I always say "history isn't something that happens to other people." I believe what we are experiencing now started way back in 1980 with Reagan. The 1980s in San Francisco was a horrible, beautiful time and a period when creativity flourished; perhaps in spite of the horror, perhaps because of it. It's my job as an artist to document my experience and share my feelings in whatever way I can, and, while I'm not looking forward to the upcoming shit show, I'm not looking for an escape route. It is what it is. Anger is a motivator. Write on, sisters!
I was just writing about how Reagan's first term was the beginning of the period that has brought us all here. Greed, cruelty, and selfishness. But yes, great art. I was in NYC not SF but it was all so inspiring. Hopefully we only have 4 years not 12 like that time.
I really relate to this post. This is the first time I am finally seeing anyone (finally) directly comparing what's going on politically to ABUSIVE behavior. Of course there have been many written reports comparing Trumpist behavior to that of a bully/narcissist/liar etc. But I haven't seen anyone compare it so directly to abuse. Thank you for doing that!!!
You're welcome. Unfortunately for people working with people's stories—and of course for people who do therapy and I'm sure other professions—we've been feeling it since 2016.
Love this. Thank you for writing it. I was already in a deeply triggered state for the past few weeks and then the heartbreaking election happened. It actually fueled me. I have been writing a novel on and off for 12 years. I'm usually a fast writer, but this book is dark. It is not a love story! It's about girls and women in America. It's about betrayal. Immediately after the election, I finally finished it. (Can't wait to publish it with SWP).
From adversity comes real change and progress. When times are mediocre and okay, we become comfortable and complacent. For example, being in a committed gay relationship for many years, I was comfortable being domestic partners, unable to get married. I was willing to acquiesce - but then prop 8 came on the ballot and I felt attacked. I became uncomfortable and began to demand better and no longer settle. The next 4 years are going to be hard but in the end I truly believe, IF we stay vigilant and stand up, we will come out better for it all in the end. Your Substack is so important and right on - we must keep writing and speaking up and demanding to be heard and seen.
Yes, sometimes we have to be under threat, or have the scales fall from our eyes, to see these truths. I hear you, sister. It's time to speak up and out. Big time.
In this experience of Grief (first for the devastation of my beloved mountain towns in NC and then the results this week) I was reminded of Kubler Ross...her second book was the Five Stages of Grief. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. Yesterday I was in Anger. I went head to head with some people. Today I feel depressed...yay, almost done! I wrote about the need to allow this process instead of stuffing it, and in doing this, writing is so helpful. Absolutely!
I lost my writing voice the first time. It never came back the same way but I started making comics. Right after the election I filled 2 whole sketchbooks with "Post-Election Angst" drawings. And I continued to make drawings that told stories and educational info in that format ever since. Maybe your creativity will crack open in a new way! Be open.
I'm so glad you wrote and shared these points. Two weeks before the election, I was finishing up the final chapters on a writing workbook for women, a guide to help them (us) restore our voices, reclaim our sovereignty. At the time it appeared that we might elect a woman of color to lead the nation, and I hate to admit it, but I wondered if my workbook would be useful to women. Then, the sky fell. Women voted to return a predator (convicted felon) to office, and I understood just how silenced we remain (as a group). Over half the population and we are still struggling to speak up. Now, I'm revising the introduction to include my shock, grief and... yes, my rage. And I'm issuing an urgent call to my sisters to gather in circles to share their stories about this historical period. Our stories will matter so much more than we can imagine...to our daughters, our granddaughters, and to the evolution of a new way of storying our experiences of silence.
Thank you for this piece, Brooke. It took me a long way through the first term of his to realize one if the biggest impacts I felt was around the mirror of my own abusive and toxic relationships being played out in the national government. Watching trauma bonds and and and play out so big!
Now my friends and I in recovery spaces have been saying it feels like the country got hoovered back in, just like an NPD relationship. I'm trying to take strength in the fact that I see it this time, and maybe my personal triggers around relational abuse won't be operating so subconsciously. This time I see it, and I've got my center core a bit better. I hope, and do believe, that will help me to not lose my voice this time.
I'm all over the place right now. The last time he was elected I stopped watching the news and put my writing down for four years, only to resurface during Covid. I'm in the later stages of memoir revision and the last three months of the election cycle I haven't been able to focus. Now I wonder if I should even bother! I hate that I feel like this.
You're not alone, Doreen. I hope you'll seek out a writing community so that you won't lose another four years. We're out here. And we can do this together.
Thank you Brooke. I know many are feeling like this and the last time I didn't have a writing community to connect to. Also, I'm older now, and feel like I can't waste any more time!
I always say "history isn't something that happens to other people." I believe what we are experiencing now started way back in 1980 with Reagan. The 1980s in San Francisco was a horrible, beautiful time and a period when creativity flourished; perhaps in spite of the horror, perhaps because of it. It's my job as an artist to document my experience and share my feelings in whatever way I can, and, while I'm not looking forward to the upcoming shit show, I'm not looking for an escape route. It is what it is. Anger is a motivator. Write on, sisters!
Yes, Christa. We have to capture these experiences to remember and remind. ❤️
I was just writing about how Reagan's first term was the beginning of the period that has brought us all here. Greed, cruelty, and selfishness. But yes, great art. I was in NYC not SF but it was all so inspiring. Hopefully we only have 4 years not 12 like that time.
Anger is a motivator, so maybe that will get me through.
So true. It all started with Reagan. I wonder how he'd feel upon meeting his child, now an adult?
I really relate to this post. This is the first time I am finally seeing anyone (finally) directly comparing what's going on politically to ABUSIVE behavior. Of course there have been many written reports comparing Trumpist behavior to that of a bully/narcissist/liar etc. But I haven't seen anyone compare it so directly to abuse. Thank you for doing that!!!
You're welcome. Unfortunately for people working with people's stories—and of course for people who do therapy and I'm sure other professions—we've been feeling it since 2016.
Love this. Thank you for writing it. I was already in a deeply triggered state for the past few weeks and then the heartbreaking election happened. It actually fueled me. I have been writing a novel on and off for 12 years. I'm usually a fast writer, but this book is dark. It is not a love story! It's about girls and women in America. It's about betrayal. Immediately after the election, I finally finished it. (Can't wait to publish it with SWP).
I'm not at all surprised to hear that you're fueled. You're a powerhouse, and you're doing the work!!
thank you!
Thank you for naming what's true. I'm so grateful to be able to turn to my writing.
100%
From adversity comes real change and progress. When times are mediocre and okay, we become comfortable and complacent. For example, being in a committed gay relationship for many years, I was comfortable being domestic partners, unable to get married. I was willing to acquiesce - but then prop 8 came on the ballot and I felt attacked. I became uncomfortable and began to demand better and no longer settle. The next 4 years are going to be hard but in the end I truly believe, IF we stay vigilant and stand up, we will come out better for it all in the end. Your Substack is so important and right on - we must keep writing and speaking up and demanding to be heard and seen.
Yes, sometimes we have to be under threat, or have the scales fall from our eyes, to see these truths. I hear you, sister. It's time to speak up and out. Big time.
Thank you for this. I wrote my feelings for a DailyKos article https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/11/7/2283857/-Trump-s-Victory-and-America-s-Reckoning-A-Hard-Truth-About-Our-Original-Sins-and-the-Road-Ahead
Thank you for sharing.
In this experience of Grief (first for the devastation of my beloved mountain towns in NC and then the results this week) I was reminded of Kubler Ross...her second book was the Five Stages of Grief. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. Yesterday I was in Anger. I went head to head with some people. Today I feel depressed...yay, almost done! I wrote about the need to allow this process instead of stuffing it, and in doing this, writing is so helpful. Absolutely!
As soon as I find words, I will write. Wordless, for now.
Tell your stories! It's the only way out. Much love, Kate
I lost my writing voice the first time. It never came back the same way but I started making comics. Right after the election I filled 2 whole sketchbooks with "Post-Election Angst" drawings. And I continued to make drawings that told stories and educational info in that format ever since. Maybe your creativity will crack open in a new way! Be open.
Writing. I've been writing and I just started a book that is well-timed in theme. Writing.
I'm so glad you wrote and shared these points. Two weeks before the election, I was finishing up the final chapters on a writing workbook for women, a guide to help them (us) restore our voices, reclaim our sovereignty. At the time it appeared that we might elect a woman of color to lead the nation, and I hate to admit it, but I wondered if my workbook would be useful to women. Then, the sky fell. Women voted to return a predator (convicted felon) to office, and I understood just how silenced we remain (as a group). Over half the population and we are still struggling to speak up. Now, I'm revising the introduction to include my shock, grief and... yes, my rage. And I'm issuing an urgent call to my sisters to gather in circles to share their stories about this historical period. Our stories will matter so much more than we can imagine...to our daughters, our granddaughters, and to the evolution of a new way of storying our experiences of silence.
Thank you for this piece, Brooke. It took me a long way through the first term of his to realize one if the biggest impacts I felt was around the mirror of my own abusive and toxic relationships being played out in the national government. Watching trauma bonds and and and play out so big!
Now my friends and I in recovery spaces have been saying it feels like the country got hoovered back in, just like an NPD relationship. I'm trying to take strength in the fact that I see it this time, and maybe my personal triggers around relational abuse won't be operating so subconsciously. This time I see it, and I've got my center core a bit better. I hope, and do believe, that will help me to not lose my voice this time.
Thank you again for the piece!
Thank you for this. We must support each other even more now.
I'm all over the place right now. The last time he was elected I stopped watching the news and put my writing down for four years, only to resurface during Covid. I'm in the later stages of memoir revision and the last three months of the election cycle I haven't been able to focus. Now I wonder if I should even bother! I hate that I feel like this.
You're not alone, Doreen. I hope you'll seek out a writing community so that you won't lose another four years. We're out here. And we can do this together.
Thank you Brooke. I know many are feeling like this and the last time I didn't have a writing community to connect to. Also, I'm older now, and feel like I can't waste any more time!
Bullies feed on fear. It makes them feel more powerful. I refuse to give them the pleasure of a feast.