I strive to be a constructive complainer. That’s one way of presenting my goals. There is rampant rage and despair in all my social networks.
I have been a liberal among other liberals—all upper middle class, Cis, and white—lamenting that the world is on a path to destruction and nothing can be done. We vote. We give to charity. We sometimes march. What more can we do? It’s so depressing I think I’ll order something next-day from Amazon. I’ve been to years of therapy and tried many medications but nothing seems to help me overcome feeling that life is meaningless. I left the church I grew up in because those people are bigots, all Trump voters now. What kind of religion is that?! And science deniers too. Anti-vax. The climate is doomed because of people like that so I think I’ll book a trip to see some of the world’s beautiful places before they’re gone. Sigh. Maybe I can find an Airbnb somewhere that my dollar is worth a lot.
I’ve been some variation of that person, among friends who are likewise.
But I’ve also changed. When I am able I would like to share possible factors that led me to change and how I have changed. And what I think is possible going forward. I see myself in a position to address multiple points of view because I’ve had multiple points of view. I don’t say that “I’m so special” but that I’m one person in a position to talk about this stuff who is willing to and wants to be candid. I call the potential series I would write White People Problems because I believe there are certain issues common among US white people that are the root causes of so much misery—for ourselves and globally.
By Rob Middleton who can be reached @[email protected] on Mastodon