Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

kpete

(72,897 posts)
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 09:48 AM Apr 5

Haven't been here since 11/4/24

Friends have pulled me out of my cave and demanded I attend the anti-asshole rally today.
Politics have been SO toxic. At 73, I was about to give up. I have been protesting since 1971 and I literally grew sick when you know who won AGAIN.
Anyway, going to put on my pussy hat and head downtown.

See ya
kp

74 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Haven't been here since 11/4/24 (Original Post) kpete Apr 5 OP
Welcome back malaise Apr 5 #1
You've been missed. cachukis Apr 5 #2
Welcome back ornotna Apr 5 #3
Welcome back! sheshe2 Apr 5 #4
Love that! nt Tadpole Raisin Apr 5 #7
LOVE IT!!! niyad Apr 5 #15
There you are !! dweller Apr 5 #5
I left shortly after you. I didn't think I could handle Tadpole Raisin Apr 5 #6
K&R spanone Apr 5 #8
Welcome home! MiHale Apr 5 #9
"I will not let negative energy rule my life" Martin Eden Apr 5 #10
Welcome back kpete! n/t livetohike Apr 5 #11
Welcome back! And thank you for the reminder about my pussy hat. niyad Apr 5 #12
!!!! BoRaGard Apr 5 #13
welcome back! PoliWrangler Apr 5 #14
I'm with you all in spirit! COL Mustard Apr 5 #22
Oh my dear Kpete - the same w/me. Now let's go protest this criminal. AnotherMother4Peace Apr 5 #16
So good to hear from you! MLAA Apr 5 #17
Glad you're back Marthe48 Apr 5 #18
As the line in "This Is Our Fight Song" says, " I may only have one match, niyad Apr 5 #40
Awesome!!! Peacetrain Apr 5 #19
Welcome Home! Kid Berwyn Apr 5 #20
hello stranger. orleans Apr 5 #21
We are with you! Wild blueberry Apr 5 #23
Way to go!! Hope22 Apr 5 #24
❤️ littlemissmartypants Apr 5 #25
Your presence means so much DeeDeeNY Apr 5 #26
Welcome back, I know just how you feel. I hope you are feeling better. Going to check out the protest in town. Walleye Apr 5 #27
Thanks for reminder of pink pussy hat! It's uncharacteristically cool here where I can see Mexico, Attilatheblond Apr 5 #28
we missed you! bronxiteforever Apr 5 #29
😁 underpants Apr 5 #30
Welcome back -- see you on the hustings Hekate Apr 5 #31
So glad to see you kpete! AllyCat Apr 5 #32
So glad you are here gademocrat7 Apr 5 #33
Good to see you! mountain grammy Apr 5 #34
I also failed at escaping into cinema during this current political crisis. Crowman2009 Apr 5 #35
I'm with you in spirit. Conjuay Apr 5 #36
What they all said. I recently hit 73. Kindness is all we have. Make it great again. twodogsbarking Apr 5 #37
March! Jean Genie Apr 5 #38
Good to hear from you kpete. I hear you...what to say...keep on truckin. Peace! c-rational Apr 5 #39
Wow! BumRushDaShow Apr 5 #41
WooHoo Clouds Passing Apr 5 #42
Welcome back!! Important times for sure!! Hat's off to your return!! bluestarone Apr 5 #43
Missed you, Bud! ChazInAz Apr 5 #44
Right on! surfered Apr 5 #45
kpete! blogslug Apr 5 #46
missed you, welcome back Celerity Apr 5 #47
I've been here Leith Apr 5 #48
. madamesilverspurs Apr 5 #49
kpete!!! babylonsister Apr 5 #50
Good to see you back. Jim__ Apr 5 #51
Well hello! MuseRider Apr 5 #52
Welcome back LetMyPeopleVote Apr 5 #53
You've been Missed, Kpete.. but I had a feeling Why! Cha Apr 5 #54
The Protest was well attended kpete Sunday #72
I completely understand about Ignoring politics... I did Cha Sunday #73
Glad to have you back! Maeve Apr 5 #55
OMG!! I have thought of you so many times stillcool Apr 5 #56
Glad you're back kp canetoad Apr 5 #57
So glad you're back, kpete. democrank Apr 5 #58
We need "all hands on deck" FakeNoose Apr 5 #59
We get up, dust off the dirt and get back in the game. The alternative is hellish. Welcome back kpete! Evolve Dammit Apr 5 #60
Welcome back Kpete! JT99 Apr 5 #61
Great to see you proud patriot Apr 5 #62
Great to hear from you again, kpete! calimary Apr 5 #63
Super welcome back !! n/t Dave says Apr 5 #64
"I have been protesting since 1971" pazzyanne Apr 5 #65
There were tons of comments on David Pakman's show about the protest BigmanPigman Apr 5 #66
'Ello! sakabatou Apr 5 #67
YAYYYYYYYYYY appleannie1 Apr 5 #68
Always loved your posts samplegirl Apr 5 #69
oh wow. I'm glad you stopped by again. Demovictory9 Sunday #70
Today was the first protest rally I personally attended since 1972. PufPuf23 Sunday #71
Aloha kpete! mahina Monday #74

dweller

(26,346 posts)
5. There you are !!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 09:54 AM
Apr 5

Welcome back and I have missed your posts .
Glad to hear you are well


✌🏻

Tadpole Raisin

(1,684 posts)
6. I left shortly after you. I didn't think I could handle
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 09:55 AM
Apr 5

what was to come.

I’m still not sure I can handle it but I just returned. I can’t let them succeed.

Welcome back!

MiHale

(11,512 posts)
9. Welcome home!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 09:59 AM
Apr 5

Same age…we are dragging our life-ravaged old bods out to scream at injustice…again.

See ya in spirit

Martin Eden

(14,100 posts)
10. "I will not let negative energy rule my life"
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 10:20 AM
Apr 5

That's the advice a lifelong friend gave me. He votes Democratic, keeps up on news, serves as a poll worker at his local precinct on election day.

He cares, but does not let despair or anger impact his quality of life. He has somehow managed to build a wall between the shitstorm and his emotional well being.

We're both 67, and I am in full agreement that we need to enjoy life as best we can in the time we have left.

I have not been as successful as my friend in building an internal emotional wall. Some can, most probably can't.

Even harder to do is isolate oneself from the shitstorm going on all around us. Even if you don't spend hours on the internet, you can't help but have some awareness of the storm.

It's part of life all around us. A feeling of helplessness can certainly lead to despair. One remedy for that is to add oneself to the growing numbers of people who are standing up to protest what is being done to us and to others by our government which acts in our name.

There is strength in numbers.

But each person has their own story, their own life to deal with. Whatever path you must take to find value and meaning in the time you have left, is the best course.

Peace be unto you,
Martin

COL Mustard

(7,328 posts)
22. I'm with you all in spirit!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 10:55 AM
Apr 5

Can't protest today, at least not in the marching way, but we Mustards do our part as well.

Marthe48

(20,430 posts)
18. Glad you're back
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 10:39 AM
Apr 5

and glad you're going to a protest.

We can't give up. Even a little spark can start a fire.

niyad

(123,146 posts)
40. As the line in "This Is Our Fight Song" says, " I may only have one match,
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 12:05 PM
Apr 5

but I can make an explosion".

orleans

(35,884 posts)
21. hello stranger.
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 10:46 AM
Apr 5


hope you stop back in here later and start a new thread to give us the updates on how your day went.

Wild blueberry

(7,558 posts)
23. We are with you!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 10:59 AM
Apr 5

Tending to our spirits is vital. So, I find, is defying the dreadful rot.
Good to hear from you. Cheers!

Walleye

(39,434 posts)
27. Welcome back, I know just how you feel. I hope you are feeling better. Going to check out the protest in town.
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 11:04 AM
Apr 5

Attilatheblond

(5,610 posts)
28. Thanks for reminder of pink pussy hat! It's uncharacteristically cool here where I can see Mexico,
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 11:08 AM
Apr 5

so a knit hat would be a good idea.

Crowman2009

(3,043 posts)
35. I also failed at escaping into cinema during this current political crisis.
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 11:42 AM
Apr 5

Turns out I kept having a habit of watching political thrillers (i.e. Parallax View) or political satires (i.e. Wag the Dog, Mr. Freedom, etc). After which I then tuned into SiriusXM Progress.

But we've all have got to do something, otherwise it will get worse!

BTW, don't change horses in midstream!

BumRushDaShow

(150,522 posts)
41. Wow!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 12:11 PM
Apr 5

And I thought I was just missing your posts!!

Glad you came back into the daylight (at least whatever it is we are trying to create here).

Leith

(7,859 posts)
48. I've been here
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 03:40 PM
Apr 5

for just a few minutes at a time. I have to fight off panic attacks when I read about the hellish mess that US politics have become. I haven't even been able to post.

Sorry. I've been taking the whole situation badly.

babylonsister

(171,971 posts)
50. kpete!!!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 04:24 PM
Apr 5

I've been thinking about you and looking for you, but was kind of afraid to ask. So HAPPY you are alive and well (as can be expected given this clusterfuck we're embroiled in).
Don't be a stranger!!!

MuseRider

(34,557 posts)
52. Well hello!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 04:55 PM
Apr 5

I hope you are interested in rejoining us, it would be so good to have you back.

Pull up a chair. Here, I have a blanket to cover your feet and stay a while..

Cha

(309,543 posts)
54. You've been Missed, Kpete.. but I had a feeling Why!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 05:18 PM
Apr 5

Good to see you

How's it going in San Diego.. Protest wise?

kpete

(72,897 posts)
72. The Protest was well attended
Sun Apr 6, 2025, 09:16 AM
Sunday

and a joy to be with like-minded people. I have to admit that I have buried my head in the sand since November. The politics in this country is SO toxic. I consider myself quite lucky to live in a state that is a bit more progressive.

peace,
kp

Cha

(309,543 posts)
73. I completely understand about Ignoring politics... I did
Sun Apr 6, 2025, 05:06 PM
Sunday

it for 5 months the first time this happened..

What a day you came back!

Maeve

(43,190 posts)
55. Glad to have you back!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 05:23 PM
Apr 5

Hadn't planned to hit the local rally, but it wasn't raining TOO hard and feel cheered at the 200 (rough guess) in my red suburb of Columbus.
You know you're in Buckeye country whe the cha t starts "hey hey, ho ho..." and by the third rep it's become "O-H, I-O! Trump and Mysk have got to go!"

stillcool

(33,560 posts)
56. OMG!! I have thought of you so many times
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 05:29 PM
Apr 5

so flipping happy to see/hear you're good. I hadn't been around for a while, and you weren't here when I lurked back in. The world just straightened out a bit. Humans are amazing.

Evolve Dammit

(20,478 posts)
60. We get up, dust off the dirt and get back in the game. The alternative is hellish. Welcome back kpete!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 06:55 PM
Apr 5

JT99

(66 posts)
61. Welcome back Kpete!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 06:58 PM
Apr 5

I always loved your posts and have missed them! Please stay strong and know we're with you!

Edit to add: ...and we NEED you!

calimary

(85,815 posts)
63. Great to hear from you again, kpete!
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 07:55 PM
Apr 5

We just got back from a two-hour peaceful protest elsewhere in the county. VERY nice, VERY invigorating, and VERY peaceful!

Mighty glad you’ve stepped back in! Missed you! A LOT.

BigmanPigman

(52,829 posts)
66. There were tons of comments on David Pakman's show about the protest
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 09:09 PM
Apr 5

A ton of people said they had never been to a protest before but they were going to this one. Others were like you who had not protested is a loooooong time but they were ready to join us and STAND UP, FIGHT BACK!

PufPuf23

(9,368 posts)
71. Today was the first protest rally I personally attended since 1972.
Sun Apr 6, 2025, 12:38 AM
Sunday

I am old as well and don't have any answers to the mess.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Haven't been here since 1...