Thank you, thank you, thank you for funnelling your rage into this piece. I don’t know what else to say, except you are right.
Okay, I’ll also say, because I yearn for more plain spoken honesty in the world, I wish that billboard said “your vote is marginally less useless than not voting.” Regardless, thank you for finding and unleashing all of these words.
So true- “Election after election, year after year, the United States expands as the largest terrorist organization in the world right under our noses.” Great title and sub title!
I live in Calgary about 7.5 hours north of you and I grieve for the pain that you & our southern Metis kin are going through, anticipating the worst. Discarding “Hoping for the best” as it’s a worn out sentiment that can’t counter the AI machines that pump dread at us 24/7/365…. When I lived in Great Falls (50 years ago 😬) guns and swagger, drugs and the arrogance of white power were a thing.. what’s changed? Well I have reclaimed my Metis identity. You’ve published your books, you’ve done the road shows to spread the words, and yes you did the billboard. Because you fucking can and you will no longer be erased. And maybe some Metis kids will /have seen your billboard and run for office next time and stand against big oil or corruption as it may surface..
PS we have similar trumpish politicians here in Alberta…ours wears a skirt and is a narcissistic pretendian who lets oil suck her teats, which makes me want to vomit. Trudeau is smarmy indeed but stays in power because he’s so far seemed slightly better than the cons’ fascist backers, their gangsters and troll machines. Here, north of the line, there’s folks like Tanya Talaga, Hon Murray Sinclair (RIP), Michelle Good, Jean Teillet and on and on - authors whose words and voices shine with truth like the sun itself..They, like you, speak truths that keeps the darkness from entirely taking over the hearts of old people like me. Stay well and rest..your energy will be needed..
Reading your words, I felt sad for our country and sad for myself because I voted for the candidate that is not Trump and hope that she wins. Am I delusional? Possibly. Your writing, has prompted me to question my choice with my eyes wide open. I have had many discussions with a Palestinian friend and have learned a lot. I recognize my white privilege. I am not wealthy, but have never had to face oppression because of who I am (other than the occasional setbacks for being a woman before the women's movement) or where my family is from. I can't sit this election out, however. My friends who have targets on their backs will have even bigger targets if Trump is elected. I hope that those who suggest we can better organize, resist, and work toward better governmental policies under Harris are correct. Thanks for your writing. I always look forward to your emails.
"I will no longer seek solidarity or community with comfortable people living comfortable lives in comfortably unthreatened homes on stolen land who are unwilling to risk that comfort and convenience in service to the liberation of people forced to give up everything in service to all that comfort. It’s that simple." That one's going right into my running transcript of core values and words to live by. Thank you, Chris. ✊
I'm sorry to be the oppositional voice, but this election isn't the choice of the lesser of 2 evils, not even close.
The GOP, up and down ballot, promises to marginalize (at best) minorities, destroy women's rights, deport millions of Latinos (and destroy millions of Latino families), roll back LGBTQ legislation, obliterate the Civil Rights Act, eliminate Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits, and dismantle the EPA.
The funding provided for Native American rights, while limited, under Biden's watch would be gutted under the GOP.
I enjoy this Substack, and disappointment in the status quo is understandable, but both parties are not the same. Not even close.
Reading the comments about not voting or voting 3rd party is the height of privilege...refusing to protect so many marginalized communities is inexcusable when there are only 2 options who can win.
I voted for Harris for so many who would suffer under Trump. It wasn't a hard decision.
Thank you for this. You put words to so much of what I've been feeling, but couldn't articulate. I don't want either of the only possible winners of this election, and absolutely do not want to give either my support, yet not voting feels like an abdication of responsibility. Your words, and the video, gave me clarity. I do not have the option of feeling good about my vote. I am choosing based on what is most likely to create even the smallest space for our grass roots, radical activism to expand and chip away at the colonial neoliberalism that currently has a stranglehold on the world. May we continue to fight. 💚
This video you included was such a sweet balm of sanity for me, I wish I had seen in years ago because though I consider myself radical I was absolutely still indoctrinated with dumb ideas about my vote “representing” me and my values which made this specific election emotionally and spiritually terrorizing. No more. Never again will I burn my energy in that way. This was this simplest, most beautiful bell hooks kind of love way of explaining what the Vote tool is really good for. Thank you for your words as always 🧡
I know how Montana votes so I do not feel a lot of hope in regards to presidency. I did not watch news for 4 years while Trump was in office so in his last year when i heard him speak for the first time i was like, omg you have got to be kidding lol
I may do the same this time.
I think i seen the same image on a sticker i oicked up from the last Native vote event here in gf. It had not registered i just overlooked any deeper meaning! Great catch.
I learned a lot in your book and was very angry through some parts as you vividly described and reminded me of our past with the givt and continued fights.
Thanks for this, cousin, especially the "Vote Like a Radical" video. I, too, chose to write in a candidate - Claudia de la Cruz, the PSL candidate, because she had official write-in status here and the PSL is the only party that actually works to dismantle this colonial system built of, for, and by white settlers (and on the backs of Indigenous and Black peoples). Because genocide is my line in the sand. It has to be. Our ancestors are the survivors of genocide. How, then, can we turn a blind eye to what they fought so hard against simply to preserve our own comfort? We can't.
We have Donavon Hawk (Apsáalooke/Lakȟóta) running for the Montana House of Representatives here in Butte. A warm and welcoming presence at the YMCA where my son has swimming lessons, and at countless community events. First name I looked for on the ballot, and the only person I voted for with genuine enthusiasm. Everything else was an exercise in negativity, the lesser monster, yet again.
And even Dr. West manages, inadvertently, to endorse colonization...in Ukraine. Still, in a state which will go for Harris in a big way, he and Ms. Abdullah got my vote.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for funnelling your rage into this piece. I don’t know what else to say, except you are right.
Okay, I’ll also say, because I yearn for more plain spoken honesty in the world, I wish that billboard said “your vote is marginally less useless than not voting.” Regardless, thank you for finding and unleashing all of these words.
So true- “Election after election, year after year, the United States expands as the largest terrorist organization in the world right under our noses.” Great title and sub title!
I live in Calgary about 7.5 hours north of you and I grieve for the pain that you & our southern Metis kin are going through, anticipating the worst. Discarding “Hoping for the best” as it’s a worn out sentiment that can’t counter the AI machines that pump dread at us 24/7/365…. When I lived in Great Falls (50 years ago 😬) guns and swagger, drugs and the arrogance of white power were a thing.. what’s changed? Well I have reclaimed my Metis identity. You’ve published your books, you’ve done the road shows to spread the words, and yes you did the billboard. Because you fucking can and you will no longer be erased. And maybe some Metis kids will /have seen your billboard and run for office next time and stand against big oil or corruption as it may surface..
PS we have similar trumpish politicians here in Alberta…ours wears a skirt and is a narcissistic pretendian who lets oil suck her teats, which makes me want to vomit. Trudeau is smarmy indeed but stays in power because he’s so far seemed slightly better than the cons’ fascist backers, their gangsters and troll machines. Here, north of the line, there’s folks like Tanya Talaga, Hon Murray Sinclair (RIP), Michelle Good, Jean Teillet and on and on - authors whose words and voices shine with truth like the sun itself..They, like you, speak truths that keeps the darkness from entirely taking over the hearts of old people like me. Stay well and rest..your energy will be needed..
Reading your words, I felt sad for our country and sad for myself because I voted for the candidate that is not Trump and hope that she wins. Am I delusional? Possibly. Your writing, has prompted me to question my choice with my eyes wide open. I have had many discussions with a Palestinian friend and have learned a lot. I recognize my white privilege. I am not wealthy, but have never had to face oppression because of who I am (other than the occasional setbacks for being a woman before the women's movement) or where my family is from. I can't sit this election out, however. My friends who have targets on their backs will have even bigger targets if Trump is elected. I hope that those who suggest we can better organize, resist, and work toward better governmental policies under Harris are correct. Thanks for your writing. I always look forward to your emails.
"This garbage country excels at sticking to ideas from generations ago that were generally dumb then and are even dumber now." This made me giggle.
And yeah. Oof. This election. I am waiting for the purgatory to be over.
"I will no longer seek solidarity or community with comfortable people living comfortable lives in comfortably unthreatened homes on stolen land who are unwilling to risk that comfort and convenience in service to the liberation of people forced to give up everything in service to all that comfort. It’s that simple." That one's going right into my running transcript of core values and words to live by. Thank you, Chris. ✊
Reminding myself to be grateful for the rain...so the anger can fuel me without burning me up.
I'm sorry to be the oppositional voice, but this election isn't the choice of the lesser of 2 evils, not even close.
The GOP, up and down ballot, promises to marginalize (at best) minorities, destroy women's rights, deport millions of Latinos (and destroy millions of Latino families), roll back LGBTQ legislation, obliterate the Civil Rights Act, eliminate Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits, and dismantle the EPA.
The funding provided for Native American rights, while limited, under Biden's watch would be gutted under the GOP.
I enjoy this Substack, and disappointment in the status quo is understandable, but both parties are not the same. Not even close.
Reading the comments about not voting or voting 3rd party is the height of privilege...refusing to protect so many marginalized communities is inexcusable when there are only 2 options who can win.
I voted for Harris for so many who would suffer under Trump. It wasn't a hard decision.
Thank you for this. You put words to so much of what I've been feeling, but couldn't articulate. I don't want either of the only possible winners of this election, and absolutely do not want to give either my support, yet not voting feels like an abdication of responsibility. Your words, and the video, gave me clarity. I do not have the option of feeling good about my vote. I am choosing based on what is most likely to create even the smallest space for our grass roots, radical activism to expand and chip away at the colonial neoliberalism that currently has a stranglehold on the world. May we continue to fight. 💚
This video you included was such a sweet balm of sanity for me, I wish I had seen in years ago because though I consider myself radical I was absolutely still indoctrinated with dumb ideas about my vote “representing” me and my values which made this specific election emotionally and spiritually terrorizing. No more. Never again will I burn my energy in that way. This was this simplest, most beautiful bell hooks kind of love way of explaining what the Vote tool is really good for. Thank you for your words as always 🧡
Thanks for the radical video. I feel better already, facing this terrorizing day.
I know how Montana votes so I do not feel a lot of hope in regards to presidency. I did not watch news for 4 years while Trump was in office so in his last year when i heard him speak for the first time i was like, omg you have got to be kidding lol
I may do the same this time.
I think i seen the same image on a sticker i oicked up from the last Native vote event here in gf. It had not registered i just overlooked any deeper meaning! Great catch.
I learned a lot in your book and was very angry through some parts as you vividly described and reminded me of our past with the givt and continued fights.
Thanks for this, cousin, especially the "Vote Like a Radical" video. I, too, chose to write in a candidate - Claudia de la Cruz, the PSL candidate, because she had official write-in status here and the PSL is the only party that actually works to dismantle this colonial system built of, for, and by white settlers (and on the backs of Indigenous and Black peoples). Because genocide is my line in the sand. It has to be. Our ancestors are the survivors of genocide. How, then, can we turn a blind eye to what they fought so hard against simply to preserve our own comfort? We can't.
"The work starts Wednesday" - yes. Thank you for saying this explicitly. We will have much to do, regardless of how the numbers roll in.
We have Donavon Hawk (Apsáalooke/Lakȟóta) running for the Montana House of Representatives here in Butte. A warm and welcoming presence at the YMCA where my son has swimming lessons, and at countless community events. First name I looked for on the ballot, and the only person I voted for with genuine enthusiasm. Everything else was an exercise in negativity, the lesser monster, yet again.
And even Dr. West manages, inadvertently, to endorse colonization...in Ukraine. Still, in a state which will go for Harris in a big way, he and Ms. Abdullah got my vote.