Nana is Irritated.

I turned 65 on my last birthday, and I do not like what I see!

All I wanted to do was kick back, listen to the old-school LP’s I’ve been dragging around the country since the ’70s and play them on the “distressed” stereo I bought for $25 during Christmas time at the Goodwill.   The Johnny Mathis “Christmas Album” was still playing on it, but I couldn’t resist. Not Johnny. The stereo!

I wanted to avoid all stressful encounters, take interesting sky pictures, collect crystals & rocks, and for once have a garden that didn’t burn to a crisp in the Arizona sun. I’m still not having luck with that one.  I also wanted some time to focus on self-healing, save money to travel, and go to the gym.  I was feeling great!

But, then everything changed. And, in spite of the ” The Best Economy this Country has ever seen.”, statement from Trump, I’m probably going to have to join the millions of retired Americans who will be looking for a job.

Optimism?

Barack Obama’s 2-term presidency ended, but hope was in the air. Hillary Clinton was a strong candidate, and Bernie went after the “progressive” vote.  Hilliary became the Democratic nominee; people decided not to vote and, she was dubbed the “lesser of two evils.”

Women hatred of other women was apparent. The Russians interfered in our election, thousands of voters could not vote, and Trump won dishonesty. The pendulum took a full swing to the right.

“Syncretism” came to a screeching halt!

The desire for a middle ground between the political left and right, white people and people of color, within American and the rest of the world was overwhelmed by the strengthening of fundamentalist religious groups who play on the fear that their cultural heritage, religious beliefs, and literal survival would be swallowed up by a multicultural and diverse country.

Anger is in the air.

“Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled.” The Kybalion

To Fight or take Flight.

They cut their taxes, dismantled government regulation, and withdrew from significant treaties.

The 2016 Presidential election was a turning point in our history. The desire to take things way back to the way it was before people like me had rights was apparent. The White Superiority would rule once again. In truth, it never left.

It felt like the slave-owner, and his wife wants to run the country like a plantation. It didn’t take long for the wealthy to take advantage of changing the political and social climate.

It’s Painful to Watch.

Trump rubbed up against Dictators, except the African dictatorships in countries he referred to as  “shit holes.” This man wants to erase all remnants of everything that us the right to determine our destiny without roadblocks.

Anything Obama related including, and especially, national healthcare. I questioned whether I could pretend I didn’t see the wrecking balls ready to knock down everything I believed in and fought dismantled.

Abandon Ship!

or

Stay & Fight.

I remembered hearing from some people that they would flee the U.S. and move into places like Norway and other countries in Europe. The ones that are not favorable for Black people for sure.

At times I want to shut my eyes, crank up my music, and pretend I didn’t see what was happening. But, I’ve lived out of the country before, and it ain’t easy. Take my advice and make sure you have an opened-ticket.

I knew this blow-back was coming.  It was years in the making.  A Black Man in the President’s chair was backlash waiting to happen. The

Republicans, the Religious Right, the Tea Party, and other White Supremacist groups had been gearing up for this battle for years.  Individual rights and freedoms mean less power and control by others.

Because No Matter Where I Go.

I never came as close as I did at that moment to want to leave this country for good or die. I thought about my loved ones, and most of all, my Grandchildren and decided it was worth it to stay and fight for them if I was going to stick around.   I also wondered where I could live, especially because wherever I go I’ll bring my “Americanism” with me. I can easily blend in within an African country so long as I keep my mouth shut. Fat chance of that happening.

If you live an inward life, don’t listen to or read the news, get involved in any political discussions, stay away from social media, and fact limit how many people you allow to come into your life you’ll do ok.  It’s hard to ignore some things, but lots of people manage not to see what makes them feel uncomfortable. I wish that worked for me.

Reported suicides or suicide attempts after the election.

The World Health Organisation estimates that “…out of its 183 member countries the United States had the seventh-largest percentage increase in suicide rates between 2000 and 2016. Every suicide can have multiple causes, and the CDC does not offer a simple explanation for the rise.

But other research suggests that one factor behind the rising suicide rate is an erosion of the privileged status of white people.”  We’ll take away your rights and convince you someone else is to blame. What’s worse, it is working.

Stress has become the number one killer of Black Women, and I almost joined the fray.  I had a heart attack in 2017. I went from being not perfect but, not close to death. Even the Cardiologist was surprised to see me at the hospital. “What are you doing here.” It was all too much. It wasn’t too long after I’d had successful brain surgery.

I Need a Break.

Ding Dong is the King Dead Yet?

If not for the U.S. Constitution, many of the rights we can now roll off our tongues wouldn’t exist.  But we shouldn’t think that’s enough.

1. You are looking at a man who wants to be a king. Look at who is pulling strings. Some people think it’s a dandy idea.  Take an afternoon off and read the actual Constitution and all its Amendments.
2. It seems the guys who put together that document were very familiar with the debased thoughts and behaviors of others like them.
3. Books that start with positive messages are often twisted by those in power or who want more of the same. Look at the Bible or the Koran, for example. Honorable teachings are taken out of context to support the horror we experience today.

 Am I surprised all these issues

are in our face right now?

Nope.

13 Things That Irritated my Last Nerve.

Irritation 1.

Silver Alert! There’s a dimwit with dementia in the White House, and Congress can’t figure out what to do with him. What’s the damn problem?

• Someone please come and pick this fool up, and escort him back to his assisted living care unit. Or put him in a Rideshare, Uber or Taxi. But, send him home. Send his poor wife in a different direction as it’s clear she’s sick of him too.
• Get on with it and “Lock him up!” I’m tired of looking at him, and I’m tired of hearing one more incoherent ignorant statement or lie come out of his mouth and people entertaining it.  I can’t even believe there is any discussion that the man is a racist, that’s a done deal. It’s ridiculous!
• At the very least shut down his Twitter account, and if you can’t do that, download a program that will automatically correct his grammar and language.

Irritation 2.

With Supreme Court Justice Kennedy’s retirement, “reproductive rights and the newly gained rights of LGBTQ Americans lie in the hands of an extremist president,” Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.) said in a statement.  A possible return to the good ole’ days when White men ruled the world.

States are slowly but, surely rolling back a woman’s right to choose to give birth. I haven’t heard much noise from men opting to carry the babies they want in their man “wombs.” It’s not so bad. They can get it out by c-section. So,  Men, you want more kids to have them. Women can make some extra money pumping milk for you. Put it in a “man breast bag” and have at it.

Changing demographics

The U.S. reflect the fear that the rise in Spanish-speaking people is undesirable. Anybody, not White shouldn’t be here or as we’ve recently heard should go back to their own country.  Curious because all of them are Americans.

John Cassidy, a columnist for the New Yorker, writes that “Trump’s hostility toward minorities and his capacity to signal that hostility to others has never been a secret.”  Do you think, John?  Write me something I don’t already know.  And, the kicker is that many people act as if they didn’t.

Terrorism in America: Nothing New Here.

Irritation 3.

Race violence is everywhere.

Racism will never go away. Internal domestic terror attacks are increasing. KKK, White-supremacist, and Nazis are running anti-racism activists over with automobiles at rallies.

Everybody’s places of worship are being blown up. And, so much for prayer as evidenced by the growing hate crime numbers, including the recent beating and murder of a Black transgender woman.

Irritation 4.

All reports said that twenty-six people were rushed by ambulance to the hospital, reports said. Police did arrest the driver, and the authorities said he was a “madman.”    I call him a terrorist. The dimwit says some of these people are good people.

KKK and Nazi’s in America: Hate Crimes.

Again, Nothing New.

Irritation 5.

Heather Heyer died from her injuries caused by the speeding car. White Supremacist probably cheered believing she was useless anyway. A white woman using birth control and protesting with Black people is unacceptable.  And, why are Asian-American fighting against Affirmative Action? I’ll leave that one for another post.

So the guy who did it goes to jail for life. Told you “White Lives Matter.” When it comes to murder, especially of a white woman, it matters more than if a Black or Brown manchild is shot in the back or choked to death on the street by the police. “White Matters” all the time and don’t you forget it.

Make it Great for Whom?

Nothing New Here.

It’s Gods Will. Or at least I’ve been told.

Trump is the popular vote a “loser,” And, Russian elected winner.

Irritation 5.

Nazi-fascist movements: “To destroy democracy and impose a regime based on racism, discrimination, and xenophobia.”

That said, white supremacists may participate in the democratic process whenever it’s convenient to their goal—just as Nazis did in Germany and Italy in the 1930s, where dictators were firs voted into office.” Annalisa Merelli, Quart Magazine, August 2017.

Ignorance is the foundation of life in America.

To save America from an advancing, fatal drift away from self-government, liberty and the promise of greater prosperity for future generations.

Tea Party Manifesto

Irritation 7.

The Tea Party (remember them?) and Religious Right have become slick adversaries. It takes skill to convince people the entire world is against them all the while stealing food out of their children’s mouths in plain sight, in the name of the Lord. I cringe when I see pictures of or even hear the people who say Trump is their savior.

The Union of all Aryans in North America.

“We must have an all-White National Socialist America; an America in which our children and our grandchildren will play and go to school with other White children; an America in which they will date and marry other young people of our race; an America in which all their offspring will be beautiful, healthy White babies.”

American Nazi Party

50-years and still counting.

Can we Pleazzzz  Move on!

Irritation 8.

It’s a brilliant strategy to convince people to kill doctors who perform abortions. Why not lock women up on baby farms to replenish the declining White population.  But, in the same breath, you want to cut programs to care for those children once they are here.

You want to end the Affordable Health Care Program for those babies and laugh at the people who work below a living wage, many of whom are white people. Job numbers up. Of course, in low money jobs at Carl’s Jr. Why are children going hungry in this country?

Keep Americans Stupid.

Irritation 9.

Meanwhile, corporations rake in profits, get tax breaks or pay no taxes at all and get refunds.  We support it via Amazon. Rich people are given incentives as they replace U.S. workers with foreign slave labor.

I believe most people who support this administration are sticking with it because in their heads they know they got played but, don’t want to admit it.

I watched a recent interview with a group of the “Trump Base.” The one that I found most interesting was a young Black man who said, “I’m a conservative, and I’ll continue to vote for Trump.” Why? The interviewer asked. “What about the fact that he’s racist? Doesn’t that matter to you?” With a straight face, he answered, “No. He’s good for business.”

Are coal miners still dying from Black Lung Disease? Who cares. Open those mines and put them back to work.

Irritation 10.

Workers across the country are suffering from worsening economic conditions though somehow the job numbers are up.  Bringing coal mining jobs back is not the solution.  Why not train them to work in the alternative energy field instead of importing our solar panels from other countries?

People in this country act surprised when tax cuts for the wealthy don’t trickle down to them.  Why do working-class people keep going for this scam? Why is this Administration taking credit for job numbers going up when that was the trend already, and it doesn’t take into consideration that the job numbers are up because people take for granted they have to take on more jobs, working longer hours while the cost-of-living rises.

Join the Millions of Unemployed Americans

Yep, jobs numbers are up because older people had to return to work cash registers at Walmart and grocery stores.  Look at who’s checking out and bagging your groceries.  And, while we hear of our booming economy, why has our debt increased to over a trillion dollars a year?

                                                  Are we floating Solar Panel farms in America? Great! Oh, these are in China.

We are losing big time.

Irritation 11.

But, look a little closer. Some of these folks aren’t smiling as much. They looked at their 2018 tax returns or lack thereof and feel cheated. Truth is they were. How can people be so stupid? How are these folks feeling now? Did they not know that their golden boy didn’t pay taxes for close to a decade?

 

For many of these folks race is the issue, not economics. I’m still

waiting to hear about those good things the Republicans have done for Black People. I heard it’s the lowest unemployment rate in the history of this country.  Did peanut butter and jelly salaries count as a job? Can you add that to your resume?

America will never be destroyed from the outside.  If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.  (Abraham Lincoln)

Irritation 12.

I ran across this quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln, the new poster child of the Republican Party. They take pride in saying that the Republicans are the party that freed the slaves.

And, in response to the call for reparations for descendants of slaves, some Republicans believe that since a Democrat assassinated Lincoln, that they, the Democrats, should pay the bill.

I Don’t Need Reparations. I Need A Permanent Restraining Order Against Racism.

We are participating in a war on every continent while hugging and kissing Dictators and supporting repressive governments with our tax dollars. It’s frightening. And, my Grandchildren are growing up under these circumstances.

What a hot mess!   

 It’s a Booming Economy for Who? 

What Can We Nanas Do?

“Never Give Up and Never Close Your Heart.”  (My Mother)

Those words have kept me from shutting down many a time. I decided that the best way for Nana To Fight Back was not to take to the streets but, to educate my Grandchildren on how to survive in this racist, sexist, crazy, greedy but, beautiful country. So they know the game and don’t fall for empty promises and lies about who they are, and who they are capable of being.  I vow to bug my reps and your reps in Congress. I’ll keep on voting, and keep convincing others it’s worth it. I’ll donate a teaspoon of money to groups, I believe in, and not write it off on my taxes.

• I can offer my Grandkids a safe place for them to be in the chaos of a world we’ve left for them. I want more of our Black sons and daughters to think about becoming Doctors, College Professors, and Scientist. And, if its sports for them then encourage them to own a franchise.
• I can encourage them, as my mother did years ago when she gave me her wise words.

The tides will come in, and  things will change as they always do. Look under the surface. Choose your battles, and don’t give up. (My Mother)

 

Time for us Nana(s) to Fight Back and Make Some Noise.

Or, shut-up and apply for a job at Walmart.

P.S. I admire all the workers at Walmart by the way. Those workers put up with more crap than we can imagine. At this rate, I might be putting my application in with the rest of us over 65 gangs.