Friday, February 26, 2021

Post-Orange Menace and What It Means



 Two things I failed to mention in the first post I made to this shiny new blog:

1. I am fairly political.

2. I hate/d Trump.

How will these two facts impact my musings overall? 

I don't know. I am fairly unsure about what will make me want to write so there's a chance I will blather on about the world in which we live in a rage-y manner or possibly not. I said I'm complex or sometimes bipolar (I'm not making fun of anyone who suffers from this so please know I'm lampooning myself.) 

For the most part, there are way better outlets to get factual news other than my posts although I will not likely proclaim anything without facts to support my views. I still wouldn't recommend you to access my stuff to know what's what, particularly if you're conservative in your political views. 

Now, I do have conservative views myself about some things but way liberal on others (such as overall human rights, go love who you wanna, be who you are supposed to authentically be, do what you will to your body as long as you don't harm others, yadda, yadda, yadda). In the past failed attempts of keeping a written journal of my life, I have tried to refrain from any over extensive commentary about politics unless it's at the point where not mentioning something would make me seem fully out-of-touch and downright daft. So that all being said...

DING DONG DON IS DEAD!

No, no, don't run to the headlines to see if Donny Trump kicked the bucket. I mean, let's not lie here, if I heard that he had gotten some sort of flesh-eating disease or consumed by a pack of rabid wild dogs, I wouldn't necessarily be wearing black to mourn him. None of these things, alas, happened. He's alive and kicking it in Florida, continuing to create havoc, spreading his fucktardery far and wide. Moronic pseudo-dictator that he seems to believe he is but in actuality is only a raving lunatic who attracts more of the same cray cray as he, is still trying to retain power even while staring down the barrels of various investigations/litigations. He's doing him. And his followers are still following.

Of course, it's now February of 2021 and he's been booted out of the Oval Office a few weeks back leaving Biden to pick up the pieces of the shadow-like democracy we once enjoyed. I could go on and on speaking as to how much I love Biden and this new admin but that's not really useful simply because, at this point, a paper hat would have been better than the orange-tinted buffoon.   

What's life like in a post-Trump America? 

For me personally, I most certainly don't want to destroy the TV every other day anymore. I don't tune into the news obsessively just to witness the shitshow that America became nor marvel that we could have sunk so low as to have a leader like him, and more importantly, I don't have to regulate my blood pressure (no, I didn't really do this but it felt like it) anymore as I beheld the sheer glorious narcissistic incomprehensible ravings of that lunatic. Presently, I browse through headlines on my phone or turn on the news while folding laundry to catch up. It's kinda nice that I'm not always dealing with low-level anxiety in that form anymore. I mean, I have anxiety in all other forms but just not that.

But he, the former Idiot-In-Cheif left his mark and it's not pretty. 

As I said, being brown is an experience all unto itself and in the past 4 years, it's been so very disheartening as Trump gave space for such hateful rhetoric and actions. In darker moments, I looked around this country that gave me so much only to wonder how it had betrayed me so very badly. Those were indeed breath-taking moments full of tears and in a way, mourning.

But I'm not totally mad at Shitler for this. Surprised that I say this? Particularly when at times I felt nervous to go beyond the very liberal area I live? When I knew, down to my bone, that there were swaths of this country that would be restricted for me, downright threatening to my very person?

Truth be told, racism has always and always lurked in the dark recesses of this here great country. Um, let me backtrack, it's been pretty much out there front and center to be totally honest if one just looked. It never stopped existing despite the Civil Rights Movement. Ask any person of color you come across and they'll have a story or two for you regarding how they were treated like human garbage due to their color. Not fun (understatement of the year).

But a lot of y'all are convinced racism died somewhere along the way. Not sure how nor why,  considering we've had the internet around for quite a while so knowledge is at the tips of your fingers if you want to know. I mean some folks will look up a random recipe or pictures of nail fungus at the drop of a hat (me, I'm that person...) but when it comes to the ugly truths of the world? It's just too hard I guess because then caring will kick in or worse yet, guilt. Nope, racism is very present. What it did do is disguise itself as politically correct and socioeconomic chains. It has stayed alive in opportunities that POC don't have in education, work, life, etc. Thanks to cell phones, it's a bit more visible in the form of viral videos.  

But back to the Orange Shitgibbon...he gave free rein for closet racists to kick open the door, to be so comfortable with it, out loud, akin to a streaker during Sunday night football, and flash their hate alllll over the place. He lifted the proverbial rock to let them slither out. For the last 4 years, these bottom feeders roamed around freely feeling as if it was their time to shine while screaming, ironically enough, oppression and reverse racism. I mean...what? I mean white people...really? Oppression? Reverse racism? C'mon now.

But wait, don't leave thinking I'm about to bash all of you. I'm not. That isn't the point at all of this. I'm also not going to go on and on in assuring that I have white friends (because I do) and how amazing they are (because they are) nor how much they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with POCs (again, they do). What I will explain here is that Trump magnified something that should have been obvious if one was to simply look past their own lives: racism is still quite alive, living and breathing, as sadly horrifically multiplying. 

Post-Trump, we are a broken nation, without a doubt. Fractured and splintered. We are two sides screaming oppression at one another. Hate seems to live within our veins. And while this is terribly disheartening the very fact is, without bringing into the light the truth or acknowledging the problem, we will actually never be able to try and fix it. Am I silly enough to believe for a second that racism will one day disappear? Absolutely not. 

However, and here's where I reflect positivity, as the world continues to integrate, as people from different backgrounds continue to come together and create new colors in all shades in the form of procreation, the inevitable is that there will be more beige than anything else so racism will have less and less oxygen. Or maybe that's my hope. I do believe it'll be long after I'm but dust and one with nature for this to really happen. 

Anyhow, I'm not sure how many of us survived these past years with McTurd. He did quite a number to us. There's a bizarre sense of PTSD as well for many. But I figured, let me get this post out of the way so that if you don't live here, and are wondering, now you know.

Sending you all good Friday vibes, wherever you are!


Wednesday, February 24, 2021

I Lost My Blog (Dang it)

 ...Or rather I can't figure out how to log back in because Blogger made it damn near impossible to find it. I suppose I could spend some time internet researching how to get back into my old account but then again that would mean expending energy, something I do not have in terrible spades to begin with, along with patience. The alternative is to start anew and refer back to my older blog (http://americandesiredefined.blogspot.com/) every once in a while with warm longing and love. I can also freely steal from it so this is a win/win/sin situation. I can also simply embrace that I'm losing my tech mojo, no longer able to navigate the intricacies of a webpage. *Gasp* I refuse to believe this option because it would mean I'm old. Not yet, readers, not just yet. 

Let's begin at the beginning (for that's the only place to start) with some facts about me, my life, my small little me-ness. My FB friends probably know a lot about me already so this is more for those who are just stumbling onto my post and decided to *click*.

  • My name is Rubina but often I refer to myself as Rubes online. Yup, not giving the last name. Heck, even the last name on my Facebook isn't my real one. I have another name that my family calls me or my closest desi (a person of Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi birth or descent who lives abroad) acquaintances. I'll eventually tell you all about it.

  • I live right outside of Washington D.C. in Virginia. 

  • As you're reading this, I'm unemployed. As you're reading this, I'm trying to get a job. I will.

  • I'm 48. I have problems really wrapping my head around that number. It seems incredible that I've been around as long as I have. Not because I live some crazy on-the-edge sort of life thus I didn't expect to live this long. I'm not that badass. But you know, FORTY-EIGHT YEARS. Wasn't I 21 just a few years ago? I guess know. Just to be clear, while I'm slightly woozy about the number, it doesn't mean I do not love my age. I actually do.

  • I'm an American Bangladeshi. You will learn much, much more about this throughout the journey of my blogging. Actually, if I want to be super accurate, I'm an American Bangladeshi/Indian. For those who do not know where Bdesh is on the map:




  • I am Muslim. Again, way more information to come regarding this. Most of it will be stolen from that other blog I had because shoot, a lot of time went into crafting those. My theism is what has made me the person I am today. I will NOT be trying to convert you to Islam. If I speak about it, it will be in terms of how it has impacted me throughout life and created the blogger who hopefully you'll love and adore (and follow). 

  • My personal situation in my life is just that, personal. I don't tend to share information such as displaying loved ones' names in my writing because to me that is an invasion of privacy and can make them feel ways that may not be good. I'm not about the whole calling-out thing unless it's truly necessary. Overall I just think that specifics of status take away from the overall message.

  • I'm a writer though one would wonder how much of it I do and do I have any formal writing to my name. For years the mojo disappeared and thus have zero clues as to how to log onto my blog account. But in my mind, I am constantly writing something. The disconnect is to transfer it to paper. As for the, "'can I read your writing anywhere other than your blog?" question...no. I'm a wimp and cannot find the gumption to get any of my work published.

  • I'm always open to comments and feedback. My life is not lived within a vacuum and I am always out to improve myself mentally, spiritually, emotionally. Be kind, be polite, feel free to let me know your thoughts.

  • I'm human which means I fuck up all the time. I will display this human side of me in ways sometimes which I even think are unnecessary. But I'm trying to be raw. Kinda. Sorta. Let's see how much of this rawness I can actually show.

  • I am overweight. Phew, to write this statement out is HUGE. I struggle with this a lot. I will be talking about it. Don't be uncomfortable about it. I don't hate myself. Well, most of the time I don't. But there will be times when I will speak of it in despairing ways. I probably will get dark. Those darknesses are apart of my overall light. Know that this has nothing to do with you and you don't have to pity me, neither do you have to be disgusted with me. Just read me. 

  • I'm a brown person living in a predominantly white landmass (namely the USA). There's so very much to say about this topic, so much that has impacted me in my growth and overall outlook in life, so much that so many do not know/understand. All browns are not equal in experiences while we very well may share the same feelings. I believe expounding upon these things helps to help bridge misunderstandings/confusion. 

That leads me smoothly into my mission statement for this blog: To share experiences, thoughts, and overall life crap that will prove that while I look different, I am absolutely the same as you, no matter your skin color, race, background, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, etc. In fact, whether you are sitting at the table next to me in this wonderfully socially distanced cafe or you're 15,000 miles away insomnia-ridden due to anxiety of some sort or another, we are more similar than dissimilar. We experience human emotions in common forms, we look for light, love, positivity within our own spheres, we want to be happy and included even as we may feel terribly, terribly lonely. 

I'm sure overall I could be far more eloquent however the one thing I do strive for in my blog is to be real. Or at least I try. I mean, sure I fail but then again, failure is apart of the human condition, right? 

Oh, and I just started this blog. There are no bells and whistles on my page yet. I'll add them like color and layout along with other fancy stuff once I get my bearings and have time. 

So, as the kids like to say, "let's do this thing!" (wait, the kids do say this still, right?)

Welcome to my world! <3


Old Bitches, New Tricks, Paths Revealed

(I do love coming up with interesting titles for my blogs. I like to imagine it's close to click-bait and also full disclosure, the pic ...