I don't know about any one else but I am starting to wonder if I'm still in a coma.

Everything is topsy turvy.

Attacking the police, burning and looting businesses and government offices, rioting, violence against individuals based on skin color or degree of support of the lawless and the lawlessness, are all being condoned, if not actually aided and abetted, by rich elites, government, and a significant swath of our citizenry.

I thought the explosion in gender expression a few years ago was a new level of insanity. Holy shit, I long for those days, for at least law abiding people weren't getting killed or their lifelong investments in businesses burned and/or looted. Most of all, I could laugh at some of t.he gender expression stuff.

Seriously, I feel like the America I grew up in and gave a significant chunk of my adult life to improving is slipping away at an ever increasing rate. And I can barely write a decent pitch for my bitch about it.

I was talking with two naturalized citizens from Ukraine who said they fear that for a second time in their lives they will need to flee to another nation to escape the insanity. The first time was when as teens in the early 1980s, they escaped from the Soviet Union, where things were Communist first last and always and life was miserable for anyone not an apparatchik. Now they see communists and socialists being allowed to run wild and tear down American institutions with al the revolutionary fervor of the Bolsheviks in 1917 Czarist Russia and it is scaring them shitless because there is no other safe haven to run to ("If it can happen in America, it will happen everywhere else").

Some have said "It just sounds to me like you need to unplug, man.... Get some R&R..." (to quote a line from The Matrix - Oh, for a pink and purple polka dotted pill that makes me see pink and purple polka dotted elephants).

Yet I can't help wanting to stay aware of the insanity in case I really do need to unplug and run.

I think I understand a little of how the ethnic minorities in National Socialist Germany felt in about 1938. I never expected that to happen.

I'm certain I'm not alone in feeling this strange cafard. If you feel it too, speak up. Maybe our collective voices will snap us out of it.

I feel it just reading the news, and I'm isolated enough that rioters would get lost trying to find my house, and trip over cattle in the road if they found the way.

I’m with you 100%. I keep saying I feel like I’m in bizarro world. It just doesn’t make sense to me.

I mean I know there are people who want to overthrow America, people who hate freedom because they want power. What confuses me is how many people they have tricked into believing that it is a good thing. The majority of those out protesting supposed police violence don’t grasp that what the leftist leaders want is a true police state where the police have zero accountability.

I don’t see how it ever gets fixed without extreme violence. And please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not calling for, or even hoping for violence. But if it must happen then I do hope it happens sooner rather than later because I do not want my kids to have to deal with it. If someone has to do it I’d rather it be me than them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pale Horse,

Both my dad/stepmom and mother are anti-Trump, media believers.

It’s impossible for me to grasp. My father is extremely intelligent. Served in Vietnam, is essentially self-sufficient on their farm, quite isolated but comfortable. I suppose he’s an old southern democrat. My mother is similar. Prepper type, isolated and as much or more self efficient. Basically off the grid in bumfuk Florida.

But I can’t talk current events with either. Just yesterday I was at my dad’s and they were ranting about cops shooting people in the back. I’ve completely shut down all social media except for here. Being on the front lines and watching people who I’ve known for years spout off about this BS...

Strange land, indeed.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:
If you feel it too, speak up.

I do. Many people in my life whom I love and respect have seemingly lost their minds since Trump took office, and it seems to be accelerating in frequency and intensity. The entire last year, especially, has felt very surreal to me. Perhaps maybe more so than many places in the country as I'm in the shadow of Seattle.

I've been warning the people closest to me for years now that we're probably going to see some really bad social unrest in this country, and a few agreed with me, but mostly people thought I was paranoid. Now that fuse has been lit. My wife thought I was nuts last year when AR500 ran a sale and I wanted to get a plate carrier and plates. I'm embarrassed to admit that she kind of shamed me out of it. Now people are getting murdered for being Trump supporters - it happened tonight in Portland. Guess who doesn't think having body armor is such a stupid idea anymore?

I seem to remember that when I was a kid, the phrase "do what you want, it's a free country" got used often. It's been a long time since I've heard someone use it in conversation. Perhaps somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like the truth.

I could go on explaining, but it's depressing and I try not to wallow in this shit. Besides, somehow I know most of you feel the same way. We're definitely not alone, but there's some strong powers at play trying to make us feel like we are.

I keep thinking of all the blood, sacrifice and lives it took to make America the greatest country on the face of the Earth and how close we are to to throwing it all away.
What must our surviving WWII Vets be thinking now? Or those Korean War Vets? Or any Vet, for that matter.
2020 has vividly shown me just how overwhelmingly stupid a huge segment of our population is.
And how dangerous these stupid people are.
And many of these dangerous people are in government, our justice system, our schools and entertainment / sports.
I hope it wont come to pass, but I feel that when Trump is re-elected, those of us who support him or hold to conservative values will be forced to fight to save our country.

I realize the agitators will still be in action, but I’m hoping for some improvement after Nov 3rd.

I think it’s how one’s mind is wired, as to what they start believing. Regardless of distractions & chaos, one can focus on the family & those around to stay on track.

Tuning out nonsense is one of my strong points.

I do if I read too much of the main stream media's promotion and support of events. In my everyday life nothing's changed and only a small percentage of people are whacked ideologically.

Yeah, whats different now is the number of rich and powerful forces behind all of this anarchy. It's not just Soros. Rioting and chaos is all they have left to stop DJT. It won't work and I think they know that, but it's all they have.

Everyday I feel this and I think much of how I am right now is due to feeling like a stranger.
Add in the mask/no mask thing and I seem to get angrier by the day. Other times I'm like a zombie and nothing seems to faze me.
I would have never believed anyone if they told me the year 2020 would be like this.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:
If you feel it too, speak up. Maybe our collective voices will snap us out of it.

I feel the same. I have friends in Eastern Europe that are constantly asking me "WTH is going on over there?" They know what communism and "workers' paradises" are all about and are glad to be done with all of that.

Same for me. I can’t help but think what my grandfather would think if he saw all this bullshit. He left flesh and blood in the South Pacific to defend this nation and now we have a large percentage of the population that would gladly throw it all away.

My hope is that after November 3rd President Trump will not have to worry about the media and how to handle the "protesters". He will use what ever means required to stop the insanity.

Leemur encapsulated my thinking in his post too. My Father and most of my Uncles fought in WW2 , one died a few years after the War from Injuries on Iwo Jima. They must all be rolling in their graves .

I think most people are a bunch of big wet pussies. I’ve got my personal friends whining, bitching, and complaining to me “I wish this would just end. I want it to be all over” And I’m like dude, you have a job, a home, you’ve got air conditioning, streaming services, video games, tank full of gasoline, fridge full of food. Do some push ups. I told them all we’ve been through World Wars, that lasted many years. After the Japanese hit Pearl, people on the West Coast were in fear everyday of incoming Japanese subs and Zeros, attacking the homeland. Yet in these times, Americans banded together. Our boys went overseas to fight. Those on the mainland went into the factories and worked their asses off. We banded together. So today everyone is soft, they are buttercups. Do some push ups or something. Use the time to get stronger mentally, learn a new skill. Read a book. Think about bettering yourself somehow via education, certification, learn to cook and eat healthy. Start working out, even if that means 2 multi mile walks per day. Be strong. Nope. The sky is falling because consumerism is slowed down, stopped, whatever. Yet you can still get your food, and still get your “products” via Amazon or whatever. Geez.

The rioting and general bs. I’m convinced that a big chunk of the destruction is just people not being able to handle a pandemic. It’s an excuse to get out in the streets and let out all your frustration via destruction.

My advice, which is worth what you paid for it...keep abreast of what is going on, but be strong mentally, for yourself, for your family and friends. My people call me and whine and ask what I’m doing. I say working, doing my job 100% and being the rock I always am at work. personal time, I’m hitting my gym, every night, 2 hours plus I have a spin bike at home I hit every day as well for 30-45 minutes. Then I have to work my K9 every day. Then there is the taking care of the house, pool, lawn, cleaning, washing clothes, cooking all my own food. I don’t have time to sit around and be upset and cry about anything. I can only control what is right in front me. Other things like the pandemic, rioting, there is just nothing I can do about it so I refuse to let it get me upset. I have let these idiots get me on the roads. That’s the only thing that has got to me. People driving like absolute lunatics, endangering my life with the stupid shit they do. But I have mastered that as well. I’m just not using the highways anymore. I take the surface streets.

Mind over matter. The best thing any of us can do, is brush this shit off, be prepared to get your vote in, and let the chips fall. The longer this gets on the tougher mentally and physically I will get. I’ll worry if and when I lose my job. But I’ve been through that 7 times already with layoffs, Ch.11’s and M&A’s. I’ll just have to deal with it if it happens. The difference in today’s society is people are weak, soft, spoiled on consumerism and conveniences. And social media and those phones are like race gasoline on a fire. I was watching the news every night and I’ve just switched that off too. Fuck it. I can only ready myself to vote, keep myself mentally and physically strong, and focus on what I can actually do, and not what is out of my control. Call me ignorant, or living in a bubble, don’t care. Hard times come from hard measures. I just decided to hard on myself mentally and physically. Being quite doom and gloom and negative is no good for my health. If these people show up on my street rioting and doing physical damage I’ll be ready. until then, be happy you are not sick, and you’re alive. This will not last forever.

quote:

Originally posted by joatmonv:
...
I would have never believed anyone if they told me the year 2020 would be like this.

Nor would have I. So far I've weathered it pretty well, there were some dark days, lots of savings lost and delayed goals. All in all I'm okay, and will just start rebuilding from where I left off.

Half the shit going on, I can't influence, sometimes I let it bother me for a bit, then I remember, it's out of my control. I'll do my part in November and continue to try to speak the truth to those willing to listen. Beyond that we are all going down the same river, best I can do is avoid the rocks because I can't go upstream.

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:
My hope is that after November 3rd President Trump will not have to worry about the media and how to handle the "protesters". He will use what ever means required to stop the insanity.

Leemur encapsulated my thinking in his post too. My Father and most of my Uncles fought in WW2 , one died a few years after the War from Injuries on Iwo Jima. They must all be rolling in their graves .

We absolutely must crush the democrats in the House and Senate. That wiil take away alot of the lefts ammo. We have to nuetralize Pelosi and Schumer.

Definitely strange, and strange how quickly this has accelerated. Just when you say “cannot get worse” the insanity, hate, and terrorism from the left just ratchets up.

I too have friends that are seemingly fixated on “orange man bad” and seemingly ignore the reality going on. One is a vet, entrepreneur, very smart. We joke we are the only two around who still “do it all” and are self sufficient. But, he thinks Trump is evil, a draft dodger and refuses to vote for him. He condemns the violence and terror - but blames Trump?

I don’t bring it up anymore. He knows where we stand (wife and I) and he and his wife are on other side. Seems everything with these folks is predicated on Trump is the bigger “evil”, totally illogical and not supported by facts. But that seems to be where some of the nation is at and I just do not get it..never will either.

This shit is not going on in most areas of the country, and the total number of active participants probably wouldn't make up a decent-sized small town. This is a big country and they are not at this time by themselves capable of destroying it. Hold off until the election, at least, before sinking into excessive doom and gloom. I said somewhat the same thing to my brother recently.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
{a heck of a good pep talk}

Thank you.

I didn't know there was so much hatred out there. all this seems so crazy.