Dia 6 de Novembro de 2024
6:30 AM on the Morning After…
We have not written in a long time. The nail-biter of a US election was slipping into all the posts, so they were just discarded. People want to read about how wonderful it is living on this beautiful island, or maybe some travel adventures, or the bureaucracy1 and details of getting here and being able to stay, not what’s in the news all the time.
Here it is finally. I woke up early this morning to this view:
But, across the Atlantic, the view is beyond grim. The results are still coming in, but at 6:30am Madeira time and 1:30am Eastern Time, the nightmare of a Trump electoral victory appears to be happening. And, although it validates my conspiracy-laden view of American democracy, it is bad news, not just for the United States, but for the world. Everyone here knows it - even the editor of Pública, the largest newspaper in Portugual, published an editorial about it last week.
What happened to Americans? How could they not see?
As I write this, a text came in from a friend in Washington state: RIP, Democracy is Dead.
I only scanned headlines, but I know that the Senate is republican now, that there were dozens of bomb threats across multiple states and that, when the polls attempted to extend hours to accommodate those who couldn’t vote because of the bomb threats, the Republican National Committee headed by Lara Trump went to court to prevent election sites from accommodating voters - primarily in mostly African-American and democratic areas. In another story, the FBI confirmed that most of the threats originated from Russian email domains. Who cares who did it—it’s done now and some people is quite pleased.
Along with the billionaires and their tech companies, along with foreign powers who would love to divvy up the gigantic economic pie that is the USA, I too had very little doubt that the billionaires and foreign influences would indeed “win” this opportunity to put Trump and JD Vance in place at the head of the free world. And so, by extension, themselves. That is primarily why we’re here in Madeira. But it still feels very very dark this morning.
I did, for whole minutes, have hope that there was still an ounce of humanity left.
I suspect that I won’t be writing anymore for a while. And I will be ignoring the news from now on.
I know many Trump supporters - I’m related to many of them - and I still can’t imagine how so many were taken in by a plan that will make their lives - and so many others - into an unnecessary hell, to benefit a few already wealthy and powerful people.
Thanks for following. Bye for now.
Noon of the Morning After…
That was a quick temporary retirement from writing. This morning was, indeed, dark, and I was ready to throw in the towel. On my 45 minute walk into the city this morning for my fisioterapia appointment, two more texts came in from friends here from the US: “Holy Shit!!!” and “WTF happened????”
I was greeted by one of my fisios with a gigantic hug and “I will NEVER understand Americans. I’m so sorry.” I did not need to tear up in front of these younger women at 8am. The other fisio did not understand so much about the election, but she got an earful from her coworkers who all were very aware of the threat that the results of the US election hold for the rest of the world. I listened to these women in their 20’s and 30’s, some of whom may never have left this tiny island,. They were so much more aware of the danger to them and the rest of the world from the US election results than an ungodly number of Americans. One of the fisios asked the others, “How would you feel if you were Ukrainian or Palestinian?” I felt a little ashamed for feeling so sorry for myself.
During and after my fisio appointment, texts poured in and they all sounded like Sympathy Cards. My Scottish friend who lives down the street from me: “I have no words. I’m so sorry.” My British friend who used to live next door: “No words, Lori. What has America done?” Family members in the US: “What the actual F#@%!!!!”
The sky is blue, we’ve spent an hour taking out our frustration and anger at the gym and now we’re going to crash at the pool for the afternoon and hope the salt water washes away some of the grief. And then, maybe after the cleansing, I’ll consider writing again…
Thanks for following!
17:00 on the Day After…
Post pool, I think we both feel a little better - muscles complaining a bit, but better. Our Portuguese teacher last year, while we were studying the chapter that dealt with Homeopathic Medicine, explained that, on Madeira, homeopathy was “O Mar.” No matter what is wrong with you, jump into the sea and it will get better.
It’s hard to absorb so much negative stuff when we are sitting here on this beautiful island on a perfect day, surrounded by people from all over the world, swimming, laughing, playing with little ones in the saltwater pool, eating great french fries at the snack bar (we did not succumb to the fries, although they were tempting).
The sympathy texts continue to pour in, but I’ve unsubscribed from all news feeds, except the local ones.2
But this day from hell is almost over, so wine and coffee on the veranda while the sunset turns the clouds orange and golden. Maybe things won’t be as catastrophic as they seem……….. OR????
Thanks for Following! No more politics, ever. 3
Maybe because we moved to Madeira rather than the mainland, our bureaucratic experiences have been far less frustrating than what we’ve read from others in similar situations. Everyone has been patient and kind, and, if you’re prepared to take a number and wait your turn, they take good care of you.
Although the local news can be disturbing too with the far right Chega Party of Madeira making a motion to dissolve the existing government. Maybe I need to unsubscribe from that too!
That is probably not a promise but a sincere intention. :-)
We are all suffering from election results. I’ve decided to avoid all of it until 2025. I feel sure half of the nation won’t sit still for the bullshit and bullying to come. The way forward is not at all clear. Thank God NC has put Dems in as governor, Lt governor, AG, and superintendent of schools. Also broke the super major in General Assembly. We’re still fighting for our lives- literally.
I woke up to disbelief and sadness; then the next day is when the anger kicked in. My husband and I have gotten out in nature as much as possible, and took out my frustrations at the gym also and through running. This makes it clear to us that we want to move to PT but now so will so many others.