SEVERAL THINGS. JULY 5, 2024
On the 4th of July, we Americans celebrate our independence, our right to choose our leaders, our religion, our location, our occupation. In my last posts I’ve been writing about my path to becoming a usually-proud Democrat, and the fact I still feel good when I go to vote. The 4th was just here, shouldn’t I be happy? You know, democracy, elections, candidates, my voice heard…voting…
Actually, I did feel good because my friend Tasia and I celebrated our forthcoming books with a healthful holiday mimosa. See end of post.
Well, right now, I’m actually considering whether I’ll vote or not in this next election if Joe Biden does not resign almost immediately. If you’re shocked to read that, you’re probably not nearly as shocked as I am to think it and write it. But, you know, my candidate of choice doesn’t usually win anyway so I’m used to morning-after disappointment…and I truly believe there is not a snowball’s chance in hell that Biden can beat Trump. Facebook keeps feeding me memes with things about ‘sure, Joe’s old and slow and a little goofy, but he’s still not the bad guy.’ True, but, in my mind, he becomes the bad guy if he hangs in there when he’s so obviously failing. I’m older than Joe—and I’m keeping a sharp eye out for all of our failings—Joe’s, mine, and my aging siblings, friends, and children! And Joe may even be suffering more of this old-age stuff than me. Or not. But it’s too much.
Can Gavin, Kamala, Gretchen, whomever, beat Trump? Maybe, maybe not, but if they do they’ll at least be able to fight on through what may be the second toughest four years of this nation’s history. Joe Biden will not be able to do that; we absolutely all know that. So, let’s stop with ‘well, he’s done a good job’—to which I say, kinda, sorta—but he won’t for four more years. Well, they say, ‘he has and will have good people around him.’ And, of course, we know for sure, these good people around him would be capable of gaining back some control of the traditional ‘American’ narrative? (Admittedly, “American” has always been a fraught word if you weren’t white, male, and straight but it did mean something positive every now and then.) No, we don’t know that. Not infrequently, our presidents’ closest advisors have led them down some seriously dangerous garden paths. Iraq. Case rested.
I honestly believe that Joe Biden will be defeated, badly defeated, by Donald Trump this November. I’ll probably vote anyway. No, I won’t. Because why would I vote for a supremely selfish old man. And don’t tell me, if the old man stays in the race, he’s doing it for the country. How many of you truly believe that Joe Biden, or very many other old guys (of any color or creed) in power are capable of relinquishing said power and its accoutrements thoughtfully, unselfishly, gracefully? Look around the world. Pick your continent (except Antarctica). Zero. Well, no. Not zero. Which brings us to the next topic. UK ELECTIONS.
Our sometimes-fine Mother Country voted yesterday. IT WAS A BLOODY SMASHING LABOUR VICTORY. The Brits said okay, you bumbling, wild-eyed and haired crazies (think Boris Johnson) and simpering bumblers (think Liz Truss), and slick but ineffectual millionaires (as in Rishi Sunak), be gone with you. And, would you, my fellow Americans, believe this. The defeated leader of an important country, said, with no recriminatory, whining, threatening language, ‘Okay, you guys won fair and square, good luck and god speed’ or something like that. But then that used to be the norm here too, didn’t it? And how is it something like half this country accepts the fact it no longer is! Sorry, two sentence rant.
I have a suggestion. Let’s say that at some time in your life you’ve been a political junkie and have had to give it up in the midst of 24-hour a day talking-heads TV, lackluster politicians, and the existential threat of a theocratic fascist state proving too stressful (maybe theocratic and fascist together is just a little redundant? Just a little?). But you really can’t quite stifle that latent desire to know who pretends to be running things and who owns those people? May I recommend dropping anything labeled ‘news’ on TV all together (although getting your news from YouTube excerpts of the late shows is not a completely bad idea) and following world politics through the many reputable sources still available in newspapers, newsletters, and magazines. Everything is on line, and the sources and publishers are fairly easily researched for affiliations, credentials, and real-news authenticity. More notes about how I’m doing this in order to keep sane—while occasionally checking in to see whether good old Joe has resigned yet—will follow in a few days.
A somewhat positive South African election just took place—a most interesting one in fact considering the hopeful South Africa of not so very many years ago, brought almost all the way down by Zuma and his nasty Indian and African friends. I’ve referred to South Africa often, but am only now seriously reading on a ‘daily’ basis the Daily Maverick, a voice in South Africa comparable to The Guardian in the UK.
A scary French election coming up Sunday. But more later about all that too. Sorry, but as an ex-political junkie who feels only anxiety and dread for her own country’s future, I must get my fix elsewhere.
Now for the important stuff. I celebrated July 4th with my friend Tasia, an incredible person in many ways, but most impressively to me, a writer who has just completed an important book. I won’t describe the book now except to say it documents, in a personal, journalistic narrative, the history of the women’s movement in its varied forms in New Mexico. Tasia’s in the process of contracting with an interested publisher—so the done deal stage of all that writing is nearly completed.
At the same time, my book is ever-nearer turning into something you, my lucky friends, can hold in your hands. It’s not important to the world at large in the same way Tasia’s book is…however I’m quite fond of the story since it’s all about me!
More about these amazing works of literature later.
Best picture of all. A Joe Sackett work of art. My house in my house. Well, actually on loan from that maker of sometimes strange, kinda magical, and always wonderful sculptures.
This post is surprising, but then again not so. Voting to me is very personal and I will vote for anybody but Trump. I do not wish to live here if he becomes president. I do not wish to live among the dangerously ignorant trumpsters. The implications for me at my age to move are staggering, but I am thinking I should move. The words to “Oh Canada” are not difficult, even in French.