While the fight has brought progress, see how it has also brought about those who would hinder, even reverse progress of any kind. I mean, book banning? Really? When did that ever work?
So while my voice will be raised in the appropriate places at the appropriate times, I’ll concentrate MY fight locally (I live in Texas so….) and help those who will be affected by the return of the troll to the bridge once again. To the best of my ability and with what energy is left, to help keep this “more perfect union”.
Bravo, MIB, and thank you for articulating what I also feel, but in a wittier fashion.
Yes, your last sentence!
Quite eloquent, actually. Well done.
You give me courage. Your last sentence is so very inspiring, I have copied it down to remind me to keep going.
I agree with you, but I am so very weary. History will not be kind to me if I do not snap out of this malaise and hopelessness. There really are only two ways for us to go: forward or back, because we won’t stand still. I want to hibernate for 3.5 years then come back out and start fighting again. I’ve even written about that a couple of times. But reading this essay reminds me that I can’t do that. Even though my representatives do not care and have made that very clear in their condescending and dismissive replies to my letters, and even though the president elect certainly does not care what I think, I still need to talk. And write. And participate. Dammit.
I agree with so much of this, but I struggle with what "speaking out" actually looks like in 2025.
For a lot of people, being active on social media or other similar platforms was a way of using our voices for a long time. To me, at least, social media seems to be less about connecting and more about consuming. We are both the product and the customer, yet folks like Musk and Zuckerberg enjoy the spoils. It was never sustainable, but will become even less so.
Yes, we need to use our voices, but increasingly it needs to be IRL.
Michael,
I want to acknowledge that I am taking significant liberties by speaking to you as if I know you, even though I am just a reader. I genuinely appreciate your time and consideration of my thoughts and hope to add a valuable perspective.
I recommend viewing the situation from a different perspective because, as you mentioned, you've expressed these feelings before. Yet, you still feel compelled to resolve the conflict between caring for America and objecting to its leadership.
You're describing burnout because your internal conflict is the best example of what any citizen would feel, especially if faced with a prolonged conflict. Yet, considering that the natural state of our world has always been a protracted conflict, it does us no good as citizens to wake up each day in a state of conflict. Instead, let's all recognize the burnout and take a moment to reframe our mental state. What we are experiencing has happened before and worse in other countries. Imagine, in today's world, we as citizens learned our president had a stroke, and his wife was the one running the country for the last 6 years (Woodrow Wilson) unbeknownst to us all.
Call me paranoid, but I have deleted my facebook, Inst, Twitter and reddit accounts.
Not only for my mental health, and for time management, but they can’t track my brain with AI and algorithms now.
Except those damn YouTube Shorts, when I am supposed to be finding my bedtime ASMR.
Ditto
This is exactly what I wanted/needed to read. I am so glad to have found your writing. As a retiree on a fixed income, I am only able to participate at the "free" level, but that does not diminish my appreciation.
P.S. I rewatch the YouTube excerpts of HIGNFY almost daily and so far, it's working: I'm remaining sane. Looking forward to the new season.
Michael, I wanna thank you for caring, and for letting people know you care. Especially for someone whose career was built on irreverence and is putting something on the line by talking about real issues. If more entertainers were willing to do what you do, we'd be better off.
Well stated, MIB. My level of fury remains high.
Yes, our taxes may go down and our bitcoin may go up. But there’s also WWIII to consider. We are kind of already in it, and it would be nice to have a competent leader to guide us through the terrible unknowns which are most certainly forthcoming.
Are our international alliances at risk? Most definitely.
Will we remain a beacon for the free world, a nation to be trusted? Seems unlikely.
Does Trump actually give a shit about Israel? Nope, not really. All you “single issue “voters are bound to be disappointed.
Will Trump thrust his tongue even more deeply into Putin’s ass? What happens when we withdraw our support from Ukraine?
Will he try to help Assad out of the jam he’s gotten himself into? TBD, but Tulsi Gabbard will certainly try if she’s confirmed as the next director of national intelligence.
Now that he’s a second-term president, his “I don’t give a shit about anybody or anything but myself“ approach to everything will begin to shine through more clearly.
Tuning up my mindfulness skills… I’m pretty sure I’ll need them over the next four years and beyond.
"Will Trump thrust his tongue even more deeply into Putin’s ass?" haha
You mustn’t. I certainly do not. I still need a job.
One thing you can do is let the people in your life who voted for him know that their vote changed the nature of your relationship with them. You shouldn't necessarily cut them out of your life, but you should make them aware that their vote was reckless and hurt you and you are therefore less eager to see them. Carrying on business as normal with those individuals gives them permission to continue to behave absurdly as they suffer no real identifiable consequences. Until this reaches people personally, they won't even consider changing.
This has been a reality for me since 2015. People, who for all intents and purposes, seemed reasonable decent people proved to be either wholly ignorant, selfish, stupid or mean. Or a combination of those adjectives. How can I interact with people who chose to be any of these? Who are they?
I lack patience. Suffering fools was never a character quality I had. Now, when I walk into a room I can't assume that all are decent until proven otherwise. Now I assume they are crazy, self-centered jerks until they prove they're not.
I now turn my back on people. Once they show the dark within, I turn around and leave. No further interaction is required.
I detest living like this.
Excellently put
This is beautiful. I go from hiding from all news to keep from despair & sadness, to energetic optimism that we will somehow survive & emerge stronger as a country. All I do know for certain is that I’ll fight for what’s right till my last breath. Thank you for beaming your light!