As someone who is trans and fled the United States recently because of the political situation- The psychic damage from constantly being exposed to mass shootings and other attacks is real and it does affect quality of life and I think it’s rude as hell to paint people as cowards for wanting to emigrate.
I didnt see the comment you replied to before it got deleted but i can kinda guess what it was since ive seen similar sentiment before. I appreciate you replying to it for me. The whole thing kinda baffles me. Arent leftists supposed to be pro-immigration? My grandparents werent even born here. They left a place my ancestors lived for thousands of years, and im supposed to stick around in this horrible place we’ve only been in for like 50 years? Why?
People will tell me like i need to “stay and fight for a better America.” Like why the fuck would i do that? I might be American on paper (for now) but culturally i am not. I hate this place. The people i love arent American for the most part. I don’t celebrate the same holidays as most Americans. I dont eat the same foods as them.
The geographical location of your birth does not and should not dictate who you are, and what you can do. Period.
the other part of it was that it’s a privilege to be able to leave, which i think stands but calling folks cowards for getting out definitely isn’t appropriate.
my net worth is literally negative and i live below the poverty line lmao thats so funny. Im just betting on getting a job in China once i get a degree and never coming back to the US so i don’t have to pay back student loans.
Also I’m out of ADHD medication so this is going to be a ramble post.
I’m not going to throw shade on the person who deleted their comment because I get their frustration especially when there are so few leftists in America. I get it, it is disheartening to see people leave. I imagine that the poster feels some betrayal and I only have empathy for them. I just ask that people BE KIND because we need each other.
I’m nearly 40. I’m transgender. I came from a very abusive home situation and after I moved out I immediately got into another abusive situation, was a victim of a crime, nearly died, and spent 10 years recovering from CPTSD and undergoing intensive therapy. Thankfully I built a strong found family network who fundraised the money to help ship my ass out of America because I am eligible for citizenship in Spain. Said found family along with myself is now working to help other trans found family escape the country. We got two more leaving in October, another next year. Mutual aid, baby.
I mention my mental health history because the psychic damage of America was actively harming me. I could not take anymore harm. I’ve been through enough, and I’m sick of being unable to find a foothold in a forever home. Going into middle age means prioritizing my health and getting serious about my long term plans. This is impossible in America.
Like you, America is a place I do not have strong attachments to. I have always felt more love for the Basque Country. I thought a lot about staying and fighting. Leaving was not an easy decision and yes some part of me feels selfish for doing so, but how much good can I do from the USA? I was miserable there, I was so depressed I had trouble leaving my bed when I wasn’t busy going to work. I didn’t have the energy to help with organizing, and I could barely keep my head above water let alone help other people. Every time I felt like I was getting stability I’d be hit with random bullshit that took it all away in an instant.
For some, there is enough attachment and love for their community, culture, and country that it is worth staying and fighting for a better future. For some, they have no choice but to stay and fight. For me, America has only been pain- and I had a choice to leave and I took it. Now I will help others like me leave for greener pastures.
Virgin USA burger lifestyle- Get up, go to work, go home, tv, bed. Meticulously plan every social interaction and pray people don’t cancel. Stay inside and game/watch streams because even though you work your ass off- no money. Go to the same nature parks repeatedly because they are in walking distance. (This is a luxury) Become nervous about driving due to gas prices and risk of accident because you cannot afford to lose your 20 year old vehicle in this market. Spend 60$ for a bag of groceries.
Chad Basque Country Lifestyle- Get up, go to a new cafe because there are 20 of them within a 10 minute walk and it’s fun to try new things. Dig change out of your bag to pay for your breakfast. On your way to get coffee you run into one of your friends. They introduce you to another friend. You have just made a new friend. The park has a ping pong table. Play ping pong. It’s time to get groceries. You use more change to get a fresh bundle of veggies that were grown locally. You spend 5 - 10 euros and get a few days worth of food. After lunch, you take the metro for a euro and go to the beach.
The US sucks so much. I was just in Germany for work in a B tier working city, the kind of place no tourists would ever visit. They still had a vibrant central square, great public transportation, trains to other cities etc etc. It was awesome.
Just the impact of shared infrastructure is so nice. We have this dumb John Wayne complex in the US where every one needs to do do everything and own anything themselves. Sharing is anathema even between neighbors let alone on a societal level. Some people won’t even share with their families and if they do they are resentful.
I’m very lucky in that I have a career and a relatively comfortable life but like… I do not like it here. I have too much going for me to pack up and leave but would never blame anyone for doing so. This place is a raw deal. Always has been even before the Trump shit. First piece of advice I give any young person is leave the United States.
I’m glad you’re out of there. Good luck on your new life.
What really stands out to me is how much good infrastructure bakes in human needs.
In the US I would have to plan walking 10k steps a day. I would have to plan every social interaction. I would have to plan when to go out of the house. No spontaneity. Spontaneity requires money, because that would mean having to get more gas because you HAVE to drive a car. It’s a lifestyle that is antithetical to the needs of the human animal.
While in Spain, my needs are baked in. I walk 10k steps a day because I don’t use a car. I meet my friends because they live in walking distance. I eat better food because regulations mean less garbage in my food. I am spontaneous and walk down mystery streets and explore. There are outdoor gyms and games and events and things to do -for free- all the time. I’ve already cut my anxiety medication down in half.
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As someone who is trans and fled the United States recently because of the political situation- The psychic damage from constantly being exposed to mass shootings and other attacks is real and it does affect quality of life and I think it’s rude as hell to paint people as cowards for wanting to emigrate.
I didnt see the comment you replied to before it got deleted but i can kinda guess what it was since ive seen similar sentiment before. I appreciate you replying to it for me. The whole thing kinda baffles me. Arent leftists supposed to be pro-immigration? My grandparents werent even born here. They left a place my ancestors lived for thousands of years, and im supposed to stick around in this horrible place we’ve only been in for like 50 years? Why?
People will tell me like i need to “stay and fight for a better America.” Like why the fuck would i do that? I might be American on paper (for now) but culturally i am not. I hate this place. The people i love arent American for the most part. I don’t celebrate the same holidays as most Americans. I dont eat the same foods as them.
The geographical location of your birth does not and should not dictate who you are, and what you can do. Period.
the other part of it was that it’s a privilege to be able to leave, which i think stands but calling folks cowards for getting out definitely isn’t appropriate.
my net worth is literally negative and i live below the poverty line lmao thats so funny. Im just betting on getting a job in China once i get a degree and never coming back to the US so i don’t have to pay back student loans.
yeah that would be my plan if i was younger and neurologically able to get a degree
Super late response, I’m busy touching grass lol.
Also I’m out of ADHD medication so this is going to be a ramble post.
I’m not going to throw shade on the person who deleted their comment because I get their frustration especially when there are so few leftists in America. I get it, it is disheartening to see people leave. I imagine that the poster feels some betrayal and I only have empathy for them. I just ask that people BE KIND because we need each other.
I’m nearly 40. I’m transgender. I came from a very abusive home situation and after I moved out I immediately got into another abusive situation, was a victim of a crime, nearly died, and spent 10 years recovering from CPTSD and undergoing intensive therapy. Thankfully I built a strong found family network who fundraised the money to help ship my ass out of America because I am eligible for citizenship in Spain. Said found family along with myself is now working to help other trans found family escape the country. We got two more leaving in October, another next year. Mutual aid, baby.
I mention my mental health history because the psychic damage of America was actively harming me. I could not take anymore harm. I’ve been through enough, and I’m sick of being unable to find a foothold in a forever home. Going into middle age means prioritizing my health and getting serious about my long term plans. This is impossible in America.
Like you, America is a place I do not have strong attachments to. I have always felt more love for the Basque Country. I thought a lot about staying and fighting. Leaving was not an easy decision and yes some part of me feels selfish for doing so, but how much good can I do from the USA? I was miserable there, I was so depressed I had trouble leaving my bed when I wasn’t busy going to work. I didn’t have the energy to help with organizing, and I could barely keep my head above water let alone help other people. Every time I felt like I was getting stability I’d be hit with random bullshit that took it all away in an instant.
For some, there is enough attachment and love for their community, culture, and country that it is worth staying and fighting for a better future. For some, they have no choice but to stay and fight. For me, America has only been pain- and I had a choice to leave and I took it. Now I will help others like me leave for greener pastures.
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How’s it on the outside
Virgin USA burger lifestyle- Get up, go to work, go home, tv, bed. Meticulously plan every social interaction and pray people don’t cancel. Stay inside and game/watch streams because even though you work your ass off- no money. Go to the same nature parks repeatedly because they are in walking distance. (This is a luxury) Become nervous about driving due to gas prices and risk of accident because you cannot afford to lose your 20 year old vehicle in this market. Spend 60$ for a bag of groceries.
Chad Basque Country Lifestyle- Get up, go to a new cafe because there are 20 of them within a 10 minute walk and it’s fun to try new things. Dig change out of your bag to pay for your breakfast. On your way to get coffee you run into one of your friends. They introduce you to another friend. You have just made a new friend. The park has a ping pong table. Play ping pong. It’s time to get groceries. You use more change to get a fresh bundle of veggies that were grown locally. You spend 5 - 10 euros and get a few days worth of food. After lunch, you take the metro for a euro and go to the beach.
The US sucks so much. I was just in Germany for work in a B tier working city, the kind of place no tourists would ever visit. They still had a vibrant central square, great public transportation, trains to other cities etc etc. It was awesome.
Just the impact of shared infrastructure is so nice. We have this dumb John Wayne complex in the US where every one needs to do do everything and own anything themselves. Sharing is anathema even between neighbors let alone on a societal level. Some people won’t even share with their families and if they do they are resentful.
I’m very lucky in that I have a career and a relatively comfortable life but like… I do not like it here. I have too much going for me to pack up and leave but would never blame anyone for doing so. This place is a raw deal. Always has been even before the Trump shit. First piece of advice I give any young person is leave the United States.
I’m glad you’re out of there. Good luck on your new life.
What really stands out to me is how much good infrastructure bakes in human needs.
In the US I would have to plan walking 10k steps a day. I would have to plan every social interaction. I would have to plan when to go out of the house. No spontaneity. Spontaneity requires money, because that would mean having to get more gas because you HAVE to drive a car. It’s a lifestyle that is antithetical to the needs of the human animal.
While in Spain, my needs are baked in. I walk 10k steps a day because I don’t use a car. I meet my friends because they live in walking distance. I eat better food because regulations mean less garbage in my food. I am spontaneous and walk down mystery streets and explore. There are outdoor gyms and games and events and things to do -for free- all the time. I’ve already cut my anxiety medication down in half.
I’m very, very grateful to be here.
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