Thank you for writing it down. My own life has been one of running toward an immediate fire lately, while also feeling the grief and weight of what is occurring globally. We all live here. The Earth is really just a small town in space. I have two jobs. In one I hold the grief, suffering, and crises of human beings. In the other I pour and sell wine to people who are looking to have a nice day in their time away from work. The dichotomy is profound and such a glimpse into how fractured the world is and continues to be and I find that I cry equally about both camps. And yet, feed the cat, brush the teeth, celebrate my son's birthday. I don't even really know what to say. Gratitude for what I have while being ever aware and not turning away from the suffering of others. No trigger warning necessary.
hi. the bell hooks quote is from p. 30 of Killing Rage, Holt Paperbacks, 1995
("...The rage of the oppressed is never the same as the rage of the privileged. One group can change their lot only by changing the system; the other hopes to be rewarded within the system...")
So so so so good. "I wonder if the very idea that we should be able to pick and choose when we give our attention to atrocity stems from the same sense of separation that makes us feel helpless to stop it."
Dec 10, 2023·edited Dec 10, 2023Liked by Anna Fusco
"It’s as if every day is a theater production." Feeling this so deeply when visiting family and friends lately, especially those less engaged with what's happening.
Such a meaningful contribution to the conversation. Thank you for naming what so many of us are feeling.
i share this only in response to your invitation about it: i think that lately the idea of a trigger warning has gotten lost in translation, or skewed. while i firmly believe that no one is responsible for my triggers, and i am not responsible for theirs, i do still find it important that we attempt to come from a place of compassion and not spread more harm. i am not saying you should have added a TW for what you reposted by any means. i stand with you in the frustration of people seemingly being able to pick and choose what they pay attention to; but i know that, for me personally, a trigger warning has only always allowed me a moment to center myself, to come from a place of attention and not dysregulation. because to show up in my dysregulation would not rightly or justly serve the people needing it. so many of us live with trauma in our bodies, that we have had to learn how to open our window of tolerance much wider, instead of dive head first out of it, and it can't possibly do others any good to live in that heightened state. i am able to show up for others in their grief and despair BECAUSE i have had to learn to come from that center. does this make sense? some people have to start much smaller so they can open that window wider. maybe it's as simple as we needing a new name for "triggers".
Thank you for this ♥️💚🤍🖤 I grew up in Iran during the Iran/Iraq war when the US was funding Saddam Hussein’s military campaign against Iran (back when he was a US ally). My tax dollars are now funding Netanyahu’s genocidal campaign against Palestinians. The grief and the rage is overwhelming 🇵🇸
it's this knowing about things, but being so far away from the things that the things do not directly impact/disrupt your own life piece of this writing that sums up the immense frustration within me and in so many of us.... it's a very real thing we're all trying to grapple with either up front or in the background. as you said, "our humanity knows no territory" and may it continue to be so. thank you for this writing.
Oh Anna, I felt this on my bones. Every word. Thank you for your articulation, your words, your mind and heart ❤️🔥 Free Palestine ❤️🔥
Thank you for writing it down. My own life has been one of running toward an immediate fire lately, while also feeling the grief and weight of what is occurring globally. We all live here. The Earth is really just a small town in space. I have two jobs. In one I hold the grief, suffering, and crises of human beings. In the other I pour and sell wine to people who are looking to have a nice day in their time away from work. The dichotomy is profound and such a glimpse into how fractured the world is and continues to be and I find that I cry equally about both camps. And yet, feed the cat, brush the teeth, celebrate my son's birthday. I don't even really know what to say. Gratitude for what I have while being ever aware and not turning away from the suffering of others. No trigger warning necessary.
hi. the bell hooks quote is from p. 30 of Killing Rage, Holt Paperbacks, 1995
("...The rage of the oppressed is never the same as the rage of the privileged. One group can change their lot only by changing the system; the other hopes to be rewarded within the system...")
So so so so good. "I wonder if the very idea that we should be able to pick and choose when we give our attention to atrocity stems from the same sense of separation that makes us feel helpless to stop it."
"It’s as if every day is a theater production." Feeling this so deeply when visiting family and friends lately, especially those less engaged with what's happening.
Such a meaningful contribution to the conversation. Thank you for naming what so many of us are feeling.
i share this only in response to your invitation about it: i think that lately the idea of a trigger warning has gotten lost in translation, or skewed. while i firmly believe that no one is responsible for my triggers, and i am not responsible for theirs, i do still find it important that we attempt to come from a place of compassion and not spread more harm. i am not saying you should have added a TW for what you reposted by any means. i stand with you in the frustration of people seemingly being able to pick and choose what they pay attention to; but i know that, for me personally, a trigger warning has only always allowed me a moment to center myself, to come from a place of attention and not dysregulation. because to show up in my dysregulation would not rightly or justly serve the people needing it. so many of us live with trauma in our bodies, that we have had to learn how to open our window of tolerance much wider, instead of dive head first out of it, and it can't possibly do others any good to live in that heightened state. i am able to show up for others in their grief and despair BECAUSE i have had to learn to come from that center. does this make sense? some people have to start much smaller so they can open that window wider. maybe it's as simple as we needing a new name for "triggers".
Brilliant and beautiful and captures so much of the things I feel and don’t have words for.
Thank you for this ♥️💚🤍🖤 I grew up in Iran during the Iran/Iraq war when the US was funding Saddam Hussein’s military campaign against Iran (back when he was a US ally). My tax dollars are now funding Netanyahu’s genocidal campaign against Palestinians. The grief and the rage is overwhelming 🇵🇸
it's this knowing about things, but being so far away from the things that the things do not directly impact/disrupt your own life piece of this writing that sums up the immense frustration within me and in so many of us.... it's a very real thing we're all trying to grapple with either up front or in the background. as you said, "our humanity knows no territory" and may it continue to be so. thank you for this writing.
Yes. Thank you <3
"To Be in a Time of War" - Etel Adnan
https://lareviewofbooks.org/short-takes/to-be-in-a-time-of-war-an-homage-to-etel-adnan-1925-2021/
Yes yes yes, my heart echoing so much of what you said here. 🧡
Ufff. Heavy. Beautiful. Thank you.
https://www.youtube.com/live/W7-LwkLImiw?si=8NJW3KBbjD6SuNJa
Thank you for putting into words.
thank you. the grief is heavy and omnipresent and it feels important to name it.
Thank you. 🇵🇸❤️