Taking a Necessary Break

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Commentary

Those of you who’ve been regular readers of my blog posts over the past several months are aware of my political leanings, so it should come as no surprise that I am deeply disappointed, disheartened and angry at the outcome of our elections this past week. I am sickened that a small but meaningful majority of Americans voted to re-elect a cruel, corrupt, divisive and reprehensible narcissistic sociopath and serial liar to lead our country for a second time, and as a consequence, am not feeling very positive about my country or my fellow Americans right now. I do not wish to argue or debate about this here and will not entertain nor engage with any pushback or defense of any kind for Trump and his agenda.

Since the election, I’ve gone back and forth about whether I can or want to continue blogging about music, and have concluded that because my despair and disillusionment are so intense at this time, I cannot continue writing about music as if everything else is OK. While I believe that music can be a healing force, it’s unfortunately going to take more than that for me to heal.

I may decide to resume writing for my blog again at some future time but can’t predict if or when that will happen. In the meantime, I might read and/or engage with some of my fellow bloggers’ posts now and then if I feel up to it.

42 thoughts on “Taking a Necessary Break”

  2. Ralph Beauchamp's avatar Ralph Beauchamp

    Jeff

    I was going to give you a call this week just to make sure you’re were good. Obviously not. I totally agree with you on this disastrous outcome but if you succumb to these egregious results, then they win. I will continue to write about new artists as it’s my way of getting through the next four years. I refuse to listen to the news. It just makes me mad and depressed. If there is anything I can do to help you in the future, please just call. In addition, if you need an outlet for any future review, Myampmusic.co would be honored to publish it. Carry on my good friend. I hope you heal soon.

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  3. I hear your frustration, Jeff, and hope you will be back. I’ve been contemplating to take a break as well, but for now I’m continuing to blog. Music and blogging have always provided a welcome escape hatch from the daily realities of life. As such, if I would stop now, I might feel worse.

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  5. Laura A's avatar Laura A

    I hear you. Disappointment is an understatement. Be well and take care of yourself. I look forward to your return in the future. Thanks for everything.

    Laura Alimorad

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  9. Oh Jeff, I feel your pain and am in mourning. Music is a release for me as well. Hope these four years go fast. Yeah, once the disappointment wears off, I am going to be volunteering for the ACLU chapter here in this state.

    Take care.

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  11. Read this earlier this morning, but I needed some time to respond. You’ve read enough of my stuff to know where my head and heart are, and I read you loud and clear. I completely understand and respect your decision, and I sincerely hope that you are able to, at some point, make some sense out of all of this, if that is even possible. I have stopped reading, watching, and listening to all the “noise” out there, and although I may write one last piece about all of this, it is going to take awhile.

    I have not forgotten about popping down your way for a visit…reach out so I have your email. Mine is quadzillabynorth@gmail.com. If it is any consolation my friend, you are not alone by a long shot.

    North (Irwin)

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  13. H.G.O's avatar H.G.O

    Dear Jeff,

    I’m not American and do not live in the US, and even I felt disappointed and disillusioned by the election results. I cannot even begin to imagine how you must feel. I just hope this new period is really his last in office (this type of popular narcissistic sociopaths tends to do whatever they can to stay in power, even if that means bending the rules).

    Take as much time as you need to rest and recharge your batteries. You can always count on our support.

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    1. Thanks Matt, but I have no desire to discuss this. Harris and the Democratic Party are far from perfect, but I cannot abide that a small but vocal majority of Americans preferred a divisive criminal who called his opponents vermin, trash and the enemy within because they were mad about the high cost of housing or the price of groceries, neither of which Trump and the Republican Party will do anything to remedy.

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      1. ‘Small or vocal minority’? They weren’t small and the win was overwhelming. Trump is no saint, but he does represent those against the malevolent and unsavoury direction the Government was heading. His victory represents a new course direction based on what the people voted. They voted against the ‘Woke’ ideology, economy, and immigration.
        You don’t have to think that the world is going to hell in a hand basket when your fellow country persons voted for him. They are not stupid. We just have to get along and be tolerant, but also resilient. It takes fortitude and a whole lot of humility.

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      2. I wasn’t going to further engage with you about this, but must say a few things, then I’m done. First off, I said “a small but vocal majority”… Secondly, if anyone has been “malevolent”, it’s Trump and his VP Vance, neither of whom exhibit a single iota of humility. Finally, I cannot fathom why you, as an Australian who’s now living in Colombia, cares so deeply about what’s happening in the U.S.

        Liked by 1 person

  20. Sorry to hear you are so affected by the outcome, I know how you feel – I got back from Florida on Nov 3rd to avoid the worst-case scenario, and half the UK felt the same in 2016 about Brexit, which divided the nation badly. It’s taken years to come to terms with accepting the damage it is has done to the British economy and trying to make the best of a bad deal. We also had a Trumpist leader who lasted only weeks as she tanked the economy with her (unelected) right-wing nutty policies. The end result of years of chaos was an overwhelming win for the left. Because people always vote over self-interest (how well-off they feel) if Trump does half of what he promises – and providing he doesn’t successfully end democracy and voting in fair elections – the people will turn against him massively as the economy goes tits up. It’s up to the Democrats to make sure that the Truth matters, that it gets shouted loud and clear, and that nobody gives up because that will guarantee Trumpism for the foreseeable future. Biden needs to set an example by using his position now to set up as many blocks to anti-democratic forces as possible, and the Courts will be vital in that. People have short memories: they already forgot that they kicked him out last time. The Democrats, though, need to rethink exactly what they choose to champion in terms of social issues because straying from facts and reality to accommodate the feelings of a very few is not going to win people over in the long-term. One can still give support without removing the rights of others and above all LISTEN to people.

    Me, I find when times get hard (and the last 10 years have been very difficult for me personally) music is my refuge. Nobody can take that away from me. It’s also an outlet for anger and expression as well awe and beauty. Youtube Legal AF might give a helpful guide to what can practically be done, I know I watch it all the time and I’m not American!

    Plus, I enjoy your charts, I hope you re-start after you feel up to it 🙂

    Here’s a song that might help, dark and optimistic both, it’s amazing, I love it:

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks for your astute insight and kind words. We’ll be facing some great challenges in the coming year, and I agree that many who voted for Trump will sour on him as his policies and actions start hurting them.

      Thanks for sharing that powerful Father John Misty song.

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