I think I've reached my limit.

[love_katz]

45. I always appreciate your posts, sir.

Like everyone, I feel tremendous rage and despair over the injustices and outright rip offs that keep happening. The worst part is living with impotent rage over not being able to stop this regime, to successfully block their open criminality.
I seem to remember that you are a First Nations person, or have had valuable interactions with people who are? When I start to feel overwhelmed by the paralysis of despair, I remind myself that the Native tribes of this country, as well as all People of Color have been fighting these fights against cruelty and injustice for the entire history of the USA. Even though I am, to the best of my knowledge, descended from the tribes of Europe, I try to draw inspiration and strength from the fact that neither Native people nor people of Color ever completely give up.
You mention the movie, Thunderheart. I think that has John Trudell in it, doesn't it? Talks by John Trudell can be found on YouTube, along with spoken word performances with his band. I find his words to be very helpful, although I hope he would've eventually changed his mind about voting. I know there's a documentary about his life, called simply, "Trudell" which I would love to see. I dropped Amazon some time ago, so I will have to look elsewhere to see if I can find a DVD.
I also find talks by other Native people helpful: Oren Lyons ( my spelling may not be right) of the Haudenosaunee (sp?) Nation, and Robin Wall Kimmerer of the Citizen Potowatami are excellent for my morale.
You are correct in reminding us to take breaks from the fire hose of ugly $hit that spews from this maladministration every day. I'm having ongoing health problems, so I can't do yard work or garden anymore, but I can go outside for a few minutes, put my bare feet on the grass, and I can listen to the birds, even through my windows.
I think that those of us who are descendants of the tribes of Europe need to be aware of something: the tactics that are being deliberately used to make us fearful and helpless are the same tactics that were used against our ancestors going back to the Roman invasions of Europe. Specifically those tactics were/are: destroy the people's connections to the land and to each other as a community. The wannabe conquerors interfere with local leaders who can support the resistance by either bribing or buying them off, or by threatening them with violence and imprisonment. Successful resistance will be characterized by acting in ways that counter these tactics: resistance movements that are collective and as much as possible, leaderless. This all feels hard because the oppression has been going on for centuries and also, this could have all been avoided if more people had voted. We need to keep in mind that Hungary seems to have thrown out their dictator and his minions, even after having suffered for 16 years under his oppression.
I think we're at a pivotal point in our society. Can we find the strength of heart to keep resisting? The problems we face have been building up for centuries: attacks on the people and the land, greed, cruelty and injustice. The fact that our governmental systems have been a thin veneer masking the fact that freedom and justice have only been upheld for a favored few is being rubbed in our faces. Laws don't prevent people from breaking them, they only provide society with the ability to seek recourse when the laws are broken. What is so devastating is seeing that too often there is no recourse when this cruel and greedy regime just ignores and flouts our so-called justice system altogether.
One thought which helps steady me comes from the great environmental classic, " A Sand County Almanac ", by Aldo Leopold. I will have to paraphrase, because I can't remember the quote exactly. He says that wannabe conquerors always think that they know what is best for everything and everybody. It always turns out that they know neither, and so they fail.
I know my perspective is limited, but it helps to deliberately work to repair the damage that has been being done by the greedy and cruel, long before any of us were born. Seek out nature and like minded souls. Engage in whatever spiritual practices that you can do to help heal and renew yourself. I believe that Earth will support us in our endeavors. Why else would She create a thinking animal?