I cried today

I cried today. At this video, at this time. President Obama surpised a Honor Flight landing in Washington, D.C. He thanked each and every one of them for their service and their commitment to our country. On its own, it was a powerful and emotional moment for everyone involved and everyone watching. Definitely NOT a "suckers and losers" moment.

I cried today because of how far this country has fallen since 2016. A meglomaniac daily destroys the nearly 250 years of work and sacrifice of millions of ordinary citizens for the benefit of himself and his oligarchy. Our system of government, designed to prevent this unchecked tyranny, has been complicit. The House of Representatives serves as merely a fluffer to the orange shitgibbon's miniscule mirco-penis... (not to mention Grindr Mike Johnson's protection of his pedophilia by not seating Adelita Grijalva and blocking the release of the Epstein Files). Too many Democratic Senators, who are voted into office to support their constituents, are more concerned about their AIPAC retirement funds than they are in protecting affordable health care. The Supreme Court is bought and paid for by Leonard Leo and Harlan Crow. 

In 2008 I campaigned for Barack Obama (even before he had secured the nomination over Hillary Clinton). I contributed to the campaign. I knocked on doors (out of state in Nevada since my home state California was a sure thing). I phone banked and talked to hundreds of people in swing states like Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, etc. for months... right up until the polls closed. And we won. And the country recovered and began to thrive after GWB. In 2012, I threw myself into the effort to keep HOPE alive. Phone banking from deep red North Dakota quickly became my hobby of choice. And we won. And everyone in the country succeeded.

I cried today because there isn't much hope for America as we approach the country's 250th Anniversary in 2026. Nameless, faceless Gestapo roam our streets to "disappear" anyone who is black, brown or yellow (non-white). The regime strips journalists access to the Pentagon unless they submit to broadcasting only the "approved state news." MAGA  supports starving the poor among us. They fight to strip the access and power to voting away from those who don't agree with the Dear Leader. They fight to strip healthcare benefits from the most vulnerable of us and astronomically raise the price of health insurance for those who have it. They impose catastrophic tariffs that destroy international trade and bankrupt American businesses. Then they propose a token "tariff rebate." They will, by all means available, try to cancel the elections of 2028 and keep their orange messiah in power.

I cried today for the veterans. Each and every day they represent this country in the most highest honor possible and defend the Contstitution of the United States (even those attacked for who they love or how they indentify themselves). Active or retired, they defend the dreams and ideals a rag-tag bunch of guys had 250 years ago that all should be free and equal. Our veterans deserve better. They deserve to be welcomed home (even after battles with which we disagreed). They deserve the best treatment availble for their wounds (especially the mental trauma they will live with for their lifetimes). They deserve more than just a free breakfast at Denny's one day a year.

I cried today because I fear it will never get any better, no matter how hard we fight back.