I have hesitated to write a blog in many months for one reason:  I could not even begin to find the words for what is going on in the world. I have always wanted to keep politics out of this space, but that’s become impossible because what is happening is about more than who a person voted for, it’s the absolute falling apart of decency, compassion, intelligence, empathy, common sense, and yes, democracy.

There’s no more need to be still when someone says, “Oh, that can’t happen.” It already IS happening.

It staggers the mind to see what is going on. Again, it’s not about disagreeing over policy or budgets.

It’s slicing benefits for Veterans who have served this country. It’s destroying the lives of people who stand in the hot sun picking tomatoes so we can put them on our salads, while they have no health insurance or enough food to feed their own children. It’s terrorizing human beings who know in their heart they were born to be another gender. (How is this your business?) It’s ripping the jobs away from thousands of hard-working, underpaid, caring people who have worked tirelessly to keep our national parks (which were originally created as a gift to the people) safe, clean, and open.

It’s inviting a human cyborg to take over Cabinet meetings and demand that seasoned employees prove to him they are worthy of their jobs. (NO ONE voted for him.)

And sickeningly, it’s doing it from the pretext that it’s what God wants. (It’s hard not to type that without vomiting.)

Perhaps all we can do is resist. Resist hearing it. Resist letting someone tell us how “smart” this person is. (Dear God.) Resist doing business in any retail setting where employees are loudly extolling this regime and assuming everyone in the place agrees with them. (We don’t.) Resist giving into the unending exhaustion it brings about to live in a country where ignorance rules. Stand with Ukraine and its brave people.

Some of us will resist. Try to do what we can to help those who are being persecuted. Get our vaccines and pray for those who eschew scientific expertise and take their chances while putting others at risk. Speak up when we know something is WRONG. Read news from sources that actually fact-check. And hang on to hope that this too shall pass.

If this incites angry feedback, so be it. Turn on FOX. Read the so-called “newspapers” that are nothing but propaganda. Spray your hair orange. Enjoy. I do my best every day to say a prayer for you. You may have some power for a while.

I will have hope forever.

I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.

Anne Frank