Is my life worth anything anymore? (Venting of emotions from Election Day)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

Yeah I think you’re reading too much into it. That was just my morning-after gut-take. I’m exhausted and fed up with a number of things today… the news media, this country’s antiquated electoral system, the refusal of voters to see the Big Picture when it comes to Trump. But I’m not going to just lie down and curl up. Sure, I’ll withdraw for a while, I think that’s just natural, but I’m going to keep fighting for what I think is right.

Bottom line… nobody on an internet message board can answer your question for you. The best we can do is support each other and get through this. We’ve done it here before and we’ll do it again. (And I’m right there with you on avoiding the Pit and P&E. I think it will be much better for my mental health if I just stay outta there for awhile.)

22

The glass is not half empty. It’s half full.
That other half is still there.

Half (nearly). Think about it. They are the good half.
Where do you wanna be? In the empty part or the full part.
I suspect I’ll not live to see a better political climate. But I (choose to) believe America can and will rise above this.

23

Not in the sense you mean, no. But I’ve long argued that rhetoric and word choice (not just here, but anywhere) do de facto answer my question, and I frankly don’t like the implications.

24

I know you’re @Leaper , but don’t jump off the cliff.

Just keep calm and carry on, head down.
Right now that’s the best we can do.

25

Only time will tell, but I like your attitude. :heart:

26

I’ve lived close to the edge of disaster my whole life.

I’m used to working on a way to live with it.

It’s not easy, but it can be done.

Don’t fall into complete despair.
Make a plan.
Get yourself safe.
Collect your thoughts.

Breathe. Just breathe.

27

:heart: :100: :kiss:

28

You are right but that doesn’t mean he won’t. SCOTUS refused to follow the XIVth amendment since congress had never passed a law implementing it and there is no reason they will enforce the XXIInd. In that case, who will stop him from running again.

29

I live just outside of Ithaca, NY, about a blue as it gets. Things ain’t great here.

I’m contemplating a dive into one of our local gorges.

30

So your answer to my topic question is no? So noted.

31

Sorry, I’m going through some crap in my life, as well as the current political situation.

You should do what is best for you, and I hope that includes a long and happy life.

I truly apologize if I offended you.

33

No, “give up and kill yourself” is undeniably a legitimate response, rightness notwithstanding. Part of this thread was to get a sense of who’s truly encouraging that path. If you’re one of them, I have limited ability to argue otherwise. I just think it’s probably not the best idea and hope you don’t do it.

34

I hope you don’t do it either.

If I can make it through the next few months, I’ll be surprised. Sorry, depressed, I’ll bow out of the conversation.

35

I’d urge you to explore whatever assistance you might be able to find to allow you to convince yourself that existence is at least minimally preferable to nonexistence.

36

Ithaca is beautiful. My wife and I want to buy a place on Seneca Lake (sorry…but nearby) and retire there.

My young son is considering Ithaca College for its conservatory. He wants to study Jazz Sax.

You are in a beautiful place, aesthetically speaking. That makes me worry, existentially, about your well-being.

Please seek help, if need be. If you need to, please PM me. I am a good listener. You are worth living for.

37

Dinsdale, please know that I, a cis-male, white, 300+ pound (not-in-great-shape, but could still fuck shit up) 6’5" guy…cried, today. Openly. Uncontrollably.

My black brother Haneef… His three beautiful biracial sons… My queer son… My queer friend Joz… My gay aunt… Every single Hispanic person I have ever befriended by saying “mi hermano” or “hey, primo!” ever. Tip of the iceberg, man.

I am TERRIFIED for all of them.

This morning, I cried. Moments ago, I cried. I mean, I REALLY cried.

America, right now, fucking sucks. That much is true. For me, that is my call to arms, so to speak. Not that I have ever (nor have ever had to, although I know that is a privilege solely mine) had to tiptoe around other peoples’ feelings for fear of my own safety…

From now on, I will absolutely lambaste anyone who speaks pejoratively about ANY of those folks or, anyone, really, due to being in an “out group.”

And, most importantly, I renounce my vow of pacifism. If it comes to blows, so be it. I am 47, my children are 18 and 19, and can fend for themselves. I will absolutely “fight for what is right.” I am NOT out to “pick a fight,” but I will damned sure finish one.

"Now Tom said, “Mom, wherever there’s a cop beating a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where there’s a fight against the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me, Mom, I’ll be there
Wherever somebody’s fighting for a place to stand
Or a decent job or a helping hand
Wherever somebody’s struggling to be free
Look in their eyes, Ma, and you’ll see me”

You’ll see me. Reach out, if you need to.

38

Leaper.

As we potentially slide deeper into autocracy, it is important to remember that the initial goal of the autocrats regarding citizens is not to convert you or even to punish you (that may come later, unless you are a member of a despised class in which case all bets are off), but to make you think that nothing matters and that nothing is knowable.

This very feeling you describe has been intentionally inculcated in you, and in me too.

Resist it.

39

I completely understand the hopelessness expressed in this thread. The news from last night and this morning was a slap in the face.

Two positive things I have reminded myself of: I felt this way after George W. was re-elected. America survived, and it paved the way for President Obama. I felt this way when Trump won in 2016. America survived and it paved the way for Biden/Harris to win with 80 million votes. I know there are differences this time around, and I know it’s worse, but some day soon we will wake up from this nightmare.

Secondly, there is an election in 2 years. In 2018 the democrats took 41 house seats. Trump is evil, and he surrounds himself with evil people. But he is also often quite incompetent and lacks the ability to focus. I know he can do a lot of damage in 2 years, but he will also remind the country why they fired his ass in the first place.

All this being said, yes, there are lots of reasons to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

40

Here are some en our aging words from Tom Nichols of The Atlantic (gift link) :

41

Too bad there is no like button, but this post is awesome!