Thank you, Holly. Your 2020 essay is beautiful and encapsulates my feelings perfectly. As someone who grew up in Baptist churches as you did(in the US not Kenya of course), and as someone who still attends a Baptist church, I will never understand the last ten years, never. It has broken my heart and just about broken my spirit. More cruelty, more hatred, more vitriol, than I could ever have believed has flowed from my “tribe,” and more delusion and willful disregard for the objective truth of who Trump is and what he does. My local church is not off the deep end insane like many whom we see and hear of now, but I expect if you polled the members most would STILL vote for that evil man. R good, D evil, am I right?? I keep telling everyone I am a Jimmy Carter Baptist, not a Mike Johnson one. I am old enough to have voted for Carter twice, and would do it again in a heartbeat.
This essay was wonderful and heartfelt and TRUE. Thank you for expressing what I have been feeling for these ten years. I kept expecting the fever to break, the poison to work its way through our system, but instead it has gotten only worse, ESPECIALLY in the church. God help us, what is wrong with us?
Every time I see, hear, or read about Franklin Graham, my blood pressure goes through the roof. I want to scream or howl at the moon or something.
This is the best thing you have ever written. Thank you.
Holly, it hurts to read what you wrote because it’s so true. I remember the joyful relief of the Friday and Saturday when Biden was declared the winner and the sick feeling of watching January 6. And to think we’re replaying the whole thing is unbelievable. And as you said, watching people we know and politicians who know better get sucked into this is surreal.
But hope is a powerful force and maybe something good and unforeseen is coming!?
I am also afraid. I battle with the words “fear not”. I’m afraid if T____ wins that he will dismantle our institutions and that “4 more years” will be gone. But I also feel something else is being born and it is powerful. And oppression will only feed the growth of this new way of thinking and believing. We will be ok.
Seriously, Holly. How do you make me cry every single time?? 😭 Your words are so true, except I think my feelings for the U.S. are more like a parent. I love it deeply, but I know it's not perfect. It makes me crazy and exhausted sometimes, but it's my (our) job to help it learn to be better and do better. I want our country to become a fully-functional, productive, kind adult country, not a mean, spoiled brat.
“I feel about America the way a person in a long marriage feels about their spouse. The infatuation is gone, but the devotion is stubborn. “
As a Muslim American, I feel more like a domestic abuse victim.
I keep reading old love letters - passages from “American Crisis” and the “Federalist Papers” to remind myself how great things were at the beginning of the relationship. I use Reagan’s last speech to hide the bruises.
I stay in the marriage because I still love this country so goddamn much even though it shows no signs that it loves me. I stay because it’s sick and dying and I need to help it get better so it can be there for my kids. And I stay because I’m not sure there’s any place better to go.
Well that might not be quite accurate. America as an idea is something I love unequivocally. I get really angry at people who constantly bash America while enjoying the rights, freedoms and opportunities that are only available here.
This doesn’t mean I’m not critical of lots of things America has done as a nation - especially things that have resulted in long term negative consequences for the people and places I care about. I’ve also had some less than pleasant experiences with people who call themselves American.
But also there are also so many great, inspiring and courageous people here as well. I’m an immigrant and I’ve lived in countries where good people really do feel hopeless and trapped by their circumstances. That’s probably closer to what it feels like in a bad marriage.
Here, even when things feel bleak (and oh God do they feel bleak right now!!!) there’s always a sense of optimism. A stubborn belief that we can get through anything if we remember what makes us great. The best things about America generally “course correct” for the bad things about America (though sometimes after much time and at great cost).
“For, though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire” 🇺🇸
The second image, the one of what looks like 3 goofballs - this tells me all I need to know about the problem we have. So folks with almost no perspective are angry that.... that what? I say this as someone who drove a straight truck for a pharmaceutical company a long time ago. I also painted houses. Someone has convinced the goofball class that the rest of the country is profiting off their back.
But none but the very wealthy get all they want. i certainly don't. But I don't then assume someone else is benefitting off my effort.
Again I know it is hard sometimes but... the rage by the idiocracy against perhaps half of America is obscene.
The issue of so called evangelicals is vexing. As someone raised Catholic, we viewed them as often led by preachers whose theological training was limited compared to those in main stream protestantism who Catholic priests often studied.
I fear election day. But I am old enough that I guess I will leave it to the next generation to figure out.
Oh, Holly. Beautiful, as usual. I can't believe we are here again, four years later. The race is closer than last time, and the stakes seem higher after all we have learned. I do hope that we prevail. And God help us if we don't.
We have been here too long... that was so well said. The whole piece was beautifully painful, and a timely reminder. My parents were first generation Americans, 3 of my grandparents fled Europe at the outset of WWI. I don't have to enumerate the reasons, many are the same as what we're facing not just today but as you pointed out have been. They came for a life free from tyranny. They were grateful people. Somewhere along the line, I am afraid we've lost many things being grateful for living in a democracy being one of them. Once again I digress, thank you Holly for sharing this, I'm sorry about your gran, I loved mine too. I felt so lucky to have her, she was my lighthouse for sure. Every kid needs that one good thing. Sigh. It's been a marathon, not a sprint. Keep writing please, we need your words. Thank you.
Thank you for your open, raw and heartfelt words Holly. I so feel for you and your fellow Americans!
As a "new" Australian I'd like to think it can't happen here, but have to sadly admit that - yes, here in Australia - are also those who would have their own "Trump", if they could.
Hoping and wishing that you all pull through in November, not just for the US , for all of us (the rest of the world) as well.
Thank you, Holly. Your 2020 essay is beautiful and encapsulates my feelings perfectly. As someone who grew up in Baptist churches as you did(in the US not Kenya of course), and as someone who still attends a Baptist church, I will never understand the last ten years, never. It has broken my heart and just about broken my spirit. More cruelty, more hatred, more vitriol, than I could ever have believed has flowed from my “tribe,” and more delusion and willful disregard for the objective truth of who Trump is and what he does. My local church is not off the deep end insane like many whom we see and hear of now, but I expect if you polled the members most would STILL vote for that evil man. R good, D evil, am I right?? I keep telling everyone I am a Jimmy Carter Baptist, not a Mike Johnson one. I am old enough to have voted for Carter twice, and would do it again in a heartbeat.
This essay was wonderful and heartfelt and TRUE. Thank you for expressing what I have been feeling for these ten years. I kept expecting the fever to break, the poison to work its way through our system, but instead it has gotten only worse, ESPECIALLY in the church. God help us, what is wrong with us?
Every time I see, hear, or read about Franklin Graham, my blood pressure goes through the roof. I want to scream or howl at the moon or something.
This is the best thing you have ever written. Thank you.
Holly, it hurts to read what you wrote because it’s so true. I remember the joyful relief of the Friday and Saturday when Biden was declared the winner and the sick feeling of watching January 6. And to think we’re replaying the whole thing is unbelievable. And as you said, watching people we know and politicians who know better get sucked into this is surreal.
But hope is a powerful force and maybe something good and unforeseen is coming!?
I am also afraid. I battle with the words “fear not”. I’m afraid if T____ wins that he will dismantle our institutions and that “4 more years” will be gone. But I also feel something else is being born and it is powerful. And oppression will only feed the growth of this new way of thinking and believing. We will be ok.
Seriously, Holly. How do you make me cry every single time?? 😭 Your words are so true, except I think my feelings for the U.S. are more like a parent. I love it deeply, but I know it's not perfect. It makes me crazy and exhausted sometimes, but it's my (our) job to help it learn to be better and do better. I want our country to become a fully-functional, productive, kind adult country, not a mean, spoiled brat.
“I feel about America the way a person in a long marriage feels about their spouse. The infatuation is gone, but the devotion is stubborn. “
As a Muslim American, I feel more like a domestic abuse victim.
I keep reading old love letters - passages from “American Crisis” and the “Federalist Papers” to remind myself how great things were at the beginning of the relationship. I use Reagan’s last speech to hide the bruises.
I stay in the marriage because I still love this country so goddamn much even though it shows no signs that it loves me. I stay because it’s sick and dying and I need to help it get better so it can be there for my kids. And I stay because I’m not sure there’s any place better to go.
I’m so sorry this is how you feel/this is your experience. I hate that, truly.
Well that might not be quite accurate. America as an idea is something I love unequivocally. I get really angry at people who constantly bash America while enjoying the rights, freedoms and opportunities that are only available here.
This doesn’t mean I’m not critical of lots of things America has done as a nation - especially things that have resulted in long term negative consequences for the people and places I care about. I’ve also had some less than pleasant experiences with people who call themselves American.
But also there are also so many great, inspiring and courageous people here as well. I’m an immigrant and I’ve lived in countries where good people really do feel hopeless and trapped by their circumstances. That’s probably closer to what it feels like in a bad marriage.
Here, even when things feel bleak (and oh God do they feel bleak right now!!!) there’s always a sense of optimism. A stubborn belief that we can get through anything if we remember what makes us great. The best things about America generally “course correct” for the bad things about America (though sometimes after much time and at great cost).
“For, though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire” 🇺🇸
The second image, the one of what looks like 3 goofballs - this tells me all I need to know about the problem we have. So folks with almost no perspective are angry that.... that what? I say this as someone who drove a straight truck for a pharmaceutical company a long time ago. I also painted houses. Someone has convinced the goofball class that the rest of the country is profiting off their back.
But none but the very wealthy get all they want. i certainly don't. But I don't then assume someone else is benefitting off my effort.
Again I know it is hard sometimes but... the rage by the idiocracy against perhaps half of America is obscene.
The issue of so called evangelicals is vexing. As someone raised Catholic, we viewed them as often led by preachers whose theological training was limited compared to those in main stream protestantism who Catholic priests often studied.
I fear election day. But I am old enough that I guess I will leave it to the next generation to figure out.
Oh, Holly. Beautiful, as usual. I can't believe we are here again, four years later. The race is closer than last time, and the stakes seem higher after all we have learned. I do hope that we prevail. And God help us if we don't.
We have been here too long... that was so well said. The whole piece was beautifully painful, and a timely reminder. My parents were first generation Americans, 3 of my grandparents fled Europe at the outset of WWI. I don't have to enumerate the reasons, many are the same as what we're facing not just today but as you pointed out have been. They came for a life free from tyranny. They were grateful people. Somewhere along the line, I am afraid we've lost many things being grateful for living in a democracy being one of them. Once again I digress, thank you Holly for sharing this, I'm sorry about your gran, I loved mine too. I felt so lucky to have her, she was my lighthouse for sure. Every kid needs that one good thing. Sigh. It's been a marathon, not a sprint. Keep writing please, we need your words. Thank you.
Thank you for your open, raw and heartfelt words Holly. I so feel for you and your fellow Americans!
As a "new" Australian I'd like to think it can't happen here, but have to sadly admit that - yes, here in Australia - are also those who would have their own "Trump", if they could.
Hoping and wishing that you all pull through in November, not just for the US , for all of us (the rest of the world) as well.
🙏🙏🙏
All of this. Every last word.
So good and painful and true. Thank you.
Bravo, Holly.
So beautiful Holly. And so tragic, that we are back here again…with ever more proof of all your key points. Stakes higher than ever…
Thank you, sweetheart!❤️
Beautiful.
“From the American people. From OUR people”
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/11/us/israel-gaza-bombs.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Uk4.0Hrr.GZgcC-zqKhc9&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare