I’ve become more reluctant than ever to write about politics lately, given how extreme our discourse has become, in the United States and seemingly everywhere else as well. Other people seem to be better at dealing with this, or at least more willing to embrace the fight, and I keep sitting here, listening to people conflate so many things, as if all the pages of their books are glued together, and I feel like I’m losing my mind. I don’t remember politics being this stupid, or this futile, before. We seem to have reached the point where you can present solid evidence, and make a thorough and convincing argument, and still be knocked out by someone without any facts on their side, because they’re louder, and more persistent, and willing to blow raspberries into the wind.
It feels like people on either end of the political spectrum have decided that the truth doesn’t matter, and the winning argument is the one that can fit into a hashtag or be repeated over and over like the chorus in a Tik Tok video. And I’m exhausted. I keep trying to engage with the world with an open mind, and curiosity and fairness, to challenge myself by reading and watching and listening to a wide array of media and opinions and develop a more comprehensive and nuanced view of what’s going on in the world around me. And every time, the simplistic, usually incorrect, but oft-repeated mantra wins out over the nuance and becomes common wisdom. And I’m tired. I’m tired of having to make sense of nonsense. I’m tired of being told that everything is fine when it’s not, and being told that A equals Z when it doesn’t.
The noise of it all is overwhelming, and I’ve been struggling to find anything calm and reasonable in the middle of it all, and feeling like I don’t have the skills to fight the kind of war that’s being waged right now.
But in the midst of yet another week full of stupid political theater, I remembered that I’d sent myself a video a couple of weeks ago, to watch when I feel this way. When I first watched Renee Good’s brothers give testimony in congress about the killing of their sister by ICE, I felt something shift. Instead of screaming, or blowing raspberries, which they had every right to do, they gave a eulogy for their sister that stopped me in my tracks and made me listen. The love, and hope, in their voices was shattering, and the politicians had to just sit there and listen, and allow us to listen, to remind us that we are still capable of being kind, and poetic, and reasonable, and inspiring. I sent myself this video to remind me that I can choose to listen to voices like these. There are so many things in our lives today that we have no choice about, but I can choose to hear the voices of people who make life seem worth living. While I still have a choice, I choose this.
WATCH: Brothers of Renee Good, woman fatally shot by ICE: https://youtu.be/HX0zWgHc1cg?si=Dd08Dqn7y4zZu2bz
If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out my novel, Yeshiva Girl, on Amazon. And if you feel called to write a review of the book, on Amazon, or anywhere else, I’d be honored.
Yeshiva Girl is about a Jewish teenager on Long Island, named Isabel, though her father calls her Jezebel. Her father has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his students, which he denies, but Izzy implicitly believes it’s true. As a result of his problems, her father sends her to a co-ed Orthodox yeshiva for tenth grade, out of the blue, and Izzy and her mother can’t figure out how to prevent it. At Yeshiva, though, Izzy finds that religious people are much more complicated than she had expected. Some, like her father, may use religion as a place to hide, but others search for and find comfort, and community, and even enlightenment. The question is, what will Izzy find?
rachelmankowitz 
In all political discourse, wouldn’t it be nice if “truth and righteousness” were the standard?
Yes, but unlikely.
Agreed on all counts. I am totally worn by the politics. I’ve been thinking lately that WordPress is important as a model for how to share thoughtfully with others.
But what is it about WordPress’ format that encourages more thoughtfulness? And why do so many people feel more drawn to other formats?
I think that the writers and artists here put more thought into their blogs, not just writing quick mindless blurbs. Their blogs represent a longer term mindset, and there is the idea of sharing with those you don’t know, and who yet over time become those you do know something about. Unlike social media, Wp is not quick and your thoughts won’t be buried after a few hours. They can be there years later for all to see. So WP takes time, and you do give more of yourself. That’s such a good thing, but I think that most don’t want to risk that.
Does that make sense? I’m mostly a photographer, but I hope that my pictures speak to what Ifeel is important
and in some way, make the world a bit better.
That’s a beautiful description!
As a former professional media worker, I mourn the decline of standard, fact-based journalism. What we have now–both-sidesism and whataboutism do not serve the public.
When did the change happen, though? And why? It seems like it started before social media, and then accelerated.
The reason we no longer have journalism based on facts goes back to 1985 when Ronald Reagan got rid of The Fairness Doctrine which at the time required news coverage to include both sides of a story. There had been cases taken to the Supreme Court but it stayed in place, Congress wanted it upheld but the FCC when he was president ruled it was in violation of the first amendment. This was the beginning of the end. It opened the door for Fox News and other agenda-based cable outlets to call themselves news with no guardrails in place.
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/topic-guide/fairness-doctrine Here’s a link that gives a little more information.
Fascinating! Thank you!
It seems to have started around the time when all “news” cable networks began. They needed much more material than conventional newscasts, so the new networks created filler stories and lots of op-ed programing.
I remember when I started watching CNN overnight when I couldn’t sleep. I’m not sure it helped me calm down, but it was company.
A powerful and inspirational video. Thank you for sharing it.
I happened to turn on the TV when they were testifying live, and I thought the whole world should stop, like I did, on hearing them. I don’t know why their testimony didn’t make more of a dent in the news cycle. I wish it could.
I think your post is quite eloquent and to the point. For me I know I cannot change the minds of those who will not be changed, but I also know there are many who are either on the fence or are not paying attention, and one of them may hear something I wrote, then something you wrote, and on and on it goes.
That is always the hope. We don’t listen well to people who shout at us, as a rule.
Rachel, I agree this is roller coaster ride trying to pay attention can be stressful and exhausting. The administration is doing this on purpose; flooding the zone so we can’t keep up with everything. Between ICE, which you wrote about here, (thanks for sharing Renee’s brothers speaking because I hadn’t seen this) and the AG demonstrating a complete lack of empathy in front of congress while clearly only performing for an audience of one (the guy who was named in the files over 1,000,000 times) I don’t know how anyone can convince themselves this is good for our country.
I think you’re right, that the firehose of news is the point. No one can keep up with it. I remember this from the first time around, but it’s 100 times worse this time.
Your dog has the right idea. Find some comfort and wait it out!
I should invest in one of those human-sized dog beds and just hang out with her.
Politics make me sick now a days. No one is willing to listen to anyone with a different viewpoint. No one is willing to take accountability. It is all blame and deflection. The average person has to acknowledge current events but limit the amount of time they spend focusing on the discourse. I pray we can find a better way to move forward as a country. Protect your mental health.
It feels like an impossible situation, but we’re still here and it’s not over, so we have reason to keep hoping.
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You’re right—the noise of it all is overwhelming.
Thanks fie the link, would have missed ut, and it is worth watchung.
I wish everyone could see it.
Politics has never felt grimmer, but with their words the two bereaved brothers remind us to be hopeful and to lead by example in doing the right thing, the kind thing. The symbolism of the dandelion is inspiring, I shall never look at that little flower – which flourishes in my garden, uninvited and unloved – in quite the same way ever again.
There is beauty everywhere, we just need to remember to look for it.
Thank you for sharing the video. It’s really beautiful and a wonderful tribute to Renee Nicole Goode. Let’s appreciate the dandelions. 🙂
The strength of her brothers, to be able to share that with the world, at such a time, really reached me.
Rachel, thank you so much for your piece. I also appreciate your sharing the video of the brothers who spoke up for their sister.
As Dr. King said, history will record the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.
Renee Good was one of the good people, and she died needlessly at the hands of the strident clamor, the rattling of guns, the wailing of sirens, the hatred that motivated the bullets that killed her.
We must not be silent.
It was reassuring to see how many people were able to trust their own eyes, and see her as she was, and not be deterred by what was said about her.
For a moment there I was going to award you honorary Boomer status. 😁
From what I understand, we GenXers are regularly branded as Boomers by the GenZers. So be it.
Thank you for the link. It was very touching and one I will return to also.
I was surprised how few people had seen it, honestly. I’m not sure why it hasn’t been shared everywhere.
It feels as if our nation is tearing itself apart. We have forgotten that we are all Americans.
I think we are struggling to define what it means to be an American going forward.
Great title. Best wishes from outside your political system. I don’t fit in your spectrum, I’m afraid. But I happen to believe that things like truth and love still matter, even if the other person is on the other side of some divide.
This was an excellent piece, Rachel, and a joy to read. You’re correct, it is exhausting. It’s overwhelming and a lot of us are also tired. Eventually the pendulum will swing, for better or for worse, because it always does and I just hope that we find ourselves in a better place, without fear and with a lot of dandelions, and not more cynical and intolerant.
Fingers crossed.
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I gave up trying to make sense of irrational thinking long ago. Today I accept that for now, and the foreseeable future this is the world we live within. My spiritual teachings have given me this viewpoint and protects me from becoming engaged in the nonsense abounding in various avenues of life.
I can’t quite remember the saying, but it suggests wearing the cloth of the world – loosely.
I used to get quite worked up on certain political news. It often felt that these changes in country or world politics can affect you directly or indirectly. But that changed after I met some important and loving people in my life… Suddenly it felt that social media induced views is actually a very virtual thing. Nothing you see on social media has got any touch with reality.
What we see as news on social media are only radicalised snippets of the actual thing.
At the end of the day people are just trying to work hard and keep their near ones happy.
I also saw a post that said human beings are not supposed to know about every bad thing that happens in every corner of the world. It’s okay to stay naive as a small community.
For thousands of years humans have survived not knowing about everything that’s happening in other parts of the world…. suddenly we’re not supposed to get influxed with so much negativity.
Very wise!