29 Comments
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Veronica Vera's avatar

Great post! Had me thinking all day and gave me courage to get more pointedly political in my posts. Thank you.

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Your posts are political just by the fact of what you write about.

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Thanks so much.

Carolyn Campora's avatar

Well articulated concerns. Certainty on best actions let alone results still elusive for me.

Susan Paynter's avatar

Is it enough? Are we doing all that is necessary during these days of bloodshed on our streets? Thank you for asking the questions and facing the hard truths.

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

I'm listening to a Fresh AIr podcast, an interview with the author of the book about Bernie Goetz. It's chilling. I'll forward to you.

Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Nancy, I'm with you. I enjoy learning about your active past. All of it matters. Great post. Thank you.

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Thank you. Our pasts!

Beth Kephart's avatar

Nancy, yes. How do we know what to write about? You are not in arrears, you and thinking, and when you think, we are all the beneficiaries.

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Ah Beth, thank you for this. Sometimes I feel so so slow with the words.

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Or maybe it's with the thoughts. LOL

jean newburg's avatar

Another good piece that expresses the fast slide into authoritarianism that we are experiencing in America. The world we lived in is gone already.

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

It feels that way. Though the people of Minnesota are doing their best to keep it breathing.

PeaceLove's avatar

Great suggestions. I'm also going to be regularly calling the democrats that voted for funding ICE. In addition we can add CBS to the list which is now being run as a state run media. last nights broadcast praised Rubio for his great work. Really? Our voices need to be heard even when we think no one is listening.

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Good G_d. Next.

Irna Gadd's avatar

Once again, Nancy, you’ve written an essay that prompts deep self reflection on the ways and times I have and haven’t shown up, and the ways I now am and I’m not showing up. I’ve followed and admired your commitment over the years (FB, Instagram), and wondered about my own courage. While it’s true that the work I do every day as a psychotherapist / analyst is important and helps people develop their capacity to show up in many ways for many things, I keep thinking I ought to do more.

The suggestions from @leonawaller that you included help me focus my energy for showing up in ways that actually do make a difference. Although I trust my senators will refuse to fund the DHS, I am going to show up by calling them daily so they know they have support. Although I haven’t been a fan of Amazon for many years, I still occasionally pop into Whole Foods for something I can’t find elsewhere when I think I need it. From now on if I can’t find something elsewhere I can do without it.

Even writing your Substack is a way of showing up, despit the AWS platform hosting Substack. You help your readers reflect on their own experience and, at least for this reader, recommit to more active ways of showing up. Thanks so much!

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Irna, thank you for a careful and thoughtful read. It's so awful.

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

This means so much to me.

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

What's going on is so awful, to clarify. And heartbreaking. And and and.

Irna Gadd's avatar

I knew what you meant, Nancy, by “it’s so awful.” Yes, and heartbreaking, frightening, infuriating, and and and as you said. Growing up as you and I did, where we did and when we did, there was no way to imagine what we are living through now. Even now it’s hard to comprehend the daily realities. Your Substack, and those of others whom I read regularly, help me keep on keeping on, each in different ways. Write when you I moved to write. Trust that when you do you will be making a difference

Franny Forsman's avatar

Great piece, Nancy

Hilari's avatar

Another beautiful piece of writing, Nancy!

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Thanks so much.

Marcia Loughran's avatar

Nancy Jainchill says the hard parts out loud. Thank you!!

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Thank you, Marcia.

Jackie Arsenuk's avatar

Thank you for the suggestions! We all need to be reminded from time to time. Also, you must never forget that no matter how f’ed up things are, you can always write about me…..

Nancy Jainchill's avatar

And you can give me shoveling lessons. xo

Jackie Arsenuk's avatar

lol!