How do you deal with the mood out there?

[Ladyhawk]

Since this is going to be somewhat of a personal post, I debated about whether or not to put it in the Lounge or here. I decided upon GD. If the mods feel it should be moved, they can.

Anyway, I went into town today for the first time in ages. I went with my mother to take my nephew home and felt sick inside (upset stomach and all) when I saw the Bush/Cheney sticker on my brother's truck. Perhaps he feels the same way when he sees my bumper stickers. I don't know. I really don't care. My brother is a greedy, cruel person.

Later when my mother drove me to pick up my prescription, I saw two bumper stickers on a Stupid Useless Vehicle. One said, "Homosexuality is a SIN!" The other said something about abortion, but my ire was fixed on the homosexuality sticker. (I have mixed feelings about the abortion issue.) I noticed the rear window was covered in dust and I had an overwhelming urge to hop out and scrawl "BIGOT ON BOARD" in the dust. Had my mom not been there, I probably would have done it. I was pissed beyond reason. I felt I couldn't take one more jingoistic ribbon or bigoted bumper sticker. Scrawling "Bigot on Board" would have accomplished NOTHING and I probably would have even felt guilty afterward. Had my mother not been there, I definitely couldn't have stopped myself.

Because of the surgery and my upcoming move, I've had to let family back into my life and I've been feeling that same "torn apart" feeling: the anger, the confusion, the hatred, the love. I think the way I've been feeling toward family pushed me over the edge when I saw the bigotmobile in the parking lot.

Seriously, how do you deal with such emotions? I need to find a place of balance. Eventually, I may be able to tell my family to go fuck themselves, which may help, but I could use some suggestions right now.

Maybe meditation helps. Mantras? Anything? I don't know how to do any of these things. The anger is eating me up and right now I am having trouble channeling it positively. I have to find a way to lose the anger during these situations or I'm going to explode one day soon. The last time I felt this angry, I smashed my brother's hard cover Ronald Reagan book. It was wrong and accomplished nothing. I did a bad thing. Help me find a way to short-circuit the anger.

[DistressedAmerican]

1. I simply Cut People Like That Out Of My Life. However, These

folks are close family which makes it far harder. I have basically cut one of my sisters off (for non-political personal reasons). I still feel guilt about it. But, it was for the best. The fighting and hostility was very bad for both of us.

I have actually come to hate the world outside my house because I do react SO vicerally to even the most benign Bush sicker. I geuss I am an isolationist when it come to these people.

You know that no matter how frustrated you get you can always drop me a PM. I'll be there to do my best to cheer you up.

Love ya,
DA:pals:

[MelissaB]

2. I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time, Ladyhawk.

I live in what I call "Alafuckingbama". I've lived here most of my life, but it doesn't stop the anger when I see those "W" stickers. My children know I'm often tempted to run into these people. I try to tell myself they they don't know any better, but I just can't believe it.

You know, I think you have a right to be angry, but it doesn't need to harm your health. Sometimes when I think I've had all I can stand I grab a good romance book and stay away from DU for a few hours. It takes me to another setting where I can escape the real world. I don't know what will work for you, but know that your "internet buddies/friends/family" is here. I've followed some of your posts and wish you well. :hug:

BTW, a good book and the internet can help you escape from your family, too. I'm sure you already know that, but don't feel guilty escaping while you are healing.

[many a good man]

3. Remember: they're TRYING to tee you off

Don't give them the satisfaction.

Anger and hatred are self-destructive. Don't give them the power. Next time you see something like that chuckle at their idiocy and laugh at THEM because now YOU are in control.

Easier said than done, I know. But you can do it. We need you.
:hug:

[BigBearJohn]

4. I feel your pain. I feel the anger too; however, think of this:

It sounds like you are "running on empty."

Your body would starve if you didn't feed it good food.

Your soul starves when you don't occasionally fill IT with beauty,
love, hope, kindness, and a few of your "favorite things."

It seems that everywhere we turn, we see insanity. Well, beauty
and truth still exists too. You have to seek it out. It's there.
Set aside some time for yourself and watch your favorite, life-
affirming movie. Listen to your favorite music. Do 30 minutes
of gardening. Play with your dog or cat. Go out to the back
yard and swing with kids on the swing. Treat yourself to a weekend
"just for you." Soak in a jaccuzi, take a long walk in a park,
call your best friend and don't worry about the clock.

and... SLEEP. Get 8 to 9 or 10 hours of restful sleep.

This always works for me.

[annabanana]

6. (what he said)

You have to allow your instinct for self-preservation to kick in. Give yourself an hour or two of apolitical (I know, I know.. no such thing) pleasurable things to do. Every day.

[Ladyhawk]

12. You were so right. I was running on empty.

I hadn't been able to sleep well for the past several nights because I'd been without a Rx I use to sleep. I took it and was pissed I was awake an hour and a half later. However, I was able to go back to bed. I just now got up at 5 p.m. YIKES! Obviously, I was sleep-deprived. I need more sleep than most do to begin with...add in a recent surgery and no wonder I was close to exploding.

[slay]

5. As a liberal living in NC

i'll take a line from Clinton and say "I feel your pain". Every time I go out I see gas hog SUV's sporting their big ol' W stickers. Here's the thing though - don't hate um. Despite all our anger and frustration we know deep down that most of these people are brainwashed. Why else would they ALL drive SUV's and ALL have those tacky W stickers ya know? They are indeed Bushbots. Most of these people have never even heard of PNAC (thanks MSM) so they don't truly recognize the full depth of the evil they support. Most republicans I know are such sheep that they just go about their daily routine doing as they are told. Most of them have no idea what's really going on politics wise, and many of the ones I know make NO effort to find out. It's kind of sad really. I'm just thankful that I'm not one of the brainwashed masses. And even for the ones who truly know, understand, and enjoy the Bush/Neocon/fascist take-over, I still forgive them. Us liberals can be weird that way. :P

[Ladyhawk]

7. The hard part is my family DOES know what's at stake here.

They were fascists even before * came on the scene. I could tolerate it when they had no power, but now I can't. They knowingly brought this about. Of course, they think they are righteous, good people, but they're the ones who hate gays, want to have wars and want to cut programs for people who need it. They WANT racial profiling. They WANT a theocracy. I can't fucking stand it.

[slay]

10. Reading some Hunter S. Thompson has always helped

me when brutal realities regarding politics start hitting home. Makes me feel less alone in my fight to do what's right knowing Hunter was onto their shit too.

I really hate that the whole Republican agenda/way of thinking has screwed up some of my family as well. But if they won't see reason, I don't guess there's much you can do about it. As powerful as us liberals are mentally, some things are unfortunately our of our control. Don't fall into their hate trap though. Republicans thrive on hate. And at least you have your friends. I was watching this Dr Dwyer (sp?) guy on PBS today and he said this cool quote something like, "Your friends are god's way of apologizing for your family." And when all else fails - forget their bullshit for awhile and PARTY LIKE HELL!! Woo-hoo!! :evilgrin:


Here's some cool Hunter S. Thompson quotes that might help. Feel free to share um with the family. I do. :)


"Every GOP administration since 1952 has let the Military-Industrial Complex loot the Treasury and plunge the nation into debt on the excuse of a wartime economic emergency. Richard Nixon comes quickly to mind, along with Ronald Reagan and his ridiculous 'trickle-down' theory of U.S. economic policy. If the Rich get Richer, the theory goes, before long their pots will overflow and somehow 'trickle down' to the poor, who would rather eat scraps off the Bush family plates than eat nothing at all. Republicans have never approved of democracy, and they never will. It goes back to preindustrial America, when only white male property owners could vote."...

"Did you see Bush on TV, trying to debate? Jesus, he talked like a donkey with no brains at all...It was pitiful...I almost felt sorry for him, until I heard someone call him 'Mr. President,' and then I felt ashamed."

"Bush is a natural-born loser with a filthy-rich daddy who pimped his son out to rich oil-mongers."

"This blizzard of mind-warping war propaganda out of Washington is building up steam. Monday is Anthrax, Tuesday is Bankruptcy, Friday is Child-Rape, Thursday is Bomb-scares, etc., etc., etc.... If we believed all the brutal, frat-boy threats coming out of the White House, we would be dead before Sunday. It is pure and savage terrorism reminiscent of Nazi Germany."

"Who does vote for these dishonest shitheads? Who among us can be happy and proud of having all this innocent blood on our hands? Who are these swine? These flag-sucking half-wits who get fleeced and fooled by stupid rich kids like George Bush?"...

http://www.democraticwings.com/democraticwings/archives/politics/001769.php

[katinmn]

8. Hang out with other progressives as often as you can.

It really does help.

[Warpy]

9. I've restarted meditation practice

as a regular thing, and I think it's been helping, and I confess I don't go out of my part of the city very often. I live in the inner city, proudly working class and blue collar. I am in a buffer zone between a very poor area and an old money area, and both of those areas are bright blue, too.

Every once in a while somebody sneers or snarls at me when I'm shopping for groceries or other things and I can pretty much bet there's a Bush sticker or stupid yellow ribbon or metal fish somewhere on their vehicle.

I'm becoming somewhat of a hermit these days, not only due to illness, but due to bully fatigue. I'm sick of these people.

The problem with being a Buddhist is that you can't even think of killing them all off because you know they'll only come back and do it all over again. I think what we're seeing now is all the "good" Germans, back for another go at it. I'm just sickened that they're doing it HERE. This used to be such a good country to live in.

I don't know what will get through to them, but something needs to. They've certainly perverted the hell out of Christianity, and would likely do the same to any other religion, philosophy, or psychology.

[cap]

11. i am starting to think we need a DU thread called..

"Chicken Soup for the Liberal Soul" where only affirmative life giving messages are permitted.