"Hypernormalization"

Grandpa Chris shared this week's Guardian article about hypernormalization with me today. It is the idea that we are all worn out by the news. "If everything feels broken but strangely normal, this Soviet-era concept of hypernormalization can help." It is the idea that we know life is falling apart around us, but we don't know what we can do about it anymore. Or at least that is my take on it.

For me, these feelings started in spring 2020 as the pandemic news felt hopeless and never ending. I probably should have started feeling this way in November 2016 when Hillary lost the election, or the election was stolen from her. I was too wrapped up in my life to be crushed by the news.

Life calmed down under Sleepy Joe. There were still problems, but I had time between news outbursts to absorb them.

Now 120-ish days into Trump 2.0 the news is nonstop. It is impossible to catch my breath. I know I should be doing more to make sure the budget doesn't pass, but I'm still in shock Congress passed it. This weekend it came out that if the Senate passes it, there are new laws that give T the power to do whatever he likes officially, as opposed to the unofficial way he has been going about it.

My Jewish friends are up in arms (rightfully so) about the murder of an engaged couple as they walked out of a Jewish fundraiser in front of the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. They can't understand why everyone else is not outraged with them.

Let's see. I'm still in shock over the hostages being taken on October 7, 2023 and why haven't they been released. For a while the world was crushed by them, celebrated when many were released, but seem to have forgotten about those still still there.

This week is the 5th anniversary of George Floyd being murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis. For a time the nation was in an uproar over that, but then stopped.

This week I learned our former pastor's fiancé died in his sleep at the age of 33. I'm crushed for him and his family.

A few days later I learned a friend's brilliant husband has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. They await more test results.

Smaller crushes happen when friends say they don't wear a Star of David necklace because they don't want to be targeted as a Jew. Or when they tell their sons to delay getting their drivers' licenses so they won't be charged with DWB (Driving While Black). Or when they tell me they had The Talk with their young child -- not about sex education but what to do to stay alive when they encounter police or other forms of racism.

This week we are visiting the Smithsonian's African American Museum because I want to see it before it is dismantled.

It is impossible to be up in arms about all of it. 

I also find it impossible not to feel judged when others are devastated and I'm too worn out to be feel the latest soul crushing blow. 

Hypernormalization. The idea that life keeps going on even as the crushes keep happening.  

June 14th is the next day for mass protests (as opposed to the smaller protests that seem to happen at least weekly if not daily). I don't even know what to put on a sign. What am I protesting? How about ALL of it! I want life to be better for the next generation, but that small dream seems impossible lately.

Where will you be protesting?