It’s such a shame.
I get there’s a #NotAllVoters element as there is with any population, but when you have a majority of voters alongside a sizeable percentage of non-voters who don’t vote against it… well then you’ve got a country that has the president they deserve.
Hey, that’s super cool and entirely valid. How you feel after a loss - whether it’s ten seconds, ten days, or ten years - after a bereavement is a bit of a lottery where there’s no winners, just differing levels of shit.
Through my work life and private life, I’ve been to more than my fair share of funerals, and they all suck to different degrees. Some are absolutely horrendous to get through if the close family have been particularly affected, some have been led by a very positive celebrant who framed the departed’s life in a great way.
The wake is always fairly positive though. If it’s someone I knew on a thinly professional level then I’ll get a coffee, share a light-hearted story about the deceased with their close family, and fuck off.
If it’s been someone I was closer with, then I’ve had a great time meeting old friends, going over long forgotten hilarious stories, getting a bit emosh realising that we won’t be sharing any more again, and getting rat-arsed into the night knowing that the funeral brought us all back together for one last hurrah.
Everyone deals with it differently though, and that’s awesome. The only caveat I’d apply to that statement is that if you find (god forbid you have to go through it again soon) that it starts to affect your day to day life, then there’s loads of resources to reach out and seek a helping hand.
Sorry. I’ve turned a ten second reply into a ten minute one there.
Not sure what it’s like in your part of the world, but where I’m from it’s pretty much the whole deal. The ceremony is all about remembering the person and marking the loss of a friend, family member, or whatever. The wake is about having a riot and sharing great stories, bonding over mutual ties, and celebrating the life of whoever it was that kicked the bucket.
If it gets a bit emotional and tears are shed, then hey, that’s great news. Otherwise, it’s just an excuse for a few beers and a chat about the person in the box, to make sure their impact on your life or the best of times you spent together are remembered fondly.
That said, everyone’s different, so smile if you like and don’t if you don’t like 😊
Nah I was in a pretty small town, semi-rural but not buttfuck-nowhere either.
It certainly wasn’t labelled “ableist” then, it was simply “being a little shit” - I only really learned of the term ableism around 10-15 years ago.
I don’t know - the term “ableist” has certainly spiked in popularity in the last ten years or so, but even in the 90’s you’d get a bollocking for throwing around the terms “mong” or “spaz” or “flid” within earshot of a teacher.
I mean, I can see why - I hate the terms myself now. but when you’re in single digits of age, it’s just used as another derisory term rather than a specific slight at someone’s physical or mental development challenges.
It still got you in hot water if you were daft enough to get caught shouting it though.
We had a dude called Richard in primary school that went blank at the thought of a nickname. Obviously, as responsible classmates we helped him out, and he was christened Romanian Richard.
Richard was not Romanian, nor did he have any ties to the fine country of Romania.
Whatever inexplicable logic that was at play here, directed that he should have the last ten seconds of the Taz-Mania theme sung to him repeatedly, sorta like:
"Richard Romanian,
Richard Romanian,
Richard Romanian,
We mean you!"
Before making the appropriate Taz noises finishing with a raspberry in close proximity to his face. What was really weird, was that Richard didn’t appreciate this new fame and form of address, which was a real shame because everyone else did and it was highly entertaining before teachers got involved, parents got called, and it was saved for the days when Richard was really being a oil-fired arsehole.
These were the days before we drew the line from Richard to Dick, you must understand.
I’m bored and lonely STOP
Come to my room to watch a movie STOP
I pick STOP
My colleague’s lad has randomly started telling anyone who will listen: “my mum’s getting new boobies”.
This lady is in fact not getting new boobies, and they’re both at a loss as to why the kid has suddenly decided that, and why he has chosen to announce it.
Legend.
It would be quite something.
“Hello Mr so-and-so, you’re married to a paeeeedoooooooooo*”
*depending on jurisdiction, of course