"The politicians aren’t acting to save people. They know they should, but they aren’t doing it. People are acting to protect each other and themselves, and it’s working."
^^^ Heavy on this point! I work in risk management and am also a prepper at heart, so I think and read a lot about disaster. Coming together is *always* the common theme - despite decades of shitty popular media messaging, despite our unnaturally individualistic society, despite the stance of too many government emergency managers - over and over again we have proven we ALWAYS come together when we need to and we CAN rely on each other. That knowledge, and seeing it demonstrated so bravely in Minneapolis, is what is keeping me from despair.
We're going to win. It's after all "Venceremos" - we literally made that our slogan, didn't we.
We have all the hope and the good stuff - thanks for providing so plenty of both. And we're going to stick together. What do these people have but Nukes and Self-hatred? I will admit that this is a fucking awful combination, but one that we'll navigate somehow.
I am sure you know the Luxemburg Christmas letter that I keep spamming at all places, but on the off chance that you don't - or anyone else reading here has missed out on that Gem so far:
"Last night my thoughts ran thiswise: “How strange it is that I am always in a sort of joyful intoxication, though without sufficient cause. Here I am lying in a dark cell upon a mattress hard as stone; the building has its usual churchyard quiet, so that one might as well be already entombed; through the window there falls across the bed a glint of light from the lamp which burns all night in front of the prison. At intervals I can hear faintly in the distance the noise of a passing train or close at hand the dry cough of the prison guard as in his heavy boots, he takes a few slow strides to stretch his limbs. The gride of the gravel beneath his feet has so hopeless a sound that all the weariness and futility of existence seems to be radiated thereby into the damp and gloomy night. I lie here alone and in silence, enveloped in the manifold black wrappings of darkness, tedium, unfreedom, and winter – and yet my heart beats with an immeasurable and incomprehensible inner joy, just as if I were moving in the brilliant sunshine across a flowery mead. And in the darkness I smile at life, as if I were the possessor of charm which would enable me to transform all that is evil and tragical into serenity and happiness. But when I search my mind for the cause of this joy, I find there is no cause, and can only laugh at myself.” – I believe that the key to the riddle is simply life itself, this deep darkness of night is soft and beautiful as velvet, if only one looks at it in the right way. The gride of the damp gravel beneath the slow and heavy tread of the prison guard is likewise a lovely little song of life – for one who has ears to hear. At such moments I think of you, and would that I could hand over this magic key to you also. Then, at all times and in all places, you would be able to see the beauty, and the joy of life; then you also could live in the sweet intoxication, and make your way across a flowery mead. Do not think that I am offering you imaginary joys, or that I am preaching asceticism. I want you to taste all the real pleasures of the senses. My one desire is to give you in addition my inexhaustible sense of inward bliss. Could I do so, I should be at ease about you, knowing that in your passage through life you were clad in a star-bespangled cloak which would protect you from everything petty, trivial, or harassing."
We got all these heirlooms in the movements. And our biggest challenge will not be to win - I'd bet on that anyday, anytime (because if we don't, there won't be anyone around to notice the loss anyhow) ... but to keep each other safe. Thanks for helping us do that. Be hugged. We got this.
Thank you for always making me feel like I'm not crazy Margaret. You and I have lived incredibly different lives, and continue to do so, but we still come to the same conclusions when looking broadly at history and the present and that makes me feel less crazy.
I keep saying welcome to the party to my more moderate friends. I was saying that in 2016. As my liberal friends wake up, I remind them that preparedness doesn't just mean buying guns, but it does mean knowing who in our community does have guns, and knowledge of firearms. It also means knowing who can cook, clean, fix things, and throw the best parties.
Last night I went to an incredibly fun, nerdy and spooky, Burlesque show at a local community space. Right now I am enjoying a Yemini take on Chai from a new Yemini cafe that just opened in my town.
Margaret, your writing is always like a warm hug.
"The politicians aren’t acting to save people. They know they should, but they aren’t doing it. People are acting to protect each other and themselves, and it’s working."
^^^ Heavy on this point! I work in risk management and am also a prepper at heart, so I think and read a lot about disaster. Coming together is *always* the common theme - despite decades of shitty popular media messaging, despite our unnaturally individualistic society, despite the stance of too many government emergency managers - over and over again we have proven we ALWAYS come together when we need to and we CAN rely on each other. That knowledge, and seeing it demonstrated so bravely in Minneapolis, is what is keeping me from despair.
We're going to win. It's after all "Venceremos" - we literally made that our slogan, didn't we.
We have all the hope and the good stuff - thanks for providing so plenty of both. And we're going to stick together. What do these people have but Nukes and Self-hatred? I will admit that this is a fucking awful combination, but one that we'll navigate somehow.
I am sure you know the Luxemburg Christmas letter that I keep spamming at all places, but on the off chance that you don't - or anyone else reading here has missed out on that Gem so far:
https://www.marxists.org/archive/luxemburg/1917/undated/03.htm
"Last night my thoughts ran thiswise: “How strange it is that I am always in a sort of joyful intoxication, though without sufficient cause. Here I am lying in a dark cell upon a mattress hard as stone; the building has its usual churchyard quiet, so that one might as well be already entombed; through the window there falls across the bed a glint of light from the lamp which burns all night in front of the prison. At intervals I can hear faintly in the distance the noise of a passing train or close at hand the dry cough of the prison guard as in his heavy boots, he takes a few slow strides to stretch his limbs. The gride of the gravel beneath his feet has so hopeless a sound that all the weariness and futility of existence seems to be radiated thereby into the damp and gloomy night. I lie here alone and in silence, enveloped in the manifold black wrappings of darkness, tedium, unfreedom, and winter – and yet my heart beats with an immeasurable and incomprehensible inner joy, just as if I were moving in the brilliant sunshine across a flowery mead. And in the darkness I smile at life, as if I were the possessor of charm which would enable me to transform all that is evil and tragical into serenity and happiness. But when I search my mind for the cause of this joy, I find there is no cause, and can only laugh at myself.” – I believe that the key to the riddle is simply life itself, this deep darkness of night is soft and beautiful as velvet, if only one looks at it in the right way. The gride of the damp gravel beneath the slow and heavy tread of the prison guard is likewise a lovely little song of life – for one who has ears to hear. At such moments I think of you, and would that I could hand over this magic key to you also. Then, at all times and in all places, you would be able to see the beauty, and the joy of life; then you also could live in the sweet intoxication, and make your way across a flowery mead. Do not think that I am offering you imaginary joys, or that I am preaching asceticism. I want you to taste all the real pleasures of the senses. My one desire is to give you in addition my inexhaustible sense of inward bliss. Could I do so, I should be at ease about you, knowing that in your passage through life you were clad in a star-bespangled cloak which would protect you from everything petty, trivial, or harassing."
We got all these heirlooms in the movements. And our biggest challenge will not be to win - I'd bet on that anyday, anytime (because if we don't, there won't be anyone around to notice the loss anyhow) ... but to keep each other safe. Thanks for helping us do that. Be hugged. We got this.
Thank you for always making me feel like I'm not crazy Margaret. You and I have lived incredibly different lives, and continue to do so, but we still come to the same conclusions when looking broadly at history and the present and that makes me feel less crazy.
I keep saying welcome to the party to my more moderate friends. I was saying that in 2016. As my liberal friends wake up, I remind them that preparedness doesn't just mean buying guns, but it does mean knowing who in our community does have guns, and knowledge of firearms. It also means knowing who can cook, clean, fix things, and throw the best parties.
Last night I went to an incredibly fun, nerdy and spooky, Burlesque show at a local community space. Right now I am enjoying a Yemini take on Chai from a new Yemini cafe that just opened in my town.
Preparing and working out my hope muscle.
Love you, old friend. Big time.