Many of the conversations about what is happening in the U.S. are just so much pearl-clutching. We need to talk more about concrete acts of resistance that tap into our collective power. Your essay is a terrific call to action. Muito obrigada!
That museum means more to us than all the other museums we have been to in Portugal -- except another Museum of Resistance and Libertation at the former prison in Peniche. We have spent time with a Portuguese man whose parents were secretly in the Resistance. He spoke of the constant danger and how the resisters evaded getting caught.
I recently ran across this quote from Audre Lorde that maybe you've already heard, but the opening bits of this piece reminded me of it. "I am going to write fire until it comes out my ears, my eyes, my noseholes—everywhere. Until it’s every breath I breathe. I’m going to go out like a fucking meteor!"
Thanks so much for this column..... a nice reminder that we are not the first ones to feel fear about the times we are living in. There are ways to be brave and if enough of us do it, we will be effective. :)
We have been to the museum several times, and each time I leave a piece of my heart ;-( I have been fighting for 50 years against oppression, lies, hate, racism,antisemitism and general douchebaggery. I/we have to...how else can we live with ourselves?
For so long now I have been amazed at the screaming silence. So many who see and say - fucking nothing. Edvard Munch - screaming silence! It would have been so easy to avoid this. All we had to do - is elect her instead of him. WTF?!! So many, not only the ones who voted for - him. But so many who did not get off their fucking couch, away from their screens, for two fucking seconds to vote - for her. Not a perfect her, but clearly something so much better than him. WTF. WTF. And now look at us. Look where we are. How? How many years did that last in Portugal? Is this our road? An ordeal we must endure. The price of our silent sin? Will my picture be on a wall? Yours???
I have to disagree in that I do not believe in the Republicans Bad/Democrats Good binary. I also do not believe in the Lesser of Two Evils philosophy. I believe both parties are complicit in the ills and evils of the USA. Sure, it might have taken longer to descend into blatant fascism with Kamala in the Oval Office, but the Democratic party benefits from oppression and suppression of the people just the same as the Republicans. They all serve the ruling class, not the common people. The Democrats were never gonna save anyone.
Great write up and thanks for the tip about the museum in Lisboa. I'll have to check it out the next time I am there. Museums like that give us a good reminder of what's happened in the past so as, hopefully, not repeat it. A similar museum we went to more than once when we lived there was the KGB museum in Riga, Latvia.
Many of the conversations about what is happening in the U.S. are just so much pearl-clutching. We need to talk more about concrete acts of resistance that tap into our collective power. Your essay is a terrific call to action. Muito obrigada!
SO MUCH PEARL CLUTCHING!!!
That museum means more to us than all the other museums we have been to in Portugal -- except another Museum of Resistance and Libertation at the former prison in Peniche. We have spent time with a Portuguese man whose parents were secretly in the Resistance. He spoke of the constant danger and how the resisters evaded getting caught.
I recently ran across this quote from Audre Lorde that maybe you've already heard, but the opening bits of this piece reminded me of it. "I am going to write fire until it comes out my ears, my eyes, my noseholes—everywhere. Until it’s every breath I breathe. I’m going to go out like a fucking meteor!"
Ooooooooh. I haven't read that one! I'm getting it tattooed on my face! So good.
Powerful piece. Thank you.
Well said. Thank you for writing this. - CW
Thanks so much for this column..... a nice reminder that we are not the first ones to feel fear about the times we are living in. There are ways to be brave and if enough of us do it, we will be effective. :)
A much appreciated post. I will visit this museum on my next trip to Lisbon. I've also shared a link. Thank you for writing.
We have been to the museum several times, and each time I leave a piece of my heart ;-( I have been fighting for 50 years against oppression, lies, hate, racism,antisemitism and general douchebaggery. I/we have to...how else can we live with ourselves?
For so long now I have been amazed at the screaming silence. So many who see and say - fucking nothing. Edvard Munch - screaming silence! It would have been so easy to avoid this. All we had to do - is elect her instead of him. WTF?!! So many, not only the ones who voted for - him. But so many who did not get off their fucking couch, away from their screens, for two fucking seconds to vote - for her. Not a perfect her, but clearly something so much better than him. WTF. WTF. And now look at us. Look where we are. How? How many years did that last in Portugal? Is this our road? An ordeal we must endure. The price of our silent sin? Will my picture be on a wall? Yours???
I have to disagree in that I do not believe in the Republicans Bad/Democrats Good binary. I also do not believe in the Lesser of Two Evils philosophy. I believe both parties are complicit in the ills and evils of the USA. Sure, it might have taken longer to descend into blatant fascism with Kamala in the Oval Office, but the Democratic party benefits from oppression and suppression of the people just the same as the Republicans. They all serve the ruling class, not the common people. The Democrats were never gonna save anyone.
Thank you for the writing and the list of things to take action on. Fabulous!
Great write up and thanks for the tip about the museum in Lisboa. I'll have to check it out the next time I am there. Museums like that give us a good reminder of what's happened in the past so as, hopefully, not repeat it. A similar museum we went to more than once when we lived there was the KGB museum in Riga, Latvia.