General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt's my 72nd birthday. For the first time I can
remember I woke up profoundly afraid of the future.
Being in lockdown for 6 months probably hasn't helped. But the assault on the USPS has sent me over the edge.
I lived through the red scare and the Commies are everywhere. I saw bomb shelters. I hid under my desk. I had nightmares of bombs falling for years. I wore dog tags.
I walked to school the morning of the Cuban missle crisis wondering if there would be a world to walk home to.
I grieved when the Kennedys were assassinated.
I lived through the violent turmoil of the 60's. The Weather Underground. The Black Panthers. Angela Davis.
I have made it through stock market crashes and recessions that wiped out my savings.
I have never been as disturbed as I am now with this attack against our country from the inside. From American citizens. The dismantling of the USPS sent me over the edge.
I wake up and everything looks the same. The same neighbors, the same stores, the same streets.
But nothing is the same for me.
samnsara
(17,650 posts)...dont have anything or anyway to celebrate. We went on an Alaska cruise for my 60th...I got a tattoo on my 50th. No body else gets to celebrate anything so its a nice way to just let the day go by unnoticed.
N_E_1 for Tennis
(9,788 posts)handmade34
(22,758 posts)we are all in same boat... hang in there with us and try to have a good day!!!!
DonaldsRump
(7,715 posts)Please remember this from Mahatma Gandhi:
Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seem invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always.
Alliepoo
(2,229 posts)Im wishing for you a peaceful day free of worry. We will be OK. Try to enjoy your special day. Do something nice just for yourself even if its something as simple as ordering a book that youd like to read from B&N or some sparkly fairy hair from amazon!! Your DU fam is here to help you keep the faith!!
Rorey
(8,445 posts)Have cake.
(It's a rule.)
N_E_1 for Tennis
(9,788 posts)enough
(13,264 posts)After everything weve seen and experienced over the decades, the blatant overt attack on the Post Office, right before an election in a pandemic, feels ominous in a new way.
Heres to your very happy 73rd birthday next year!
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)I am outraged that one incompetent "man" is allowed to disrupt the post office for his own ends. Many seniors get their SS checks through the mail, people get meds. mailed to them. SOMEONE with a conscience HAS to put a stop to this before it is too late. He thinks he is a KING. What is to to stop him putting Ivanka in the WH in his place, as "heir apparent"?
Maxheader
(4,374 posts)Is too much oversight...I assume my mail in ballot will have a special bar code..or identifying
mark for the scanners to pickup on....Here is how it's done in Hawaii.
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2020/08/05/hawaii-news/how-are-mail-in-ballots-counted/
LiberalLoner
(9,762 posts)And Im younger than you are but every bit as scared.
One thing that gives me comfort is, the military seems to be on the side of the people and not the dictator and that might just save us.
Dave in VA
(2,041 posts)Enjoy!
Grammy23
(5,815 posts)My 72nd is in Nov so you and I have a lot of shared history. Weve been alive long enough to have seen many changes and trends that are disturbing to say the least. My natural inclination is to be optimistic. I have a friend who tells me all the time I am the original happy camper. In this situation we find ourselves in now, I have tried to maintain the attitude (after the initial shock of tRumps election) that Congress would save us. The Courts would save us. The TRUTH would save us. Something would stop the madness.
Alas, Ive come to realize that no one is coming in to rescue us. My husband and I discuss and argue about this nearly every day because he is pessimistic about the situation. His most frequent comment to me is, Its over. You just need to accept it. I usually reply, Are you just giving up?? No fight? No pushback?
So while we agree on what a terrible situation were in, our attitude about the future and any solution is going in opposite directions. I still think we can vote him out and then prosecute him (and everyone who participated in this debacle.) Im already thinking how Ill get my ballot in even if the USPS is dismantled. (Fed Ex, hand delivered, etc) My dear husband is very gloomy about it all and sees no way out.
So it is a terrible time for all of us those who are optimistic and those who are inclined to be pessimistic. I still believe we need to be the change we hope to see. I sincerely hope we can organize and put our best efforts together to defeat this monster and his minions.
Oh, and again....try to have a Happy Birthday! 🎉🎂🎉🥂🎉👏👏👏
Freedomofspeech
(4,228 posts)I of course lived through all the same things as you and I lost a brother to Vietnam. I have never been so terrified and this Post Office thing is surreal. Our lives and those of our children and grandchildren have been robbed from us because of the monsters in this administration.
We have to believe that we will survive this. Do your best to enjoy your birthday and read that Gandhi quote again. Love and peace to you, Fellow Traveler. ❤✌
sinkingfeeling
(51,482 posts)Jane Austin
(9,199 posts)We have lived through all that and more, yet I feel powerless now to really influence things like the post office debacle and foreign interference in our government - and elections.
When I was younger I was very active in local and state politics, but now my health is bad - nothing acute - but I could no more march or go knock on doors than I could fly.
Now that my country needs me, I don't have much to offer.
I can give money, and I do, but I just can't give of myself any more.
And I hope you'll take some big breaths and have a lovely birthday.
I remain hopeful that we will live through this and can build a better life on the other side of this mess.
Croney
(4,671 posts)decluttering. Above all, sweeping the roaches out of the White House. You and I will be instrumental in saving the world. You are a hero! Have a wonderful day! 💥💥💥💥💥💥
malaise
(269,219 posts)Don the murderous Con is going down
mitch96
(13,929 posts)leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)niyad
(113,628 posts)SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)I hope you have a great one!
🎂🍰🎂🍰🎂🍰🎂🍰🎂🍰🎂
FM123
(10,054 posts)Here are some words on encouragement that might help a bit for today:
When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. Harriet Beecher Stowe
leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)I bought a monthly ticket to the car wash. That way if I get really bored or depressed I can drive down to the car wash and go through. Desperate times call for desparate measures.
I need to go to Walmart. That will be good for an hour.
And the weather is great today .
Happy birthday to me.
Siwsan
(26,308 posts)So
panader0
(25,816 posts)I'm only 70! lol
leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)blm
(113,112 posts)Delmette2.0
(4,174 posts)I still have my bracelet with name, address, phone number and blood type. I remember being so scared in those years.
Happy Birthday and may your next birthday be even happier.
The Blue Flower
(5,447 posts)I've never felt such dread since the Cuban missile crisis. I lived in Orlando at the time and remember seeing military aircraft flying overhead and military convoys driving south.
leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)BlueJac
(7,838 posts)I am with you on the feelings of dread, I get upset with Senators and others not standing up for this country! Traitors galore!
littlemissmartypants
(22,839 posts)Many happy returns!
Stay encouraged.
❤ lmsp
niyad
(113,628 posts)CountMyVote4Reality
(209 posts)You are really going to love your 73rd.
oasis
(49,429 posts)behind, laying their eggs.
bobbieinok
(12,858 posts)Or to be a college student
We lived through a lot. But we never had to realize our own president was out to destroy our country. And our family
And the very thought of having children in K-12 today ......! How in God's name do you even begin to protect an feed and care for them
I think those caring for children now are true heroes. I do not know where they find the courage to wake up each day
Freedomofspeech
(4,228 posts)I look at my own children and the tough decisions they have to make about school this year. Plus the grandchildren are missing out on so much because of the education issues. This could all have been avoided if we had a real president.
Magoo48
(4,721 posts)70sEraVet
(3,524 posts)So there's no point in writing to any senators or congressmen. So I wrote to AARP to complain about the problems with the Postal service. May as well use them for something. If they hear from enough people, they'll start lobbying Congress. And Congress will listen to them.
Happy Birthday!
renate
(13,776 posts)Theyre a huge lobby.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)I hear you loud & clear, but please don't let chump ruin your special day!
🎂🍰🎂🍰🎂🍰🎂🍰🎂🍰🎂
Many happier returns!!
💐🌼🌹🌻🌸🌺🌷🌻🌼🌹🌺🌼
radical noodle
(8,015 posts)You expressed my feelings exactly.
DENVERPOPS
(8,862 posts)Never in my 71 years have I ever been near as afraid for our nation, ourselves, our kids, our grandkids, and the generations after that.
This entire horrific mess is absolutely unfathomable. A large number of us have been bitching for forty years about what we saw happening, and doing our best to warn others. I can't believe the number of people that didn't listen then, and still aren't listening now........
IADEMO2004
(5,566 posts)Every nutty goofball can start or find a support group on the internet. Honest verified facts used to be valued.
leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)IADEMO2004
(5,566 posts)Happy Birthday again.
Solly Mack
(90,792 posts)PatrickforO
(14,595 posts)This Harris pick has galvanized the Dems.
Independents are overwhelmingly disgusted with Trump.
The Civil Rights movement has been reborn, and reforms are happening with more in the offing.
Trump's covert racism and sexism is burying him with everyone but the 40 million supporters in his die-hard base.
We're gonna make it through this. Oh, when the Dems come into power, they will have a huge, decades-long mess to clean up, but they will come into power.
We will be OK. You will be OK.
LymphocyteLover
(5,662 posts)colorado_ufo
(5,738 posts)From 73 to 72! Work hard to make it a great year for yourself and for everyone you love!
luvtheGWN
(1,336 posts)who will be celebrating a 72nd birthday in October.
I clearly remember all the things you mentioned -- especially coming home from school and turning on the TV to watch news of the Cuban Missile crisis. That was a REALLY SCARY time.
We were all clearly aware of the Cold War and the threat of a nuclear strike....but we didn't do the "hide under your desks" drill (never could understand why you guys did but maybe it was just psychological, as in "We have to do SOMETHING" .
I've been reading a lot about the USPS. What I understand is that it is included in the Constitution, and that while the President chooses the PostMaster-General, the PMG actually reports to a Board of Governors.
And as part of the Constitution, it cannot be dismantled in favour of private enterprise.
I also understand that the House has asked for an inquiry and called the PMG to testify. They need to schedule that ASAP.
IQ45 pushes the envelope every single day, as in "Ask for forgiveness, not permission". But of course he never asks for forgiveness because it seems no one (but the electorate) has the power to hold him accountable. THIS I do not understand.
At any rate, Happy Birthday again, and celebrate with a stiff drink of your choice!
leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)And mo one seems to know what to do about it.
mnhtnbb
(31,408 posts)I'm not far behind you, turning 70 next spring.
The rest of my life has been, I believe, dramatically changed and yet, as you say, life appears to be the same. My passport is not good. I can't get out thanks to the orange a$$hole and the completely incompetent and bungled response to coronavirus.
At this point I hope to live long enough to cast my ballot during early voting. I don't trust a mail in ballot. It will take years for Joe and Kamala to undo the damage done to the government and the country by this gang of traitors.
I am reminded of the line from the Shawshank Redemption: "Hope is a good thing." We have to hope that Joe and Kamala trounce Trump in November, the House remains Democratic and the Senate turns Democratic. There is a lot to do and right now I want to hope that we can begin to repair the damage with the Executive and Legislative bodies of the Federal government unified.
Fu*k Trump and his gang of traitors. And that includes every single Republican who has supported this lying, bullying, amoral, incompetent, traitorous a$$hole.
Here's to a belated birthday present for you come November: Biden/Harris win!
hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)I think so many of us who read your words feel complete agreement and understanding. Im so sorry for ALL of us right now.
Im in my 60s and I keep telling people that Im SO angry because my future was robbed. Like you, Ive lived through bad times before. But there was always a hope, a glimmer, a chance that things would get better. For me (I dont want to presume to speak for anyone else with this statement...), I am most angry that I wont have the time to live to see things get better. Because its going to take decades. And that makes me incredibly angry.
I know its a shallow sentiment, but Happy Birthday! I hope you can find a few minutes today to indulge in something - ANYTHING - that brings you relief. After all, those moments, literally those minutes, are all any of us have right now.
qwlauren35
(6,150 posts)COVID-19 - I've gotten used to, sort of. Even losing a relative. Sort of.
George Floyd - I'm hopeful, but not hopeful. The event was not surprising.
But this post office thing... for some reason, it's just tipping me over.
leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)I raised $140 for the old dog sanctuary.
I love old dogs.
Totally Tunsie
(10,885 posts)I share your life history, and understand. tRump has changed the world for all of us. How can one person do so much damage (and get away with it)?
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Better to be sick with fear than clueless and enabling.
Here's hoping our generations awake and rescue ourselves, just as those in the 1930s did after they brought themselves to grave danger. And that most of your year turns out to be one of the best ever.
tblue37
(65,502 posts)alittlelark
(18,890 posts)When I awake each morning I feel Brilliant !!!!
Then I have to download info.
tRump is President of the US ??!!?
Is this a dream?
No, it is not a dream.
I log on to DU within 1-25 mins of waking
The rest of my day is scarred by the knowledge that 'tRump' is in our leaders office - he is defiling it with every breath. I feel sick.
Sometimes I puke a little in my mouth.......
Response to leftyladyfrommo (Original post)
geralmar This message was self-deleted by its author.
leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)somehow I made it through another year.