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ChicagoRonin

(630 posts)
17. Sorry, but your privilege is showing
Tue Jun 26, 2018, 01:47 PM
Jun 2018

Seriously. Because every one one of the things you fear is something generations of people in other countries sometimes had to live under. And often leaving was not an option they could even consider.

Look at history, and look around the world. Even in the worst dictatorships, tin-pot third world authoritarian cesspools, and the like, people still meet, get married, have children, eke out lives. Yes, they are often marked with inequity, injustice and tragedy, but people do it, because that's just what people do.

And sometimes they choose to fight. They become revolutionaries or rebels, risking life and limb. Or, if that's not their inclination, they hunker down and find ways to survive. They might not fight the system, but they are still fighters every day and every way.

I'm half Korean. Every time I have felt down since Election 2016, I recall that my mother was born when her country was an occupied satellite of the Japanese Empire (she wasn't even allowed to have a Korean name until the Japanese left). My family was repeatedly displaced during the Korean war, and eventually split (my grandfather was a communist sympathizer and disappeared north, leaving my grandmother in poverty and the stigma of having a traitor in the family).

The South Korea my mother grew up in was ruled by a corrupt fake democratic president, followed by a succession of military dictators, all of whom were aided and abetted by the wealthy of the country, and a U.S. military and intelligence policy that favored anti-North activities over promoting genuine democracy and freedom. She knew people whose lives were ruined for political reasons, people who disappeared, and what it was like to not be free to speak your mind.

And guess what? She and my other relatives still had full and rich lives. Despite all that crap. So, to quote "The Shawshank Redemption," "Get busy living, or get busy dying."

Me, too janterry Jun 2018 #1
Post removed Post removed Jun 2018 #2
I choose to put you on ignore. Your total comments were unnecessary . sinkingfeeling Jun 2018 #9
I could take the same line and say your op was unnecessary. NCTraveler Jun 2018 #12
Nice parody of Trump-style tourism "Come to the US - We aren't Iraq" ck4829 Jun 2018 #14
It's not a parody. NCTraveler Jun 2018 #15
The only J_William_Ryan Jun 2018 #3
Winner. NCTraveler Jun 2018 #5
amen eleny Jun 2018 #24
I fantasize about leaving a lot meadowlark5 Jun 2018 #4
No one likes us CountAllVotes Jun 2018 #33
Things will get better Cicada Jun 2018 #6
We need to get rid of Putin and his troll army first. Initech Jun 2018 #32
Never, never, never give up. ellie Jun 2018 #7
That's part of their strategy. For us to be paralyzed with depression. Tatiana Jun 2018 #8
Listen to Mariah Carey WhiteTara Jun 2018 #10
Don't assume the election process is that far gone. It isn't, yet Tom Rinaldo Jun 2018 #11
Impeachment 2019!! InAbLuEsTaTe Jun 2018 #13
I know how you feel. madaboutharry Jun 2018 #16
Sorry, but your privilege is showing ChicagoRonin Jun 2018 #17
Don't sit around and handwringing...you want to give up or actually do beachbum bob Jun 2018 #18
He is wearing us all down dreamland Jun 2018 #19
Now is the time to make a stand. Dyedinthewoolliberal Jun 2018 #20
"The sky is falling" posts are always tiring brooklynite Jun 2018 #21
It's worse than hopeless many a good man Jun 2018 #23
Knock yourself out... brooklynite Jun 2018 #34
Well, it's obvious what we need to do.... minstrel76 Jun 2018 #22
I feel exactly the same davekriss Jun 2018 #25
We need Mark Cuban to run .. donkeypoofed Jun 2018 #26
I'm down too... wcmagumba Jun 2018 #27
We need you, your vote and your resolve eleny Jun 2018 #28
Take some time to lick your wounds lunatica Jun 2018 #29
I recommend underthematrix Jun 2018 #30
Stepping away might be your best bet. badhair77 Jun 2018 #31
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