Tag: covid-19

Post-Independence Day Blues

Alina H. Hansen Writer & Poet

July sucks. Everything sucks. Maybe not always, but why is this month so hard?

Since July 4th, Independence Day, I’ve lost a lot of motivation.

Juggling two internships, revising my novel, looking for freelance opportunities, and applying to jobs. And oh yeah, that’s right, keeping up with the Black Lives Matter protests. Add a thick layer of COVID-19 cases spiking across the nation, and in Utah, we are now ranking in the Top 30 places with COVID cases per day, lack of testing, and lose restrictions.

Bring it on.

I’ve focused on cutting back on social media and scheduling a lot of my Twitter, Facebook Page, and LinkedIn posts instead. Re-sharing, sharing again and sharing petitions, links to donations, and news supporting the BLM movement plus everything else I’m doing.

Now I’m stuck.

Stuck feeling like every day is a new struggle. A brand new day to see if I can keep it all together, keep hope, and truck along.

Now more than ever, I feel like change is possible. It can happen, but the tension, the debates, and the absolute absurdity in politicizing every issue this country is facing right now are hindering progress.

Why is wearing a masked political when there are data and facts, scientists and doctors, that give us real reasons to wear a mask?

Why is it increasingly us versus them?

Why is a fight for equality, BLM, perceived by some as anti-American?

That seems to me to go against what it means to be an American. Isn’t the whole point of America justice, liberty, and freedom for ALL? I’m sorry, am I wrong? I guess maybe not “ALL” just a select few, such as those who are NOT POC, who are NOT POOR, who are NOT RICH WHITE MALES.

I guess if we reduce people to numbers, “1% will die? Ok, that’s fine with me,” suddenly we don’t care?

1% of people dying in the U.S. from COVID is A LOT OF PEOPLE. Approximately a little over 3 Million.

We thought 9/11 was bad, what about COVID?

But maybe 3 Million people dead is not enough for some to care?

Oh, well, I guess if most of that 1% are minorities and poor, it doesn’t matter at all?

This is what I’m seeing; this is what I’m hearing.

We are in a war, a war against COVID, poverty, inequality, and corruption. A fight to the death, for our lives.

I don’t understand the tension, the divide.

We are falling apart when we should be united, fighting to protect our neighbors, our families, our friends, everyone.

-Alina

On a lighter note, if you’re still with me, here’s a link to a few of my latest Medium stories:

Poetry is a waste of time? I don’t think so

Poem “Infinity in my blood”

Yes, I support BLM and this is Why

Recommended blog post:

Why I’m Not Celebrating Independence Day this Year

 

Like poems? Become a subscriber today and receive an email every Monday featuring one of my poems plus special updates, reading lists and more! 

Subscribe

* indicates required



/
( mm / dd )

 

Why I’m Not Celebrating Independence Day This Year

Alina H. Hansen Writer & Poet

I’m not in the mood.

This year has sucker-punched me so often on so many different levels; I’m not celebrating Independence Day. 

A bad taste in the mouth. 

Black Lives Matter protests and the fight against police brutality distorted into criminal acts by those that oppose it (I do not deny there are riots, I’m emphasizing how those against the protests are discussing the peaceful demonstrations). I live in a country where the government and its leaders have continually failed to fight the spread of COVID-19. Now other countries are banning travelers from the U.S. What does that say about how the rest of the world regards America? And The POTUS continues to try to cause even more division in this country with dismal speeches. 

Yeah, I’m not feeling it.

Give me hope, give me peace of mind. 

We need leaders that unite and fight to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the citizens.  

Prove me wrong, please. Stand up and take action. Care for one another, wear a damn mask, and fight against injustice. 

Is it so hard to care about people? 

Since this post is just a bundle of joy, here are some positives that have made my week a bit better.

U.S. Must Release Children From Family Detention Centers, Judge Rules

Protesting U.S. Immigration Policies, Artists Aim for the Sky

To my followers, my subscribers, dear readers, friends, everyone,

Have a fantastic, safe weekend. 

Cheers!

Alina

Support change! Check out these resources on where to donate for Black Lives Matter and more!

Still here? If you like what I’m writing, check out these other posts and head over to my Medium to read my latest poem: Early Morning Spring

You can also check out my previous post about writing on Medium here.

 

Like poems? Become a subscriber today and receive an email every Monday featuring one of my poems plus special updates, reading lists and more!

Subscribe

* indicates required



/
( mm / dd )

Podcast Sesh #2 June 18, 2020: Writing, Freelancing and Coping with the George Floyd Protests

Alina H. Hansen Writer & Poet
Originally posted on patreon.com/alinahappyhansenwriter on June 18th, 2020
Podcast Sesh #2 June 18, 2020, Personal Update: Writing, Freelancing and Coping with the George Floyd Protests

Hello Everyone! In today’s baby podcast sesh, I give an update on what I’ve been doing since my Debut Poetry Reading and Discussion 5/28/2020

What I’ve been up to:

  • Freelancing on Fiverr, I made over $450 this month with my Beta Read Gig
  • Getting back on Medium, I will be writing content (about writing) just for Medium
  • Working on my novel, revising and editing
  • Balancing out my Literary Internship, Job Search, and Freelance Work
  • Coping with the George Floyd Protests

As you can see I’ve been pretty busy and I feel like I’m making progress. I’d love to hear from you all and know what you’ve been up to and how you are coping with everything happening right now.

Here are some links to the work I talk about in this session:

Alina Happy Hansen Writer on Medium

Freelancing on Fiverr (I offer Beta Reads, Developmental Edits, and Critique gigs)

My Latest Blog Post, “Life During COVID-19: Reflecting on the Murder of Robert Fuller, Trump and a Personal Update”

If you want to find me on social media click here.

Support change! Check out these resources on where to donate for Black Lives Matter and more!

I hope you are all doing well, staying safe and healthy.

Thank you for your time and your support and have a fantastic day!

If you liked this post check out these:

Why I’m Not Celebrating Independence Day This Year

My Stories on Medium: Poetry, Writing and Freelancing

Want to become one of my Patrons? Go to my page here and join a tier. All patrons regardless of Tier have access to all of my patron-only content right now! Tiers start at $3/month!

Become a Subscriber! Get notified when new posts are published plus once a week I will send content just for you: poem, personal update, reading list, writing tips and more!

Subscribe

* indicates required



/
( mm / dd )

Life During COVID-19: Reflecting on the Murder of Robert Fuller, Trump and a Personal Update

Alina H. Hansen Writer & Poet

_DSF1393.jpg
Alina Happy Hansen May 2020 Photo Credit: Dallas Basta

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. To be honest, it’s because I am swamped with freelance and internship work. And I’m having a hard time processing the unrest and events that are happening in the U.S. right now on top of COVID-19.

Besides my freelancing, internship, and revising my novel, I am struggling to have hope for the future. Last night I read about Robert Fuller and the three other Black Americans that were found murdered, hanging from trees.

Read more about the hangings here.

THIS is happening in 2020. What year are we living in? Horrifying. Devastating. I was trying my best not to cry last night, and I need to stop checking the news before I go to bed but, I’m glad I found out. It is heart-breaking. 

These murders are the same as lynchings; this vile inhuman act represents the worst of humanity. I am in shock and I am afraid. Black lives matter and my deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of the murdered, the dead. 

I struggle to keep hope that things can change. That there is some light at the end of it all, at the end of this year, but this is too much. I think I may be hitting a breaking point. I feel useless, helpless, unable to do anything. How can I? I am just one white woman, one privileged white woman.

But I have to keep doing something. I’ve been signing petitions and donating. I’ve donated almost $100 to various Black Lives Matter organizations and George Floyd’s family. I’m signing and sharing petitions every single day. I just know I can do more.

On top of it all, Trump’s blatant acts, his rally, the timing, and the place, disgusting. Racist, cheat, lying, crook. This is not a leader for our country; this is a tyrant who wants to be a dictator.

Fuck Trump. 

Does it help that he moved the date of his rally from Juneteenth? Too little, too late, America received your message Trump. You are racist and continue to display leadership to your white supremacist supporters. 

I have the deepest hatred for Trump. He continues to use rhetoric that actively aims to obliterate the validity of the existence of my friends, my family, me, EVERYONE who is not a wealthy white male. 

I have to stay strong, stay healthy, stay safe. I have to keep going, and so should you. We can’t give up hope. We can’t give up now. We have to keep fighting for the future, for lives yet lived.

And I’m exhausted.

My brain feels fried and I am worn out.

On a lighter note, updates about my work…

Besides freelancing, I’ve been working on my novel. I have an amazing opportunity with my literary internship. My editor has offered to read and help me edit my novel. She is doing this because helping me work on edits for my own novel will help me hone my skills as a developmental editor for the publishing house. 

This is amazing. I spent the week working on revising the first three chapters. I added detail to my manuscript (MS), tightened it up, and even wrote a rough draft of a book blurb and my best query letter to a literary agent. This is such an incredible opportunity for me, and I am still in shock at my luck.

I am getting feedback and help with my novel, AND I am gaining invaluable work experience as a literary intern. It’s like everything that I’ve been working so hard for is finally starting to line up. The dominoes are in place, I just need the right push, and it’ll all work out perfectly in the long run. I’m sure of it.

Balancing my personal and work life with everything else that’s going on right now is incredibly difficult. I’m having to micro-manage my time and news intake because I have been so stressed out and anxious. It’s hard for many people right now but we have to keep going. And we have to keep fighting.

Stay strong, stay healthy, and stay safe my friends.

Much Love,
Alina

Black Lives Matter Resources/Info:

Linktr.ee has compiled amazing resources/info, you can find the link too all of them in my Lintr.ee profile:

DONATE

EDUCATE

SHOW UP

Also, if you are a fellow Utahn support Utah’s own Black Lives Matter!

If you liked this post check out these:

Why I’m Not Celebrating Independence Day This Year

Podcast Sesh #2 June 18th, 2020: Writing, Freelancing and Coping with the George Floyd Protests

Become a Subscriber! Get notified when new posts are published plus once a week I will send content just for you: poem, personal update, reading list, writing tips and more!

Subscribe

* indicates required



/
( mm / dd )
Want to become one of my Patrons? Go to my page here and join a tier. All patrons regardless of Tier have access to all of my patron-only content right now! Tiers start at $3/month! I will also send you via snail-mail a handwritten personalized Poem + Thank you card for becoming a patron during the month of June!

Life During COVID-19 (5/30/2020): Reflection on George Floyd, Protests Turned Riots and Growing Tensions in the U.S.

Alina H. Hansen Writer & Poet2 Comments

This is My Personal Reflection on Events in the U.S. This Week.

The Murder of George Floyd, Protests turned Riots combined with the spread of COVID-19 and Record-Breaking Unemployment all combine with the growing tensions in the U.S. with an increase in possible societal combustion across the country. 

This week has been crazy. And I’ve been trying to moderate my intake of news. But this is too much. 

The murder of George Floyd, the protests, now riots, and this morning The New York Times Breaking News that Military police units are preparing for possible deployment,

“The move does not mean that the units will be activated, but it is a first step toward doing so, officials said. Deploying military police units — likely from Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Drum in New York — would represent an escalation in the government response to the unfolding events, in an echo of past uprisings over racial tensions in America. Military police units were used in 1992 during the aftermath to the Rodney King verdict in California.” 

Source: “George Floyd Protests Latest Updates” – The New York Times 5/30/2020

Justice for George Floyd is necessary. And I can’t help thinking about how this week has brought more attention to the issue of systemic racism in the U.S.

I wrote about racist rhetoric, white-supremacy, and systemic racism as an undergrad:

Racist and Anti-Diversity Posters on Utah College Campuses: White Supremacist Rhetoric Analyzed with Selected Writings of Nietzsche, Foucault, Butler, and Ranciere

There was an increase of racist posters, graffiti, and rhetoric at The University of Utah and other nearby college campuses. I gathered reports of these events, and argued in my essay, that this was growing evidence that there is an organized white-supremacists presence with an agenda.

OPINION: Since the election of Trump in 2016, I believe there is an increase in the activity of white-supremacist organizations and the distribution of their rhetoric across the nation. This is a serious concern of mine. And the events of Charlottesville are still fresh in mind.

Increase in unemployment, loss of jobs, the rise of poverty, and now the protests and riots resulting from the murder of George Floyd; these are all elements when combined, can combust in violence and death. I fear that people will die as a result.

I can’t help it, I’m trying to stay positive, I’m trying not to stress, but I can’t ignore these signs that I feel are so blatant right now. Something is happening, something is going to happen, I just hope that it’s not military intervention, violence, and death.

Please stay safe out there. 

-Alina

What I have my eye on:

Voting this year, the 2020 Presidential Election

What I’m Reading: 

“The devastating effects of COVID-19 on democracy – but what if there is a silver lining?” 

If you liked this blog post, check out these:

Why I’m Not Celebrating Independence Day This Year

Podcast Sesh #2 June 18, 2020: Writing, Freelancing and Coping with the George Floyd Protests

Life During COVID-19: Reflecting on the Murder of Robert Fuller, Trump and a Personal Update

Want to become one of my Patrons? Go to my page here and join a tier. All patrons regardless of Tier have access to all of my patron-only content right now! Tiers start at $3/month!

Become a Subscriber! Get notified when new posts are published plus once a week I will send content just for you: poem, personal update, reading list, writing tips and more!

Subscribe

* indicates required



/

( mm / dd )