For the past two weeks I have been in quite a funk. While I try to stay away from politics on my blog for the most part, there are times when I just can't keep silent. Wouldn't that make me complicit?
Most native speakers of the English language are far more eloquent in voicing their opinion and concern, so I will not even attempt to do that. However, just saying nothing isn't in my nature either (ask my daughter and husband who have witnessed many of my ventings). Therefore, just a few things.
Dressing down and bullying the president of a country in war is beyond indecent and horrible. I believe this disaster was a complete set-up and Zelinskyy got trapped by two men who are supposed to be the "leaders" of the "free" world. Didn't Trump say "this makes great television"? Reality TV meets politics. What a disaster. And - this wasn't America first, this was Russia first. I'm sure Putin laughed up his sleeve.
Please explain to me how tariffs will help the American people, especially those who are already struggling with high rents and grocery prices. And while we're at it, how can it be beneficial for the US to alienate their allies? This is not the art of the deal, this is the art of turning friends into foes. When Canadians, who are usually friendly and nice people (most of them), boo the American anthem when it is played before a hockey game, one should pay careful attention. How can you betray your closest friend - without any reason? I'm surprised the Canada Goose has not been renamed to American Goose - yet.
I can only join in the call, elbows up!
Of course Europe is next and I take this very personal. I'm glad to see that Europe takes action, that the United Kingdom is closer to Europe now than during that entire Brexit chaos and that Canada is in the "mix" as well. And I feel myself closer to Europe, too, despite the danger that is evolving for the European countries now. Or maybe because of it? Again, Putin must have a heyday - finally it seems the West is breaking apart, something he has been waiting for for a long time.
Would you have ever believed that the cause for that would be coming from the USA, the "shining beacon on the hill"? That beacon has dimmed a lot.
There's much much more I could say - there are new horror news every day. It's exhausting and probably also serves as a distraction for something even worse.
But - I don't want to stay in that funk anymore. I want to do something. Our senators and my representative in congress are both democrats, so it wouldn't change much if I called them. I joined the local town hall meeting of our representative Mike Thompson which was lively with people asking questions what we as individuals can do. His answers, unfortunately, were not very satisfying since he only told us to speak to our friends and family in red states. Well, my family lives in Germany, Turkey, Portugal and Canada, and I don't have friends in red states. Instead, I have started to support our immigrant community. After all, I'm an immigrant myself, even though I have US citizenship (and I'm still a German citizen).
I'm also aware that I need to take care of my mental health. Maybe you feel like that as well - and I hope this sunset at the Northern coast of Brittany will give you some calm. My garden still needs a lot of work, so I'm out there a lot, as well as out in nature as often as I can. Art journaling has become another outlet that helps me to escape for some time, and of course I do read a lot. I've just finished "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby van Pelt, what a gem of a book. At the moment I'm reading "North Woods" by Daniel Mason - have you read it?
Have a good weekend, everyone - stay healthy, take a deep breath and a walk in the woods, and cook some fine dinner.
