It’s a strange enough feeling, to sense that the country you’re living in is about to cease being, but it’s far stranger to feel like the great majority of the people around you don’t seem to notice. I was raised in Indonesia and Canada and have, for that reason probably, never been under the delusion of American Exceptionalism. In general, I believe that nothing lasts forever—not even nation states. It’s not impossible that the US could just… dissolve. This doesn’t cause me a crisis. As nostalgic and backwards looking as I tend to be, I usually look forward with hope and excitement.
Lately, though, not so much. National Parks are being gutted, as are health agency, as soon will be libraries and education. None of this is a surprise, it’s what the ruling classes have wanted to do for a long time. What’s surprising is that, as I said, so many people around just don’t seem to notice or care. There is time yet to fight, time yet to believe in and build the type of future we want for us and our kids (read, one that isn’t fascist). So, here, for #ZineMonday, a guidebook for tough times.
Update: a Little Free Library near me has these cards. It was more than a little heartening to find them and be reminded other people do care.
