Keeping Our Heads Up in This Upside Down World.

Dear friends,

As a self-proclaimed luddite, I am rather new to the wonderful world of audio books, but now that I've discovered them through my public library (socialism at its best), I like to spend my winter days listening to books while crocheting blankets. Last winter I listened to Naomi Klein read her book Doppelganger - an in-depth look at the confusing world we now inhabit. Ms. Klein wrote this book describing the upsidedownness of everything as it was a few years ago, before shit really got real. Needless to say, we're crazy deep in the mirror world now, and my guess is that it's just going to get whackier in the days to come.

As the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed, so, even though it's already terrifying watching reality spin like a puke-inducing funfair ride, I hope we're all making rock solid action plans on how to keep our heads as clear as possible as reality become ever more muddled.

The Nobel 'Peace' Prize goes to someone who isn't at all peaceful (shocker!), but at least it didn't go to him.

Hey! At least the Nobel Peace Prize didn't go to the orange menace, so that's a good thing. Just off the top of my head, I can think of so many public figures who are so much more worthy of this than María Corina Machado who, it turns out, is not all that peaceful after all. In fact, from what I'm reading, she's really quite right wing and supports the American government's bombing campaign on Venezuelan fishing boats, as well as Netanyahu's ultra-right Likud party and their murderous assault against Palestine.

A quick look at the Nobel Peace Prize Wikipedia page shows the alphabetical list of this year's nominees for this esteemed prize, a list which starts with Francesca Albanese who actually has worked tirelessly for peace, but also, shockingly, includes Elon 'Chainsaw' Musk who, as we know, is hellbent on destroying everyone and everything in his path. Of course, we also know that the Insurrectionist-in-Chief (nominated by such fine, upstanding dudes as his corrupt Argentine buddy Javier Milei whom he's bailing out to the tune of $40 Billion US tax dollars, and international war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu) was on the list but DID NOT WIN.

With such violent thugs as Musk and Trump even being considered for this prestigious prize, the significance of the word 'peace' in this context, has lost all meaning or value. At this point, I don't think we can fairly give this annual award for peace much weight or take it at all seriously. In fact, I found that by paying the Nobel Peace Prize news as little attention as possible, I avoided getting sucked into this particular mirror world tunnel, thus protecting a bit of my own sanity.

For real! The fact that we were all so worried, thinking that there was even a possibility that the guy who's unleashed a swarm of violent, militarized goons on American cities, and is indiscriminately and illegally bombing Venezuelan fishing boats, and trying to unilaterally start a war with Venezuela, and 100% supported Israel's war against Palestine might win the world's biggest peace prize is just completely bonkers.

And suddenly, Marjorie Taylor Greene and I are (kinda) on the same page. WTAF?

A few weeks back you might have heard my jaw hit the floor as I watched MTG put her career on the line to speak out for the Epstein survivors. All these years, we could count on Marj to be one of the most offensive, abusive, boot-licking Republicans holding office. I mean, we didn't like her, but I appreciated the reliability of her commitment to spouting beliefs so completely contrary to everything I hold dear that I always knew where I stood vis a vis Ms. Greene. So, now, not only has she become a champion of Epstein survivors , but she's also calling out her Republican colleagues for their role in the government shutdown and their determination to slash health care. And now we have to rethink everything we thought about this woman who we loved to loathe. Life is full of surprises, and lately, some of the biggest surprises have come in the form of Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Wait! What? When did anti-fascism become bad?

The latest brouhaha about how dangerous antifa is, and how scary antifa is, and how organized and violent antifa is, is the ultimate in gaslighting, not to mention straight outta the fascist handbook. It takes no effort at all to figure out that antifa is short for anti-fascist, and that's a good thing. For decades, it was generally accepted by all that fascists are BAD, thus anti-fascists are, obviously, GOOD. And yet, leave it to this batshit crazy administration to not just malign anti-fascists, but to turn us into some wildly violent, organized, super-bad movement that must be crushed.

Meanwhile, the 'Young' Republicans who were recently outted as actual real-live Nazis are, at best, being poo-pooed as misguided youth (most of them are grown-assed adults!) rather than the horrific violent racists that they are. Aided and abetted by a mainstream media that is short on spine and refuses to call out the outrageous lies, the orange menace and his gruesome minions are dining out on this crazy, fucked up, upside down story that has turned those of us who oppose fascism into the boogieman. Personally, I'm finding this particular assault on reality utterly terrifying.

Historically speaking, the people who fought fascists, who showed up for the victims of fascism, the people who helped nations recover after the fascists fell (they always fall), were the good guys. Maybe not enough people alive today have studied enough history to understand how this works.

Who shall wear the crown? Dictator or drag queen?

I mean, who really deserves our love and admiration - the fun people in sparkly dresses reading stories to children, or the mean bastards banning books? The Idiot-in-Chief is desperate to become a genuine despot, and his sycophantic lackeys are doing their utmost to crown him King. In this new mirror world norm, it is an absolute head-scratcher trying to comprehend how so many people are choosing to throw their loyalty behind this buffoon who is so blatantly corrupt and cruel and just fucking icky.

As you must know by now, I frequently write to every single Republican senator, challenging them on their poor decisions to continue to support the wannabe king. I am reminded with each response (so many responses!) that they are steadfast in their commitment to the untruth, confidently painting a version of reality that is just plain nuts and totally false. Each response is a glimpse into their mirror world where they they are happily abdicating all of their responsibilities and your rights to appease the Toddler-in-Chief. (FYI - I refuse to let their crazy responses deter me from my email campaign, haranguing them for their shitty behaviour.)

Finding opportunities to create a new, kinder reality in this post-truth world.

Tomorrow, millions of level-headed people will be turning out for the 2nd No Kings event. All across the US (and in other countries too!), millions of clear-thinking people will be hitting the streets in what promises to be the biggest protest in American history, to make it perfectly clear that the only Americans deserving to wear a crown are drag queens. Tomorrow, millions of people from all walks of life will be walking side-by-side, reminding each other of what reality really looks like - it looks like a society that cares for each other, that believes in justice and kindness and community. In this 2nd No Kings nationwide event, millions of good folk will partake in a reality check reminding us that most humans are decent and want the best for each other. Tomorrow will offer us a welcome reprieve from the insane mirror world of the MAGAverse we've been subject to, as we peacefully and powerfully come together to defeat fascism with joy and humour, unity and love.

Stay safe, spread joy, and go create the world we want to live in!

Jessica (she/her)

p.s. I wanted to get this out before the NO KINGS protest, so it's going out today rather than on Sunday.