As the U.S. faces a pivotal moment, systems of control thrive on fear, isolation, and compliance. But their power depends on convincing you that you have none. In this essay, I explore how to recognize these hidden mechanisms, reclaim your agency, and take small, meaningful steps toward resistance. Rooted in history and lived experience, this is your guide to finding clarity, connection, and courage in uncertain times
Thank you for your lucid description of the parallels between the 1930’s and now. The commitment never to let it happen again rings hollow as this inauguration takes place. As an older adult I audited a German language class in a local University a number of years ago taught by a Professor whose doctoral thesis focused on the first half of the twentieth century. The class was on the German Identity as it developed from very early times through the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century. It was terribly disturbing to see not just the seeds of what set the stage for the Third Reich, but the playbook used to bring into the reality what now horrifies those of us who are not white supremacists or Neo-Nazi’s, those of us with a shred of humanity in us. It is happening again. It is not just in the dark, as fodder for conspiracy theories. It is in the open, proudly declared by the incoming leadership, and celebrated by legions of followers. I am grateful for what you have written describing the possibility of having some level of agency, however small it may be in the face of what is upon us. I am struggling to keep some measure of equilibrium in the face of the rapid increase of people in power even those who have in the recent past dared to speak against this onslaught now lining up in concert with them, adding to the power of those leading the onslaught. I will take a deep breath, do some self-care, and try to find a secure place to stand from which I can negotiate this madness.
Dear Peter, when I hear you say, “It is happening again,” I feel the weight of your clarity and fear. It’s unsettling to watch history’s patterns resurface, not as whispers but as declarations in plain sight. Your experience in that German language class, tracing identity and the machinery of the past, gives your words an undeniable depth.
Yesterday, I shared Feeling Overwhelmed, Fearful, Frozen? How You Step Into Your Agency, and in the next couple of days, I’ll post more around this theme. You might also find my essays Breaking the Cycle of Oppression and The Brave Tender Ground meaningful, as I explore ways to navigate this kind of moment. I’ve lived it personally for 46 years and liberated myself from it. Finding a secure place, wherever it may be, is vital—not just to negotiate the madness but to preserve the humanity this moment seeks to erode.
Thank you for sharing your perspective; it reminds me how much awareness and care matter.
Thank you so much, Gloria! Coming from you, with your brilliant and thoughtful writing, this truly means a lot to me. I’m glad it resonated with you, and I hope it sparks some new ideas for how to handle what comes next. 🌟
Thank you, Priscilla! Your support means the world to me.
I'm so glad you found it powerful. In writing this piece, I aimed to explore the ways systems of control operate and how they can slowly erode our autonomy—whether in personal relationships, workplaces, or on a societal level. It’s about understanding the mechanisms of oppression, questioning them, and reclaiming our agency.
I hope this article sparked some ideas for you, too, about how to resist and fight back, even in the smallest ways. Whether it’s recognizing these patterns in our own lives or taking collective action, each step makes a difference. It’s a journey of self-restoration and solidarity, and together we can break the cycle of control and oppression.
Hi Jay, Thank you for sharing this piece. It is a scary time, and it's important to take note of parallels to past horrors. I stand with the Trans community. They will always hold an equal place in my heart and thoughts, and I hold steadfast to my hope that one day we all will see it this way. Sending love and support to you, and all others who do not identify as male or female. You do exist and I see you.. you deserve to feel safe, seen, respected, loved, and to have equal rights.
Junebug, thank you for your heartfelt words and unwavering support. Knowing you stand with the Trans and non-binary community during such a difficult time means more than I can express. Your hope for a future of equality and understanding is a light in these dark moments.
I feel seen and held in your message, and I carry that strength forward. Together, through voices like yours, we move closer to a world where everyone is respected, loved, and safe. Thank you for your kindness and solidarity. ❤️
Yes I meant trans AND non-binary! And you don’t have to thank me. It’s a given, and being Jewish, I know this administration could be threatening to us too…. it already has.
Thank you, Jay. Your words are truly medicine. I feel strengthened and emboldened after listening to them. I have shared them both here and in a group chat I participate in. 🕯️🖤✨
Jules, thank you for sharing this with me—it means so much to know my words resonated with you in this way. The thought of them being shared and sparking connection elsewhere is deeply moving. I’m grateful for your kindness and the light you bring. 🕯️🖤✨
Eileen, thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot to know the essay spoke to you in this way, and I’m touched that it started your day on an empowering note. Your support is deeply appreciated. ❤️
Mesa, thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to read my essay. It means so much to know it resonated with you. Sending gratitude and solidarity your way as we continue to navigate these complex paths together. 🩵
I am a captive political junky due to my husband’s addiction to politics on TV, but even he has gotten to the saturation point due to our obvious powerlessness.
Don’t worry, I do other things to fill my cup but I hear a lot of it and hear about it when I don’t listen directly.
I found it ironic that I would be here on Substack voluntarily reading your lengthy piece with interest. Great writing. Thank you. Pathetically sad situation, but you wrote about it eloquently.
Thank you for your kind words—they truly mean a lot. It’s heartening to know that my writing captured your interest, especially in a world where the noise of politics can feel overwhelming.
I can imagine the saturation point your husband has reached—when it feels like the cycle of headlines and punditry leaves us spinning in place. It’s a hard place to navigate, balancing the urge to stay informed with the need to preserve our sanity. I’m glad to hear you have other ways to fill your cup—that balance is so important.
It’s ironic, isn’t it, how even amidst the chaos, certain perspectives can pull us in voluntarily? I’m grateful that mine was one of them for you. Pathetically sad as the situation may be, knowing that you found some value and eloquence in how I approached it gives me hope.
Thank you again for reading and sharing your thoughts. Your encouragement is deeply appreciated.
Lise, thank you for sharing this fascinating series! My French isn’t what it used to be—it’s been tucked away for a while—but I might just take this as inspiration to get back into it. Thirty years ago, it would have been effortless, as I even took French for my Abitur, but now, the regular speed feels a bit daunting. Still, this podcast might be the perfect nudge to dive back in. Merci beaucoup! 😊
Thank you for this excellent reminder of our individual power. My efforts, among others, will be focused on building and reinforcing community and welcoming others to be a part of that community. We are stronger together. It sounds clichè but it is true.
Amy, thank you for sharing your focus on building and reinforcing community—it’s such an essential and powerful effort. It may sound simple, but creating spaces where people feel welcomed and connected is transformative. Your reminder that we are stronger together resonates deeply with the themes I explored in my essay today. Individual power truly becomes exponential when it’s nurtured within a collective. I’m grateful for your commitment to this work—it matters.
Amy, it is. Creating awareness and educate is the first step. Many people do not know how this system works, until is is way too late, like in Germany 90 years ago.
Thank you for your lucid description of the parallels between the 1930’s and now. The commitment never to let it happen again rings hollow as this inauguration takes place. As an older adult I audited a German language class in a local University a number of years ago taught by a Professor whose doctoral thesis focused on the first half of the twentieth century. The class was on the German Identity as it developed from very early times through the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century. It was terribly disturbing to see not just the seeds of what set the stage for the Third Reich, but the playbook used to bring into the reality what now horrifies those of us who are not white supremacists or Neo-Nazi’s, those of us with a shred of humanity in us. It is happening again. It is not just in the dark, as fodder for conspiracy theories. It is in the open, proudly declared by the incoming leadership, and celebrated by legions of followers. I am grateful for what you have written describing the possibility of having some level of agency, however small it may be in the face of what is upon us. I am struggling to keep some measure of equilibrium in the face of the rapid increase of people in power even those who have in the recent past dared to speak against this onslaught now lining up in concert with them, adding to the power of those leading the onslaught. I will take a deep breath, do some self-care, and try to find a secure place to stand from which I can negotiate this madness.
Dear Peter, when I hear you say, “It is happening again,” I feel the weight of your clarity and fear. It’s unsettling to watch history’s patterns resurface, not as whispers but as declarations in plain sight. Your experience in that German language class, tracing identity and the machinery of the past, gives your words an undeniable depth.
Yesterday, I shared Feeling Overwhelmed, Fearful, Frozen? How You Step Into Your Agency, and in the next couple of days, I’ll post more around this theme. You might also find my essays Breaking the Cycle of Oppression and The Brave Tender Ground meaningful, as I explore ways to navigate this kind of moment. I’ve lived it personally for 46 years and liberated myself from it. Finding a secure place, wherever it may be, is vital—not just to negotiate the madness but to preserve the humanity this moment seeks to erode.
Thank you for sharing your perspective; it reminds me how much awareness and care matter.
Superbly written.
Thank you so much, Gloria! Coming from you, with your brilliant and thoughtful writing, this truly means a lot to me. I’m glad it resonated with you, and I hope it sparks some new ideas for how to handle what comes next. 🌟
This is so powerful. Thank you, Jay.
Thank you, Priscilla! Your support means the world to me.
I'm so glad you found it powerful. In writing this piece, I aimed to explore the ways systems of control operate and how they can slowly erode our autonomy—whether in personal relationships, workplaces, or on a societal level. It’s about understanding the mechanisms of oppression, questioning them, and reclaiming our agency.
I hope this article sparked some ideas for you, too, about how to resist and fight back, even in the smallest ways. Whether it’s recognizing these patterns in our own lives or taking collective action, each step makes a difference. It’s a journey of self-restoration and solidarity, and together we can break the cycle of control and oppression.
Thank you for walking this path with me.
Hi Jay, Thank you for sharing this piece. It is a scary time, and it's important to take note of parallels to past horrors. I stand with the Trans community. They will always hold an equal place in my heart and thoughts, and I hold steadfast to my hope that one day we all will see it this way. Sending love and support to you, and all others who do not identify as male or female. You do exist and I see you.. you deserve to feel safe, seen, respected, loved, and to have equal rights.
Junebug, thank you for your heartfelt words and unwavering support. Knowing you stand with the Trans and non-binary community during such a difficult time means more than I can express. Your hope for a future of equality and understanding is a light in these dark moments.
I feel seen and held in your message, and I carry that strength forward. Together, through voices like yours, we move closer to a world where everyone is respected, loved, and safe. Thank you for your kindness and solidarity. ❤️
Yes I meant trans AND non-binary! And you don’t have to thank me. It’s a given, and being Jewish, I know this administration could be threatening to us too…. it already has.
Thank you, Jay. Your words are truly medicine. I feel strengthened and emboldened after listening to them. I have shared them both here and in a group chat I participate in. 🕯️🖤✨
Jules, thank you for sharing this with me—it means so much to know my words resonated with you in this way. The thought of them being shared and sparking connection elsewhere is deeply moving. I’m grateful for your kindness and the light you bring. 🕯️🖤✨
You are welcome! I am always happy to share that which resonates with me, knowing that it may find resonance with others as well. 🖤
What an empowering and insightful post this is. I’m glad it’s the first thing I read today ❤️
Eileen, thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot to know the essay spoke to you in this way, and I’m touched that it started your day on an empowering note. Your support is deeply appreciated. ❤️
Thank you for all of this, Jay 🩵
Mesa, thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to read my essay. It means so much to know it resonated with you. Sending gratitude and solidarity your way as we continue to navigate these complex paths together. 🩵
Great piece, Jay!
I am a captive political junky due to my husband’s addiction to politics on TV, but even he has gotten to the saturation point due to our obvious powerlessness.
Don’t worry, I do other things to fill my cup but I hear a lot of it and hear about it when I don’t listen directly.
I found it ironic that I would be here on Substack voluntarily reading your lengthy piece with interest. Great writing. Thank you. Pathetically sad situation, but you wrote about it eloquently.
Dear Laurie,
Thank you for your kind words—they truly mean a lot. It’s heartening to know that my writing captured your interest, especially in a world where the noise of politics can feel overwhelming.
I can imagine the saturation point your husband has reached—when it feels like the cycle of headlines and punditry leaves us spinning in place. It’s a hard place to navigate, balancing the urge to stay informed with the need to preserve our sanity. I’m glad to hear you have other ways to fill your cup—that balance is so important.
It’s ironic, isn’t it, how even amidst the chaos, certain perspectives can pull us in voluntarily? I’m grateful that mine was one of them for you. Pathetically sad as the situation may be, knowing that you found some value and eloquence in how I approached it gives me hope.
Thank you again for reading and sharing your thoughts. Your encouragement is deeply appreciated.
Warmly,
Jay
Hey Jay, i don’t know if you understand French. But i found this série of épisodes fascinating :
https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/la-fabrique-de-l-histoire/rever-sous-le-troisieme-reich-3059130
Lise, thank you for sharing this fascinating series! My French isn’t what it used to be—it’s been tucked away for a while—but I might just take this as inspiration to get back into it. Thirty years ago, it would have been effortless, as I even took French for my Abitur, but now, the regular speed feels a bit daunting. Still, this podcast might be the perfect nudge to dive back in. Merci beaucoup! 😊
Thank you for this excellent reminder of our individual power. My efforts, among others, will be focused on building and reinforcing community and welcoming others to be a part of that community. We are stronger together. It sounds clichè but it is true.
Amy, thank you for sharing your focus on building and reinforcing community—it’s such an essential and powerful effort. It may sound simple, but creating spaces where people feel welcomed and connected is transformative. Your reminder that we are stronger together resonates deeply with the themes I explored in my essay today. Individual power truly becomes exponential when it’s nurtured within a collective. I’m grateful for your commitment to this work—it matters.
Exponential! Great word choice to describe the potential of grassroots organizing. I will think of that as our intrinsic power. ☮️❤️
Amy, it is. Creating awareness and educate is the first step. Many people do not know how this system works, until is is way too late, like in Germany 90 years ago.