It’s the day before the trial resumes, and although I’d planned on writing about television shows (watch this space!) I find there’s something else I have to say first.
Oh, Susan, I feel like I have one foot in your husband’s camp (the truth has GOT to mean something!) and yours. I grew up pretty skeptical myself, with little belief in institutions that codified male power - and little faith in mainstream journalism - but OMG it’s so much worse now. I’ve taken to avoiding all click-baity headlines in the NYT (never thought I’d see the day when I’d contemplate dumping my subscription, but), and I don’t watch broadcast news unless I need to compare story coverage for academic reasons. The CNN excerpt you pulled with Anderson Cooper says it all - and is profoundly depressing to me.
My current battle is how/what to do to resist this despair - writing about it helps, as does shining a light on those in power with a vested interest in keeping people confused, uninformed, and apathetic. I’m looking at you, Big Tech.
Re battle to resist despair through writing: Sometimes I imagine just stopping the kind of writing I’ve done all my life, which keeps me immersed in the horror, and doing a memoir…or a mystery novel…or another historical thing, like the Anne Boleyn book. I had so much fun researching and writing that book! But it’s hard to imagine getting back into that positive space. And I worry that it would isolate me, as at this stage in my life (retired and alienated from academia) doing these substack pieces are my main means of community (with people like you.) And commenting on this stuff is such a part of me! This past week, I spent days doing the research I like to do when I do tv and movie stacks—rewatching shows, doing background, etc. I love doing that. But then, like a magnet, this piece pulled at me. And then I had to sleep for a whole day yesterday.
Sometimes I think those of us who are struggling to keep the joy in writing going in these times but who can’t just “escape” (not to belittle it!) into fiction or more light-hearted, creative kinds of stacks should start a magazine here. There’s a space we inhabit that’s unique. There’s the reporting from more straight journalistic people who have huge subscriber numbers, there’s the “fun” newsletters, there’s the people who are mostly interested in the craft of writing. But then there’s…well, I don’t know exactly what to call it. But we gravitate toward each other’s stacks, and we recognize each other and feel community in the recognition. But then, I’m daunted by the mechanics and extra work of doing such a thing. Just doing my once-a-week stack wears me out!!
I have not been following the trial closely, so either verdict would not surprise me. And I would not be surprised if Trump were re-elected given either verdict.
That said, I'm with Edward, perhaps on a longer time frame. I think history will inscribe Trumpism as a last gasp of an attempt to stigmatize the "other," meaning anyone not a white male or a traditional white female.
Both of you write with purpose and effect, so don't lose heart!
Susan, I can’t stop myself from commenting, either, and I’m glad you’re speaking truth to power. But I think doing other kinds of writing that gives you pleasure is a necessary tonic. It’s the thing that keeps me going anyway, and I know I’m not up to doing daily commenting on bad news - I take breaks from Substack, too, and read novels and poetry. Reading magical, transformative confections reminds me why I feel so passionately about real-world abuses. I swim in cognitive dissonance. I embrace all and both 😉
Ah! There are so many - I’m about halfway through Maggie Shipstead’s “Great Circle,” and it’s wonderful. I recently finished Percival Everett’s “James” - terrific. Those two both wind in plenty of history and seriousness to occupy my nonfiction mind. Curtis Sittenfeld’s “Romantic Comedy” is a delightful confection of another kind. And I’ve been going through an anthology of Jane Kenyon’s poems. They speak to me very directly.
And you can never go wrong with Edith Wharton and George Eliot. I’m thinking of re-reading “Middlemarch” this summer.
After everything we’ve seen in the past year and I mean EVERYTHING from top notch over the top wise educators in law determining trump’s appeal for immunity an open and shut case only to see our corrupt Supreme Court decide to hear it, to the unspeakable gaslighting of Israel and bougie ivy league protesters that don’t know what their protesting (only in America and that’s not meant to be cliché), misinformation spread by even our own media outlets including the NYT’s constant bitching about Biden’s age (shouldn’t we be FOR Biden?) and omg I’m really trying to hold onto hope. But, I am with you, Susan, on this foreboding sentiment of yes we know what’s right and we know what the verdict would have been ten years ago but in this day and age the world is flat and the sun revolves around the earth. Nothing surprises me anymore. And that’s really fucking sad and scary.
Yup, fucking sad and scary. And you summarize it so well. I’m of course—lifelong habit—going to follow the closing statements, etc. today. But I’m already feeling anxious, anticipating how everything could easily go. After writing this stack, I slept for a whole day, and it wasn’t exhaustion from writing itself. Today, reading the comments, I feel as though we’re all holding hands together. That does help!
So glad to have you subscribe! And a paid subscription, too!
Unbearable Weight…..my first book (other than my dissertation on Descartes) and the wonderful realization that what I most wanted from writing—connecting with readers, not just advancing up the academic ladder—could actually happen.
Trump will be convicted. No one can explain the charges, which are unusual, untested, contradictory. He will appeal and a higher court will, just like the CO case, and very likely the E. Jean Carroll case, overturn the judgment. Overturning a court's decision is actually quite rare. It means something really bad happened, and this will be history's verdict.
I tried to like you Susan but the button hasn't worked lately, so consider yourself liked.
I brought the issue up with the Substack helpbot. It couldn't help me, but was very concerned. Don't tell me AI doesn't have a personality, I got friends exactly like that : )
I’m going to be rereading this a lot! It speaks to so many of the same points I (a 67 year old woman with a now deceased Jew for Jesus father in my upbringing) grapple with, and argue about, with my French, leftist central leaning too smart, husband about and all our friends.
Vertiginous indeed. 2016 when beliefs of my lifetime of struggle and work were dashed so casually on the media rocks of male supremacy. Since then the sabre rattling has increased, and the my arsenal is bigger and faster than your arsenal race continues apace. You’d think the American population would connect the dots of reasonable discourse and scholarship, but no. (I am Canadian, we have are own problems.)
The primordial, amygdala provoked beast of fear, and mere survival has been evoked. Social media stalks and lurks, not unlike witnessing Trump lurking behind Hilary, stalking her on the debate stage for President. On international television.
Fingers crossed, my world, the fates of many in the world await. Those who can, please…
Re. 2016, the turning point for many of us, have you read my book? I’m not trying to sell it to you, but your description of your reaction to the election makes me think you’d appreciate it. In a grim way.
I lived in Ottawa for many years, when I was married in a former life to a Canadian. Yes, you have your problems, but I loved living there. You could have intelligent political conversations with people you met in the grocery store.
I “enjoyed” reading this piece because of the wide arc it takes in. It’s hard to reach me beyond the numbing fear inside me, but you made it palpable, this anomie we live in. Well said, well done. On Memorial Day it’s appropriate for citizens to take stock of what we have to lose.
Thank you so much. These comments are a balm to me. After writing the piece, I kept thinking about all the subscribers who had been promised a piece on television shows and got this instead, and anticipated a deluge of unsubscribes. I did get some of those, but also so much connection and community!!
Trump haters will hate and I find their reasoning interesting and amusing. Most attribute the four years of worldwide peace we had during his presidency to luck, refusing to give him credit and yet giving credit to Biden despite his ineptitude and inability to keep the world safe. Ask the citizens of Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza if you are still confused. As for the NYC trial, I think it was a mistake to present evidence to the jury, not necessary, they could have just sat the jury and then asked for a verdict. Then we could have moved on to the appeals.
Haha. I figured you’d turn up here. You’re my dependably Trumpish follower. A fairly unusual position among my substack friends…..
I’m not even going to try to argue with you about the “peace in the world” during Trump and the confusion about who actually started the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Oh, Susan, I feel like I have one foot in your husband’s camp (the truth has GOT to mean something!) and yours. I grew up pretty skeptical myself, with little belief in institutions that codified male power - and little faith in mainstream journalism - but OMG it’s so much worse now. I’ve taken to avoiding all click-baity headlines in the NYT (never thought I’d see the day when I’d contemplate dumping my subscription, but), and I don’t watch broadcast news unless I need to compare story coverage for academic reasons. The CNN excerpt you pulled with Anderson Cooper says it all - and is profoundly depressing to me.
My current battle is how/what to do to resist this despair - writing about it helps, as does shining a light on those in power with a vested interest in keeping people confused, uninformed, and apathetic. I’m looking at you, Big Tech.
Re battle to resist despair through writing: Sometimes I imagine just stopping the kind of writing I’ve done all my life, which keeps me immersed in the horror, and doing a memoir…or a mystery novel…or another historical thing, like the Anne Boleyn book. I had so much fun researching and writing that book! But it’s hard to imagine getting back into that positive space. And I worry that it would isolate me, as at this stage in my life (retired and alienated from academia) doing these substack pieces are my main means of community (with people like you.) And commenting on this stuff is such a part of me! This past week, I spent days doing the research I like to do when I do tv and movie stacks—rewatching shows, doing background, etc. I love doing that. But then, like a magnet, this piece pulled at me. And then I had to sleep for a whole day yesterday.
Sometimes I think those of us who are struggling to keep the joy in writing going in these times but who can’t just “escape” (not to belittle it!) into fiction or more light-hearted, creative kinds of stacks should start a magazine here. There’s a space we inhabit that’s unique. There’s the reporting from more straight journalistic people who have huge subscriber numbers, there’s the “fun” newsletters, there’s the people who are mostly interested in the craft of writing. But then there’s…well, I don’t know exactly what to call it. But we gravitate toward each other’s stacks, and we recognize each other and feel community in the recognition. But then, I’m daunted by the mechanics and extra work of doing such a thing. Just doing my once-a-week stack wears me out!!
Hi Susan and Martha,
I have not been following the trial closely, so either verdict would not surprise me. And I would not be surprised if Trump were re-elected given either verdict.
That said, I'm with Edward, perhaps on a longer time frame. I think history will inscribe Trumpism as a last gasp of an attempt to stigmatize the "other," meaning anyone not a white male or a traditional white female.
Both of you write with purpose and effect, so don't lose heart!
Check out what I wrote to Martha, David. You’re part of the “tribe” I’m talking about.
Susan, I can’t stop myself from commenting, either, and I’m glad you’re speaking truth to power. But I think doing other kinds of writing that gives you pleasure is a necessary tonic. It’s the thing that keeps me going anyway, and I know I’m not up to doing daily commenting on bad news - I take breaks from Substack, too, and read novels and poetry. Reading magical, transformative confections reminds me why I feel so passionately about real-world abuses. I swim in cognitive dissonance. I embrace all and both 😉
So please recommend some magical novels for me!
Ah! There are so many - I’m about halfway through Maggie Shipstead’s “Great Circle,” and it’s wonderful. I recently finished Percival Everett’s “James” - terrific. Those two both wind in plenty of history and seriousness to occupy my nonfiction mind. Curtis Sittenfeld’s “Romantic Comedy” is a delightful confection of another kind. And I’ve been going through an anthology of Jane Kenyon’s poems. They speak to me very directly.
And you can never go wrong with Edith Wharton and George Eliot. I’m thinking of re-reading “Middlemarch” this summer.
After everything we’ve seen in the past year and I mean EVERYTHING from top notch over the top wise educators in law determining trump’s appeal for immunity an open and shut case only to see our corrupt Supreme Court decide to hear it, to the unspeakable gaslighting of Israel and bougie ivy league protesters that don’t know what their protesting (only in America and that’s not meant to be cliché), misinformation spread by even our own media outlets including the NYT’s constant bitching about Biden’s age (shouldn’t we be FOR Biden?) and omg I’m really trying to hold onto hope. But, I am with you, Susan, on this foreboding sentiment of yes we know what’s right and we know what the verdict would have been ten years ago but in this day and age the world is flat and the sun revolves around the earth. Nothing surprises me anymore. And that’s really fucking sad and scary.
Yup, fucking sad and scary. And you summarize it so well. I’m of course—lifelong habit—going to follow the closing statements, etc. today. But I’m already feeling anxious, anticipating how everything could easily go. After writing this stack, I slept for a whole day, and it wasn’t exhaustion from writing itself. Today, reading the comments, I feel as though we’re all holding hands together. That does help!
Thank you for following me! I've been such a big fan since reading Unbearable Weight, which I read so long ago.
So glad to have you subscribe! And a paid subscription, too!
Unbearable Weight…..my first book (other than my dissertation on Descartes) and the wonderful realization that what I most wanted from writing—connecting with readers, not just advancing up the academic ladder—could actually happen.
Trump will be convicted. No one can explain the charges, which are unusual, untested, contradictory. He will appeal and a higher court will, just like the CO case, and very likely the E. Jean Carroll case, overturn the judgment. Overturning a court's decision is actually quite rare. It means something really bad happened, and this will be history's verdict.
Wow. We will have to reconvene after it all comes down (although I may be too old to be there for history’s verdict.)
What do you mean, though, by “contradictory”? I understand the unusual, unique nature of the charges. But how are they contradictory?
They contradict the feds, whose opinion was not to pursue Trump on this matter.
C'mon Susan you'll be around. Eat lots of beans. Where do you think all my hot air comes from : )
I’m trying to think of a reply that won’t sound like I’m in third grade. Toot, toot!!
I tried to like you Susan but the button hasn't worked lately, so consider yourself liked.
I brought the issue up with the Substack helpbot. It couldn't help me, but was very concerned. Don't tell me AI doesn't have a personality, I got friends exactly like that : )
I’m going to be rereading this a lot! It speaks to so many of the same points I (a 67 year old woman with a now deceased Jew for Jesus father in my upbringing) grapple with, and argue about, with my French, leftist central leaning too smart, husband about and all our friends.
As I said in another reply, these comments are making me feel like a bunch of us are all holding hands with each other.
And have I had a chance yet to tell you how much I appreciate your engagement with my stacks? You are one of the best pals of BordoLines!
Gee whiz. Thank you!
Vertiginous indeed. 2016 when beliefs of my lifetime of struggle and work were dashed so casually on the media rocks of male supremacy. Since then the sabre rattling has increased, and the my arsenal is bigger and faster than your arsenal race continues apace. You’d think the American population would connect the dots of reasonable discourse and scholarship, but no. (I am Canadian, we have are own problems.)
The primordial, amygdala provoked beast of fear, and mere survival has been evoked. Social media stalks and lurks, not unlike witnessing Trump lurking behind Hilary, stalking her on the debate stage for President. On international television.
Fingers crossed, my world, the fates of many in the world await. Those who can, please…
🤞
Your writing here gave me chills!!
Re. 2016, the turning point for many of us, have you read my book? I’m not trying to sell it to you, but your description of your reaction to the election makes me think you’d appreciate it. In a grim way.
I lived in Ottawa for many years, when I was married in a former life to a Canadian. Yes, you have your problems, but I loved living there. You could have intelligent political conversations with people you met in the grocery store.
I “enjoyed” reading this piece because of the wide arc it takes in. It’s hard to reach me beyond the numbing fear inside me, but you made it palpable, this anomie we live in. Well said, well done. On Memorial Day it’s appropriate for citizens to take stock of what we have to lose.
Thank you so much. These comments are a balm to me. After writing the piece, I kept thinking about all the subscribers who had been promised a piece on television shows and got this instead, and anticipated a deluge of unsubscribes. I did get some of those, but also so much connection and community!!
Trump haters will hate and I find their reasoning interesting and amusing. Most attribute the four years of worldwide peace we had during his presidency to luck, refusing to give him credit and yet giving credit to Biden despite his ineptitude and inability to keep the world safe. Ask the citizens of Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza if you are still confused. As for the NYC trial, I think it was a mistake to present evidence to the jury, not necessary, they could have just sat the jury and then asked for a verdict. Then we could have moved on to the appeals.
How did I miss those four years of peace???
My laugh of the day. Thanks Terry!
Because they occurred while Trump was president. No new wars, but difficult to notice when one focuses on the tweets and bombast.
Trump lit the fuse and then played golf.
Haha. I figured you’d turn up here. You’re my dependably Trumpish follower. A fairly unusual position among my substack friends…..
I’m not even going to try to argue with you about the “peace in the world” during Trump and the confusion about who actually started the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Appreciate you even taking the time to respond.