It’s extremely difficult for me not to curl up into a ball of utter despair over what’s happening in our nation. I am convinced by careful perusal of many different news outlets and study of government documents, memos, and testimonies, that the American experiment is near its end.
45 has flirted with constitutional crisis for over a year now. The fact that he signed a bill passed overwhelmingly by Congress but is now refusing to enforce the law? Full-blown crisis, friends. What does that law address? An incredibly convoluted scandal involving murder, money laundering, and Russian and U.S oligarchs – a scandal that directly benefits 45 and his billionaire kleptocrat buddies. A tip for those who hadn’t heard: “Russian adoption” – the ostensible topic of the pertinent meeting that took place in 2016 – is actually code for this scandal,
This complete dismantling of our constitutional democracy is only one of the many evils being carried out by this poseur of a president. Just a little reminder: The “us” first, anti-immigration, nationalist vitriol spewed by this man and his supporters is exactly what brought about every war across the globe over the last 150 years.
Tonight is the annual State of the Union Address. I feel compelled to watch, and yet I’m truly afraid it will trigger another crying jag like the one brought on by the November 2016 election. I’m not sure I can do it.
And so, I’m knitting. Handwork has always been a joy for me. Now it’s an escape. A therapeutic, all-absorbing act of pushing down the despair. Before Christmas I turned out 10 scarves that went to guests of my organization’s Christmas Store (in which friends from our urban neighborhood shop for gifts for each member of their family, free of charge). Since Christmas I’ve produced a few more scarves. And as ugly news report piled on top of ugly news report, I craved something more challenging. After several disastrous attempts, I’ve finally mastered a mitten pattern.
When temperatures dip, as they have frequently this winter, we set a box of donated gloves, hats, mittens, and scarves in our waiting room for our neighbors. My goal is to contribute a couple of pairs of mittens to that box each week.
I march. I donate. I write. I post. Yet my influence on the fate of our nation feels negligible. So I distract myself with tiny efforts on the side of good.
And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply,, he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.”
Mom Goes On 
My husband tuned into that monotone glory-fest-can-you-believe-this, the words spoken were obviously written by someone else. I discovered I have selective hearing! What a gift. Well, there were actually a couple of times I said gag but I focused on my activity of the moment, Pinterest. I heard Joe Manchin (D) West Virginia, interviewed this morning. He was dismayed that the Democrats sat out the applause, and booed. You know, you’re supposed to respect the office….you may not agree with the person or the policies but the office should be respected. (I’m paraphrasing what he has been saying…Manchin) I respect the office but this man moved in and….well, I’m going to leave it at that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the lack of standing and applause on the Dem side was appropriate, and no different from the way the two houses always behave during a SOTU address in the last several years. It was also interesting because 45 was clearly making snotty gestures and faces toward that side of the room, which showed he was pissed off at their lack of adulation. Pretty funny, except it’s not funny to behave like a drama queen middle schooler at such an event. On the plus side, I knitted half a mitten.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Knitting is good. I have to say that I never looked at the television. But knowing how much he loves adulation I can imagine he would be offended.
LikeLiked by 1 person