General Discussion

Ol Janx Spirit

(370 posts)

102. Imagine the feeling of the country in the years and months before the Civil War.

Fri Jul 4, 2025, 09:05 AM

Jul 4

The schism in American society at the time was far deeper than anything we are experiencing today. While the Civil War still reverberates through society today, we are not nearly as divided along political, economic, and philosophical lines as we were in the mid 1800s.

We only know that era through the written word and some early photography. We are so far removed from it that it does not even feel like the same nation we live in today--but it was. Trying to imagine what it was like for 11 of the 34 existing states to actually secede from the Union and form their own government to preserve a tradition of inflicting horror on their fellow man is almost unfathomable to our modern minds--but it did happen.

Trying to imagine how a mother felt when her sons went off to fight on different sides of a war that would take the lives of around 3/4 of a million people in the next four years is horrifying.

Yes, the Big BS Bill will inflict damage to people in this country. It is a horrible piece of legislation, but it is only that. The effects of it can be undone. Yes, the orange abomination wants to be a dictator, but that outcome has been by no means written yet.

Just like the Civil War, we will overcome this period; we will find our way through it. Only through losing hope do we lose the fight.

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I hope somebody can help me out of this. I feel absolutely HEARTSICK. [View all] calimary Jul 3 OP

... SheltieLover Jul 3 #1

Psych social worker here: you are in the depression state of grief and need to work on getting into the anger stage. kerry-is-my-prez Jul 4 #129

All I can offer is a 🫂, and the faint hope that this will eventually end. mwmisses4289 Jul 3 #2

Hugggggggs. Other than moral support, I have nothing to offer today. niyad Jul 3 #3

"I am one stubborn witch/bitch and my goal is to outlast as many of the bastards as I can, LoisB Jul 3 #46

Yes, niyad's post and your comments apply to me, too. wordstroken Jul 4 #107

Niyad's posts are always inspirational for me. LoisB Jul 4 #109

IKR!! wordstroken Jul 4 #112

Yep. I've continued my anger state of grief and refuse to become depressed. kerry-is-my-prez Jul 4 #126

Agree 100%!! kerry-is-my-prez Jul 4 #131

I am almost 75 and I feel exactly the same way. Never thought I would see this in so many areas walkingman Jul 3 #4

Maybe it won't take another 3.5 years to be rid of the fuck-stain. Jack Valentino Jul 4 #81

Thing is, HE is not the problem. He is just the poster boy and unwitting tool Attilatheblond Jul 4 #110

I agree 100%, Jack! wordstroken Jul 4 #111

I think you'll feel better if you become active and involved. Ocelot II Jul 3 #5

Some terrific ideas here, Ocelot II! calimary Jul 3 #68

Did you listen to the Indivisible What's the plan call today? If not it will be up on You Tube shortly if it isnt' yet. Amaryllis Jul 3 #6

My Indivisible group usually takes over the sidewalks of a big local intersection, every Friday. calimary Jul 3 #48

Thanks, Amaryllis Easterncedar Jul 3 #78

Amaryllis ........ Upthevibe Jul 4 #134

Ditto sister berniesandersmittens Jul 3 #7

I feel your pain Mossfern Jul 3 #8

You've also lived through incredible positive changes EdmondDantes_ Jul 3 #9

That's the reason the trump era hurts so much -- born at midcentury, we participated in progress... Hekate Jul 3 #17

Yes It hurts. I feel you there Silver Gaia Jul 4 #89

Exactly what I've been feeling. Dixiegrrrl Jul 4 #113

Those gains are being wiped away Bettie Jul 4 #99

We come into this very much the same. MuseRider Jul 3 #10

I'm really sad too Laurelin Jul 3 #11

Great advice...suggestions. c-rational Jul 3 #26

Definitely good advice. THANKS. Laurelin! calimary Jul 3 #37

🌺 Hekate Jul 3 #12

By not stopping this bill, Democrats have not rescued Turbineguy Jul 3 #13

I'll say this for the Democratic members of Congress- Prof. Toru Tanaka Jul 3 #33

Me too, Most DEFINITELY!!! calimary Jul 3 #38

How could they have stopped it? Boomerproud Jul 3 #70

I always remember this small aspect of my life. Abstractartist Jul 3 #14

Thank you Hekate Jul 3 #18

I thought that was Walter Cronkite who said that. llmart Jul 3 #19

https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/liberal-party-nomination-nyc-19600914 Abstractartist Jul 3 #20

Thanks for looking that up. Here's a good one from Walter... llmart Jul 3 #24

🤙🏻 Walter Cronkite was very liberal, but fair.....as in journalistic. Abstractartist Jul 3 #34

Ain't that the effing truth! 3catwoman3 Jul 3 #35

Oh I've seen, read, and loved that quote, Abstractartist! calimary Jul 3 #41

If you are 70, ForgedCrank Jul 3 #15

Find a local group that's doing work you find important and join in. Feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, WhiskeyGrinder Jul 3 #16

That's the thing that helps me get through this bs questionseverything Jul 3 #31

I'm Numb right now, calimary.. the only Cha Jul 3 #21

I'm right there with you, calimary. llmart Jul 3 #22

Well said! maddiemom Jul 3 #65

We go back a ways A-Schwarzenegger Jul 3 #23

I was young in the 60s and my mom feared for her life LittleGirl Jul 3 #25

Exactly, i am guessing, but I bet most of us are white 1WorldHope Jul 3 #42

All I got is stay sane... MiHale Jul 3 #27

I'm looking for some small glimmer of hope, PatSeg Jul 3 #28

Another DITTO. elleng Jul 3 #29

Yes. I feel the same way cally Jul 3 #30

I got nothing Picaro Jul 3 #32

Go out and enjoy nature, read a good book, listen to music. The world keeps turning Demovictory9 Jul 3 #36

Hope springs eternal William769 Jul 3 #39

Such a cool photo! calimary Jul 4 #83

Thanks. William769 Jul 4 #88

This is a dark day for me too but MadameButterfly Jul 3 #40

Something well worth visualizing, MadameButterfly! calimary Jul 3 #44

Your post helped me connect to the training to MadameButterfly Jul 3 #55

I hope if I'm REALLY lucky that I wind up in the same trenches with you, my friend! calimary Jul 3 #67

thank you MadameButterfly Jul 4 #96

"The evolution of us as a people..." Trueblue Texan Jul 4 #101

I wish I could help you DENVERPOPS Jul 3 #43

"If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention." sop Jul 3 #53

The programming worked. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Jul 4 #93

The whole thing sounds like a big scam to me. valleyrogue Jul 3 #45

I'm with you. This is chaos theater, and as the party of SANITY, we will always do clean up of the destruction, ancianita Jul 3 #58

This post deserves a thread of its own, ancianita. calimary Jul 3 #66

Thanks, calimary. DU'ers aggregated all this! The MAIN point being that our party is badass at governing for The People. ancianita Jul 3 #69

Holy shit. That's a lot of stuff you've collected. allegorical oracle Jul 3 #73

Yo, it a lot of badass stuff WE Democrats and our President Biden DID! ancianita Jul 3 #74

Boy! No Kidding!!! calimary Jul 4 #82

Biden came the closest blubunyip Jul 4 #121

The GOP idiots are so bent on creating resentment against the poor, valleyrogue Jul 3 #77

You are exactly right! Stargazer99 Jul 4 #119

My last resort attitude is what I call "the Winston Churchill." rzemanfl Jul 3 #47

Oh MAN! That is excruciatingly delicious!!! calimary Jul 3 #49

Thank you. n/t rzemanfl Jul 3 #50

All I can offer are hugs dear calimary. alwaysinasnit Jul 3 #51

You not alone. Delmette2.0 Jul 3 #52

From another Boomer BeneteauBum Jul 3 #54

I wish I had more to offer than moral support. I don't. I do have a little advice. flashman13 Jul 3 #56

I feel exactly as you do DeeDeeNY Jul 3 #57

This time is different kevinore Jul 3 #59

This is going to seem a weird analogy--but I feel the US average voter is the 1970's American car industry crimycarny Jul 3 #60

Look at Germany in 1940 quakerboy Jul 3 #61

we thought we saw it all marti Jul 3 #62

You know that saying, sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward? Native Jul 3 #63

I feel it's just a matter of time until it is proven the 2024 election was stolen annielion Jul 3 #64

annielion.......... Upthevibe Jul 4 #135

Know where you're coming from. I live in the middle of nowhere and am allegorical oracle Jul 3 #71

I am so sorry. Cannot moonscape Jul 3 #75

USA is doomed Humanityfirst Jul 3 #72

I'm 67 markodochartaigh Jul 3 #76

Your Grandmother was wise and wonderful - and eminently quotable! calimary Jul 4 #85

(((big hug))) proud patriot Jul 3 #79

There's a Democrat in Texas who firmly believes that Trump won't live out this year, Jack Valentino Jul 4 #80

Sending you hugs. Solly Mack Jul 4 #84

Thank you SO Much, Solly Mack. calimary Jul 4 #86

When it gets to that point, take a holiday from politics thought crime Jul 4 #87

I'm your age stollen Jul 4 #90

Bookmarked for all the great suggestions Alice Kramden Jul 4 #91

You're not alone calimary. democrank Jul 4 #92

Try getting angry. pwb Jul 4 #94

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 4 #95

so depressed et tu Jul 4 #97

I can only say this Glaisne Jul 4 #98

Hey, I really like that phrase of yours: "FDR roots"! calimary Jul 4 #123

You are clearly not alone. Prairie_Seagull Jul 4 #100

Imagine the feeling of the country in the years and months before the Civil War. Ol Janx Spirit Jul 4 #102

Thinking of you and sending good vibes of endurance! MLAA Jul 4 #103

I have a feeling hopelessness and depression are on a meteoric rise in America right now. NoMoreRepugs Jul 4 #104

The GOP just turned the vast majority of our country against them annielion Jul 4 #105

Same here. I wish I had inspirational words. Hakeem used MLK's "Press on" as what we need to do. He was amazing. Evolve Dammit Jul 4 #106

Me, I'm pissed off. CanonRay Jul 4 #108

I share your frustration, Calimary. Lonestarblue Jul 4 #114

I'm sorry but I'm right there with you mountain grammy Jul 4 #115

Join the group. Beowulf42 Jul 4 #116

As we get older, it becomes much more difficult to live with these threats. kentuck Jul 4 #117

We are about the same age... hwmnbn Jul 4 #118

Hey hwmnbn, YES, that helps. calimary Jul 4 #125

So, I've foolishly stayed up all night watching political stuff on YouTube. Dark n Stormy Knight Jul 4 #120

Am 68. No, but I'll keep you company. mjvpi Jul 4 #122

I'm 57. GaYellowDawg Jul 4 #124

Try Yale's popular, free Science of Well Being course! Link below SheltieLover Jul 4 #127

Hi Calimary, being up here in Canada gives me an outside perspective yobrault1 Jul 4 #128

I wish I could say something uplifting. 58Sunliner Jul 4 #130

I am 81 rambler_american Jul 4 #132

Don't let the bastards win . . . cenacle Jul 4 #133

And MUCH LOVE and SOLIDARITY to EVERYBODY here! calimary Jul 5 #136