Editor’s note:
While tnocs.com will continue it’s mission to be a “feel-good oasis…” it’s important to acknowledge that life sometimes gets in the way of diversion and fun.
Pretending that current events do not exist serves only to show disrespect to our thoughtful audience. After several reader and author requests over the past few months, today we debut a new channel: Politics and Opinion.
We welcome all respectful and constructive points of view. On occasion, we’ll present articles that address the issues of the day. We look forward to reading, learning, and discussing together what’s happening during the unique “timeline” that we find ourselves experiencing.
For those who fear that we’re making a sudden, irrevocable and drastic pivot, we’re not – we will still provide all of the informative fun that you have come to expect from our music, arts, history, and slice-of-life articles. That won’t change. But in addition: let’s hear what’s on your mind about the state of the world, and how we all might navigate the troubled waters.
Thanks in advance for giving this idea a chance.
Kicking things off: Here are the personal opinions of Contributing Author Chuck Small:
As I watched the results come in on Election Night 2024:
I knew I would have to figure out a strategy – not just for coping with, but for surviving the sequel to the horror movie that I loathed the first time around.
It seemed impossible to me that, given the explicit message of a bright future with an optimistic ticket, most American voters would choose instead the return of a president who preferred to tweet, boast, and lie than to govern and a vision of the nation that was gloomy and divisive.
And yet, that’s what we did to ourselves.
So, the morning of November 6, I had to begin thinking about survival strategies.
Not just for me:
But for the young people with whom I work. And the family and communities whose love I hold dear.
Indeed, the first few weeks since Inauguration Day have yielded one jaw-dropper after the next. And, we wonder, we have four years of this ahead?
As a high school counselor, I’m used to thinking in four-year time frames.
One of the dependable, if mundane, tasks I deal with is helping my students envision and revise four-year plans.
What do they want to pursue after high school, and what courses can they take to help get them ready?
Maybe a four year plan can help each of us, too. Even those of us, like me, whose high school days were a long, long time ago.
(Go, St. Joe High Class of ’81!)
Here’s what my Four-Year Plan looks like:
English:
The only way to cope with a tl;dr electorate and their tl;dr leader is to find ways to be alert and engaged.
Last year, I downloaded Project 2025.
I stopped reading as soon as I saw how my marriage and community were explicitly targeted. I will return to get a clear idea of what’s coming. As for speaking, I’ll do so more in actual spaces (i.e., meetings, coalition-building, etc.) and less on Facebook.
And as for writing: when the muse calls, I’ll do so here and elsewhere.
Math:
I need to ask critical questions.
Not only about what’s being done to our nation’s spending, over which I have no control, but how I’m planning for my eventual retirement (over which I have much more.)
I realize I can’t count on the Social Security that helped support my parents in their post-work years. But I’m also not putting my savings in Bitcoin or other newfangled commodities. Elon Musk has millions he can play with; I don’t.
Social Studies:
In ways large and small, I will use my voice to defend people and concepts the administration is cruelly and falsely trashing:
- The trans community.
- Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
- Immigrants.
I’m sure the list will grow.
Science:
I will not allow RFK Jr., 47, or anyone to gaslight me about the effects of climate change or the efficacy of vaccines.
At the same time, I admit most of my students are far, far smarter about underlying scientific concepts than I am. I could pay more attention to the work they display and reference in fairs, competitions, and papers.
Healthful Living (P.E.):
The only way to make it through four years of crazy is to keep routines that support health.
I’ve been averaging three mornings a week of walking at the Y before work; I will continue that. I hope to be more aware of the snacking I do, especially when I’m upset or angry rather than hungry. (That’s easier said than done.)
World Language:
I’ve always been afraid to try to speak Spanish.
I studied the language for two years in high school and for two-and-a half in college. I even did brush-up training in my last newsroom job. But these days, it’s too important to my students and their families to not do what I can. That could be using translation apps. That can be working with fluent colleagues or students.
It can also mean opening my mouth and getting over my insecurities.
Art:
It’s essential not to let the headlines get you down.
The more tools I have for inspiration and balance, the better. That can be drawing, coloring, enjoying indoor and outdoor displays at area museums, and appreciating the architecture of my city or beauty of my garden.
Whatever gets my eyes off the screen and onto something beautiful is a good thing.
Music:
Finding solace in sound is what all of us on this website have in common.
One of my students was shocked I knew who Chappell Roan is. I will admit, though, that my knowledge of this artist is wafer-thin. I’m open to re-engaging with contemporary artists – especially those who have something to say about our times – and not just listening to the music of my past.
What about you?
What’s your four-year plan look like?
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Views: 98
I’ve had a question for a while and, Chuck, you’re just the person to ask. What’s the difference between Civics and Social Studies? I realize that could take an entire article to answer (hint hint) but what’s the difference and why did we change from one to the other? Did that change affect our civil engagement?
I had hoped to retire this year but there’s so much uncertainty around the Trump/Musk plans for Social Security and the economy itself that my financial advisor says I better keep working. Had Harris won, I’d have handed in my notice already.
And that’s my four year plan. Keep the paycheck coming in for as long as I can, play as much music as possible, and travel while our passports still work. God bless us everyone.
At my school district, social studies encompasses civics as well as world history U.S. history, and economics and personal finance. (These are required for graduation. Other social studies classes, such as geography, are elective.)
I remember Civics, the class where I learned about circulus in probando and other logical fallacies often used in debates with those who have agendas to advance. You know, like ad hominem, post hoc ergo propter hoc, and tu qouque. Might come in handy these days. Also, just about the extent of my Latin. Anyway, hold onto your butts. There are dark and stupid days ahead. Keep moving toward whatever light you can.
And as for that future article, if @thegue is up for it, as a social studies teacher, it’s literally his department.
Also, thanks to mt58, our fearless webmaestro, for introducing the new channel. I read everything here so I forgot we even have channels, but a wider range of topics is always a good thing. Write on, man.
As a topic, “Current events” won’t be for everyone.
But then again, neither are chart countdowns, nostalgic memories, missives on history, or the story of wallpaper paste.
We strive for quality, sincerity, and variety. Thanks to those willing to give this a shot.
I am in somewhat the same position as V-Dog. I thought that I would retire in 2026. Now, I’m not so sure. My husband who retired a couple years ago in happier times is currently looking for a part-time job. We don’t need it just yet, but who knows what the future will bring?
I am praying daily for the courage to face the future with hope and confidence. So far, I’m hanging on to that by my fingertips.
Thanks for this, Chuck.
You may have noticed that I’m not around here as much these days. As a federal civil servant targeted by DOGE and Project 2025, these past few weeks have been really hard to take. Russell Vought said that he wants to put civil servants in trauma, and they’re doing a decent job of it so far. (Please put us on your list of people to defend!)
The cruelty and indifference of these people is staggering. Their arrogance and their incompetence will ultimately be their downfall, but they can and likely will do grave damage before this is done.
I miss writing here. Hopefully I can return to it, at least once I have a better sense of my job situation.
I started writing my art history writings as a way to reconnect with art and creativity during the first Trump term. That’s also why I started visiting Steregum–to find new music to lend some light in a dark time.
Everyone do what they can to nourish their creative and social lives, stay healthy, and find some means of achieving peace throughout all this chaos. We can get through this, especially together.
🙏
Re: Federal employees. Absolutely. They ought to have been on my list to begin with. (Sorry about that.) I will keep you and all of our friends whose work is impacted by DOGE and the like (the researchers hit by federal grants, the educators impacted by the transphobic executive order, etc.) in my thoughts.
Exactly. A friend of mind says it’ll be a natural disaster — tornado, earthquake, something along those lines — that will expose their arrogance and incompetence and cruelty in a way that even MAGAs can’t ignore. That’s what happened with Hurricane Katrina. W couldn’t recover from that.
It’s too bad that it’ll take people getting hurt to expose how people can get hurt, and I’m not wishing for a disaster but if that’s what it takes to get rid of these nincompoops….
I’m pulling for you, Phylum. We’ll get through this.
Phylum, this is sad to hear. I, too, am a federal employee. I am fairly confident in my job stability, though I can see a future where I am asked to move to keep my job, and that would be a very, very difficult decision.
The mean-spirited attitude of those in charge causes me so much dismay. It’s one thing to have a different philosophy on spending or social programs, but the bullying vitriol that we are hearing from our leaders towards normal everyday people is vile.