Everything Everywhere All At Once: What the Hell Do We Do Now?

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE….
WHAT THE HELL DO WE DO NOW?

“I may not have remarkable victories, but I can amaze you with the defeats I have survived.”

— Chekhov

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Like me, many of you are confused right now. You’re angry. You’re exhausted. You have no idea what to do next — that is, if anything can be done at all.

Oh, and we’re only on Day 16 of presumably 1,461 — and whatever apocalyptical abyss lies beyond.

Our frustration is real and it’s deep. Many of us desperately want to do *something*. But we don’t know exactly what. Meanwhile, we also have lives to live with common challenges which must be dealt with. Many such lives are about to be upended in ways we can’t possibly predict. Even the new administration’s most powerful advocate and internal unelected activist warns us there’s going to be lots of “hardship and pain” ahead. Those are his own words — not mine.

Let’s agree: What we’re experiencing now has no historical precedent, at least not in this country. Sure, democratic institutions and societal norms have been tested in the past. But nothing so widespread, on such a mass scale, so quickly as this. It’s everything….everywhere….all at once. As one far-right maniacal activist put it — “flood the zone.”

That zone flooding strategy is working. Just as planned and promised, sanity gets overwhelmed by insanity. You can’t reason with maniacs. Facts mean nothing to a cult. The 74,999,166 Americans who wanted no part of this have been neutered, politically castrated of influence. And what opposition does exist is currently fragmented, disorganized, undistinguished, and ineffective. Protests, op eds on editorial pages, talking-head shows, and even interpersonal exchanges in our daily circles won’t be able to stop most of this. Unfortunately, as evil warned us, it’s probably going to take real “hardship” for a lot of people to finally wake up to the dangers. It will take “pain” for the blind to see.

Here’s a checklist of things to ponder and remember as we try to deal with what’s now happening:

1. Do not give up — This is not a time for pity nor defeatism. To the contrary. Just the opposite. History challenged previous generations, and many before us stood up and did the right thing. They were brave. Now, this is OUR MOMENT. This is OUR TIME. Those who fought and sacrificed before us met the challenge of their times. Now, it’s our responsibility to do the same.

2. It’s okay to be mad and upset….and it’s also okay to enjoy life’s joys at the same time — Fighting the beast has become a never-ending struggle. I expect this to continue through my lifetime. We’re now approaching a decade of madness, and things are about to go from bad to worse. 2025 is the culmination of all those worst fears and the ripening of the most dangerous toxins within the twisted psyche of American authoritarianism. But listen up now — I’m still going to watch the Super Bowl. I’m still going to drink some wine. All battles ultimately won rely on maintaining one’s physical and emotional sustenance. Napoleon once said, “An Army marches on its stomach.” How true. Fight the good fight. And take a break, when needed. That’s okay.

3. Do something completely different / Do the unexpected — Don’t try and be the hero who fights every fight. While that’s noble, you’ll also burn out quickly and probably won’t be as effective as your opinions and behavior become predictable to others. Instead, grasp onto something you love to do, or always wanted to do and then go for it. Take a guitar lesson. Start running. Go out to that restaurant you always wanted to try. Be a volunteer for a good cause. Be kind to a stranger. You might be surprised by how “new things” help us to recharge and energize us for the battles that will really matter. Yes, the are more important things in the world than sports or wine or restaurants. But use the advantages and comforts many of us have to then instigate action that matters.

4. Pick your battles — Whether on Facebook, or arguing with a stranger parked on a barstool, or trying to talk sense into a lunatic family member, try and pick the battles that mean the most to the person you are confronting. Every political hill cannot be died upon. Posting a dozen memes a day won’t do much, and if you can’t craft your own opinions in writing or verbally, then please just shut the fuck up. Target the issues and subject matter you know best, and then overwhelm them with data, facts, and history. Yes, flood *that* zone. Many of us are near-experts in one thing or another. Use your personal experience and advantages to craft first-person narratives that simply cannot be refuted by the other side. Given the mass carnage of what’s ahead, there should be plenty of painful first-person narratives. Share them!

5. Confront ignorance and evil when you can — ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Let me add — women, too. Previously, I suggested that we must be selective and pick our battles carefully. But that doesn’t mean stupidity and wrong should not be confronted with facts and doing that which is right. Social media is polluted with garbage and the last few weeks have only empowered the worst elements of American society. If those ideas are allowed to flourish without challenge, they shall become the new twisted version of an alternate reality. Sadly, the media’s influence upon establishing a common set of facts we all agree upon is waning and may have ended. Accordingly, it becomes incumbent upon all of us to do what we can. Speak out. Post something. Share. Like. Support. A little bit from everyone can mean a lot.

History shows that all wars are a combination of tiny battles. Win your own. You can’t do something big? Okay, then try something small. Prepare yourself. Put in the work. Flip one mind. Just try. And stand up and fight for something. Now, is not the time to accept defeat. But the first step towards our victory.

Finally, for now — there is no “one size fits all” on advancing human progress. It is essential that we all try and find our own place in this confusing matrix of craziness and chaos, and then pursue it. You and I and all the chorus voices of truth and reason are need now more than ever.

I will have much more to share later.