What do we do now?

Fucked if I know.
The only thing I know is I said fuck more times in the last 24 hours than I did in the the last two years combined.

That is because we are, you know, fucked, and not in a good way.

I don't know what to do now. I had so much faith in the collective good sense of America, that I had not prepared myself at all for this eventuality. Today, I left work at midday because it took more than I had in me to focus on anything, so I just gave up and came home to wallow properly in my private misery.

Then later in the day, Dave, Allison, and Malik came to my rescue by dragging me out to our usual Wednesday night Shalimar meal, where I ate about a cow and a half. It didn't help much still. Nor did it help that all my friends were just as shocked and miserable as I was. We continued to drown our sorrow in food later at Citizen Cake with a yummy trio of tart, Granada, Full Moon, and Pear and Cardamom. All tasty, all sweet, but they did nothing to erase the bitterness in my heart.

Have I said we are all fucked?
So what do we do now?
Well, fucked if I know. Salon did offer some advice however.

Comments

[Lola]

Check this article out - from NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/opinion/14sun1.html?ex=1258174800&en=caa977fbeaec4624&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt

[anthony]

"and with the exception of people who joined the reserves thinking they'd get cheap tuition without ever risking their lives in battle"

Fuck - http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties.htm
wit - http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1338749,00.html

Pim, you're a paid up member of the Reality-Based community with an impersonal standpoint, a cracking writer, and a top shelf cook. At 'em.

[Avatar]

For what it's worth, I mourn with you, Pim.

Too many people are willing to surrender their civil liberties and line their pockets, just for the illusion of safety from "immorals" and "terrorists". And too many people are willing sit idly by as war is waged on foreign soil, as long as they aren't the ones doing the actual fighting, and as long as they don't have to see for themselves the gruesome effects of war.

In addition, by voting in favor of the constituional ammendment, they effectively endorsed the government's legislation of people's private lives, in fear of a threat that doesn't exist. They cry family values and Christian ideals, but last I checked, abject hatred was neither a family value nor a Christian ideal.

These people will beat you over the head with theology, meanwhile it's apparent to everyone but them how conveniently they ignore the tenets "Love thy neighbor", and "Thou shalt not kill".

[Dana]

Dear Pim,
I've been enjoying your blog for quite a while, but the last couple of days you have really been a great source of comfort, thank you so much. I currently live in Germany and while everyone around me shared my initial shock, the following days I would have felt alone with my pain and desperation. I am also proud of you for not allowing people to press you into a one-dimentional mold. To thyne own self be true..... Michael Moore's 17 Reasons Not to Slit Your Wrists has some good points - www.michaelmoore.com. Thanks again and keep up the good work as a food bloger and mensch!

[dexygus]

hey pim, don't give another thought to lex. she seems to represent the typical republican, one who only looks out for her own welfare rather than seeing the big picture. that's why she doesn't get your point. some of my relatives are that way.

[Pim]

Dear Jimmy,

Thanks again for the encouraging words. I am trying.

Dear Molly,

Thanks so much for the article. I was laughing and crying at the same time. Thank you.

Dear Carrie,

Thank you for pointing out something to cheer about. As difficult as things may seem for us in the Blue states, I can hardly imagine how Kerry voters like you and others in the Red states feel, living among the smug smile of victory on the faces of those "moral values" voters.

cheers,
Pim

[Carrie]

Just a quick "loan cry" from the wilderness of Montana. We elected a Democratic governor, and we have a Democratic Senator (for the moment).

[Molly]

Hey Pim,

I read your site everyday and share your feelings about the election results, so I had to share today. Do you read Mark Morford? Today, he gave me a reason to stop mourning and fight on.

He's here: http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford/

"After all, you don't hand over all your children the first time the flying monkeys bang on your door."

[jimmy]

Pim...Tuesday is over!! We need you, and your passion for food!....I'm about to enjoy a slice of Tarte-tatin, (from a famous chef in these parts) and watch some mindless t.v.....Glad you are alive, and ready to forge on.....Remember Pim: "Write-on.".....Peace and love....your fan, Jimmy-in-Seattle

[Pim]

Lex, somehow you continue to miss the point.

"I can't cope because I have no understanding whatsoever of other people's value systems."

Now that's funny.

It is not me who imposes my value on to the rest of the world. It is not me who is so unsure of my own state of “godly” union that I am threatened by others who are drawn together by love. It is not me who sticks my head in the ground and refuses to see that the world is coming down around our ears.

Most of all, it is not me bragging that *my* God can beat up *your* God.

I made my point. If you still didn’t get it, you are very welcome to go away. I’m not in the mood to explain myself anymore.

After all, this is MY sandbox, remember? I run things here. (God, I *so* love autocracy sometimes.)

[lex icon]

You are absolutely right. I am still missing your point. If you get around to making it, I'll be here watching. Unless your point was, "I can't cope with my world because I have no understanding whatsoever of other people's value systems." If that's your point, I get it.

[savina]

yes, well, I went out and in the middle of the evening suddenly remembered I had forgotten to thank Pim for her answer but especially for her blog which is one of the (many) gateways to an altogether different America, one which I am curious about and really enjoy visiting, reading of, listening to etc. So thank you Pim, once again. And please, no jumping over bridges, we have enough tragedy at the moment. I'm having a chocolate chip cookies for the wounded party (http://www.amateurgourmet.com/the_amateur_gourmet/2004/11/cookies_for_the.html) feel free to drop by any time tomorrow and lets have an ideal toast to our host

[pieman]

Emily B said - "In the sentence "we're all fucked", the "we" doesn't mean only Americans, it means everyone whose life is affected by America or American actions. Unfortunately, these days that seems to mean everybody in the world."

That's quite true, but honestly how many folk in those 'red states' in buttfuck, US of A really give a fuck? Do they have/want a passport, have/want access to unbiased media, have/want brown/black/yellow folk round for tea and scones? The stupid, ignorant, middle American redneck is the most powerful individual person in the world. A world they're not interested in.

I linked to this view from Iraq earlier, but I'm gonna copy the latest installment. It makes sense:

"In a comment in a previous post, Farid said:"I have a friend living abroad who expressed to me exactly what you just did. Pre-election, Americans were deemed to be helpless bystanders of a government who has taken them hostage with its own agenda. Now they are seen as collaborators with it."

"This comment resonated strongly with me personally because the insurgents in Iraq see all Americans/foreigners there, including we journalists, as collaborators with the U.S. occupation. I worry that the endorsement of the American people of the last three years will extend this attitude to the rest of the world. (Of course, some people don't give a damn about what the rest of the world thinks.)

While, obviously, the French aren't equivalent to Iraqi insurgents, despite the political rhetoric of Crawford. However, the feeling that everyone hates you and sees you as an active agent of their suffering is a feeling I know well; most of the people reading this blog probably don't.

If the world's populace now sees the American people as "collaborators" with the Bush administration, welcome to Baghdad. Trust me, you won't like it."

http://www.back-to-iraq.com/

[Paul]

Pim,

Cheer up. Have some chocolate! See if it tastes better with a glass of Banyuls.

Things are rarely as good or as bad as we think they are. This recently completed campaign season was full of name-calling and anger seasoned with hyperbole served up by both sides. I suspect that Kerry really wouldn't have mismanaged national security had he been elected, and I also have a hard time believing that Bush wants to or could poison the environment.

An excess of idealism can sometimes cause us to confuse our opponents for enemies. Respect is the first step towards understanding and understanding is the key to influence. Your comment above about "Jesus-loving [...] fat bigots" makes me fear that disappointment is distorting your outlook on what is truly important, what needs to be done, and how one should go about doing it.

[foodnerd]

At least one way in which we are all, personally, fucked is that we have now seen two elections marred by significant fraud and misconduct on the part of the Republican party, and with no clear action or plan for action to correct this. In fact, we will almost certainly have a judicial branch (from the Supreme Court on down) that will be able and probably willing to block any attempts to correct or prevent future electoral fraud. (And will likely be working with the administration to defang electoral and legislative processes in general in a number of ways that undermine our system of checks & balances.)

Our international standing, the state of our environment, our personal civil liberties -- all of them are threatened, but I find it much more frightening that we may ultimately be deprived of the very means by which we make our voices heard.

[jimmy]

Savina you're sardonic! I was trying to cheer Pim up. Remember her? This is her FOOD blog. Yes I was being lighthearted....Please don't let any of us keep you from going to the Sudan....People are going hungry, and living without shelter in California....Even though you have bush stuck in your bush, you have access to a computer to write about it. Maybe you could write mr. carl rove and tell him how horrible you feel. He's the 'brains' of the operation. You certainly aren't going to change his 'pupil'...Every year when I'm in France all people want to talk about is how much they love Clinton, and how much they hate bush. It always makes me feel proud to be an American. It's at those times when I trully appreciate our power and how much we affect the rest of the world!...We 'blue' folks are a minority right now. Lets think about changing that, instead of dwelling about how bad we feel!

[Pim]

Dear Savina,

No, ultimately we are not disagreeing with one another, not at all. We just have slightly different focus at the moment. And you know what, we are both right. That is the beauty of our collective position. We both could be right, at the same time. Imagine that you stupid right wing nuts!

I could understand comments from Jimmy, for example, about having hope. I must ask for your generosity in allowing such trespass. We all have to –somehow- get through the next four years. Hope is all that saves us from lining up to jump off the Golden Gate this very morning.

Dear Charles, Emily, and G,

Thanks for your comments.

[Pim]

Chère Pauline,

Merci de votre éloquence. Je vous absolument d’accord.

Ça toujours m’étonne, c’est le détournement du concept de moralité par ceux qui s’occupent que soi même; ceux qui ignorent la souffrance des autres; ceux qui jugent tous ce qui sont différents; ceux dont le but est de conquérir le monde par la force au lieu de la gentillesse; et ceux qui soit si crédule à renoncer leurs liberté pour la fausse impression de sécurité.

Leur moralité et notre moralité, elles ne sont pas pareilles, évidemment. J'espère ce sera la notre qui prévaudront à la fin du jour.

Je n'abandonne pas l'espoir—or at least I am trying not to. It’s the only thing we have left.

[Gastronomie]

Sorry folks, we have no one to blame but the DNC.

Out of left field, they support and nominate Kerry because at the outset of this election season, they didn't feel that Bush was unseatable (since when are approval ratings immutable??).

They should have given the American People more credit. They should have found a candidate who was not perceived as "the lesser of two evils" but rather as a strong candidate in his own right.

It's unfortunate that the DNC didn't see fit to nominate a candidate who came off as sincere and a strong and willful leader. It's a shame that no one told Kerry to temper his general repugnance for the evangelical population until the last days of the campaign. And it's REALLY unfortunate that Mrs. Heinz Kerry had to put down motherhood as a career.

But, all that said, this country and its people WILL persevere. My citizenship interview is this Monday, and my desire to become a citizen of this country is in no way diminished by this election. As a woman born into a culture far more oppressive, and with far fewer civil liberties, than this one, I can still count my blessings.

PS - has anyone read the Newsweek article about "behind the scenes at the campaign" yet?

[Charles Milton Ling]

Perhaps this helps a little bit. It helped me, if only as a palliative.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,482-1343295,00.html

Charley

[pauline]

"In French" so sorry
C'est toujours "amusant" voire réjouissant de constater comment l'amour des bonnes choses : le vin, la bonne chère, la musique, la littérature, les arts au sens large, réunit toujours les humains intéréssants : ceux qui sont ouverts aux autres ; ceux qui ne jugent pas ; ceux qui n'imposent pas ; ceux pour qui la guerre est la pire des solutions; ceux qui revendiquent et defendent les libertés individuelles dans leur pays et les espèrent pour les autres quelle soit leur sexe; race; opinions politiques ou religieuses.
Ces humains existent et ce sont ceux là qui me donnent envie de partager "mon monde" un monde éclairé.
Thank you Pim and internet for giving us a way to share.

[savina]

Some of the comments here ARE pretty self centered you know, like "When people scream about Bush screwing them, I always ask what Bush did to them during the prior four years," or a bit too lighthearted to say the least: "The clouds will disapear, and we will have our time in the sun again. It's just their time now.......". It's also hard having to live with the consequences of something you didn't choose like having a dangerous idiot ruling the world for example. You end up feeling pretty powerless, you know, and angry at that.I can assure you I do not condemn Americans on the whole and am doing my best to point out to those who forget over here that almost half the American population would have chosen someone else as a ruler. Please let's try not to disagree too much among ourselves, I don't really care that much that someone is American or from anywhere alse, while I really care (and appreciate) if he/she thinks we should be in Sudan bringing relief, has an environmental conscience, etc.

[EmilyB]

After bursting into tears twice yesterday morning, I put myself on a one-day no-political-news "diet". Then made macaroni & cheese for dinner (comfort food). It didn't do much to improve my outlook.

I do get really tired of reading things from people who are bashing Americans as a group and accusing us all of an amazingly self-centered worldview. "How many more people will have to die in other parts of the world before you understand how bad the situation is and how beyond hope it's in danger of getting?" and "it is good to ALSO feel somewhat ashamed, and that US citizens should practice that a bit more for a change" are good examples.

In the sentence "we're all fucked", the "we" doesn't mean only Americans, it means everyone whose life is affected by America or American actions. Unfortunately, these days that seems to mean everybody in the world.

Believe me, lots of us (at least 48%, I'd say) DO understand how bad the situation is getting. The reason we're in such a state of despair and desperation right now is *because* we realize it. Over the next 4 years, the US government will, as a matter of directed policy, be taking actions that will cause long-term if not permanent damage to the entire world. People will suffer and die. Animals and plants will be destroyed. The air, water, and soil we depend on for life will be poisoned even further. Any "moral authority" America had following WWII is gone - why should any other country believe that we can help them (or that we'd honestly want to help them) when they can see how our government conducts itself?

I want a government that goes into Sudan with relief workers, not into Iraq with bombs and soldiers. I want one that believes that conservativism means you should *conserve* things (like, say, the environment, tax revenues, personal rights, etc.). I want not to feel ashamed of my country's actions. I want to be back in the days when most common criticism of Americans was that as tourists we tend to be loud and annoying - not that our nation is a dangerous loose cannon with no regard for international law or diplomacy.

Sorry for going on at such length, Pim - my feelings ran away with me. I think I'll go bake cupcakes with ganache frosting in between updating my resume as I keep looking for a job (another way in which, yes, a whole lot of us - in America and elsewhere - are fucked).

[Pim]

Dear Savina,

First of all, thank you for you kind compliment earlier.

I don’t disagree with you. Of course, there is much that we must be ashamed of. Electing him once was carelessness, electing him twice is an absolute disgrace. Of this, collectively, we rightly should be ashamed, even if not for electing him directly, but for allowing the conditions under which this could take place.

But we live in two Americas here. There is such a clear –yes- moral divide between my fellow coastal inhabitants and the Jesus-loving, God-fearing, gay-bashing, gun-toting, self-preserving, fat bigots in the red states. Their morality is NOT my morality. I am ashamed of them, and I am ashamed of us to have let their flawed “morality” be an issue in this election.

None of us in the Blue states are turning around with a bright smile and say, oh well our great country will get through this on our sheer greatness alone. The glum here in San Francisco is palpable in the air, and that’s not the fog. We are trembling with fear of the irreversible harm that this administration will surely afflict not only this country but the entire world.

We are ashamed –downright horrified- to have let this happen. We are raking our brain to find what more we could have done. We are blaming ourselves for not doing enough. Trust me -we don’t need our collective nose rub in it- we are plenty ashamed.

Dear Pieman, Simka, Jimmy, and Jody.

Thank you.

Dear Lex,

You are still missing my point.

[simka]

here's some more good advice for Democrats, from PineappleGirl - http://www.pineapple-girl.com/entry/041103.htm.

I say that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over, expecting different results. Democrats need to get sane about how we create change, we obviously cannot rely on common sense to govern, we need to get more active. You're right, 55 million Americans got out and voted and tried to make change. It's great, and let's keep it up. We can't wait for 4 years to get involved again - we need to learn to live and breathe our political philosophies (the way we do our environmental ones, perhaps; recycling and conserving as a way of life, anyone?) the way the Republicans do - it's how they win. We can learn from their successes.

I'm going to figure out my "personal citizenship philosophy" and start living it. Letters to my elected officials, educating myself about issues, etc.