General Discussion

…and I so admire that. You have been a voice for action, reason, and progress here and everywhere you’ve lived.

I have done what I could, and felt it was to good effect. Yet a month or two ago I said to some people who know me IRL that “It was all for naught, “ and it shocked the hell out of them. Remind me not to do that again to my friends, no matter what whispers to me in the dark depths of night.

And — let me say this to you, to myself, to everyone here: Nothing Is Wasted.

First, America is not alone in stupidity. The world itself is in some measure regressing, as I saw during Trump’s first term. Fascism apparently is a Siren call for many across the world. It’s bad, it’s rotten, and it’s here as well. It seems to be some kind of historical cycle, and though it may pass, we are in it and it may not pass in our lifetimes. This is exacerbated beyond belief by technology, especially AI. I saw this during Trump’s first term.

Second, Americans who see what’s happening are not alone in resisting. It’s just that people overseas and across the border are not able to fix our country for us.

Third, our generation is passing, though we’re not gone yet.

Somehow it seems our cohort has been singled out as troublemakers forever — and it’s been useful to liars and political manipulators. I remember when it was “our” fault that classrooms were overfull. Then we were “all” dope-smoking sex-crazed hippies. Then “we” burned our draft cards and bras, respectively. Then, even as our brothers and friends were sent to Vietnam to be slaughtered wholesale, we were “all” bomb-making molotov-cocktail throwing anti-war rioters.

And now that all of us are certifiably old, “we” are accused of having taken more than our “share” , of still taking more than our share, and “we” are collectively responsible for the stomach-churning backlash occasioned by/but not caused by the election of Barack Obama. This does not even comport with the facts.

During the BushCheney admin I would shake my head in bafflement and ask “Who does this serve?! “ and my friend Dottie, an accountant who was volunteering along with me with the local VFP, would say, “Follow the money. “

I feel ground down. I feel like the powerful of the world, who acknowledge no borders, nor allegiance to any laws, have made clear to me that I and we are small and they are Big. They most certainly followed the money!

I am tired — it truly is becoming a task for the next gen and the next. I’m still here and will try to do what I can, though I feel diminished as my energy flags. I sincerely hope the generations who are so eager to replace us are up to the task. They will have to be.

Optimism? Not much any more. Yet 30 years ago when I was applying for grad school and trying to, I dunno, justify my work and achievements for an academic setting, I realized: Nothing Is Wasted. I got in, did the work, earned my 2 grad degrees, then marched off to anti-war instead of continuing in academia. In doing and doing I forgot my modest epiphany, but I emphasize its truth again.

My dear friend — and all who may read this — hold to this: nothing you have done is wasted. The coming generations will have to do their best, is all.

Nothing is Wasted

Nothing is Wasted

Nothing is Wasted