We are not thankful because of things but despite them. I'm thankful for you and your piercing prose. I'm thankful I was not alone when my husband died last week. I'm thankful I am surrounded by tenderness as I plan his funeral and write his eulogy. That being said, I don't need a Hallmark holiday to remember to be thankful. So, the less said about it the better. I endorse your decision to not write about it. Hugs.
Thank you. You've put down the words that I couldn't do myself. There is nothing in this holiday that doesn't reek of lies, empty myth and bullshit these days. I am thankful to you for finally dismissing the brittle, tissue-thin covering that had ossified over it.
I tried to be thankful today....I WANTED/NEEDED to be thankful today....I didn't get there. Our hearts are bleeding like a turkey with its head cut off, our psyche turned to mashed potatoes, and our empathy and compassion for each other gets harder and harder to find outside our 'trust zone'. It hurts.....and for that, I am thankful, because I know I still have humanity in my soul....Thank you Rook T. Winchester for putting out the words NONE of us could speak....You summed up the entire emotional state of every humane person in our country!!!! JeanM 😉
While I understand the difficulty in trying to identify with a national holiday whose history is rife with past exploitation and present nascent fascism, I can easily ask, when wasn’t it like this? History is mainly the recounting of a great deal of misery. The creation of civilization itself is the story of a small group of people ruling over many. If we go back to a time before that, of kinship and tribes, we find there was rarely peace during those times as well, but much rivalry and warfare. Humans suck. What I’m thankful for is that throughout history there have been individuals who have stood against brutality, who have tried to give voice to those oppressed, and even, from time to time, made for positive change. We’ll never conquer racism, but we managed to finally end legal segregation. That’s one example, and those, like so many others, are the ones I cling to when I stop to celebrate the good that individuals have accomplished in the country. Despair is often easier than hope for those who are thinking individuals and clear eyed about humanity’s failings. But despair is too close to giving up, so instead I am thankful for those out there who keep trying for a better world.
I am thankful for the family and friends I love and who love me. For the life I have and the health I enjoy. Fuck the people who are destroying the country I used to
Love. I hope they suffer very much in their lives and leave this earth soon.
Thank you. It's superb. Heart-breaking but superb. Maybe everything has to be broken down in order to create the kind, decent, honest society you are craving.
It worked in South Africa. But here we were beyond desperate and the cruelty and brutality was so loud we HAD to stare it in the face and make amends.
And we had Nelson Mandela, our father, our voice of wisdom, our tortured leader, finally released. We were blessed.
My prayers go out to you that you all may also be blessed, as we were.
The most hopeful event of this year has been the return of unexpectedly vast numbers of salmon to stretches of the Klamath River that were dammed for 100 years.
Well another "Kill, displace and de-legitimize indigenous peoples while working to maximize the influence of Protestant Puritan religion & values while promoting slavery" Day in the books.
"Give me your tired, your poor" and "land of opportunity" have disappeared from the conservative mindset.
Instead, we have "If you can't pull yourself up by the bootstraps (that have been kept from you or taken from you), it's your own damned fault for being lazy."
Incredible achievements made by women, minorities and gender diverse individuals have been erased by the hoax that DEI is discrimination.
Minorities are having their votes diluted through gerrymandering, support programs and crucial research are being decimated,
This is not the America I grew up believing in... not the nation I hoped my descendants would inherit. Rabid nationalism and racism are rampant. Polarization and rampant abuse are key goals of the administration.
Graft, greed and dishonesty are happening at every level. The government as a whole doesn't exist to serve the people, to help them, to represent them.
The fish rots from the head (said blond head started out as demented and narcissistic, now getting rapidly worse) - but the fish is now extremely rotten in so many ways.
-
I DO hope that at least you found some time to be with and cherish family and friends. That, at least, is something to cherish and celebrate.
We are not thankful because of things but despite them. I'm thankful for you and your piercing prose. I'm thankful I was not alone when my husband died last week. I'm thankful I am surrounded by tenderness as I plan his funeral and write his eulogy. That being said, I don't need a Hallmark holiday to remember to be thankful. So, the less said about it the better. I endorse your decision to not write about it. Hugs.
I am sorry about your husband’s death, and wish for you comfort and friends and family to help you.
I am so so sorry for your loss. I pray for you strength and consolation. May your husband rest in sweet peace.
Playing for change
Lean on each other
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LiouJsnYytI
Please accept my condolences on this difficult loss. I hope you have many hands holding you and many hearts loving you. May he rest in peace.
My deepest condolences on the loss of your husband.
I feel this. I felt it all day…especially in families fractured by a lack of shared reality, the disconnection of disbelief.
And. I am thankful anyway. I am thankful to be able to do a small part to try to fix it. I am thankful to be able to fight.
Thank you. You've put down the words that I couldn't do myself. There is nothing in this holiday that doesn't reek of lies, empty myth and bullshit these days. I am thankful to you for finally dismissing the brittle, tissue-thin covering that had ossified over it.
I tried to be thankful today....I WANTED/NEEDED to be thankful today....I didn't get there. Our hearts are bleeding like a turkey with its head cut off, our psyche turned to mashed potatoes, and our empathy and compassion for each other gets harder and harder to find outside our 'trust zone'. It hurts.....and for that, I am thankful, because I know I still have humanity in my soul....Thank you Rook T. Winchester for putting out the words NONE of us could speak....You summed up the entire emotional state of every humane person in our country!!!! JeanM 😉
While I understand the difficulty in trying to identify with a national holiday whose history is rife with past exploitation and present nascent fascism, I can easily ask, when wasn’t it like this? History is mainly the recounting of a great deal of misery. The creation of civilization itself is the story of a small group of people ruling over many. If we go back to a time before that, of kinship and tribes, we find there was rarely peace during those times as well, but much rivalry and warfare. Humans suck. What I’m thankful for is that throughout history there have been individuals who have stood against brutality, who have tried to give voice to those oppressed, and even, from time to time, made for positive change. We’ll never conquer racism, but we managed to finally end legal segregation. That’s one example, and those, like so many others, are the ones I cling to when I stop to celebrate the good that individuals have accomplished in the country. Despair is often easier than hope for those who are thinking individuals and clear eyed about humanity’s failings. But despair is too close to giving up, so instead I am thankful for those out there who keep trying for a better world.
Yes. We have our shared humanity. We are the family of mankind and we belong to each others …
Playing for change
Stand by me
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM
Thank you for telling the truth about our current reality🙏🏻❤️
I can relate!
BuT. . . THaNKY00u, R00K : iT TRueLY iS a TReMeNd0uS ARTiCLe. . . THaNKY00u F0R PuTTiiNg W0RdS aR0uNd W0T
S0 MaNY 0F US ( THaT iS WE ,
THe Pe0PLe ) aRe eXPeRieNCiNg . i aM THaNKFuLL F0R Y0uu & F0R YeR W0RK &
YeR W0RdS
I am thankful for the family and friends I love and who love me. For the life I have and the health I enjoy. Fuck the people who are destroying the country I used to
Love. I hope they suffer very much in their lives and leave this earth soon.
What that world needs now is love sweet love
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FfHAs9cdTqg
I’m with you. Your words help.
For putting my thoughts into words far better than I ever could, thank you Rook....
Thank you. It's superb. Heart-breaking but superb. Maybe everything has to be broken down in order to create the kind, decent, honest society you are craving.
It worked in South Africa. But here we were beyond desperate and the cruelty and brutality was so loud we HAD to stare it in the face and make amends.
And we had Nelson Mandela, our father, our voice of wisdom, our tortured leader, finally released. We were blessed.
My prayers go out to you that you all may also be blessed, as we were.
Love from Bronwen in Joburg
Playing for change
IMAGINE
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bvFLKyAGzzI
The most hopeful event of this year has been the return of unexpectedly vast numbers of salmon to stretches of the Klamath River that were dammed for 100 years.
this was/is a beautiful feat! I cried when those first videos came out...so many years...and then just like that our great mother reclaimed
Beautifully honest. Maybe we'll get it right someday.
Well another "Kill, displace and de-legitimize indigenous peoples while working to maximize the influence of Protestant Puritan religion & values while promoting slavery" Day in the books.
"Give me your tired, your poor" and "land of opportunity" have disappeared from the conservative mindset.
Instead, we have "If you can't pull yourself up by the bootstraps (that have been kept from you or taken from you), it's your own damned fault for being lazy."
Incredible achievements made by women, minorities and gender diverse individuals have been erased by the hoax that DEI is discrimination.
Minorities are having their votes diluted through gerrymandering, support programs and crucial research are being decimated,
This is not the America I grew up believing in... not the nation I hoped my descendants would inherit. Rabid nationalism and racism are rampant. Polarization and rampant abuse are key goals of the administration.
Graft, greed and dishonesty are happening at every level. The government as a whole doesn't exist to serve the people, to help them, to represent them.
The fish rots from the head (said blond head started out as demented and narcissistic, now getting rapidly worse) - but the fish is now extremely rotten in so many ways.
-
I DO hope that at least you found some time to be with and cherish family and friends. That, at least, is something to cherish and celebrate.
Thankful we can put a square meal on the plate. Many can. Not everyone.
You’ve shared a sober and very honestly painful, but truthful, close to this day.
It’s been a hard day. Totally understand. Thank you.