I'm scared.

[deadparrot]

I'm 18 years old, and what I'm seeing now is, with the possible exception of 9/11, one of the scariest moments of my life. It's scary because of what my fellow citizens are going through, and it's scary because everything is so uncertain. It feels different.

A major US city is, for all intents and purposes, gone, at least for a substantial period of time. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around that fact. Hundreds, if not thousands, if not tens of thousands, are dead. A million or more don't have homes. Tales of horor are coming out; who knows if there's any truth to them?

Gas is skyrocketing to record levels, with no relief in sight. One can assume that this will have a measurable effect on our economy and the ability to transport goods across the country. Bad news for an already weak stock market.

Iraq has been temporarily forgotten, but it's still there. Four soldiers dead today.

We have a president who goes on five week vacations, plays a guitar while millions suffer with varying degrees of loss, and who devoted a whopping minute and twenty-five seconds to addressing the tragedy.

I expected the media and American people to be complacent about what's going on, even approving of Bush. It has happened, to a point, but I'm feeling the rumblings of discontent, also. Take tomorrow's NYT editorial, or the words and actions of any number of anchors in the MSM.

Rarely does a day go by when I don't see one post or another on DU proclaiming "the tide is turning," and I always approached such claims with a fair degree of skepticism.

But for the past few days, it seems like the world as I've known it has been knocked off its axis. It seems like everything is reaching a fever pitch, everything peaking at the same time...maybe it's just a natural series of events that follow a catastrophe.

But this combination of problems...a city in ruins, widespread death and disaster, sky-high gas, a quagmire...I don't think I've ever seen anything like it.

[Dr Fate]

1. I'm sorry dude.

We are all scared- anyone who is not is a fool.

The best thing we can do is work hard at our lives & keep fighting for our vision of the country- I dont know what else to to tell you.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

127. Right. Go bing. N/T

[Erika]

2. Have you read Zola, Dickens, and Hugo?

Then there were revolutions.

[Lindsay]

3. I'm 59 going on 60, and I haven't seen anything like this

either.

I make no predictions about tides turning, but things are at a very bad point right now.

And there is no damned leadership worth the name.

[proud patriot]

4. I'm 36 and feel it too

:hug: hang in there

[memerzatz]

10. I am 58

I too feel very wary of things

[Demonaut]

34. 42 and had no idea this could happen...ooh for the good ol' days

[roguevalley]

107. 52 and boggled. The 2006 elections are the place where the mood

of the country will have full rein, fuck the voting boxes. The pigs had better be ready to pack up and leave.

[Catherine Vincent]

5. I cleared my y2k stash and will stock up on canned goods and water.

I'm scared too.

[Erika]

13. Agree. We can't depend on our government anymore

W has stripped states of federal funding (our taxes) and they are hurting. He is using our taxes for his imperialism.

I will pick up another case of bottled water tomorrow. I have two cases on hand.

[still_one]

6. The human spirit is quite resilient

in 1918 this country went through a world war, and a flu epidemic where they didn't know if anyone would survive

in world war II people didn't know if they would survive

This country survived a civil war, and we will survive this also

[existentialist]

52. Yes

We, as a nation, can certainly survive what has hit us so far.

But we, as a nation, have to wake up pretty soon, or I'm not so sure.

But then again, maybe we need to get to the point where we can no longer be sure to reawaken what is good in us.

[MADem]

136. Remember the gas crisis of the 70's, with rationing, odd-even days

turn down the heat and put on a sweater because the fuel bills were out of sight...and to top it all off, video every night of hostages at the US Embassy in Iran? That's how NIGHTLINE got started...and then, the failed rescue at DESERT ONE...prices going up, inflation out of sight, no money, rusty cars everywhere, grey days, pollution, misery, poverty...ugh. And some of the UGLIEST representations of the era are seen in the hideous fashion and home furnishings--avocados and oranges, brown shag rugs, hideous plastic stretchy clothing...a metaphor for those awful times, where everything was just fucking UGLY.

Those were rough days, too. Of course, the President actually went on TV and addressed the nation WITHOUT a hoarde of toadies around him--just Jimmy and the camera, inside the White House, sitting at a desk that he apparently WORKED at every day. Such a concept!

Nature and politics abhor a vacuum. If monkeyboy cannot lead, someone else will have to do it.

[CantGetFooledAgain]

7. Hang in there DP

I'm scared too. But I've got your back.

[stevietheman]

8. I'm 38 and these are indeed "interesting" times...

never been a time like it in my lifetime.

This may sound bold, but I strongly believe the nation is going through a major catharsis right now.

[Mojambo]

9. We all feel it

I feel like we're entering an age of disaster.

Times like these are going to become more and more frequent, and we're not just talking natural disaters either.

[tridim]

111. I could handle this a lot better if it were just natural disasters

It's the taxpayer funded, man-made disasters that are killing my spirit.

35 and scared out of my wits.

[apnu]

11. I'm 32 and I haven't seen anything like it.

Its like a nightmare that only gets worse and worse. Just when I think 'gee we can't bottom out any more than this', something like NOLA happens.

I used to tell myself that Americans are like the 'sleeping giant' that Japan called us before WW2. And that, when shocked enough, the American people would wake up and take charge.

I think I've been proved wrong on that, or at least, the last of my naivete has been shed. The American people keep getting wake-up calls and they seem to go further and further into a coma.

What we need is a decent leader to arise and mold this ground swell of loathing for Bush into something usable, but I look around and see... well... nobody there.

The tide is turning, but where are the Dem leaders?

[spiderpig]

121. Thanks Apnu!!!

:scared:
Hi apnu -
I'm a lot older than you (gulp - 54!) and your post hit me bigtime. You articulated exactly what I've been feeling. I've lurked in DU for years and never contributed - but I want to let you know how much I share your concerns.

I've visited New Orleans perhaps a dozen times and love the place like a second home. The events of the last week have broken my heart, and I share your total loathing for the sheer indifference displayed by our Chickenhawk-in-Chief.

Thanks for taking the time to express yourself and renew my hope for future generations of Americans!!!

catnapper

[peacebuzzard]

137. Hi catnapper! first post and a star!!!

Welcome. I believe we will see the end of this tragic era.
:hi:
It may go through a severe facelift, but creativity will win over despair, this will not succumb to total chaos. However, I believe we will go through some very tough times. One of the wisest posts I have seen these days was kind of a joke, but was so real....something along the order of getting your bicycles out.

[RevCheesehead]

12. Fear comes from uncertainty... and there is little that is certain now.

But look at it this way: this could be the event which could help us to reclaim the opportunity missed on 9-11. The chance for people to come together, and to work for a better world.

Tough times bring opportunities for change. In an odd way, I am relieved. I feel like we've broken through the haze of apathy. People are stirred up, and are motivated to do something.

Watch and see the best of humanity at work in the next several weeks ahead. (and don't bother looking for it from shrubbie or his cronies - they've sold their collective souls for money and power.)

And when you get discouraged, come on back here, and we'll at the very least give you a hug.

:hug: RevCheese

[nonconformist]

14. I'm 32 and I've never seen anything like this either

May you live in interesting times, indeed.

I was just telling my husband today how scary and strange it is we're seeing all this very dramatic shit go down in our lifetimes.

[Hissyspit]

15. It is time for your generation to wake up, deadparrot.

But not just them, most of America, apparently. YOU don't need to wake up, of course. I have enjoyed your past posts. The Bush II era should have never happened. 9/11 should have never happened. Most of the U.S. has been in love with their XBoxes and their Survivor, and thought the end-of-the-century, post-Clinton expansion state of complacency was the "normal" state of things. I'm sorry the wake-up calls have taken the forms they have. Hang in there, friend. Things have a tendency to move back to stability.

[gatorboy]

16. I know how you feel, man.

Today has felt completely different from any other. Normally I'm spouting piss and vinegar over the current administration but I had always felt that there was still a glimmer of hope for all of us.

After today, I'm seriously concerned over what the future holds for my family. How bad will it get? Are we sinking into the next depression? And all I can think of are the people that helped vote these people back in because of friggin' gay marriage and the fear that Kerry would take Bibles away.

[steve2470]

17. I'm spooked also

I want to give you some hope, because you remind me of how I was at age 18. I do think eventually the semi-brain dead voters will get sick of all this dysfunction and throw the bastards out. I don't think we are going to end up in a total police state, but it may have to get a bit worse before Joe SixPack and June Cleaver revolt.

[phusion]

18. The Optimism of Uncertainty - Howard Zinn

http://www.fooriders.org/sagunn/archives/2004/10/the_optimism_of.html

I posted this on my blog for New Years...It's a great essay by historian Howard Zinn. Here's a good quote for you:


An optimist isn't necessarily a blithe, slightly sappy whistler in the dark of our time. To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places--and there are so many--where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.

[Postman]

29. I love Howard Zinn. Such a wise and honest man of truth..

n/t

[intheflow]

84. Thanks, phusion.

I've bookmarked that Zinn thread. It's important to remember that optimism is possible--even in dark times.

[Neshanic]

19. We will be fine, and so will you. The late 60's were bad....

and this is approaching that awfull time of angst and the feeling the country was falling apart.

But we made it. We will make it through this awfull time being presided over by a facist republican gang thats lost it's mind, and it's little tinhorn dictator that is worshipped by them.

It will take some time, but we will make it, and the people that profess to love this country are being exposed.

Change is sometimes a hard thing to go through, but it will be better. There are more of us that believe in a future, than the republicans that live for the past.

[Erika]

25. Great post

If we don't change conditions, none of us will be living in a country in which we can take pride. W has been hell on the American spirit and the American dream. He will be gone soon enough.

[krkaufman]

37. Yes, well put. Thanks. n/t

[bobo4u]

83. Sorry. I lived through the sixties. We aren't headed for the sixties.

More like the 1850's and 1929 combined. First our economy fails. Then we go to war with each other.

[Bluesplayer]

92. I'm 51 - I became aware in the spring of 1968

I remember 1968 - it was a hell of a way to make a whole generation suddenly be forced to face the grown up reality of our country in flames, assassinations, political conventions, a president who didn't even want another term, and Vietnam. The stuggles then were generational, as well as political. That doesn't seem to be the case this time around.

Things are much worse now, but I'm so impressed by the original poster's clarity of thought and intelligence. More proof that the country is not completely filled by people ignorant enough of the truth to be bush supporters. There's plenty of hope.

There's plenty of things to do in the meantime, but 2006 is the first big step. We must take back congress or we're dead in the water until 2008. Do whatever you can locally to help. No race is unwinable any more.

We all want our country back.

[deadparrot]

93. Thanks.

Your kind words are much appreciated. :hi:

[Der Blaue Engel]

20. I'm 39 and I've never seen anything like it

I feel like my country is dying. The nightmare began with the obscenity of the 2000 presidential selection, and it just keeps getting worse.

Sometimes I wonder if the crazy fundies I grew up with were right about the end times...and then I remember that they've orchestrated it.

I don't know about the tide. I just don't know. :(

[sundog]

21. thanks for your post parrot

i don't know what i'm feeling right now

this hurts my heart :(

[Liberal In Texas]

22. Welcome to the "adult" world. It's scary as shit out here.

When I was your age, Viet Nam was going on. Later, we had to line up to get expensive gas. If you kids don't decide to change this (and I'm not accusing you specifically) you are going to inherit a world not much different than "Blade Runner" or "Roller Ball, or "Soylent Green."

(Dated myself there.) But you get my drift. Us old libs from the sixties just don't have the energy or physical ability to march and do sit-downs anymore.

It's up to you.

[eridani]

46. Sez who!?!?!?

This ageing baby boomer has no intention whatsoever of going gentle into that good night. Let us all rage against the dying of the light.

[WiseButAngrySara]

106. Bless you...I am there with you.............n/t

[fearnobush]

56. Yes, "Soylent Green is made of people."

What can else can I say, I have twins on the way, can barely afford my home and now must endure $3.50 $4.00 gas. I can't afford $50 a week to fill my tank but hay, My life is gravy compared to the million or so refugees there calling them now. I do wonder if I will become a refugee in these dark times of Bush world. Yesterday and yet again today, I had to calm two people down at work who were openly and loudly telling how they want Bush dead. They want some one to kill Bush - I pulled them aside explaining why they must never say that and of the consequences. It was bizarre, me telling people to back off Bush. I cannot say if any tide is turning, only tide I see is the 90 degree, global warming induced gulf of Mexico churning up our next great depression. Sad it is, but I must survive to make the best possible father I can to these new children coming to my life. I must be kind and walk in the foot steps of goodness.

[ScreamingMeemie]

129. We couldn't change things, so I'm not going to put the onus on my

kids. We all, ALL, even the tired, have to work at this. No handing off the baton while the country is in a mess. :hi:

[puddycat]

23. yes, its scary. But all we have is the moment anyway.

Everything else is an illusion. Accepting that fact will free you.

[seabeyond]

24. deadparrot we have smart people in this country. just NOT in

our whitehouse right now. at most, they will be gone in 3 years. we will be able to hire a president that will be able to lead this country out of what we are in. it will take time. we may not be, probably will not be a super power, but that is ok with me. it will be ours to create.. and you at 18 will be the future.

think of germany at the end of their tyranny. they probably couldn't see much of a future either. look at who they are today. we all have the opportunity. this is just a moment in time. probably a very needed moment for the arrogance of who we became as a people.

i am not worried. whatever comes, i have lived long enough to know, i am capable,.... with whatever i am given. i will be ok. if i can be, well, we all can be. shit happens. it is what we do with the shit,... once it happens that decides who we are as people, what we will create.

[Tsiyu]

26. Don't be afraid

Refocus your energy and look around you.

How can you prepare yourself for any disaster/electricity disruption, etc?

Who is hurting around you that you can help?

What can you give up in your life to replace with something more valuable? ( and of course I don't mean $$$$wise)

We have ALL helped create this mess, in some small way or another. We can work our way out of it as others have in the past.

Get past the fear.

Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

:hug:

[LordBinkyTheBuffoon]

27. I'm 20

I understand exactly what you mean, and feel exactly the same way. We got some interesting, depressing lives ahead of us I'm guessing. One things for sure, I'm not bringing any kids into it.

[LaraMN]

28. You're definitely not alone.

I generally tend to ignore the "tide is turning" sentiments as well, but I find myself plagued, unsettled, and completely wound up right now. I too, feel that *something* has reached critical mass. It's such an intangible yet undeniable sense. It's not pleasant. The uncertainty itself is frightening. I only hope something good comes this way soon. Three more years under the Bouche-Bag regime is an unbearable thought, considering the damage already done. Perhaps there will finally be a shift in sentiment. Perhaps that is part of what we're sensing.

[friesianrider]

30. I'm 22 and am scared too.

I know it is selfish, but I just want to do what everyone wants to - have a normal life, my own house, a family, kids, a good job.

I too am very scared for our generation's future. It's good to know though that others our age do care. I always want to slap the shit out of my college's young Republicans.

:hug: I am right there with you, my friend.

[Chichiri]

31. I'm 26, and I'm scared as shit.

[Autonomy]

32. While reading about looters today

I suddenly thought of Hugo's Jean Valjean. I could just as well thought of 'Oliver Twist'. Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'. Sinclair's 'The Jungle'. Carson's 'Silent Spring'. Thoreau's 'Walden'.

Or I could have thought social leaders: Gandhi, King, Robert F. Kennedy. Then again, they were all assassinated, so that's not very comforting.

Maybe it IS all falling apart. But maybe it's supposed to. I guess I am left with Yeats.

The Second Coming

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all convictions, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.


Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

[bobbieinok]

82. have always found this poem fascinating...now what hit me this time

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
....
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
....

does this remind the rest of you of someone?????

[Autonomy]

95. The whole thing reminds me of the evening news

Chaos, floods, rivers running red with blood, apathy, beast-like men in the desert. And, yeah, "W" is a rough beast in the desert with a pitiless, blank gaze.

The symbolism is apropos: carrion birds circle where once hunting birds soared, 2000 years of religious dream-state giving way to madness in the Holy Land.

But the best two lines are neither prophetic nor symbolic:

"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world"

This is the physics of complex systems. It's the way things work, and without judgment, where we are now in the cycle. I am reminded of a Sufi proverb:

"Quit this world. Quit the next world. Quit quitting."

All things will right themselves without our help. The question is, "Can we alleviate the Noble Truth that life is suffering with the Bodhisattva Vow of compassion for the sufferer?"

[BeTheChange]

33. Don't be scared...

We live in a very comfortable society. Most of us have never seen anything like this. Most of us have never truly had to face who we were or what we were made of. We have been given priorities we never questioned and we have existed relatively comfortably for a long long time.

When 9/11 happened it was a tragedy, but it also made me marvel at how truly lucky this nation had been. 1000 people died today in Iraq in a stampede. Tens of thousands have died since we started this war. We all sit here and know how wrong it is, but what do we do? We sit here and bitch and moan for the most part. We go to an ANSWER rally with puppets and signs.. I went to Crawford to sleep pretty damn safely in a ditch... We find more ways to do nothing, while thinking that we really are.

We must find the good in ourselves during this time. We must realize we are strong, our values are misplaced, there is more to strive for then "comfortable". We must not forget this feeling of uneasiness.. there isnt enough cheap gas to quench it.. not enough mardi gras beads.. We must rise above this, or else all truly is lost.. we are all just biding time.

I watch the people who have been saved thank God for being alive. They have lost everything, but it doesnt matter.. they are alive. A situation occured that made them have to wake up immediately. We are all waking up slowly.. dont go back to sleep.


You are our future. I know.. it's a heavy burden. But you really can change the world. Now is the time.

[Brundle_Fly]

41. Agreed

Complacency is about, America is in a coma, and getting groped by strangers.

Everyone should stand up, this CANNOT continue.

Turn off your TELEVISION.

[faithfulcitizen]

49. wow, you really live up to your name ;) nice post!

[BeTheChange]

75. ;) I need to live up to it a whole lot more.

And Im going to. This is a catalyst for change. It's up to us what direction that change is headed.

If I believed the MSM, Id think all hope was lost. But I still believe in the eternal decency of the human spirit. Unfortunately, we have forgotten how to be "human".

It's an exciting time for this nation.. an epic time.

I really think there is a chance for change to rush over all of us.

Im not usually an optimist and I cant explain why I am now. But here is our chance to unravel it all. The skin, muscles and skeleton are all being peeled back, we are getting to the heart of the matter. I think that's where we have all went wrong.. we have been trying to get through to the mind of people, to appeal to the brain. Cindy Sheehan appealed to people's hearts and that was why she made a difference. Relatable death hits people in the heart.. it's even more powerful then the pocket book.

[intheflow]

89. "The skin, muscles and skeleton are all being peeled back,

we are getting to the heart of the matter."

This sentence reminded me of a story I heard from a rabbi after 9-11. I don't remember the story itself, I only remember the end: that hardened hearts must be broken open in order to spill out the pain and heal. In other words, embrace the brokenness, feel it deeply and know it well, for only then can movement forward happen.

I also feel that this may be what breaks our country open, what opens the people's eyes. With 9-11 we had an external enemy that divided us, but we cannot wage war on hurricanes. 9-11 was a warmup, in some ways. But I think it will be NOLA that truly tests our mettle as a nation. I have hope we are strong enough at the heart level to rise to the challenge.

[KittyWampus]

35. Try Not To Be Afraid, Try To Transform It To Energized. But More Effort

into improving things and reaching out.

[Qibing Zero]

36. I understand what you're going through.

I'm 21 and I can hardly explain what kind of insanity lies in having my years from 16-21 starting off in this century, in this country, with this government. It's mind-boggling and beyond confusing.

I've always felt a more world perspective, and it does nothing but anger me when I have to fear travelling (from dirty looks to 'terrorists'!) and fear having to constantly explain myself if I say I'm from america. I thank such people as bush and bolton for this daily. To think back to how everyone cared for us back on 9/11... :grr:

[gauguin57]

38. I'm scared, too. I feel like we're all having a collective out-of-body

experience.

I feel like what I'm seeing on my TV from the Gulf States must be fiction, but it's not. I feel like that huge number on my gas-station receipt tonight must be fiction, but it's not. I feel that us being in an illegal, initially pointless war overseas while our own country is going to hell in a handbasket MUST be fiction. But it's not.

As Rosemary said in "Rosemary's Baby,": "This is no dream! This is REALLY HAPPENING."

I am freaked out. But not so freaked out that I won't contribute to the rescue effort tomorrow; find out other ways I can help; work to get Democrats elected in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 ... whatever I can do, just so I won't feel so powerless and scared.

[tooncesj0nes]

39. uncertainty and chaos is a way of life for many places in the world...

.....Im 44. When I was 12 I thought life was peachy for me and everyone else in the world....then I learned about pol Pot. The Shah of Irans secret police. Death squads in central america. Sex slaves..it goes on and on. We are perhaps the most insulated people in the world. One can certainly understand heavy handed dictators in other countries when we view the disgraceful behavior in New Orleans.

[uppityperson]

40. I am 50 and scared and excited and very very sad also

I read fiction books about the future that are written as cautionary tales, so we don't have to live them yet here we are and this scares and saddens and angers me. I too am a skeptic, have had my hopes dashed so often these last few years and now is different. I have not seen anything like now either.

Things have to get bad enough for enough people before there can be change. Things can still get worse and this is really scary. People are suffering, will suffer more and this is really sad. However, I just spent time with a caring compassionate generous group of peaceful people and this is really reassuring because there are lots of us like that out there. Things have changed, hopefully we will muddle through it without too many people getting hurt too bad and good will come out of it.

We need to continue on with compassion and not in fear. Yes, there are difficult times ahead, to be faced with integrity and struggle, but not to fear. Do what must be done, be generous and compassionate and continue on.

[thinkingwoman]

42. Don't be afraid.

Be determined. Be resolute. Be absolutely certain that you will do everything within your power to make this world a better place before you leave it.

You are young, energetic, strong, and you have a lifetime ahead of you to make a difference.

There's no time for fear.

I'm 40. I truly thought at 18 that this world would be a better place by now. I thought my daughter would come of age in a more fair and happier world. But I didn't DO anything to make that happen. Now she is 17 and facing a world that in many ways is so much worse than the one I inherited in the 80s.

I can list a thousand excuses for why I haven't done more to change the world--abuse, a nasty bout with PTSD, depression for years--but in the end I don't want to give myself a pass any more.

I plan on living the rest of my life drastically differently than I have so far--with determination and purpose.

But I refuse to waste any more time on fear.

Join me in this...all of you who have posted on this thread. Yes, things are bad now. They are. We know it no matter what the "news" idiots say. But they don't have to stay that way.

Leave fear behind and forge ahead. Are you with me? Let's get going.

[H2O Man]

132. Beautiful message!

Thank you for sharing an important message. A funny thing about life: both the coward and the hero feel the same fear. The coward is handcuffed by it, while the hero uses it for fuel.

There is a reason why both Buddha and Jesus are quoted as saying, "Do not be afraid." Fear is our worst enemy. Most Americans feel fear and anxiety daily, as a result of the combination of bad things that have happened to them in the past, and the lies they have been told since they were itty-bitty children. America has been raised on lies for generations.

Young adults have a special opportunity and responsibility today, and that it to shed the lies and the fear, and to make this old country live up to its promise.

[thinkingwoman]

138. I am humbled by your praise

Coming from you I consider it an honor.

I've been thinking a lot lately about a phrase from Dune--Fear is the mindkiller. When I was younger I thought that was a silly oversimplification, but now...I'm thinking that is a pretty good description of what out of control fear can do to reason.

I didn't know that Buddha had a "Do not be afraid" quote as well. I'm continuously amazed at how similar all of the religions and spiritual teachings of the world are when you strip away the trappings.

[H2O Man]

139. Well then

the honor is mutual, as I consider you to be a "Thinking Woman," indeed.

What surprises many people is to find that we all share the same basic fears. And what is amazing is that the majority of people fear their best potential far more than they fear their bad side. The full implication of that is generally lost on those who have not suffered a great deal.

[BikeWriter]

43. It's how * has run all his businesses.

[Pallas180]

120. true. into bankruptcy.

.

[BikeWriter]

128. It's what he does best.

[deadparrot]

44. Thanks for all your posts, everyone!

Your words mean a lot, every one of them.

I do what I can. I'm a College Democrat. I'm going to the Cindy Sheehan rally this weekend. I'm registered to vote. I phone banked for Kerry a couple of nights last fall. It's not a lot, I know, but I do what I can.

I don't mean to sound overly dramatic...if I did, it wasn't intended. These times are just different than ever before, because before, there always seemed to be some sort of sameness behind all the madness. Now it seems like any sort of structure is gone. That's what's weird. Everything is kind of collapsing into itself. And I'm aware that I sound really morbid and fatalistic, which I'm not. It's just that I'm not used to uncertainty.

I always thought it would feel wonderful the day when it all went to shit for Bush, if this is indeed the day. It's always been really satisfying to see his dropping poll numbers. It's quite the opposite now.

Just a strange turn of emotions for me. :shrug:

[BeTheChange]

61. You dont sound overly fatalistic..

This is serious shit. No matter what smirk that asshole in residency's smirk says.

This is life changing shit.

This is real shit.

You will likely remember this event for the rest of your life. I know I will. I wont pretend to know what is going to happen, but I do know that Im not scared of it. We were built with the amazing capacity to absorb and decipher serious "shit".

I just listened to Last thoughts on Woody Guthrie by Dylan.. and I want to post it here...

When yer head gets twisted and yer mind grows numb
When you think you're too old, too young, too smart or too dumb
When yer laggin' behind an' losin' yer pace
In a slow-motion crawl of life's busy race
No matter what yer doing if you start givin' up
If the wine don't come to the top of yer cup
If the wind's got you sideways with with one hand holdin' on
And the other starts slipping and the feeling is gone
And yer train engine fire needs a new spark to catch it
And the wood's easy findin' but yer lazy to fetch it
And yer sidewalk starts curlin' and the street gets too long
And you start walkin' backwards though you know its wrong
And lonesome comes up as down goes the day
And tomorrow's mornin' seems so far away
And you feel the reins from yer pony are slippin'
And yer rope is a-slidin' 'cause yer hands are a-drippin'
And yer sun-decked desert and evergreen valleys
Turn to broken down slums and trash-can alleys
And yer sky cries water and yer drain pipe's a-pourin'
And the lightnin's a-flashing and the thunder's a-crashin'
And the windows are rattlin' and breakin' and the roof tops a-shakin'
And yer whole world's a-slammin' and bangin'
And yer minutes of sun turn to hours of storm
And to yourself you sometimes say
"I never knew it was gonna be this way
Why didn't they tell me the day I was born"
And you start gettin' chills and yer jumping from sweat
And you're lookin' for somethin' you ain't quite found yet
And yer knee-deep in the dark water with yer hands in the air
And the whole world's a-watchin' with a window peek stare
And yer good gal leaves and she's long gone a-flying
And yer heart feels sick like fish when they're fryin'
And yer jackhammer falls from yer hand to yer feet
And you need it badly but it lays on the street
And yer bell's bangin' loudly but you can't hear its beat
And you think yer ears might a been hurt
Or yer eyes've turned filthy from the sight-blindin' dirt
And you figured you failed in yesterdays rush
When you were faked out an' fooled white facing a four flush
And all the time you were holdin' three queens
And it's makin you mad, it's makin' you mean
Like in the middle of Life magazine
Bouncin' around a pinball machine
And there's something on yer mind you wanna be saying
That somebody someplace oughta be hearin'
But it's trapped on yer tongue and sealed in yer head
And it bothers you badly when your layin' in bed
And no matter how you try you just can't say it
And yer scared to yer soul you just might forget it
And yer eyes get swimmy from the tears in yer head
And yer pillows of feathers turn to blankets of lead
And the lion's mouth opens and yer staring at his teeth
And his jaws start closin with you underneath
And yer flat on your belly with yer hands tied behind
And you wish you'd never taken that last detour sign
And you say to yourself just what am I doin'
On this road I'm walkin', on this trail I'm turnin'
On this curve I'm hanging
On this pathway I'm strolling, in the space I'm taking
In this air I'm inhaling
Am I mixed up too much, am I mixed up too hard
Why am I walking, where am I running
What am I saying, what am I knowing
On this guitar I'm playing, on this banjo I'm frailin'
On this mandolin I'm strummin', in the song I'm singin'
In the tune I'm hummin', in the words I'm writin'
In the words that I'm thinkin'
In this ocean of hours I'm all the time drinkin'
Who am I helping, what am I breaking
What am I giving, what am I taking
But you try with your whole soul best
Never to think these thoughts and never to let
Them kind of thoughts gain ground
Or make yer heart pound
But then again you know why they're around
Just waiting for a chance to slip and drop down
"Cause sometimes you hear'em when the night times comes creeping
And you fear that they might catch you a-sleeping
And you jump from yer bed, from yer last chapter of dreamin'
And you can't remember for the best of yer thinking
If that was you in the dream that was screaming
And you know that it's something special you're needin'
And you know that there's no drug that'll do for the healin'
And no liquor in the land to stop yer brain from bleeding
And you need something special
Yeah, you need something special all right
You need a fast flyin' train on a tornado track
To shoot you someplace and shoot you back
You need a cyclone wind on a stream engine howler
That's been banging and booming and blowing forever
That knows yer troubles a hundred times over
You need a Greyhound bus that don't bar no race
That won't laugh at yer looks
Your voice or your face
And by any number of bets in the book
Will be rollin' long after the bubblegum craze
You need something to open up a new door
To show you something you seen before
But overlooked a hundred times or more
You need something to open your eyes
You need something to make it known
That it's you and no one else that owns
That spot that yer standing, that space that you're sitting
That the world ain't got you beat
That it ain't got you licked
It can't get you crazy no matter how many
Times you might get kicked
You need something special all right
You need something special to give you hope
But hope's just a word
That maybe you said or maybe you heard
On some windy corner 'round a wide-angled curve

But that's what you need man, and you need it bad
And yer trouble is you know it too good
"Cause you look an' you start getting the chills

"Cause you can't find it on a dollar bill
And it ain't on Macy's window sill
And it ain't on no rich kid's road map
And it ain't in no fat kid's fraternity house
And it ain't made in no Hollywood wheat germ
And it ain't on that dimlit stage
With that half-wit comedian on it
Ranting and raving and taking yer money
And you thinks it's funny
No you can't find it in no night club or no yacht club
And it ain't in the seats of a supper club
And sure as hell you're bound to tell
That no matter how hard you rub
You just ain't a-gonna find it on yer ticket stub
No, and it ain't in the rumors people're tellin' you
And it ain't in the pimple-lotion people are sellin' you
And it ain't in no cardboard-box house
Or down any movie star's blouse
And you can't find it on the golf course
And Uncle Remus can't tell you and neither can Santa Claus
And it ain't in the cream puff hair-do or cotton candy clothes
And it ain't in the dime store dummies or bubblegum goons
And it ain't in the marshmallow noises of the chocolate cake voices
That come knockin' and tappin' in Christmas wrappin'
Sayin' ain't I pretty and ain't I cute and look at my skin
Look at my skin shine, look at my skin glow
Look at my skin laugh, look at my skin cry
When you can't even sense if they got any insides
These people so pretty in their ribbons and bows
No you'll not now or no other day
Find it on the doorsteps made out-a paper mache´
And inside it the people made of molasses
That every other day buy a new pair of sunglasses
And it ain't in the fifty-star generals and flipped-out phonies
Who'd turn yuh in for a tenth of a penny
Who breathe and burp and bend and crack
And before you can count from one to ten
Do it all over again but this time behind yer back
My friend
The ones that wheel and deal and whirl and twirl
And play games with each other in their sand-box world
And you can't find it either in the no-talent fools
That run around gallant
And make all rules for the ones that got talent
And it ain't in the ones that ain't got any talent but think they do
And think they're foolin' you
The ones who jump on the wagon
Just for a while 'cause they know it's in style
To get their kicks, get out of it quick
And make all kinds of money and chicks
And you yell to yourself and you throw down yer hat
Sayin', "Christ do I gotta be like that
Ain't there no one here that knows where I'm at
Ain't there no one here that knows how I feel
Good God Almighty
THAT STUFF AIN'T REAL"

No but that ain't yer game, it ain't even yer race
You can't hear yer name, you can't see yer face
You gotta look some other place
And where do you look for this hope that yer seekin'
Where do you look for this lamp that's a-burnin'
Where do you look for this oil well gushin'
Where do you look for this candle that's glowin'
Where do you look for this hope that you know is there
And out there somewhere
And your feet can only walk down two kinds of roads
Your eyes can only look through two kinds of windows
Your nose can only smell two kinds of hallways
You can touch and twist
And turn two kinds of doorknobs
You can either go to the church of your choice
Or you can go to Brooklyn State Hospital
You'll find God in the church of your choice
You'll find Woody Guthrie in Brooklyn State Hospital

And though it's only my opinion
I may be right or wrong
You'll find them both
In the Grand Canyon
At sundown

[DanCa]

45. I am 37 I grew up in cicero Il.

There were times when I was was scared cold and lonely. I had a best friend who was shot, no I didn't see it, but it's one of the reason's i wont touch a gun. I have seen all kind's of things, from growing up with a career conservative military dad, to getting kicked out of a church for standing up for the reproductive rights of women. I also have a chronic neurological disease that can cause me to stiffen and fall at any give minute of the day.

Dead Parrot it is okay to be scarred. But Ra's A Ghuhl said it best to Batman, don't let fear conquer you so that you loose track of your sourrundings. We'll pull through, the sun well come up and we'll keep fighting. If so no other reason than we have no choice.

Dead Parrot your my friend I want to help you. Please pm me day or night. We will get thru it if not day by day, then hour by hour or minute by minute. Just keep that chin tucked and pump that jab.
Somehow we'll shoulder on that's what makes us human. Take care my friend and if I can help pm me.
.

[Maraya1969]

47. That is why is posted this poem that I found. If you read through to

the end you will see that good will come out of all this evil. These things give me comfort. I know it is not everyone's cup of tea but maybe it will help someone.

Kindness

Before you know what kindness really is
You must lose things,
Feel the future dissolve in a moment
Like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
What you counted and carefully saved,
All this must go so you know
How desolate the landscape can be
Between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
Thinking the bus will never stop,
The passengers eating maize and chicken
Will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
You must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
Lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
How he too was someone
Who journeyed through the night with plans
And the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
You must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
Catches the thread of all sorrows
And you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
Only kindness that ties your shoes
And sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
Only kindness that raises its head from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
And then goes with you everywhere
Like a shadow or a friend.

Naomi Shihab-Nye

(Naomi Shihab-Nye is an American-Palestinian poet, children's book writer, and peacemaker who lives in San Antonio.)

http://www.mwblog.com/journal/archives/2005/08/a_poem_b...

[kestrel91316]

48. I'm 48. I want my country back.

[newswolf56]

50. I am 65, with a journalism career that spans nearly 45 years...

and I have never seen anything even remotely like this, either in the magnitude of the disaster or in the unprecedented outrage of the abysmal indifference demonstrated by President Bush. Indeed -- knowing as I do how Bush slashed the levee-improvement and disaster-relief funds for New Orleans, I can only conclude that his public indifference now is merely another expression of the methodical malice expressed earlier by the funding cuts. Moreover, given Bush's record of hostility toward anyone who is not part of the oligarchy -- including his apparent belief America would be better off without its poor and disabled -- I am genuinely overwhelmed by the smirking, hinted boast of deliberate genocide-by-neglect in Bush's comment that because of this disaster America "will be a stronger place."

Bottom line, I am as frightened as anyone else on this thread. I believe Bush and his fellow oligarchs have unleashed the most Tryannosauric forms of capitalism and declared class warfare on America -- so much so that the only adequate explanation of what is happening is to be found in the notion of class-struggle precisely as described by Marx. And I can find not one scintilla of comfort anywhere: every indication tells me that what we are witnessing -- the murderous denials of relief efforts in New Orleans and other ravaged areas, the skyrocketing fuel prices, the wildly spiraling inflation and general economic ruin that are bound to follow -- all this is only the beginning.

[PinkyisBlue]

122. I believe you are right.

Your post struck a chord for me. You have a lot of wisdom.

Watching Bush talk today, he looked like a cold, arrogant man trying to look like he actually cares. I read that New Orleans is the most liberal area in Louisiana; deep down, he's probably glad it's flooded.

I believe you are right about the class warfare. With popular talking heads like Rush Limbaugh and other right wing operatives, classism (and racism, too) are alive and well in USA. Just today, I was speaking with an acquaintance about New Orleans, and she said she saw video footage of looters (all black) in New Orleans, while the video showed white people paying for needed supplies in Mississippi.
She seemed to be implying that black people are thieves.

It is to Bushco's benefit to have most of us fighting amongst ourselves for the table scraps; with our attention and anger turned toward other classes or races, we're not focused on the elites. (BTW, what ever happened to Kenneth Lay, anyway? As far as I know, he's still free on bail, awaiting trial).

I think things are going to get really bad before they get better. This team isn't going to leave quietly, and they're going to try to take as many of us with them as they can. It's good if people are waking up to what's happening, but it may be too late.

However,if people couldn't see that Bush was an incompetent, lying hypocrite in 2000, who's to say that they won't fall for the next incompetent, lying hypocrite who runs for office next time?

[newswolf56]

125. Just noticed the arthritic-typing transposition in the...

second sentence of my second paragraph: should be "Tyrannosauric." (If I'm going to make up a word, my fingers should at least spell it right. Grrrrr...)

[zulchzulu]

51. When you get freaked...look for the Helpers in the crowd

They are there. Just look for them. You'll feel a lot better.

[Beam Me Up]

53. I'm 57 and, yes, this IS an unprecedented situation. However, I'm not

scared. Perhaps I will GET scared as this goes on. You are absolutely right, a lot of very serious matters are coming to head at the same time. What will happen? I do not know but I do believe it is going to get WORSE FOR ALL OF US before it gets better. Why doesn't this scare me? Because it is necessary...absolutely necessary...to bring the axis back into alignment and humanity back into balance with the Earth.

[Roxy66]

54. I'm 39 and scared as well.

Think we all feel a little unsettled. We will be fine though, it will take some time to sraighten this mess. I know I will have some rough times ahead, but I know there are good things to look forward to.

[Booster]

55. I'm 62 and I, too, am afraid of what is about to happen. I have

never seen our country in such shambles, and half of it caused by the fact we (not us, of course) elected a president who certainly has proven that he is no "compassionate" conservative; not even a conservative of any kind. I can't shake the feeling that the Bushco is doing their very best to ruin the entire country and bring all of to our knees, but I can't wrap my mind around why. The greed I understand, and I know they want power, but we are just about as powerless as we have ever been in the history of our country. I just hope the lesson of voting for the most incompetent, arrogant, unintelligent asshole in the entire world is not lost on this nation. Hang in there, deadparrot, cause somehow we are going to get through this and, hopefully, be a better nation for it. We really do need to join the rest of the world in trying to not consume more than we need - we just have to.

[Catchawave]

57. When I was 18, this was an inspiring song:

Words-adapted from the bible, book of ecclesiastes
Music-pete seeger

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/byrds,-the/26419.html

[Gregorian]

64. Wow. Those were the days.

I remember am radio. In my fort in the backyard. That brings us back a ways.

Hot town summer in the city. Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty.

[wli]

98. Job 4:13-14

In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

[novak goes postal]

58. we are all afraid

We know that the real terrorist is The former Texas governor... He is responsible for all the disasters of the past 5 years. He is pure evil and you have a great deal to fear....

[Gregorian]

59. There's nothing to fear but fear itself.

We're in one of those low spikes on the graph of life.

Think about what it's like to be living in Iraq. That puts it in perspective. They're nightmare is essentially permanent. I don't mean to trivialize the fear and suffering any given one person may be going through. That is absolutely real for them.

But if we can share, be sympathetic, and care for each other, then we never need to be affraid. We have each other. Or at least that is what we here subscribe to.

By the way, you're one cool kid.

[seabeyond]

60. a lot of i am afraids. i understand. yet, exactly the nation bushco

wants us to be. i am not afraid. sheehan wasnt afraid and she sat in middle of texas say liar bush, practically by herself at the beginning, surrounded by red texans, lol.

get active. wont be anytime for fear. wont be necessary either

[Liberal In Texas]

62. Don't get scared. Get MAD! You should be MAD as HELL!

Get these SOB's out of our government. Protest. Get to the streets.

This is NONSENSE!

The youth of our country are our future. You are you're own future. Organize and revolt.

Otherwise you will live with this for the rest of your life.

[Pachamama]

116. I'm with you Libintexas! I'm not scared - I'm freakin pissed! Our fellow

citizens are dead and floating in the bayou and streets of New Orleans, there are over a million new homeless and displaced people, there are people hungry and thirsty and where is their help from our government (and I don't mean the pitiful attempts we have been hearing about). Our economy was already in shambles (being propped up by falsities and a false sense of paper wealth based on home values etc.), our trade deficit and budget deficit are enormous and frightening, we have an out of control quagmire of an illegal war raging in Iraq with no end in sight as our kids and the Iraqis die, now gas prices are going to go through the roof affecting everything from food etc. across the board, our civil liberties are being eroded by the day, etc. etc. The list just doesn't stop...and then you look at the piece of crap Neo-cons that are making this mess...

No, I'm not scared...I am freakin pissed....And its about time that more people got pissed and not scared....

:grr:

[jokerman93]

63. Hey DeadParrot

Know what ya mean. I feel like a shadow's fallen over our country. But I agree with still_one who posted above. We're going to get through this one like we have before - we know how to do that. I think the ones who understand we're all in this together will do ok. Americans need to remember to start asking how we can help the other guy. I believe we can navigate the testy times we're going into by remembering that cooperation is the basis of a thriving civil society - tha old "I got mine" competitive model has failed miserably. Some will get it, some won't.

Just my own take on it.

J

P.S. You a Monty Python fan? :-)

[deadparrot]

68. Most definitely.

:D

[gumby]

65. What you are seeing is "fascism," USA style.

Fascism is never the same because it always molds itself to the myths and conditions of the specific time, place and country that it is engulfing.

Fascism always creates death, destruction and desolation.

In the past, fascism has only been stopped by outside forces.

Since fascism is never the same, maybe "we" can stop it internally this time. However, one thing seems certain; the end of a fascist regime is very traumatic. That's what we face. It's very unfortunate.

[LiberalMandrake]

66. But you knew that computers tell what they were programmed to do, right?

But you knew that computers tell what they were programmed to do, right?

Diebold machines were programmed to tell us that Bush won.
People accepted to give up their freedom without revolting.
They sealed their destiny.

[really annoyed]

67. I Understand

I have this empty feeling everyday.

I'm only 23 - I never thought I would see anything like this in my lifetime!

This one statement in your post rings true:

"But for the past few days, it seems like the world as I've known it has been knocked off its axis."

[dweller]

69. I'm fifty-

one. . . (yeah, that's hard to wrap my brain around.)

but in all honesty deadparrot, just reading your post gives me a bit more inspiration that as long as the youth (youse guys) are having serious doubts, then all hope is not lost.

thank you for being aware, and talk to your peers, let them know this is one time we are all working together to make some sense of the madness.

it may get worse. actually, you might ought to keep in mind that it will get worse first, before it gets better.

"Courage has never been known to be a matter of muscle; it is a matter of the heart. The toughest
muscle has been known to tremble before an imaginary fear. It was the heart that set the muscle
atrembling."
http://www.mahatma.org.in/quotes/quotes.jsp?link=qt

peace,
dp

[DanCa]

70. It never hurts to turn off the tv for a day or so.

That is not a knock on you but I had to do it after o4. I can't watch the flooding for the very reasons you have. Maybe nows a good time to modify the media content do something physical and read a book. I hope that doesn't sound arrogant or condescending. Just trying to help my pal.

[deadparrot]

71. I really haven't watched cable news since the elections,

save for the occasional documentary, etc. Anything I've heard about has been via DU or the NYT, my two major sources of news.

But thanks. Turning off the TV does help immensely. :hi:

[DanCa]

79. Well i was just worried about :D

I hope your feeling better now.
Here's a joke for you. Why is Ann Coulter like a pizza? Because she's flat and cheesy and when she finally comes she's usually cold and unfullfilling.

[deadparrot]

80. *snarf*

Thanks for that. ;)

[Liberal In Texas]

90. No. I read like a fiend. My wife does as well. We don't watch much TV

or have cable, but one must know about what's going on in the world.

We use the internet...BBC, et al.

You can't put your head in the sand and pretend it does not exist. You are right that you can't watch the cable coverage 24/7...but it is happening and no matter what you think, it's still going to be there.

PLUS, the cable coverage is sensationalized. I know FOX does (cause I worked for them) and I'm sure CNN and NBC etc. do too.

This is a horrific happening, not much different than 911, and we are compelled to watch. Is it depressing? Duh, yep. Should we watch or gather information? Yep. 24/7 indulgence? I think that's counter-productive.

When you can't do anything about it, is probably an unhealthy diet.

[DanCa]

112. It's all in moderation

I agree with you about the moderation part. I mean even god rested on the seventh day. :D)

[ClayZ]

72. Gibran comforts me

On Joy & Sorrow

Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow."

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

http://www.columbia.edu/~gm84/gibtable.html

[Liberal In Texas]

108. Just a guess....Rod McKuen as well. Age about 50?

Listen to the Warm....

[ClayZ]

114. Ahhhhhh! "Listen The Warm" Thanks for re-mind-ing me.

and....Stanyan Street and Other Sorrows!

And Richard Brautigan's Trout Fishing in America, The Pill versus The Springhill Mine Disaster, and In Watermelon Sugar

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0395500761.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Yep, those are some of the books I read when I was 18.
My birthday is 4/22/50

Earth Day now.

Good day for a potter's birthday!

[struggle4progress]

73. Do something -- action is an antidote to fear. eom

[Arugula Latte]

74. I'm almost 40 -- my present was to be a trip to New Orleans.

I've always wanted to go there. I won't be seeing it any time soon, it seems. Boo hoo, I know. That's just one insignificant fact in the face of billions of facts too terrible to comprehend right now.

I mention it because it is one small illustration of how "the best laid plans" and all that. We can't take things for granted. Enjoy what we have, when we have it. That's one lesson.

When I was 18 I was afraid Reagan was going to nuke us all to smithereens. But, I've never felt such an ominous foreboding in the air as I do now.

[Lorien]

110. 40 here, and I agree completely

Reagan terrified us all, but I never felt like I was standing on the brink of an abyss before now.

[Tracyjo]

113. Oh sheesh...

I felt the same way with Reagan. I can remember watching the movie "Testament" and curling up in bed and worrying myself sick over the thought of nuclear Armageddon. It's a whole new world now. bush scares me about everything, because I know whatever happens, he'll be sure to screw it up. I'm surprised we're all still here after five years with that nut bag in office.

[expatriate]

76. I'm scared too - I'm 45

I've seen the Kennedy assassination, Vietnam, many hurricanes and natural disasters, personal tragedies, friends and family dying in the WTC. Many of these things gave that feeling of the world being forever changed - but this has me terribly shaken. It might be because I am from the New Orleans area and know the city like the back of my hand - but I fear the repercussions of this will be felt painfully by America.

I now live in another country. I am seriously thinking about getting my mother out of the US, at least on an extended visit. On a tourist visa, she could stay with me for a year. She's elderly, in fragile health, and lives in the North. Her bill for oil heat last year was $3000! How will she ever, ever pay for this year? You know those fucking buzzards at the oil companies are just licking their chops.

[wtmusic]

77. And it may get a lot worse

If you've never given any thought to preparing for survival, now would probably be a good time.

Survival as in: how can I defend myself if my government can't; how can I feed myself and my family when all the stores are closed.

[RedCappedBandit]

78. I'm 18 and scared too!

I agree with.. everything you said.

Went out to get gas tonight, first place I went to was out! Gas prices are up to 3.75 .. This is on long island

[ClayZ]

115. Hoping this is the darkness before the dawn.

We need some GREAT changes!

Be the change you want to see!

[dethl]

81. I'm 20...

Ditto on everything you just said!

[darkism]

85. I'm 21

And I feel something in the air that I've never felt before.

People are PISSED that "President" Nero** killed 1900 of their sons and daughters only to create another Iran.

People are PISSED that he subverted democracy twice to cheat his way to the highest office in the land.

People are PISSED that his inaction and funding cuts have crippled one of the most lively cities in the country.

People are PISSED that him and his oil baron buddies are laughing all the way to the bank while the common man pays record prices for fuel.
(Keep in mind that Nero** criticized Clinton back in 2000 for $1.70)

People are PISSED. REALLY pissed. They may not be saying it, but they are.

[ComerPerro]

86. Summed it up pretty well. I think the change in atmosphere

is because many people didn't realize that we were a nation without any kind of leadershp at all.

I'm not suprised by Bush's incompetence and general apathy. But a lot of people are just waking up to it. And they realize we are without a leader.

So they panic.

What you are seeing is the result.

[1democracy]

87. Don't let fear paralyze you...

the unknown is always scary. But the reality is that all of life is unknown. The next minute , I could die, you could...we don't know. We have created a society where everyone pretends things as they presently exist will go on forever... I will never get old and infirm, my spouse will always love me (I hope so!, we even hide the old folks away in nursing homes so they don't remind us of our fate-- but that is not the nature of existence, even if Botox or plastic surgery make me look young... my body will age. In the world at large, catastrophes happen-- either natural or manmade, but we don't think about it. It is the nature of the human mind to smooth things out, adapt. But the unknown, the insecurity is your friend.. it can lead you to explore who you are, the meaning of your life, because insecurity strips away everything you always thought you'd "have" and asks, who are you now? What kind of person are you now? (See book:The Wisdom of Insecurity, A.Watts)
Courage is the ability to act in spite of fear. You have that ability, we all do, of being true heroes. It is what makes us human in the best sense of the word.
Throughout our lives, we should be deepening ourselves, gaining strength and wisdom (not entertaining ourselves 100% of the time) if all goes well simply to face our death at a ripe old age. If circumstances occur, you may have to use that inner strength to meet the challenge that life presents to you. With great trial comes great opportunity.

[ramapodem]

88. I am 21

and I am very optimistic. Not matter what is happening in the world right now I still feel people are good. When confronted with a challenge we eventually do the right thing. Hang in there it is people like us who will eventually lead this nation and the world.

[lostinacause]

91. If it makes you feel any better gas prices could go down in a few

weeks after they see what the damage is.

[babyk]

94. you all go hide under the covers

when I was at Camp Casey, I didn't hear one person say they were afraid.

[deadparrot]

96. Not so much scared...

that wording was probably a little off. I'm not hiding under my bed. Far from it.

It's the fact that I've never seen or felt anything like this in my lifetime. It's bizarre, and it's all happening so fast. It's a combination of whiplash, uncertainty, anger, sadness...all coming together into one very uncomfortable feeling.

[LordBinkyTheBuffoon]

99. Who's hiding?

Sorry, I don't really understand what you mean. Who here is hiding? Who's to say we do not do anything?

[mb7588a]

97. Great disturbance in the force

Really, it's true though. You CAN feel it.

[lala_rawraw]

100. Hang in there kiddo... we are in this together

For better or worse. I had a friend of mine phone today and say "promise me that the special prosecutor will files charges against all of them" as though I could promise that or anything else. Yes, life is uncertain, but this is not uncertainty you are feeling. What you are feeling is certainty that the government of this nation is corrupt and the mainstream media is negligent. For an 18 year old, instead of hanging out at the beach, you are paying attention. Your focus and your ability to clearly see the wrong of so much will be a good support for you, you will be okay:)

The tide is turning, it has turned really. Consider that only 6 months back many Republicans still thought this leadership, well, leadership. The majority of people do not approve of this President or his policies. Those who are left supporting a child king are fall into a few easy to identify categories:

1). Uber Rich
2) Uber corrupt
3). 1 + 2
4). Paid operatives (freepers, Fox whores, etc.)
5). Taliban Christians (Dobson, Robertson, Falwell and their idiotic flock)
6). Racists / White power folk

Sometimes you can mix and match these, but you will rarely find #1 cavorting with #5. You will, however, find that #1 are usually either cavorting with or are themselves #2, 4, and #6.

So those who are left are those who none of us would spend any time with or if we did, it may be #1, if that person happened to be solid. The rest, let them eat each other as such monsters always end up doing in the end. We need not worry about them.

Oil prices are being manipulated, Federal price gouging you see. That is fine, go to Citgo if you can, if not ride your bike, you are young. Boycott the oil companies because it is largely their "special interest" that has funded and nurtured this cancer on our nation.

Another idea is to organize a local resource sharing program, buying only from indie owners/small biz as well as using your own skills to barter with. If you can fix a fence for an elderly women with a garden, she can pay you back from her garden with veggies and fruit.

The Bush/Cheney Crime syndicate wants this level of poor because poor people, having few alternatives, will join the military. See, no draft needed, just poverty.

Keep your chin up and get your friends to help you organize resource sharing ideas locally. This is not about an oil shortage, but they want you to think that it is. This is class warfare and imperialistic war-mongering.

[Cats Against Frist]

101. I'm 30

and I have a four-year-old son. I feel the weirdness, as well. I'm not so much scared as curious, though. As a postmodernist, nothing is happening that hasn't been discussed before. I notice a lot of people here are in their 30s -- like me. The neoconservatives are attempting to dislodge our realities -- an aide to Bush admitted, such, in an article by Ron Suskind of the NYT. You know the quote, "we're history's actors."

The things that the right wing are attempting to dislodge, and shift, are things in which we've led our whole lives, believing in: equality in the eyes of the law, equality of the sexes, the social safety net, public institutions, secularism, the idea of the "just society." These things made a lot of progress in the 60s and 70s, and even through Reagan and Bush I, were still a substantial part of our societal fabric.

The right's attempt to undermine these things is shrouded in a call for "less government," while, at the same time, they continue to erode civil liberties, suck up our tax dollars for empire, and impose both religion, conservative social institutions and other random tidbits from their "philosophies of order," upon us. In fact, what they want is a bigger government -- a bigger RIGHT-WING authoritarian government, which is very different from what we've grown up, knowing. Though the American political landscape has always been ever-so-slightly conservative, this is rather extreme. This is what they want.

It doesn't jive, and it's caused lifelong Democrats and socialists, like myself, to become libertarians, libertarian socialists and various kinds of anarchists. What scares you is state power in the hands of people that we don't know, as Americans, who are not accountable to us, as a populace, and have no regard for either history or our peoples. They are ideologues, and elitists, and they have a large population of rather ignorant and hateful people on their bandwagon of "noble lies."

It is a very distressing situation, indeed -- and who knows what will happen. I don't know if the tide is turning, or that people will be waking up from a long sleep. We can only hope.

[deadparrot]

105. You're right...as I posted above, "scared" was a bad word.

I'm uncertain about the future, which is always a little scary, but I'm not under the covers sucking my thumb or anything.

The current situation just feels so bizarre. I've always felt like *some* aspect of society was anchored, but now it just feels like we're floating in every aspect of out lives. It's a strange and new feeling to me.

That's all. :)

[verdalaven]

102. I'm with you,

I am 42 and every time I read another dire forecast by an expert economist that predicts that our economy is about to fall to pieces, my stomach just knots right up. I feel a sense of impending doom, like it is going to happen suddenly, overnight and we'll lose our jobs and house and end up living in "bushvilles". For me, just trying to take it one day at a time helps. When the bad stuff comes, it comes. Sometimes there isn't a lot we can do about it.

I do find some comfort in fantasizing about * being convicted of crimes against humanity. I know it will never happen, but it gives me warm fuzzies anyway. :)

It really will be okay.

[wli]

103. I am fucking terrified

I know this kind of chaos will kill me. On the one hand I don't have to suffer through the aftermath, but I am still afraid of dying.

[NVMojo]

104. finally, the gods are really angry....

[1democracy]

109. We are the world...

what we see is what we humans have become. We've made/allowed/ the world to be as it is in this moment. To change it, we must change.
We have created the Gods in our own image, all the while being born of mother earth and raping and pillaging her... and our own selves.

[TexasProgressive]

117. 45.

And I'm scared, too.

(You wouldn't believe how quickly time passes. I swear.)

You are wise beyond your years. At 18 you have already figured out how fragile we all are. That's a gift. With that awareness, you have changed. With your heart and intelligence and youth and passion, you can make such a difference in the world.

Don't give up. Look at history. Whole cities and nations of people have rebuilt from unspeakable pain and suffering and loss.

I'm proud of you. Work through the fear.

[dchill]

118. I'm scared, too. but even more angry...

than scared. On the bright side, it looks like these evil toads are doing to themselves what couldn't be done TO them. Sort of like the golden rule turned inside out.

[farmboxer]

119. Bush is the worst president in America's history

by far! I would rather have Alfred E. Newman, at least he is not cruel!

[Alamom]

123. Being Afraid is OK,

It's not pleasant, it's very hard, but it's normal. I grew up afraid all the time. I was in school from 1959-1970.

The Cold War, to a kid who understood two major players had Nuclear Weapons was scary. The Viet Nam War to a teen who saw friends being drafted/killed and watching the news everyday was scary.

Riots, Protests, JFK assassinated, Bobbie killed, MLK killed, corrupt government and it goes on & on. It seemed the whole world was crazy and out of control......

We made it and life got better because change came from all of this chaos. People your age, people of all ages made these changes by not accepting the way things were and letting the government know.

I came out of this "childhood" not afraid anymore and knowing, People can change the world.

I'm 52 and I don't intend to give up. Too many good people have given their lives in more ways than "one" to make America better.

We can do it again.

[Swamp Rat]

124. .

:hug:

[Borgnine]

126. It's going to end up all right.

This country's flirtation with fascism is coming to an end. This is the beginning of the mass awakening. It actually started with the continued deaths in Iraq, rising gas prices, then Cindy Sheehan, and now the NOLA disaster.

I know DU isn't exactly the most optimistic place, but some of us have hope. The tide is turning against Bush. The mass apathy is coming to an end. The neocons have played their hand, and it's time for us to take our country back.

[ScreamingMeemie]

130. This is the post I was looking for.

:toast: You are absolutely right.

[H2O Man]

134. I agree.

Bush says we will be stronger because of this. That's obscene. We may become stronger despite this. A first step is the public recognizing that Bush & Co lack the moral and intellectual capacity to lead this nation.

We shall overcome.

[Vinca]

131. Every so often there's a revolution of sorts and we have to hope

this is the beginning of the end of a very bad era and the start of better things to come. I have to admit though, in all my 56 years on the planet I've never seen such a convergence of bad things. No wonder you're scared, but don't lose hope. Together we can make a difference. It's worked in the past and it will work now. Failure is not an option.

[lectrobyte]

133. I'm a lot older than 18, and I'm not feeling much better. We made it

through the gas shocks and Republican bullshit of the '70s somewhat unscathed, but I think this is way different. I'd sure sleep somewhat easier knowing that we had someone with the brains and heart of Jimmy Carter plotting the course right now.

[DaDeacon]

135. Have not a spirit of fear!

We must be brave! This is not the time to loose heart. You all come to this board as friends of America, not just a friend of the place but the idea. We must be willing to fight. I have noticed a great deal of Despair but I must remember as do you the fall is only there to remind us to get back up. Nothing is new under the sun, in hindsight the past is always brighter than the future because we have all over come it. Take a deep breath and say to your self these words "I am an American" say it again and believe that other are saying with you, say it for the good this land and it's people can be and take heart . Remember how people must have felt in 1812 as our capital burned or at the outbreak of the Civil war or the bombing of Pearl Harbor. At 18 dude you will one day look back on this remember your fav. song name before the name of the storm the flooded New Orleans.