How eloquently said! Although I am not an American and some might say a world away in Australia, I applaud you for continuing to fight against the insanity that is happening in America right now! All I can say is that there are many of us watching on as this insanity takes place who share your thoughts and feelings, and I sincerely hope that there is enough good in this world to overcome the horror that is Trump.
Wishing you all the very best in such a chaotic and terrifying time. X
Sending love and solidarity from Dunedin NZ. Don't stop speaking truth. Your honesty, strength and badassness inspire and motivate me to keep trying to do my part.
What a wonderful message, thank you Liz! I can't believe it's been a year since I was in Dunedin. There is power in the collective and I'm so damn grateful for all those fighting for justice and equity. Much love from Colorado!
I think being sucked into political happenings, whether left or right, is a distraction for the most part. It helps us focus our anxiety "out there" instead of at what's really making us anxious. Usually our anxiety is about avoiding big decisions; what we really want to do with our life, job, leaving a relationship. Or, about being able to be ourselves and say what we want to say (which we shoved down for so long we don't even know what that is) to the people most important to us psychologically; parents, authority, spouse, friends, etc. The latter is the usual culprit for us all.
Hi Japples, thanks for your comment. I think health has always been political, no matter who is in office. And there are always consequences to being ourselves and saying what we want to say, good and bad. I'm an advocate, so what I do is always going to be within the realm of policy and politics, so it's not just a distraction for me. I also know real people affected by the decisions being made by this administration via an unelected, unvetted, billionaire with heaps of conflicts of interest and zero experience in governance. I know public servants who have dedicated their lives in service of others who were terminated from their jobs without cause. A lot of my personal work - what I really want to do with my life - has been on hold because of the actions of this regime. Things I have worked years toward that now have a very uncertain future. As someone going through breast cancer treatment that is having my claims denied, that is also a real threat to both my health and my finances that is not 'out there', it's in my life, every day, and it's stressful. So I'm not distracted, if anything I'm more focused than ever!
Hi Jo, I hear you. I believe this regime is doing a lot of things wrong. I don't agree with much of it. But I also believe that every regime before it, was equally as bad. I'm sorry your claims are being denied. That is flat out immoral. And I know others are affected by that as well. But I also know that in regimes past there were people affected in different ways by the then current regime's policies.
I am usually hated by both sides, as I tend to try to bring the political climate back to balance in the middle when one side goes too far.
We dump our unconscious resentment onto the other side, "Those stupid Trump or Biden supporters," and it's especially effective when there is an element of truth in terms of what they are doing wrong. But the resentment's source and root is not the politician.
It's like a mother hitting her child for not doing her homework. There is truth in that the little girl did something wrong, and she may even be a tiresome brat, but the response from the mother is unwarranted. The mother's own demons are coming out to hit the child the the mother justifies her behavior by pointing to the wrong things the child is doing, blinding herself to her own demons.
All I am saying is that we are all like that mother in some way, and we usually do that with politics, the weather, city hall etc..
Thanks for hearing me. I'm not sure if your examples are directed at me in particular, but in case they are I want to be clear that I am not dumping resentment upon anybody. I am not interested in culture wars. I'm talking specifically about what Trump and this regime is doing, which is unprecedented in our history as a nation. It is undemocratic, and that should alarm everyone no matter their politics. The fact that Trump has given an unelected, unvetted billionaire and his minions unfettered access to our government's systems and our personal data with no transparency or accountability should alarm everyone. That's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what is happening, but should be something we all agree on as not being okay.
I am also speaking for values that I hold dear and will continue to fight for. Like health equity, and ethical pain research and care. Bioethics includes four main principles, beneficence (do good for the patient), nonmaleficence (do no harm to the patient), autonomy (all people have worth and agency), and justice. I'm particularly interested in justice, including epistemic justice, social justice, and environmental justice. It means looking at our history to understand where we are, and building coalitions to create a better future for all of us. My particular fight for justice is fighting for people with pain. All people with pain. That includes white folks, Black folks, Latino/a folks, disabled folks, Indigenous folks, queer folks, poor folks. It includes immigrants, women, kids, our elders. All people. And this regime is coming for them (and not just those who are Democrats). I am not okay with that. They already face enough injustices.
In this fight for liberty and justice for all people, I think my response is warranted. I am not blind to my own demons, my demons are out in the open for all to see.
Hi, no it wasn't directed at you personally, it was just my analysis of how getting so emotionally wrapped up in politics plays out and what's underneath that.
I'm going to say 2 things that will get me hated by both sides right now (which is almost everyone) but that kind of illustrates what I see out there:
1. The 'Right' will scream bloody murder when it comes to abortion. But I believe they don't care one bit about fetus's. I think they use that issue to rally the tribe and vent their frustrations on those horrible, bad people (as they see them) who disagree with them. That way they have an excuse to 'hit'.
2. The 'Left' will scream bloody murder with all of their equity issues. But I believe they don't care one bit about gays, women, indigenous peoples, the poor etc. In fact I believe they USE these peoples, so that they can say that the 'other side' (other tribe) is horrible and bad, and again have an excuse to 'hit'. I think deep down they despise the people they purport to want to 'save'. At the very least they infantilize them.
Now I'm not saying you don't care about those people you purport to care about. I believe you to be a caring person from listening to a podcast you were on and reading your posts. I'm saying (to all of us), be careful aligning ourselves with one group or the other, about believing any one group and about saying one is so bad or so good. If we really questioned, and I mean really questioned any one of these right wing or left wing groups hard about what they are doing and why, we'd see them become agitated and not really answer properly. That's because they don't really live out from a place of truth.
This is why I think it's a waste of our energy and resources to get so involved, write about, or even think too much about politics.
P.S. I believe that every individual on earth is valuable. Just so you know where I am coming from.
Thanks for continuing the conversation. I appreciate that you aren't directing this at me personally, yet it does feel kinda personal when it's in response to my post, and you say you think it's a waste of time to get so involved and write about the things I've written about, you know? That's alright though! I put myself out there fully knowing not everyone will like I write, or agree with me. If you would like to discuss specific ideas I've shared or comments I've made, I'm happy to do so. You can really question me about what I'm doing and why, and I will answer, with specifics and receipts. Advocating for people with pain is inherently political, and it's how I spend my time, energy and resources because I believe it matters.
Thank you as well. Most people sling mud instead of talking things through, so I appreciate it. And I hope you never stop advocating for people in pain, it's a good value to have. Until next time.
How eloquently said! Although I am not an American and some might say a world away in Australia, I applaud you for continuing to fight against the insanity that is happening in America right now! All I can say is that there are many of us watching on as this insanity takes place who share your thoughts and feelings, and I sincerely hope that there is enough good in this world to overcome the horror that is Trump.
Wishing you all the very best in such a chaotic and terrifying time. X
Thank you so much for your kind words, support and solidarity, Tara! It means so much, to so many. 💜✊
Sending love and solidarity from Dunedin NZ. Don't stop speaking truth. Your honesty, strength and badassness inspire and motivate me to keep trying to do my part.
What a wonderful message, thank you Liz! I can't believe it's been a year since I was in Dunedin. There is power in the collective and I'm so damn grateful for all those fighting for justice and equity. Much love from Colorado!
Thank Jo. Our team is all thinking about you and wishing you well with the cancer. XX
Saying ALLl the things that need to be said here with this one Jo! Sending you love from Amsterdam xx
Thanks so much, Laura! Truly does mean so much to feel the love and support. Much love my friend!
I think being sucked into political happenings, whether left or right, is a distraction for the most part. It helps us focus our anxiety "out there" instead of at what's really making us anxious. Usually our anxiety is about avoiding big decisions; what we really want to do with our life, job, leaving a relationship. Or, about being able to be ourselves and say what we want to say (which we shoved down for so long we don't even know what that is) to the people most important to us psychologically; parents, authority, spouse, friends, etc. The latter is the usual culprit for us all.
Hi Japples, thanks for your comment. I think health has always been political, no matter who is in office. And there are always consequences to being ourselves and saying what we want to say, good and bad. I'm an advocate, so what I do is always going to be within the realm of policy and politics, so it's not just a distraction for me. I also know real people affected by the decisions being made by this administration via an unelected, unvetted, billionaire with heaps of conflicts of interest and zero experience in governance. I know public servants who have dedicated their lives in service of others who were terminated from their jobs without cause. A lot of my personal work - what I really want to do with my life - has been on hold because of the actions of this regime. Things I have worked years toward that now have a very uncertain future. As someone going through breast cancer treatment that is having my claims denied, that is also a real threat to both my health and my finances that is not 'out there', it's in my life, every day, and it's stressful. So I'm not distracted, if anything I'm more focused than ever!
Hi Jo, I hear you. I believe this regime is doing a lot of things wrong. I don't agree with much of it. But I also believe that every regime before it, was equally as bad. I'm sorry your claims are being denied. That is flat out immoral. And I know others are affected by that as well. But I also know that in regimes past there were people affected in different ways by the then current regime's policies.
I am usually hated by both sides, as I tend to try to bring the political climate back to balance in the middle when one side goes too far.
We dump our unconscious resentment onto the other side, "Those stupid Trump or Biden supporters," and it's especially effective when there is an element of truth in terms of what they are doing wrong. But the resentment's source and root is not the politician.
It's like a mother hitting her child for not doing her homework. There is truth in that the little girl did something wrong, and she may even be a tiresome brat, but the response from the mother is unwarranted. The mother's own demons are coming out to hit the child the the mother justifies her behavior by pointing to the wrong things the child is doing, blinding herself to her own demons.
All I am saying is that we are all like that mother in some way, and we usually do that with politics, the weather, city hall etc..
Thanks for hearing me. I'm not sure if your examples are directed at me in particular, but in case they are I want to be clear that I am not dumping resentment upon anybody. I am not interested in culture wars. I'm talking specifically about what Trump and this regime is doing, which is unprecedented in our history as a nation. It is undemocratic, and that should alarm everyone no matter their politics. The fact that Trump has given an unelected, unvetted billionaire and his minions unfettered access to our government's systems and our personal data with no transparency or accountability should alarm everyone. That's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what is happening, but should be something we all agree on as not being okay.
I am also speaking for values that I hold dear and will continue to fight for. Like health equity, and ethical pain research and care. Bioethics includes four main principles, beneficence (do good for the patient), nonmaleficence (do no harm to the patient), autonomy (all people have worth and agency), and justice. I'm particularly interested in justice, including epistemic justice, social justice, and environmental justice. It means looking at our history to understand where we are, and building coalitions to create a better future for all of us. My particular fight for justice is fighting for people with pain. All people with pain. That includes white folks, Black folks, Latino/a folks, disabled folks, Indigenous folks, queer folks, poor folks. It includes immigrants, women, kids, our elders. All people. And this regime is coming for them (and not just those who are Democrats). I am not okay with that. They already face enough injustices.
In this fight for liberty and justice for all people, I think my response is warranted. I am not blind to my own demons, my demons are out in the open for all to see.
Hi, no it wasn't directed at you personally, it was just my analysis of how getting so emotionally wrapped up in politics plays out and what's underneath that.
I'm going to say 2 things that will get me hated by both sides right now (which is almost everyone) but that kind of illustrates what I see out there:
1. The 'Right' will scream bloody murder when it comes to abortion. But I believe they don't care one bit about fetus's. I think they use that issue to rally the tribe and vent their frustrations on those horrible, bad people (as they see them) who disagree with them. That way they have an excuse to 'hit'.
2. The 'Left' will scream bloody murder with all of their equity issues. But I believe they don't care one bit about gays, women, indigenous peoples, the poor etc. In fact I believe they USE these peoples, so that they can say that the 'other side' (other tribe) is horrible and bad, and again have an excuse to 'hit'. I think deep down they despise the people they purport to want to 'save'. At the very least they infantilize them.
Now I'm not saying you don't care about those people you purport to care about. I believe you to be a caring person from listening to a podcast you were on and reading your posts. I'm saying (to all of us), be careful aligning ourselves with one group or the other, about believing any one group and about saying one is so bad or so good. If we really questioned, and I mean really questioned any one of these right wing or left wing groups hard about what they are doing and why, we'd see them become agitated and not really answer properly. That's because they don't really live out from a place of truth.
This is why I think it's a waste of our energy and resources to get so involved, write about, or even think too much about politics.
P.S. I believe that every individual on earth is valuable. Just so you know where I am coming from.
Thanks for continuing the conversation. I appreciate that you aren't directing this at me personally, yet it does feel kinda personal when it's in response to my post, and you say you think it's a waste of time to get so involved and write about the things I've written about, you know? That's alright though! I put myself out there fully knowing not everyone will like I write, or agree with me. If you would like to discuss specific ideas I've shared or comments I've made, I'm happy to do so. You can really question me about what I'm doing and why, and I will answer, with specifics and receipts. Advocating for people with pain is inherently political, and it's how I spend my time, energy and resources because I believe it matters.
Thank you as well. Most people sling mud instead of talking things through, so I appreciate it. And I hope you never stop advocating for people in pain, it's a good value to have. Until next time.