I was right there with you last year as well as in 2016. Since family has always been on the other side, I was on the phone with my good friend at midnight in 2016. We couldn’t believe it. And, since we had heard over the years of DJT’s shenanigans, we immediately surmised that he had somehow cheated. Another text came from another friend. We felt this was the worst thing that could happen. And, this one friend died before seeing our horrors.
In stead of no kings we need impeach the Idiot President. If we can get 7 million protesters every quarter maybe Congress and the Supreme Court will get the message. We will have our country back.
That night a year ago wasn’t just political grief; it was cellular. It was the body remembering every betrayal we’ve ever been told to swallow quietly. The kind that starts in the throat and ends in the marrow. I screamed too. Not because I thought democracy was gone, but because I knew we were about to find out how many people would pretend not to see it leave.
But here’s what grief does when it’s metabolized by courage: it becomes strategy. It becomes organization, translation, and coordination. We went from crying in our kitchens to flooding the streets, from despair to design.
What you’ve captured isn’t just an echo. It’s the resonance of a nation rediscovering its own power frequency, one refusal at a time. The fascists built their empire on apathy, and we’ve made apathy obsolete.
Now, a year later, the roar is coordinated. It votes, it feeds, it marches, it plans. And it’s not done. Because we finally remembered, democracy doesn’t live in marble halls. It lives in the lungs of the people willing to keep breathing it back to life.
I am an Irish Canadian senior. I am here because I felt sick when Donald Trump first became a candidate. I had lots on the go and I tried not to think about him or our mighty southern neighbour. We have all the same ideological and structural issues here in St. John’s, NL and I tried to focus locally.
However in June 2022 when SCOTUS overturned Roe versus Wade, I panicked and searched for answers. I found Professor Heather Cox Richardson’s work then. Now I am reading two books. Dangerous Memory by Charlie Angus and Democracy Awakening by Professor Heather Cox Richardson. I highly recommend both leaders and books to Canadians, Americans and all English speakers.
I agree and voted that Kamala would have made a great President. But, there is a certain base that are terrified of women and so entitled they can't get a grip.
It’s probably more right than not but still feels like a straw argument. Most likely people sick and tired of women’s movements (can’t say I don’t know the feeling), and I have to imagine that would have been even worse last year than the first time.
Just personal opinion, but Kamala was fully qualified (more so than any other Presidential Candidate in U.S. history).
I believe that this country of misogynistic people wouldn't give her the opportunity because she is female.
Yet, while many claim still that she couldn't put two words together to form a sentence and that she didn't have any policies, yet claim that trumPutiNyahu could speak well and they loved his policies... wrong... he (out of his own mouth) said that he didn't have any policies, but had "concepts of a plan", and he was the one who who had the jumbled~up, often run~on and incoherent ramblings... aka "word salad"... And, he stated, "I don't care about you, I just want your vote."
So, they voted for him...
Please understand, I am not arguing with you, just making valid points.
People wanted more than just a generic Democrat, which is all Harris was sold as. She could make a great nostalgic candidate in 2028 for all the same reasons she lost last year, although there’s no way that someone like Buttigieg won’t make her path to the nomination hard.
Donald Trump is way less popular than he wants you to believe.
And you are significantly more powerful than he wants you to think.
I was right there with you last year as well as in 2016. Since family has always been on the other side, I was on the phone with my good friend at midnight in 2016. We couldn’t believe it. And, since we had heard over the years of DJT’s shenanigans, we immediately surmised that he had somehow cheated. Another text came from another friend. We felt this was the worst thing that could happen. And, this one friend died before seeing our horrors.
In stead of no kings we need impeach the Idiot President. If we can get 7 million protesters every quarter maybe Congress and the Supreme Court will get the message. We will have our country back.
Well said.
That night a year ago wasn’t just political grief; it was cellular. It was the body remembering every betrayal we’ve ever been told to swallow quietly. The kind that starts in the throat and ends in the marrow. I screamed too. Not because I thought democracy was gone, but because I knew we were about to find out how many people would pretend not to see it leave.
But here’s what grief does when it’s metabolized by courage: it becomes strategy. It becomes organization, translation, and coordination. We went from crying in our kitchens to flooding the streets, from despair to design.
What you’ve captured isn’t just an echo. It’s the resonance of a nation rediscovering its own power frequency, one refusal at a time. The fascists built their empire on apathy, and we’ve made apathy obsolete.
Now, a year later, the roar is coordinated. It votes, it feeds, it marches, it plans. And it’s not done. Because we finally remembered, democracy doesn’t live in marble halls. It lives in the lungs of the people willing to keep breathing it back to life.
Very well said.
I dunno, a Republican winning the popular vote and having everything go to hell for them was my childhood. Knew full well it was a possibility.
I applaud the victories of Democrats...
However, I remain cautiously guarded...
What we need now is a super~strong LEADER to emerge fir the People from the current rubble.
A Leader who has a strong message to the People on American soil of every race, color, religion, any and all genders, young and old.
A Leader who has a clear, definitive plan and Policy.
A Leader who has the backbone.
A Leader who knows how to lead this nation to recovery from the damages done.
A Leader who will follow through with a way to prevent this kind of thing from ever happening again.
A Leader who knows how to govern of the People, for the People, by the People.
Dear Friends,
I am an Irish Canadian senior. I am here because I felt sick when Donald Trump first became a candidate. I had lots on the go and I tried not to think about him or our mighty southern neighbour. We have all the same ideological and structural issues here in St. John’s, NL and I tried to focus locally.
However in June 2022 when SCOTUS overturned Roe versus Wade, I panicked and searched for answers. I found Professor Heather Cox Richardson’s work then. Now I am reading two books. Dangerous Memory by Charlie Angus and Democracy Awakening by Professor Heather Cox Richardson. I highly recommend both leaders and books to Canadians, Americans and all English speakers.
Thank you, Frances.
I agree and voted that Kamala would have made a great President. But, there is a certain base that are terrified of women and so entitled they can't get a grip.
It’s probably more right than not but still feels like a straw argument. Most likely people sick and tired of women’s movements (can’t say I don’t know the feeling), and I have to imagine that would have been even worse last year than the first time.
I am seeing several leaders i would be proud to support. That wasn't so.
Just personal opinion, but Kamala was fully qualified (more so than any other Presidential Candidate in U.S. history).
I believe that this country of misogynistic people wouldn't give her the opportunity because she is female.
Yet, while many claim still that she couldn't put two words together to form a sentence and that she didn't have any policies, yet claim that trumPutiNyahu could speak well and they loved his policies... wrong... he (out of his own mouth) said that he didn't have any policies, but had "concepts of a plan", and he was the one who who had the jumbled~up, often run~on and incoherent ramblings... aka "word salad"... And, he stated, "I don't care about you, I just want your vote."
So, they voted for him...
Please understand, I am not arguing with you, just making valid points.
Lance, just for the record, I truly believe Kamala would have been an excellent POTUS.
People wanted more than just a generic Democrat, which is all Harris was sold as. She could make a great nostalgic candidate in 2028 for all the same reasons she lost last year, although there’s no way that someone like Buttigieg won’t make her path to the nomination hard.
As do I, Brother, as do I... if only so many hadn't been so gullible, if so many hadn't been so blind.
My sentiments exactly
Well written, Brother!
We here in the Trottier household yelled as well... yet prior to the so~called election, we had already started to take action and get involved.
Too little, too late...
But, we kept at it (took a break to bury her Dad, than mine, and then our little kitty).
We are still at it.
Keep it up my friend!
Well written Erik. Energy and optimism abound!
That election gave me some renewed strength