Thursday, October 1, 2026
The last few weeks have been a wild ride: We woke up one morning to the news that our government had kidnapped the President of Venezuela and taken control of his country and its oil.
Then for a week or more we listened to persistent threats from President Trump to betray Denmark, shatter the 80-year-old NATO alliance, and seize Greenland.
Then, at the Davos, Switzerland meeting of the global hoi polloi, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney astonished the world with a speech so honest, so clear, and so accurate that marked, as he said, “not a transition but a rupture” in the world order. It’s a rupture that is deeply humbling the United States.
Fortunately, through all this, the first crocuses and snowdrops bloomed, and the chickens continued to lay eggs.
But then, before we could even begin to come to grips with the transformation of America’s place in the world, the Trump administration rained hell on Minneapolis. Armed, masked men killed two innocent citizens. They also arrested a 5-year-old and shipped him and his father to a detention center in Texas. And perhaps to refresh the nation’s awareness of just how ridiculous racism is, they detained several Native Americans for being slightly brown, and therefore suspected foreign invaders.
Our reactions to this Niagara Falls of shock and awe are a tangle of fear, fury and confusion. Some of us have sprung into action; others are in a state of suspended animation. Our gears are grinding, to say the least.
Nonetheless, two yearling deer frolicked in the neighbor’s front yard.
As ICE ran amok in Minneapolis, I watched the Mark Carney speech again. In 15 minutes, he explains that the United States’ status as a superpower — a hegemon — has ended. Not with a bang but by bullying. Trump may still be president, but he’s been fired as a world leader.
Damage to our economy is almost certain. Our president and his affiliated billionaires may be protected from harm, but the rest of us will be vulnerable. Our national sovereignty will be diminished in its reach and power.
Fortunately, this does not matter to the grove of cherry trees already blooming near the Chehalis-Western trail.
The invasion and takeover of Venezuela — and of Minneapolis — signal a rupture of respect for the sovereignty of other nations, and the sovereign powers of states and cities. The sovereignty of indigenous American peoples — and of course, the individual sovereignty of all of us who ought to be protected by the U. S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights — have also been trampled.
Of all the reactions we might have to these calamities, the most paralyzing is fear. For writers, and publishers, it’s fear of censorship. For immigrants and people who may be mistaken for immigrants, it’s toxic, race-based fear. For a lot of people with jobs, it’s fear of losing them.
For those with little or no health insurance, it’s fear of illness or unaffordable drugs. For parents, it might be fear of losing the Head Start program a toddler with disabilities needs. For low-wage caregivers, it’s fear of losing a rent subsidy that prevents homelessness.
And here’s the saddest fear of all: Fear of losing our pride and patriotism. We’ve always known our nation is deeply flawed, but we have always believed we were on the road towards fully achieving its “We the people” ideals. We’ve never faced such a complete abandonment of those ideals and the moral foundation beneath them.
This past week, the only thing that kept us from feeling lost in the dark was watching people in Minneapolis stand up for each other. They are our leaders now. In bitter cold, they lit the way and warmed the world with cellphones, whistles, signs and courage.
We are glad that here in Thurston County and in Washington state, most of our elected officials are following them.
We are also glad that no matter what happens next, spring will come soon.
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Hadgib
Thank you for your eloquent column. God bless you and all of our writers for your continued dedication.
Friday, January 30 Report this
dlg2022
Thank you for this most poignant and powerful column. As I watch the political events in horror feeling powerless I am grateful that nature goes on as designed. The snowdrops, primroses and hellebores blooming on my little patch of Earth remind me that life goes on. As does beauty, hope and caring.
Friday, January 30 Report this
janetmclane
Another eloquent column from Jill. I especially appreciated the use of two simple words: "ridiculous racism". What a brilliant and simple way to describe the awful truth of it.
Friday, January 30 Report this
gypsydjango
Eloquent, as always Ms Severn. Nice reminder to incorporate nature into the mayhem of infomation we process all day. Thank you for being there, and writing freely.
Friday, January 30 Report this
wellnow77
Excellent perspective! Thank you.
Friday, January 30 Report this
terry
Good Grief, Really?
Saturday, January 31 Report this
wolfmanner
Stick to your gardening. You know nothing else.
Saturday, January 31 Report this
Overtaxed
Obvious Left Wing Bias in the Article.
Saturday, January 31 Report this
CommonSenseSenior
This winter also seems disrupted, more like spring. Plants coming up which should still be resting. I have never been so embarrassed to call myself an American, I just want to apologize to the world and scream 'not my president!' And this man carries the nuclear football around with him. How frightening is that? I'm afraid he's so unhinged he could have a bad dream and push the button. He doesn't think anyone is in charge but him. And we're all saved by his morals? Agh. No 'we the people'. He doesn't even seem to understand the purpose of Congress. Talk about the ugly American....he's the ugliest and he sure doesn't speak for me.
Saturday, January 31 Report this
Laceyreader11
Your article pointed out that even in chaos there is nature’s beauty, a gift for us. The tree frogs continue to croak which is odd this time of year, but given the weather, understandable. Great job.
Saturday, January 31 Report this
Johnwils
I just wanted to say thanks for writing this column. I’ve been going outside often to work in the woods, garden, and breathe fresh air (worried how long that will be around) to refresh from all of the horrible realities that are occurring. I think you stated things very well. Thank you.
Saturday, January 31 Report this
wolfmanner
All the time Overtaxed. Just an old Socialist.
Saturday, January 31 Report this
Musicfan12b
I realized that I needed to pull out my bucket list a couple of years ago. Therefore I am pursuing the study of Algebra, looking at 200 important math facts (one a day), and studying French (again). There happens to be some joy in playing music (even imperfectly) and reading inconsequential cozy mysteries which are ground out by people in other countries as well as our own.
It is a comfort to know there are really some things that are absolute and some things are so impossibly intricate that they can never be fully known in my lifetime.
One thing that is important is sharing ideas. There are so many facets to our world, we should be very grateful and humble to be part of this planet.
Jill, your thoughts are so clarifying and welcomed. Thank you.
Sunday, February 1 Report this
irishk
Thank you, Jill,
I so enjoy all of your articles.
I forwarded this to about 15 people, who also appreciated it.
It reminds us to stay in the moment and appreciate what we have during these trying times.
Sunday, February 1 Report this
Snevets
Thank you.
Monday, February 2 Report this
ViaLocal
Love all the support for this article, except for the one person so brainwashed they can only spew hate. Which is exactly what this administration wants them to do. Hate on others so they don't realize what's actually happening to them. How many times will rich people pit Americans against each other, just in the name of keeping themselves wealthier, while the Americans they pit against each other never really gain much of anything? How many times will Americans just fall for it?
Monday, February 2 Report this
ClimateTeam
Thanks Jill. At your recommendation I watched the Carney speech. So sad that our wonderful neighbors to the north, or any of our former long-standing allies, no longer trust the US. As a former Minnesotan I am sickened about what has happened there and proud of the Minnesota spirit that has shown through. Thank you for your article. You express well what most of us feel. Nature gives us respite but we must also continue to stand up against the egregious actions of this administration.
Tuesday, February 3 Report this
WayTooOld
Thank you.
Wednesday, February 4 Report this