Thank you so much. I have a set time to despair over here, and then a couple friends and I are sitting down to drink and brainstorm specific action steps that we can take. We're in New York, but women all over will need help accessing abortions and medical care. People of color and migrants will need us to have their backs FOR ONCE. There are things we can and must do.
I've just set up a monthly donation to the Brigid Alliance and abortion care network thank you for sharing both. Il spread the message on my socials as well x
You've just brought tears to my eyes (in the best possible way which may I say is a welcome change). Thank you so very much for your solidarity to a stranger. I am so so grateful.
This is such a positive reaction to a truly dark day all credit to you for adopting this mindset so quickly.If you have any links or info on any causes you can recommend that needs promoting, financial support on any of the causes you've listed above please share or dm me and il gladly lend my support. I was in NYC this time last year and I absolutely adored the city. As with the stupid taking back control with Brexit slogan that was adopted over here Make America Great again means absolutely but kiss as its already a great country of good people as we are in the UK and you have our love and support. Cymryd calon take heart as we say in Wales x
That's so kind of you - thank you so much. I'm in a pretty good position in that I am an attorney and a law professor. I can sit here and tell myself that as important as my job training new lawyers was yesterday (and it was), it's more crucial today (and it is). I have offered my help to a legal services organization that does transgender name changes, because it's crucial to get those done NOW. And we've offered a room to a gay family friend who lives in North Carolina. So little things but they help.
I have supported the Brigid Alliance before and will again. I'll also give everyone a couple days to regroup and see what actions are both needed and sustainable. And I will certainly keep you updated. Diolch yn fawr and hugs from New York State.
Thanks Ian. As soon as I woke up I deactivated my Twitter account and unsubscribed from every political-only podcast I listen to. I really enjoy them, but I just can't do it anymore. I'm really despairing... for Ukraine, for Taiwan, for all those who didn't vote Trump. The fact that Trump and Musk won the day... victory for the biggest 2 cunts on the planet, just shatters my sense of truth, morality, human nature, and democracy.
Going to unplug from as much as I can (I'll still stick with you and Dorian though!) and live in ignorance for a bit. One of the good things about not having kids is that this grand experiment ultimately doesn't matter to me. Nihilistic and very anti-humanity but I need to rebuild some faith and I'm not going to be doing it through watching the subsequent car crash
I unplugged and went off grid after Brexit for a while so I know the feeling when I did resurface I subsequently found a terrific community in the Remaniacs, I have no doubt there will be such an underground movement/podcast encouraging positive action and a safe space for reaching out to the disenfranchised in the US as well although maybe
I'm going to spend the rest of this year and next moving away from as many USA digital platforms as possible. For now Microsoft is OK but there's the Open Document Foundation based in Germany which manages, among other things, LibreOffice which does all I ever want/need from an office package.
I've cut my Prime sub off for good, and I'll not be using Amazon anymore. I'll subscribe again to The Guardian, and continue donating 5% of net income to Ukraine. Words are no longer enough, as we've now witnessed loud and clear in the States.
We must put our money where our mouth is, as the saying goes. And that's the very least we can do.
FWIW I feel the left has let us down big time. The right shows unity but the left are always infighting. I can't understand how the polls⁶ said it was going to be so very close, yet here we are, Kamala didn't even come close to the fascist. And my feeling on this? The left were so principled (mistakenly so) because of Kamala's moderated support for Israel that they couldn't hold their noses long enough to get down to the polling station. We've seen how the left blew it in France. They've done it again in the States. That's my explanation for why the polls got it so wrong these last few months.
Cheers Ian, you brighten up an otherwise very dark day.
You have really impressed and influenced me with your donations to Ukraine. I feel that Ukraine is fighting for us and we should be more supportive.
On the other hand may I very gently disagree with your blaming of the Left. Having an opinion about how society should organise itself is one thing. How to persuade large numbers of people who have little interest or knowledge that you are right is much harder.
We need to do what we can to protect trustworthiness and truth. I submitted a formal complaint to Channel 4 about Boris Johnson's presence on their election programme, saying that people who have lied as often as he has should be banned from panels on media shows. I'll make a point of complaining about similar events in the future. If everyone did this, would it have some effect?
Thanks Ian. I'd only add one thing. I've spent the whole of my adult life since 1979 mainly being 'against' stuff. Thatcher, pit closures, privatisation, nukes, sexism, racism, everyism, Wars,Brexit, Johnson, Trump. I want to be 'for' something from now on. Leaders of the left and centre need to start fighting back, if we're going to lose most of the time anyway, let's at least rally around things we actually believe in rather than looking for the lowest common denominator which is least likely to upset our slightly racist uncle. We can never give them enough, it's time to take them on in a full throated manner.
Rebecca, please do not guilt trip over the votes of fellow Americans over whom you have no control. I invite you to re-read where Ian says blaming those who voted Crunt is non-productive. Feel good about why you are better and *do something*
Don't worry, we know how you feel. We had the same after our country voted to leave the EU. It wasn't just the shock of it happening but the realisation that so many of one's fellow country people voted to do it. We were jeered at and called traitors and 'moaners' but that has stopped now that the Leavers have seen the damage they have done. Not just to themselves but to all of us. Many of them won't admit it, though and you should be prepared for all that.
“Mere words do not get pacifists anywhere. They must initiate action. Deeds are needed.”
“Organised force can only be opposed by organised force. There is no other way.”
“The world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it.”
“[The German people] elected Hitler after he made shameful intentions clear beyond the possibility of misunderstanding.”
“The fate of mankind hinges entirely upon man’s moral development.”
The one that gets me most is the "... elected Hitler after he made shameful intentions clear beyond the possibility of misunderstanding.” I feel I've just watched someone offer to punch someone else in the face but only if they agree to let them do it. And they did agree to it and now they are being punched in the face. And now he's going to punch everyone else in the face too.
What exactly are we to think about those *who knew* what Trump will do, but voted for it anyway? How does one even comprehend that, let alone forgive it?
I have mixed views on his output, but really liked this clip of John Stewart on this, which aligns with your no direction point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLiagIdA84c
And you’re both right. We look at things in hindsight as though the solutions were obvious and the direction of travel was always set. It never was. It never is. All we can do is try to nudge things in the best way.
As for Europe, I never thought Labour’s position was sustainable. That notion of a choice having been made and us just having to accept where we are, isolated and alone, and that the EU wouldn’t have us back even in broad cooperative terms let alone as a member. That surely needs to change now – and quickly. Not that I’m suggesting we’ll be back tomorrow, nor even in the SM+CU any time soon. But arm’s length is no longer an option.
I am sat in the office with a Ukrainian colleague you can on empathize so much, but really cannot imagine how they are feeling. FWIW their answer is also, more Europe.
Thank you Ian, for expressing so beautifully where we are today. I found it a comfort in my mix of feelings of horror, fear, dread and fury at those who voted for him.
I totally agree about Europe. I hope we all - brits and europeans - very swiftly understand this. America is no longer a friend and ally - unless those who appear to have believed that Trump didn't mean anything he said turn out to be right. Not holding my breath.
Agree with pretty much everything else you said here, Ian. But am also very anxious about the Middle East.
I understand Samuel's despair (above ) but I have one of my grandchildren sleeping on my sofa while enduring tonsillitis at the moment - and for her, her sister and her mother - not to mention all the other lovely people in the world - I don't think we can afford despair.
I suspect Trump himself wouldn’t bother doing a lot of the shit he’s said he would. It’s the nutters around him I worry about. And whether they will ever really relinquish power ever again.
I'm going to keep my voice on social media, just not on "X" .There it is, my final admission that the Twitter that I was so invested in, no longer exists. I refuse to put money in the pocket of silicon valley's premier Voortrekker. I'm on Blue sky, Threads and IG, and there I'll remain.
Another thought occurs. A lot of us thought Johnson would be in power for a decade back in 2019, but his fundamental character flaws saw him out much sooner. Trump will (hopefully!!) only have 4 years. Yes Trumpism will survive and he’ll try to bequeath it to someone else, but there’s no guarantees that’ll work or that the project won’t fall apart. If Trump actually implements Project 2025 it would likely be inflationary and highly unpopular. If it was the economy stupid this time, the Reps may be in just as bad a position next time, and won’t have Trump on the ballot as their cultist figurehead.
Don't believe for an instant that Crunt can do "bequeath". Just too fucking arrogant and selfish (and stoopid) to establish a legacy for others to then pick up and run with. Having said ... he will have in his gift the power to twat the World into oblivion "with 4 minutes' notice", not *quite enough* time for an Article 49 approval process to complete.
Thanks Ian - well put as always. Surprised about how hard this second Trump victory has hit me, feels like an indecent boot to the face. But your words helped so thanks. Not sure about the 2 drams mind, may need to go a little harder than that tonight I think :).
Thank you so much. I have a set time to despair over here, and then a couple friends and I are sitting down to drink and brainstorm specific action steps that we can take. We're in New York, but women all over will need help accessing abortions and medical care. People of color and migrants will need us to have their backs FOR ONCE. There are things we can and must do.
Just for the record, you writing this gave me hope. Thank you.
On abortion, a friend who is heavily involved in the movement suggested donating to and supporting the following, as opposed to Planned Parenthood:
https://abortioncarenetwork.org/
https://apiaryps.org/
The Brigid Alliance is pretty good also.
Thanks for sharing Nicole I'll read up on this.
I've just set up a monthly donation to the Brigid Alliance and abortion care network thank you for sharing both. Il spread the message on my socials as well x
You've just brought tears to my eyes (in the best possible way which may I say is a welcome change). Thank you so very much for your solidarity to a stranger. I am so so grateful.
Just seen this very happy to help x
This is such a positive reaction to a truly dark day all credit to you for adopting this mindset so quickly.If you have any links or info on any causes you can recommend that needs promoting, financial support on any of the causes you've listed above please share or dm me and il gladly lend my support. I was in NYC this time last year and I absolutely adored the city. As with the stupid taking back control with Brexit slogan that was adopted over here Make America Great again means absolutely but kiss as its already a great country of good people as we are in the UK and you have our love and support. Cymryd calon take heart as we say in Wales x
That's so kind of you - thank you so much. I'm in a pretty good position in that I am an attorney and a law professor. I can sit here and tell myself that as important as my job training new lawyers was yesterday (and it was), it's more crucial today (and it is). I have offered my help to a legal services organization that does transgender name changes, because it's crucial to get those done NOW. And we've offered a room to a gay family friend who lives in North Carolina. So little things but they help.
I have supported the Brigid Alliance before and will again. I'll also give everyone a couple days to regroup and see what actions are both needed and sustainable. And I will certainly keep you updated. Diolch yn fawr and hugs from New York State.
❤️ 🤍 💙
Thanks Ian. As soon as I woke up I deactivated my Twitter account and unsubscribed from every political-only podcast I listen to. I really enjoy them, but I just can't do it anymore. I'm really despairing... for Ukraine, for Taiwan, for all those who didn't vote Trump. The fact that Trump and Musk won the day... victory for the biggest 2 cunts on the planet, just shatters my sense of truth, morality, human nature, and democracy.
Going to unplug from as much as I can (I'll still stick with you and Dorian though!) and live in ignorance for a bit. One of the good things about not having kids is that this grand experiment ultimately doesn't matter to me. Nihilistic and very anti-humanity but I need to rebuild some faith and I'm not going to be doing it through watching the subsequent car crash
I unplugged and went off grid after Brexit for a while so I know the feeling when I did resurface I subsequently found a terrific community in the Remaniacs, I have no doubt there will be such an underground movement/podcast encouraging positive action and a safe space for reaching out to the disenfranchised in the US as well although maybe
without as much strong English profanity! 😉
Radio 3 helps me.
I'm going to spend the rest of this year and next moving away from as many USA digital platforms as possible. For now Microsoft is OK but there's the Open Document Foundation based in Germany which manages, among other things, LibreOffice which does all I ever want/need from an office package.
I've cut my Prime sub off for good, and I'll not be using Amazon anymore. I'll subscribe again to The Guardian, and continue donating 5% of net income to Ukraine. Words are no longer enough, as we've now witnessed loud and clear in the States.
We must put our money where our mouth is, as the saying goes. And that's the very least we can do.
FWIW I feel the left has let us down big time. The right shows unity but the left are always infighting. I can't understand how the polls⁶ said it was going to be so very close, yet here we are, Kamala didn't even come close to the fascist. And my feeling on this? The left were so principled (mistakenly so) because of Kamala's moderated support for Israel that they couldn't hold their noses long enough to get down to the polling station. We've seen how the left blew it in France. They've done it again in the States. That's my explanation for why the polls got it so wrong these last few months.
Cheers Ian, you brighten up an otherwise very dark day.
You have really impressed and influenced me with your donations to Ukraine. I feel that Ukraine is fighting for us and we should be more supportive.
On the other hand may I very gently disagree with your blaming of the Left. Having an opinion about how society should organise itself is one thing. How to persuade large numbers of people who have little interest or knowledge that you are right is much harder.
Today would be an interesting day for Twitter deactivations, after umming and ahhing about it for weeks I finally bit the bullet too.
Dorian Samuel? Could you please give me a nudge in the right direction?
Fanx
Origin Story’s other creator and Ian’s partner :)
Cheers mate 🤜💥🤛
Im with you Samuel, 💯
We need to do what we can to protect trustworthiness and truth. I submitted a formal complaint to Channel 4 about Boris Johnson's presence on their election programme, saying that people who have lied as often as he has should be banned from panels on media shows. I'll make a point of complaining about similar events in the future. If everyone did this, would it have some effect?
Thanks Ian. I'd only add one thing. I've spent the whole of my adult life since 1979 mainly being 'against' stuff. Thatcher, pit closures, privatisation, nukes, sexism, racism, everyism, Wars,Brexit, Johnson, Trump. I want to be 'for' something from now on. Leaders of the left and centre need to start fighting back, if we're going to lose most of the time anyway, let's at least rally around things we actually believe in rather than looking for the lowest common denominator which is least likely to upset our slightly racist uncle. We can never give them enough, it's time to take them on in a full throated manner.
As an American - thank you. I’m sorry.
Rebecca, please do not guilt trip over the votes of fellow Americans over whom you have no control. I invite you to re-read where Ian says blaming those who voted Crunt is non-productive. Feel good about why you are better and *do something*
Reading this after taking a long walk. Ian is right and so are you.
Don't worry, we know how you feel. We had the same after our country voted to leave the EU. It wasn't just the shock of it happening but the realisation that so many of one's fellow country people voted to do it. We were jeered at and called traitors and 'moaners' but that has stopped now that the Leavers have seen the damage they have done. Not just to themselves but to all of us. Many of them won't admit it, though and you should be prepared for all that.
But we keep fighting on. Good luck and all that!
I boshed a 4 pack of emotional support pork pies at 10am. Helped, for a bit.
6 custard creams for lunch, another two with a cuppa. Watching Sherwood (not sure this one helps).
Here are some quotes from Albert Einstein:
“Mere words do not get pacifists anywhere. They must initiate action. Deeds are needed.”
“Organised force can only be opposed by organised force. There is no other way.”
“The world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it.”
“[The German people] elected Hitler after he made shameful intentions clear beyond the possibility of misunderstanding.”
“The fate of mankind hinges entirely upon man’s moral development.”
The one that gets me most is the "... elected Hitler after he made shameful intentions clear beyond the possibility of misunderstanding.” I feel I've just watched someone offer to punch someone else in the face but only if they agree to let them do it. And they did agree to it and now they are being punched in the face. And now he's going to punch everyone else in the face too.
What exactly are we to think about those *who knew* what Trump will do, but voted for it anyway? How does one even comprehend that, let alone forgive it?
I am dumbfounded by the dumbfuckery of it.
I have mixed views on his output, but really liked this clip of John Stewart on this, which aligns with your no direction point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLiagIdA84c
And you’re both right. We look at things in hindsight as though the solutions were obvious and the direction of travel was always set. It never was. It never is. All we can do is try to nudge things in the best way.
As for Europe, I never thought Labour’s position was sustainable. That notion of a choice having been made and us just having to accept where we are, isolated and alone, and that the EU wouldn’t have us back even in broad cooperative terms let alone as a member. That surely needs to change now – and quickly. Not that I’m suggesting we’ll be back tomorrow, nor even in the SM+CU any time soon. But arm’s length is no longer an option.
I am sat in the office with a Ukrainian colleague you can on empathize so much, but really cannot imagine how they are feeling. FWIW their answer is also, more Europe.
Thank you Ian, for expressing so beautifully where we are today. I found it a comfort in my mix of feelings of horror, fear, dread and fury at those who voted for him.
Chapeau Dorit🧢, me too 👏👏👏
I totally agree about Europe. I hope we all - brits and europeans - very swiftly understand this. America is no longer a friend and ally - unless those who appear to have believed that Trump didn't mean anything he said turn out to be right. Not holding my breath.
Agree with pretty much everything else you said here, Ian. But am also very anxious about the Middle East.
I understand Samuel's despair (above ) but I have one of my grandchildren sleeping on my sofa while enduring tonsillitis at the moment - and for her, her sister and her mother - not to mention all the other lovely people in the world - I don't think we can afford despair.
PS cake and whiskey sound damn good though...
I suspect Trump himself wouldn’t bother doing a lot of the shit he’s said he would. It’s the nutters around him I worry about. And whether they will ever really relinquish power ever again.
Quite!
Agreed. He's far too lazy.
Suspect he’ll mainly play golf and feather his nest, handing the keys to the loons.
I'm going to keep my voice on social media, just not on "X" .There it is, my final admission that the Twitter that I was so invested in, no longer exists. I refuse to put money in the pocket of silicon valley's premier Voortrekker. I'm on Blue sky, Threads and IG, and there I'll remain.
Really needed to hear this. Thank you.
Another thought occurs. A lot of us thought Johnson would be in power for a decade back in 2019, but his fundamental character flaws saw him out much sooner. Trump will (hopefully!!) only have 4 years. Yes Trumpism will survive and he’ll try to bequeath it to someone else, but there’s no guarantees that’ll work or that the project won’t fall apart. If Trump actually implements Project 2025 it would likely be inflationary and highly unpopular. If it was the economy stupid this time, the Reps may be in just as bad a position next time, and won’t have Trump on the ballot as their cultist figurehead.
Don't believe for an instant that Crunt can do "bequeath". Just too fucking arrogant and selfish (and stoopid) to establish a legacy for others to then pick up and run with. Having said ... he will have in his gift the power to twat the World into oblivion "with 4 minutes' notice", not *quite enough* time for an Article 49 approval process to complete.
This was like a hug in written form - thank you 😊
Thanks Ian - well put as always. Surprised about how hard this second Trump victory has hit me, feels like an indecent boot to the face. But your words helped so thanks. Not sure about the 2 drams mind, may need to go a little harder than that tonight I think :).