First of all, oh my gods, Christina. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. And it is a testament to your skill as a writer that your description literally made me feel queasy. How awful. And then to artfully turn the focus back to the worldwide illness that isplaguing democracy … that also made me feel queasy.
I hope you are feeling much better now, not sure what to say about democracy, but - as painful as it is - I am definitely one of the people who is witnessing. And trying not to feel hopeless.
Thank you so much, Jamie. I'm sorry to have made you feel queasy, but thrilled by your kind words. I know you are witnessing, trying not to feel hopeless and fighting bloody hard. None of this will stop me celebrating the weekend with Friday-night negronis. I hope you have a lovely weekend, too. xx
So glad you will be celebrating. I'll have to try a negroni one of these days. I'm more of a Jameson's-on-the-rocks girl, with the occasional old fashioned thrown in (but only if it's really well made) ... but you have me intrigued. 😉 🥃
They are delicious. Perhaps one day we will even have negronis together! Not imminently, since I clearly can’t go to the US now, in spite of my yearning for a trip to Boston and New York.
I hope you are fully recovered. I was almost going to write ‘Noro sucks’ but as we all know it doesn’t do anything remotely like that.
You are right to continue to call out the truly terrible politics in the USA and the global effect.
This narcissistic sociopath seems to have no depth to his sinister conduct; but is ‘narcissist’ the accurate term for his personality disorder?
A recent Guardian article (by John R MacArthur) described how he is more likely a solipsist. For those who haven’t, it’s worth a read although it provides no comfort. Personally, I feel he is a worst-case mongrel of the two types.
Money, power, greed, and control all drive him. But that is not enough. His brittle insecurities lead to an insatiable need to belittle and humiliate opponents, individuals and organisations.
The latest being the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. The capitulation looks like extortion in plain sight. No, not looks like, it is extortion in plain sight.
Powerful bullies who repeatedly seek to shame and humiliate the weak only ever shame and humiliate themselves. They are just incapable of ever perceiving that.
Oh, my dear. I'm so happy to hear that you're on the mend. And I wanted to thank you for this cheerful bedtime read! Of course, I'm being facetious. We're all living with this horror, her in the US and globally. It's a fucking nightmare. Maybe someone will give the Clown in Chief norovirus and he'll shit himself to death. A girl can dream. Love to you, Christina. Thanks for writing this.
Thank you so much, Aisha. I’m a lot better now (though still not 100%). The John Stuart Mill quote could not be more apposite. It looks as if we are doomed to repeat that cycle, until the whole thing ends. Let’s just hope that’s not too imminent…
Holy crap, this is good! I hope you’re feeling all better, and that the Norovirus has is causing mass panic and evacuations at the WH, with a weird smelly orange fog over the capital. I could let loose on this Hollywood production now playing in my head, but I’ll spare you the special effects and surround sound! Hugs, clever lady! Cesca xx
Thank you so much, Cesca. Still feeling a little delicate, actually, but am enjoying your fantasy of a weird smelly orange fog all over the White House. Let's just hope it comes to pass. xx
You write incredibly well of sickness, from the personal to the political. If only we could have some nice type to diagnose, hand over the cure and be able to say, "past", convincingly. If only. Thankyou Christina....for continuing to care.
Glad you're feeling better. We've had very strong winds the last few days in DC, and its seems very appropriate considering all the damage being done. Still, the cherry blossoms are coming out, and that's the one thing he cant' take from us yet.
Dear Christina - what an utterly vile illness to get, when the world is going Mad anyway. India Knight wrote yesterday that she and a friend had been wondering whether what we are collectively feeling is akin to the period before WW2. Appeasers, dictators, etc. I suspect it is, sadly. We absolutely MUST bear witness and having avoided news throughout Covid, I've renewed various newspaper subscriptions. The cowardly lion in me still can't deal with the Today programme though... Good wishes for your continued recovery. Lisa E xx
Thank you so much, Lisa. Yes, I've felt since Trump took over that it's Germany in 1938. I hope not, obviously, and with any luck it won't end the same way. But it's clearly not great. I don't think the Today programme is compulsory! But I do think some ingestion, in whatever form we can manage, is. I hope, in spite of it all, that you have a lovely weekend. xx
First of all, oh my gods, Christina. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. And it is a testament to your skill as a writer that your description literally made me feel queasy. How awful. And then to artfully turn the focus back to the worldwide illness that isplaguing democracy … that also made me feel queasy.
I hope you are feeling much better now, not sure what to say about democracy, but - as painful as it is - I am definitely one of the people who is witnessing. And trying not to feel hopeless.
xo
Thank you so much, Jamie. I'm sorry to have made you feel queasy, but thrilled by your kind words. I know you are witnessing, trying not to feel hopeless and fighting bloody hard. None of this will stop me celebrating the weekend with Friday-night negronis. I hope you have a lovely weekend, too. xx
So glad you will be celebrating. I'll have to try a negroni one of these days. I'm more of a Jameson's-on-the-rocks girl, with the occasional old fashioned thrown in (but only if it's really well made) ... but you have me intrigued. 😉 🥃
They are delicious. Perhaps one day we will even have negronis together! Not imminently, since I clearly can’t go to the US now, in spite of my yearning for a trip to Boston and New York.
I would love that, and it will make for a wonderful celebration when we get to the other side of this nightmare, which I have to believe we will. xo
I hope you are fully recovered. I was almost going to write ‘Noro sucks’ but as we all know it doesn’t do anything remotely like that.
You are right to continue to call out the truly terrible politics in the USA and the global effect.
This narcissistic sociopath seems to have no depth to his sinister conduct; but is ‘narcissist’ the accurate term for his personality disorder?
A recent Guardian article (by John R MacArthur) described how he is more likely a solipsist. For those who haven’t, it’s worth a read although it provides no comfort. Personally, I feel he is a worst-case mongrel of the two types.
Money, power, greed, and control all drive him. But that is not enough. His brittle insecurities lead to an insatiable need to belittle and humiliate opponents, individuals and organisations.
The latest being the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. The capitulation looks like extortion in plain sight. No, not looks like, it is extortion in plain sight.
Powerful bullies who repeatedly seek to shame and humiliate the weak only ever shame and humiliate themselves. They are just incapable of ever perceiving that.
Yup. "Worst-case mongrel of the two types" pretty much covers it. God help us all etc.
Oh, my dear. I'm so happy to hear that you're on the mend. And I wanted to thank you for this cheerful bedtime read! Of course, I'm being facetious. We're all living with this horror, her in the US and globally. It's a fucking nightmare. Maybe someone will give the Clown in Chief norovirus and he'll shit himself to death. A girl can dream. Love to you, Christina. Thanks for writing this.
Thank you, dear Nan. Will be in touch for a chat soon. xx
Brillant, funny, chilling and pertinent piece. Thanks Christina.
What very kind words. The perfect response, in fact! Thank you, Susanna.
So sorry you suffered this vile virus. My son and young grandson were also stricken recently. Wishing you a full recovery soon.
" Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends than that good men should look on and do nothing."
John Stuart Mill (1867)
Inaugural Address to the University of
St. Andrews.
How many more epochs will pass before effective action is taken to challenge and counter this madness?
Are we (the global populace) destined to repeat and recycle the same
lily-livered apathy until predictable, irreversible events occur?
Another thought-provoking and skillfully crafted piece by the wordsmith you are.
Thank you so much, Aisha. I’m a lot better now (though still not 100%). The John Stuart Mill quote could not be more apposite. It looks as if we are doomed to repeat that cycle, until the whole thing ends. Let’s just hope that’s not too imminent…
Holy crap, this is good! I hope you’re feeling all better, and that the Norovirus has is causing mass panic and evacuations at the WH, with a weird smelly orange fog over the capital. I could let loose on this Hollywood production now playing in my head, but I’ll spare you the special effects and surround sound! Hugs, clever lady! Cesca xx
Thank you so much, Cesca. Still feeling a little delicate, actually, but am enjoying your fantasy of a weird smelly orange fog all over the White House. Let's just hope it comes to pass. xx
Glad you enjoyed the smelly fantasy…! Feel better soon. Hugs, Cesca xx
Thank you!
You write incredibly well of sickness, from the personal to the political. If only we could have some nice type to diagnose, hand over the cure and be able to say, "past", convincingly. If only. Thankyou Christina....for continuing to care.
Thank you so much, Rose Marie. I really appreciate your kind words.
Glad you're feeling better. We've had very strong winds the last few days in DC, and its seems very appropriate considering all the damage being done. Still, the cherry blossoms are coming out, and that's the one thing he cant' take from us yet.
No, indeed he can’t. Sending solidarity from across the pond.
Hope you are now fully recovered. And I do so agree with you about Trump.
Thank you so much, David. I'm still not quite 100%, but it's certainly not going to stop me stopping shortly for my Friday-night negroni...
Dear Christina - what an utterly vile illness to get, when the world is going Mad anyway. India Knight wrote yesterday that she and a friend had been wondering whether what we are collectively feeling is akin to the period before WW2. Appeasers, dictators, etc. I suspect it is, sadly. We absolutely MUST bear witness and having avoided news throughout Covid, I've renewed various newspaper subscriptions. The cowardly lion in me still can't deal with the Today programme though... Good wishes for your continued recovery. Lisa E xx
Thank you so much, Lisa. Yes, I've felt since Trump took over that it's Germany in 1938. I hope not, obviously, and with any luck it won't end the same way. But it's clearly not great. I don't think the Today programme is compulsory! But I do think some ingestion, in whatever form we can manage, is. I hope, in spite of it all, that you have a lovely weekend. xx
Glad you’re better, Christina. And thank you for another wonderful, brilliant post X
Thank you so much, Jenny. You are always so kind. X