Your statements resonate with me, I have the same feelings. I'm also particularly aware of the corporate power that poisons daily life. It has stolen so much potential for goodness and creativity in people's spirits. I never thought that economics would matter so much to me as I see the oppression it burdens us with. Maybe it's a cliché, but it even burdens the rich with an emptiness they can never fill. Thank you for your good work.
Another vulnerable and bold post. Your point about white folks only being activated now that the state is coming for them is something that needs to be shouted about. "...it is a settler colonial state rigged up on a scaffolding of bones." Fire. If you aren't fighting to dismantle these systems, then you are co-signing and benefiting from their functioning. Also love how you highlight discomfort as critical to revolutionary praxis, especially for folks at the top of racial and class hierarchies of power. Brava!
My thoughts exactly. I know what that drumbeat sounds like. It had been echoing in my head, and getting progressively stronger, for at least a decade before I finally convinced the hubby in 2021. Now I watch from beautiful, sweet Portugal as the US burns down. It's not perfect here, and adjusting is hard, but every day I thank my lucky stars that I am here. And I am worried sick about the people I love who are still there.
You articulate much that I have felt but failed to face as bravely as you do. My hope is to be better where I am now, and your writing is a regular reminder.
Bravo for this clear essay! I have tried telling my friends and family these very things about why we left. The way you say it is much more clear. Thank you. I will share with some others.
It is a bit ironic that we chose to live in Portugal with a terrible history of human trafficking and imperialism, which has not yet been fully reconciled. But at least the horrors have (mostly) ended here.
You can not imagine how hard it is for us, Portuguese, to know our ancestors did wrong; to feel the shame and - therefore - to change, to acknowledge all that was wrong, to know we have changed, to know we are still trying hard to keep changing (for the better)... We keep reading these kind of posts blaming us today for what our ancestors did. We know we have to carry that weight, that blame, that past, but it is not fair to keep being blamed for something our ancestors did, a past reality that is impossible to change. Unlike other cultures, we don't have the habit of justifying wrongdoings with our upbringing and our childhood, as if we were not adults that CAN make choices, that can tell right from wrong! Please, respect that we have evolved. There is no need to systematically rub in our faces a past we can not modify when today's reality (with room for improvement) is substantially different.
I said the "past is not FULLY reconciled," which is supported by your thoughtful remarks. Where I come from, our nation lies, distorts and denies our own brutal history and continues to enact horrors in present time.
Thank you for such a brilliant and powerful column. You have capsulized my feelings as an American emigrant to Portugal - I’ve never had so much despair for my homeland, and simultaneously feel such joy and relief in my personal life as a resident here. (And, I must admit in my more hubristic moments, I feel pretty smart for making the move a little over two years ago.)
Oh wow! I have had so many similar feelings over the years and we pulled up our roots and left in 2022 for Portugal. You cover all the topics so concisely and clearly and yes, so much more work to do. We don’t ever plan to go back either… I still cling to some hope that something will change - but it’s mostly foolish. I think mostly though I want to see karma in real time doing its work on the politicians in power as well as the ppl who still support this. But even that won’t get them to acknowledge the vast historic injustices perpetrated on ppl of color in the US. It’s just me being petty. Thank you for sharing this!
Regarding the article, your description of that creeping sense of urgency is so relateable. It's a heavy burden, knowing something is wrong. Feeling helpless as others slowly catch up. This piece truly makes one think about the different timelines people live on.
Your statements resonate with me, I have the same feelings. I'm also particularly aware of the corporate power that poisons daily life. It has stolen so much potential for goodness and creativity in people's spirits. I never thought that economics would matter so much to me as I see the oppression it burdens us with. Maybe it's a cliché, but it even burdens the rich with an emptiness they can never fill. Thank you for your good work.
Another vulnerable and bold post. Your point about white folks only being activated now that the state is coming for them is something that needs to be shouted about. "...it is a settler colonial state rigged up on a scaffolding of bones." Fire. If you aren't fighting to dismantle these systems, then you are co-signing and benefiting from their functioning. Also love how you highlight discomfort as critical to revolutionary praxis, especially for folks at the top of racial and class hierarchies of power. Brava!
My thoughts exactly. I know what that drumbeat sounds like. It had been echoing in my head, and getting progressively stronger, for at least a decade before I finally convinced the hubby in 2021. Now I watch from beautiful, sweet Portugal as the US burns down. It's not perfect here, and adjusting is hard, but every day I thank my lucky stars that I am here. And I am worried sick about the people I love who are still there.
Thank you for continuing to write, Ladonna. So well received, you put words to what I feel.
Thank you articulating this so well. It really struck a chord with me.
Thank you for another thought provoking work.
Thank you.
Thank you. That all meant something to me - a recent American immigrant to Portugal.
You articulate much that I have felt but failed to face as bravely as you do. My hope is to be better where I am now, and your writing is a regular reminder.
Bravo for this clear essay! I have tried telling my friends and family these very things about why we left. The way you say it is much more clear. Thank you. I will share with some others.
It is a bit ironic that we chose to live in Portugal with a terrible history of human trafficking and imperialism, which has not yet been fully reconciled. But at least the horrors have (mostly) ended here.
You can not imagine how hard it is for us, Portuguese, to know our ancestors did wrong; to feel the shame and - therefore - to change, to acknowledge all that was wrong, to know we have changed, to know we are still trying hard to keep changing (for the better)... We keep reading these kind of posts blaming us today for what our ancestors did. We know we have to carry that weight, that blame, that past, but it is not fair to keep being blamed for something our ancestors did, a past reality that is impossible to change. Unlike other cultures, we don't have the habit of justifying wrongdoings with our upbringing and our childhood, as if we were not adults that CAN make choices, that can tell right from wrong! Please, respect that we have evolved. There is no need to systematically rub in our faces a past we can not modify when today's reality (with room for improvement) is substantially different.
I said the "past is not FULLY reconciled," which is supported by your thoughtful remarks. Where I come from, our nation lies, distorts and denies our own brutal history and continues to enact horrors in present time.
Thank you for such a brilliant and powerful column. You have capsulized my feelings as an American emigrant to Portugal - I’ve never had so much despair for my homeland, and simultaneously feel such joy and relief in my personal life as a resident here. (And, I must admit in my more hubristic moments, I feel pretty smart for making the move a little over two years ago.)
The drumbeat in the background has been my soundtrack for years as well. Haunting. Foreboding. Real.
Oh wow! I have had so many similar feelings over the years and we pulled up our roots and left in 2022 for Portugal. You cover all the topics so concisely and clearly and yes, so much more work to do. We don’t ever plan to go back either… I still cling to some hope that something will change - but it’s mostly foolish. I think mostly though I want to see karma in real time doing its work on the politicians in power as well as the ppl who still support this. But even that won’t get them to acknowledge the vast historic injustices perpetrated on ppl of color in the US. It’s just me being petty. Thank you for sharing this!
Regarding the article, your description of that creeping sense of urgency is so relateable. It's a heavy burden, knowing something is wrong. Feeling helpless as others slowly catch up. This piece truly makes one think about the different timelines people live on.
Fabulous write-up🥂✵‿.•* *✵🎸✨