Great points Sarah and you’re right. The question is how do Americans reclaim their country? Looking at it from down here in New Zealand and Australia is genuinely horrifying. Trump appears to be just making stuff up and then acting unilaterally, like an autocrat, which he now appears to be. Have I missed something?
They’re even deporting Australian writers at LAX just for supporting the Palestinians. How does the US extricate itself from its current situation? It’s hard to see an off-ramp from down here but I wish Americans all the luck in the world.
James, thank you for sharing your perspective and for standing in solidarity with America from down under! I wanted to sit with your question because it’s certainly a good one— and a hard one. But, here’s what I got:
I think the way we reclaim our country is by believing in it again. I think we approach the idea of hope as a choice that we make everyday. I think we find hope and meaning where we can, in terms of words and deeds: For me, I spent part of last night rewatching Obama’s victory speech in “08. In it, he talks about having “unyielding hope.” I think we don’t yield, even when it seems our only option. Then, I also spent part of the evening working on an idea for a mutual aid tool that we can use to help and reinvigorate our people and country (more on this to come in the future— I hope!).
Your criticisms of the president and horror at his admin’s actions are warranted and understandable. On behalf of most Americans, I’ll say we are sorry. We are sorry that our country is deporting Australian writers supporting Palestinians. Even for many of us who can’t bring ourselves to say it, we are sorry and we’re working to find an off ramp.
Here’s my other thought— to reference our mutual ally that’s also in the Five Eyes, the UK— when Britain was being bombed by the Nazis, the message from the royal family was “Keep calm and carry on.” The message from then PM Churchill was “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” To reference Finding Nemo, as the fish try to find their way back to Sydney, Dory reminds herself, “Just keep swimming.” I think that’s what we do: We do what we can. We keep going. We carry on. It may not always be a satisfactory answer, but it’s what we’ve got.
Very interesting points Sarah!
Thanks Mom! <3
Great points Sarah and you’re right. The question is how do Americans reclaim their country? Looking at it from down here in New Zealand and Australia is genuinely horrifying. Trump appears to be just making stuff up and then acting unilaterally, like an autocrat, which he now appears to be. Have I missed something?
They’re even deporting Australian writers at LAX just for supporting the Palestinians. How does the US extricate itself from its current situation? It’s hard to see an off-ramp from down here but I wish Americans all the luck in the world.
James, thank you for sharing your perspective and for standing in solidarity with America from down under! I wanted to sit with your question because it’s certainly a good one— and a hard one. But, here’s what I got:
I think the way we reclaim our country is by believing in it again. I think we approach the idea of hope as a choice that we make everyday. I think we find hope and meaning where we can, in terms of words and deeds: For me, I spent part of last night rewatching Obama’s victory speech in “08. In it, he talks about having “unyielding hope.” I think we don’t yield, even when it seems our only option. Then, I also spent part of the evening working on an idea for a mutual aid tool that we can use to help and reinvigorate our people and country (more on this to come in the future— I hope!).
Your criticisms of the president and horror at his admin’s actions are warranted and understandable. On behalf of most Americans, I’ll say we are sorry. We are sorry that our country is deporting Australian writers supporting Palestinians. Even for many of us who can’t bring ourselves to say it, we are sorry and we’re working to find an off ramp.
Here’s my other thought— to reference our mutual ally that’s also in the Five Eyes, the UK— when Britain was being bombed by the Nazis, the message from the royal family was “Keep calm and carry on.” The message from then PM Churchill was “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” To reference Finding Nemo, as the fish try to find their way back to Sydney, Dory reminds herself, “Just keep swimming.” I think that’s what we do: We do what we can. We keep going. We carry on. It may not always be a satisfactory answer, but it’s what we’ve got.
Thank you for your well wishes! :)