I hesitate to comment upon "the incident" before more is known but one thing is evident from some of the reactions to it. The are many people in this country who have listened to the non-stop demonization of Trump for the last 8+ years and believed every word without asking themselves WHY the man is likened to Hitler or worse. Was the lawfare waged against Trump something that anyone would wish to go through themselves? Even Liberals can see the danger of a Department Of Justice and an Executive branch working hand-in-hand to subvert the protections granted us by our Constitution. The MSM sows the wind at its peril and I will not be surprised when the whirlwind blows all of it away.
As always- thought provoking and beautifully written. I've supported Trump from the beginning. Yes, there were and still are a lot of things I don't like about him. When do you ever have a candidate that we 100% agree with? What has always appealed to me was that he was not a candidate chosen by either party's political "elite". Sure, he ran as an R, but that was despite the R establishment not because of it.
I've a couple older (like me) good female friends. Women who are fiercely intelligent, kind, funny, generous, and an asset to my life. However, they all have often expressed an utter loathing of Trump and a low-level contempt for anyone who would vote for him. When political discussions have occurred, I've remained mostly silent, occasionally agreeing when I too disagreed with one of Trump's less than stellar actions and correcting when something was flat out wrong (Ivermectin being only for horses, Fine People, etc.). It’s odd that they’ve never picked up on the fact that I don’t join in on the” Trump is literally a threat to democracy” talk. I think it’s because they’ve convinced themselves that there is no way that someone they respect and love could be one of those “Trump” people.
Ultimately, it’s my fault. I’ve never been one to care about how a friend votes. I tend to see both sides (the good and bad) of both parties, so I understand how there are differing viewpoints. We don’t often talk about politics, so it has been easy to just glide along and remain in the closet. Yet, my silence enabled them to continue to hold the view that I’m the most generous and intelligent person they’ve known (THEIR words, not mine😉) while still uncritically painting Trump as a monster and people who vote for him as ignorant hicks. Again, my fault for not speaking up.
Well, after seeing Trump being brave enough to stand up and reassure those around him seconds after being shot, that ended. In fact, last night when one of the friends made the statement, “Trump will use this to be a martyr” I said that I think what he did showed incredible leadership and bravery. She was somewhat taken aback, and we moved on in the conversation.
A baby step for me, but an important one. Next time a conversation turns around to politics, I plan to firmly announce that I am voting for him. We’ll see what happens. I doubt I will change their minds about Trump, nor do I really think I need to try. I just need to be authentic and brave enough to be who I am. If they are truly the friends that I think they are, they’ll agree to disagree and still love me. I think they will. I hope they will. If not, what have I really lost but an illusion of friendship?
Karen Hellman - we are living similar experiences! Although, I'm a few steps ahead of you... I've told friends that I supported Trump in 2020 & plan to again this year. Didn't go over well, to say the least. For some reason, I am the one at fault, people "like me" are the problem (similar to c*vid...the anti-vaxxers like me were the problem!). I am not allowed to have a differing opinion in their minds, but they don't really know what to do with that. I'm just as smart, independent, kind, funny and compassionate as they are. So, what is "WRONG" with me? I point out that I don't take issue with who they vote for - never have, never will. That also throws them off balance. But, I hope that it has planted a seed in their minds to, at the very minimum, be more open, accepting and understanding. Something the world could use a lot more of these days.
For some reason my "like" button does not work. Like, like, like.
I live in Canada and have seen through the TDS ever since the beginning. We have neighbors, ex-US citizens (they gave up their US citizenship - for Canadian!), who have been here since the mid-70s, have never contributed to our economy (yet benefit from our "free" healthcare), staunch socialists who vote "far-left". Pure hatred for Trump - I wish I was a fly on the wall at their house now. Lucky for you they don't vote in the US anymore.
Thank you for this piece Dr Heying! Just as the past several years have revealed people in my life that are no longer aligned with me and my values, the assassination attempt is revealing (sadly) the hatred and anger that people have held for the past 8 years around Trump. I can't quite figure out what to say to someone who has made comments such as "it is a shame the person missed". Really?!? That leaves me speechless. Do none of these people have any common sense, critical thinking skills or compassion for their fellow human beings? The only upside to all of this is the ease in which I can determine who is aligned with me and who is not. And I hold out hope that people will start to realize that what they've been told the past 8 years (maybe, just maybe) isn't the real story.
What boggles my mind is that the disastrous Biden- Trump didn't open their eyes? Sure, some have agreed that he is clearly in the mid/advanced stages of dementia. For all of them, it was a complete shock. Yet, they still don't question their news sources and that perhaps, just perhaps, if those sources lied for Biden, they might be lying about Trump.
Exactly ... the spinning I've heard around this is mind-boggling.
An old high shcool FB friend who has been vocally and savagely anti-Trump, anti-Republican got a lot of traction when she posted how '... the only reason Biden seems a little disorientated is because Trump lied so much and it confused him...'
BTW, am not able to Like your comment ... don't know why, but there's a glitch... Hmmm
The government won't let us stop thinking about politics because its distracting enough and chaotic enough for us to see the underlying game plans. KGB/CIA/ETC Tactics 101.
As for the poetry, I loved the first two (nice choices), but even coffee coated aluminum gets my hackles up 😏
I focused a lot on photography while getting my BFA, and even developed my own color film, which was an odd and detached process for being hands on...
But I found through the years that I cared less and less about any of the technical aspects because they so removed me from the actual experience. Even a sly grab of my smartphone shifts my mindset these days... and as much as I love some of the things I've captured, the sitting with it often feels like it feeds me more in the long run
Back when I was about 20, I became friends with an authentic old cowboy who made the best coffee ever with a percolator (aluminum) on his gas stove that never...I mean NEVER...was cleaned. The cups, somewhere embedded on the cluttered kitchen table top, were wiped clean with a corner of his shirt and plunked down in front of you, coffee poured before you could object.
I hesitate to comment upon "the incident" before more is known but one thing is evident from some of the reactions to it. The are many people in this country who have listened to the non-stop demonization of Trump for the last 8+ years and believed every word without asking themselves WHY the man is likened to Hitler or worse. Was the lawfare waged against Trump something that anyone would wish to go through themselves? Even Liberals can see the danger of a Department Of Justice and an Executive branch working hand-in-hand to subvert the protections granted us by our Constitution. The MSM sows the wind at its peril and I will not be surprised when the whirlwind blows all of it away.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
BTW ... Substack not allowing me to like any comments.
Consider your comment Liked.
Ms. Heying-
As always- thought provoking and beautifully written. I've supported Trump from the beginning. Yes, there were and still are a lot of things I don't like about him. When do you ever have a candidate that we 100% agree with? What has always appealed to me was that he was not a candidate chosen by either party's political "elite". Sure, he ran as an R, but that was despite the R establishment not because of it.
I've a couple older (like me) good female friends. Women who are fiercely intelligent, kind, funny, generous, and an asset to my life. However, they all have often expressed an utter loathing of Trump and a low-level contempt for anyone who would vote for him. When political discussions have occurred, I've remained mostly silent, occasionally agreeing when I too disagreed with one of Trump's less than stellar actions and correcting when something was flat out wrong (Ivermectin being only for horses, Fine People, etc.). It’s odd that they’ve never picked up on the fact that I don’t join in on the” Trump is literally a threat to democracy” talk. I think it’s because they’ve convinced themselves that there is no way that someone they respect and love could be one of those “Trump” people.
Ultimately, it’s my fault. I’ve never been one to care about how a friend votes. I tend to see both sides (the good and bad) of both parties, so I understand how there are differing viewpoints. We don’t often talk about politics, so it has been easy to just glide along and remain in the closet. Yet, my silence enabled them to continue to hold the view that I’m the most generous and intelligent person they’ve known (THEIR words, not mine😉) while still uncritically painting Trump as a monster and people who vote for him as ignorant hicks. Again, my fault for not speaking up.
Well, after seeing Trump being brave enough to stand up and reassure those around him seconds after being shot, that ended. In fact, last night when one of the friends made the statement, “Trump will use this to be a martyr” I said that I think what he did showed incredible leadership and bravery. She was somewhat taken aback, and we moved on in the conversation.
A baby step for me, but an important one. Next time a conversation turns around to politics, I plan to firmly announce that I am voting for him. We’ll see what happens. I doubt I will change their minds about Trump, nor do I really think I need to try. I just need to be authentic and brave enough to be who I am. If they are truly the friends that I think they are, they’ll agree to disagree and still love me. I think they will. I hope they will. If not, what have I really lost but an illusion of friendship?
Karen Hellman - we are living similar experiences! Although, I'm a few steps ahead of you... I've told friends that I supported Trump in 2020 & plan to again this year. Didn't go over well, to say the least. For some reason, I am the one at fault, people "like me" are the problem (similar to c*vid...the anti-vaxxers like me were the problem!). I am not allowed to have a differing opinion in their minds, but they don't really know what to do with that. I'm just as smart, independent, kind, funny and compassionate as they are. So, what is "WRONG" with me? I point out that I don't take issue with who they vote for - never have, never will. That also throws them off balance. But, I hope that it has planted a seed in their minds to, at the very minimum, be more open, accepting and understanding. Something the world could use a lot more of these days.
Well, I did speak up early and often about Covid and they are still my friends, so there's hope. :)
For some reason my "like" button does not work. Like, like, like.
I live in Canada and have seen through the TDS ever since the beginning. We have neighbors, ex-US citizens (they gave up their US citizenship - for Canadian!), who have been here since the mid-70s, have never contributed to our economy (yet benefit from our "free" healthcare), staunch socialists who vote "far-left". Pure hatred for Trump - I wish I was a fly on the wall at their house now. Lucky for you they don't vote in the US anymore.
Ugh.
Thank you for this piece Dr Heying! Just as the past several years have revealed people in my life that are no longer aligned with me and my values, the assassination attempt is revealing (sadly) the hatred and anger that people have held for the past 8 years around Trump. I can't quite figure out what to say to someone who has made comments such as "it is a shame the person missed". Really?!? That leaves me speechless. Do none of these people have any common sense, critical thinking skills or compassion for their fellow human beings? The only upside to all of this is the ease in which I can determine who is aligned with me and who is not. And I hold out hope that people will start to realize that what they've been told the past 8 years (maybe, just maybe) isn't the real story.
What boggles my mind is that the disastrous Biden- Trump didn't open their eyes? Sure, some have agreed that he is clearly in the mid/advanced stages of dementia. For all of them, it was a complete shock. Yet, they still don't question their news sources and that perhaps, just perhaps, if those sources lied for Biden, they might be lying about Trump.
Exactly ... the spinning I've heard around this is mind-boggling.
An old high shcool FB friend who has been vocally and savagely anti-Trump, anti-Republican got a lot of traction when she posted how '... the only reason Biden seems a little disorientated is because Trump lied so much and it confused him...'
BTW, am not able to Like your comment ... don't know why, but there's a glitch... Hmmm
I can't tell you why, but I find this a hopeful and comforting post.
The government won't let us stop thinking about politics because its distracting enough and chaotic enough for us to see the underlying game plans. KGB/CIA/ETC Tactics 101.
As for the poetry, I loved the first two (nice choices), but even coffee coated aluminum gets my hackles up 😏
I focused a lot on photography while getting my BFA, and even developed my own color film, which was an odd and detached process for being hands on...
But I found through the years that I cared less and less about any of the technical aspects because they so removed me from the actual experience. Even a sly grab of my smartphone shifts my mindset these days... and as much as I love some of the things I've captured, the sitting with it often feels like it feeds me more in the long run
"coffee coated aluminum".
Back when I was about 20, I became friends with an authentic old cowboy who made the best coffee ever with a percolator (aluminum) on his gas stove that never...I mean NEVER...was cleaned. The cups, somewhere embedded on the cluttered kitchen table top, were wiped clean with a corner of his shirt and plunked down in front of you, coffee poured before you could object.
Not* see
I returned to read the poems again and the third is my favorite.
Is my hero-mother the scrubbing mother, or the mother who lets the silver hide under the brown (though it takes years to accomplish this) ?
I really liked this piece! :-)
I think the cultural chickens have run face first into Foghorn Leghorn without knowing it.
Heather, thank you for this piece. You and Bret are among the few public truth tellers.
For some reason, I'm not able to Like any of these comments.
But ... you can all basically consider your comments LIKEd.