top of page

Diary of a Dreamer in MAGA Country: Week 8

Cruel and Usual

Originally published on Medium on Mar 17, 2025


Have you seen the videos? They’re high quality. Special action shots. Hidden faces. Bowed heads. Bald. Uniforms, white and black. WTF?


A judged ordered against Trump’s enactment of the Alien Enemies Act. He went ahead and “deported” a group of men. No due process.


Everyone is asking what this means; are we officially in an authoritarian state? People disappearing…is this what it looks like? The government putting out high quality mini films with their actions and openly stating their objectives feels more like reality TV. I don’t see many people acting differently, yet. I know there are lots of protests. There’s also a lot of people at the grocery stores and the parks and the library. Life goes on…


A good chunk of people died in storms this week. Tornado season has begun. I like tornados, I like watching weather spotting videos and keeping up with the weather and trying to guess where they will fall. People are saying that changes with NOAA will affect their ability to save lives. I better get tornado coverage in my home insurance…


I wished someone shame this past week. I felt bad pretty instantly. I sent them a strongly worded letter and started a petition against them. I hope they read it. I hope they feel it. I am feeling it…


Bernie is coming to my home town. The comments on Facebook are pretty bad. They don’t feel like much anymore. The same people left pretty horrible comments on the Habitat For Humanity home dedication post. Those hit harder…


I am tired. We are barely two months in. People are applauding some ugly things. I’m supposed to resist and see the good. We are getting our house soon. I got a poem submitted to a publication. I submitted my book to a publisher. Good things. Unusually good for me. Nothing bad is happening to me right now and yet… those videos were hard to see.


I don’t think we are supposed to be okay with public displays of shame. It feels cruel…

which is pretty usual.

“In the struggle of Good against Evil, it’s always the people who get arrested.” — Eduardo Galeano
“The law is meant to be my servant and not my master, still less my torturer and my murderer.” — James Baldwin
“Prisons do not disappear social problems, they disappear human beings.” — Angela Davis

I don’t know what point to make here. We know a lot of this is not unusual. This country has done some horrible things in the past. People didn’t care then. People are applauding now. The videos are weird. I’m sure they will get a lot of views. I don’t need to go see how many likes. I don’t know how to combat the cruelty in people’s hearts.


Broken hearts are easier to pour into than hardened ones.


I came to write at a local coffee shop. I found a little Jesus toy under the table. I’m sure that’s a sign of something… Jesus, God, Spirit help me. Keep my heart broken.

“People get used to anything. The less you think about your oppression, the more your tolerance for it grows.” Assata Shakur

Photo of found Jesus toy on wooden table in a coffee shop by Rocio Flores
Photo of found Jesus toy on wooden table in a coffee shop by Rocio Flores


 
 
 

Comentários

Avaliado com 0 de 5 estrelas.
Ainda sem avaliações

Adicione uma avaliação

Download for FREE! 

Grow Into The BEST You

12 Habits to Build a Life You'll LOVE.

bottom of page