1) Becoming more politically aware. That more than 70 million Americans voted for a megalomaniacal, narcissistic, self-centered, pathological liar who tried to politicize a deadly virus that has killed more than a half-million people, refuses to accept responsibility for the cruel, disgusting things he and his administration did and represented and still whines like a toddler claiming that the election was "stolen." And that people out there believe this crap without a shred of evidence that the election, by and large, was fair and properly run. He cannot be tried enough, convicted enough or serve enough time.
2) That people care so little about one another that they refuse to wear masks. That so many people think that masks are only about protecting themselves. That so many people refuse to see the greater good – a factor that helped build so many things that are good about this country – or are too selfish to realize the world isn't just about themselves.
3) That anyone trying to rail against vaccinations might be the dumbest people walking the planet. I loathe needles, and I got vaccinated. There's no better way to beat this virus based on what we believe we know now, and those who think otherwise either haven't come up with a better solution or are in a deep level of denial. The anti-vaxxers are spiking the odds that this virus lingers long after it should be eradicated ... because, again, a country that generally believed in the greater good has too many who suddenly became entitled and about only themselves.
4) That one political party has gone so far off the rails that it could ruin this country. (Mods, I can hear it now ... "only in the political thread, please" ... ). No. In general, I typically border on apolitical ... or used to, anyway. I'd like to go almost all the way back to doing so. It's much better worrying about how to do a better job at work, how to be a better friend and watching my sports teams. I've been told I'm not much good at everything else.
5) That moving to find better opportunities prior to a pandemic is an ugly double-whammy. I still know only my roommate, who I knew going in, and basically no one else in the area.
6) That, barring a change professionally and soon, maybe it's time to go back. It's not perfect – no place is. I've lived in six states for at least eight consecutive months – lived in three areas of one state for a minimum of four years each (you'll neeeeever figure that one out) – and a country abroad for more than three years. I'd really like to toss my moving boxes and change-of-address calling list. Wanderlust is really overrated ... except the occasional drive down a twisty road in an excellent vehicle.
7) That the country abroad I lived in had a megalomaniacal dictator and POS wife who had countless people killed, embezzled billions of what would be American dollars and robbed a poor country blind. Worse, he had millions of natives convinced otherwise (sound familiar?), and he even had a political rival who returned from exile assassinated on the tarmac the moment he tried to return home. Thousands were tortured, abducted and killed. His name was Ferdinand Marcos (look him up, kids). It was ugly enough to see something like that once. To see the level of government corruption and propaganda again – in this country, with the guardrails our democracy supposed had in place and with millions of idiots not bothering to check facts or verify the supposed leader's BS – has been horrifying. If any of you never believe another thing I post, please believe that you don't want that happening in this country. I can only imagine what people who moved here to get away from horrendous dictators and governments rife in corruption are experiencing.
Enough. Better days are ahead, right? Right!?
