F*ck it

Okay I'm 24 years old, engaged, and have a child on the way.

I'm also of Arab decent, and raltivly politically active.

I don't know how bad things have to get before i say "F*ck it"

After the September 11th attacks many (if not most) people of middle eastern decent were frightened.  We were scared of the government, we were scared of other americans, we were scared of how little attention the media acknowledged our plight.  

I was scared.  So much so i went by an American name for a month.

Since then I have gotten used to the state of things.  Wierd looks at the gas station, worry about being pulled over by a cop, Right wing asswipes calling for my death, have become the norm.

With the coming brith of my child I fear for it's safety and that of my future wife.   The fact that I even have to worry says a lot about the state this country is in.

So it comes down to it.  At what point to i say "F*ck this" and leave?  

My friends tell me not to that things will get better.  They tell me there will come a time when the public finally stands up and stops this fascist takeover.  

Thise same friends however tell me when asked their vote doesn't count, letters don't do a thing.  When pushed they say we already live in a fascist regime.  So I ask them what are they planning on doing.  The answer is invariably "nothing"

Can I wait 3, 8, more years for things to maybe get better?

More importantly what are my "redlines"?  Just how bad do things have to get before i give up hope of ever getting my country back?

Thanks for letting me rant.

first diary, but been a Kos member forever

•  I've been wondering the same.

  How long do I stay and fight? When should I flee to somewhere safer?

  by OyBurger on Tue Apr 12, 2005 at 10:23:46 AM PDT

•  a bit more on redlines

  So it comes down to what has to happen for me to make up my mind.

  If bush stay in power in anyway shape or form past his term.

  A national ID/Registry for Musilms (i'm not one but meh) and/or Arabs including US citizens.

  Another Invasion of a foreign country.

  The impeachemtn of a Judge for ideological reasons.

  but then it gets a bit more iffy...

  The dems maintain current parity or loose in 2006?

  The Patriot act is allowed to NOT expire?

  Another terorist attack?

  ....

  it's just that this regime seems so good at not crossing these lines, but somehow managing to side step them

  by Love and Death on Tue Apr 12, 2005 at 10:31:11 AM PDT

  •  hopefully

    you can take comfort in knowing that Bush will not be able to stay in power after this term expires thanks to the 22nd Amendment.  I don't think even St. George could repeal it in time to take another turn.
    now for a question...what's a redline?  

    by eunichorn on Tue Apr 12, 2005 at 10:59:15 AM PDT

•  Don't

  ever give up.

  It is always darkest before dawn, and we need everybody to stick around and stick together!

  Ok to be down, not ok to give up.  I'm down, but becoming more active every day because of it.  Lets use our energy for change.  Even if it comes when you are 60 years old, remember, keep the fight, if not for us, for our children.

  And write here more often if it does you good to rant!

  by spartan68 on Tue Apr 12, 2005 at 10:38:51 AM PDT

•  L&D

  I'm close to twice your age, have kids who'll be draftable in a few years, and am married.

  I'm not an Arab.  I'm a mutt whose ancestry covers nearly all of Northern, Southern, Western and Central Europe, plus bits of Eastern Europe.  That I know of.  Family lore says that there's more....

  My Irish-American grandfather told me tales of living in NYC and environs, with placards in shop windows reading "No Irish".

  It can get pretty ugly in America.  It has before.

  I share your fears.  I've looked into moving to Canada--though I know I wouldn't think seriously of leaving if I didn't have sons who'd make just marvellous cannon fodder for the theocrats and neocons.

  I don't know what to tell you ought to be your red lines.  I can only suggest that you think about them now.  Decide what sorts of laws, events and so on are too much, too scary, too... Kristalnacht.  Then you know your trigger points. And if those sorts of things occur, depart.  

  It's too easy to blow off things getting incrementally worse... saying well, yeah, but THAT won't ever happen, even though this did.

  It's scary.  OTOH, we really could all use each other to stick around and vote and work to keep this nightmare from coming to its climax.

  by ogre on Tue Apr 12, 2005 at 10:48:56 AM PDT

•  At what point do we say

  "Fuck it." And take up arms?

  by Billy Shears on Tue Apr 12, 2005 at 10:53:07 AM PDT

  •  I'm afraid

    As long as the public at large has their Volkswag.... SUV's i don't they ever will

    by Love and Death on Tue Apr 12, 2005 at 10:56:16 AM PDT

  •  I'd say

    we're  there.

    by Eddie Haskell on Tue Apr 12, 2005 at 10:56:21 AM PDT

•  I think we will all be fucked

  if there is another terrorist "attack."

  by lapin on Tue Apr 12, 2005 at 10:55:56 AM PDT