The 5 Stages of Grief: Coping with the death of America

I recently found myself in a general state of peace. At first, it almost didn’t make any sense, considering the facts of the matter.

In my short lifetime, I have experienced and realized everything that was great about America, both as a nation (system of government) and country (the land and its peoples.) The circumstances of the past 10 years have lead me to recognize that the USA, as an institution of freedom and a beacon of hope and ideals for the rest of humanity, is dying. The situation we find ourselves in is irreversible.

Over the past few years, I found myself experiencing long periods of certain emotions, in relation to the changes occurring in the USA. Until recently, I didn’t recognize any pattern or purpose. When my most recent experience of peace came on me, I was able to put the pieces together.

If you haven’t already heard of the 5 Stages of Grief, you most likely have experienced it. It is generally referred to when dealing with the death of a loved on, or upon realizing your own imminent demise. However, it is a process that we all experience in any given situation. One can experience more than one stage at a time, out of order, or skip stages all-together. The 5 Stages are:

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

I realize, having gone through the 5 stages, everyone in America is experiencing this process, and it is the varying stages that have lead to much of the debate and discourse.


Denial
This is the stage a great many are stuck in. Much of this is based on the idea that America has been through hard times, fiscally, socially and internationally before, and has always managed to pull through. Additionally, those in this state refuse to correlate the situation in the US, with the similar occurrences in history such as Ancient Rome, the rise of the Nazi party, etc. For them, it’s not the same thing.

This stage didn’t last long for me. The speed at which things were being done in government and society quickly brought about the next stage.

Anger
This is the second largest emotional state experienced by Americans. The mass anger at the government led to the Tea Parties, and a rebirth of Militias. While it may not be as easy as denial, it is more satisfying.

I was in this stage the longest. It was easy to be angry at the individuals in government based upon their continuing actions and inactions. I even considered forming a militia in my area. Being able to concentrate and vent the anger over the multitude of issues allows people to maintain a small, if not subconscious, amount of hope; a hope that by being a squeaky enough wheel, the problems will be resolved and all will be as it was or should be. This led me to my the next stage.

Bargaining
This is stage that cost the democrats the majority in the House of Representatives. The people are bargaining that they will give the Republicans and Tea Party candidates a shot at government and they will get things restored. Some do this on a more personal scale, by volunteering their time, money etc in hopes that they will make a difference.

Like me, at some point, this group will realize that it’s all a scam. The whole thing is intended to manipulate and create an illusion so some other group or person can impose their will on others. This realization leads to the next stage.

Depression
While not necessarily clinical, as in an abnormal chemical imbalance leading to a negative mindset, this stage is brought about by the realization of the true nature of things.

For me, this pit was deep and all encompassing. Not so much that I stayed in bed all day and neglected food and hygiene, but that I lost all hope for being able to restore liberty as the ideal conceived by the founders. Even-more-so, I transposed this feeling for America onto all of humanity. My belief that America was the last best hope for humanity, and its ultimate demise, meant humanity as a whole has no hope for developmental evolution. Allowing America to fall is essentially civilizational suicide. I even began to pray for humanity to be taken out en mass and swiftly. I wept for all we were losing and had regrets for bringing children into the world knowing there was no future.

Then finally the peace came over me.

Acceptance
This stage is almost Zen-like. It seems to transcend existence. I came to this point, uncertain in an afterlife, and with no expectation for a future for humanity and the USA, but completely ok with that idea. If government agents stormed into my home to take or kill off myself or family, it doesn’t matter anymore. I have let go of the anger for it all, or the sadness for seeing it all taken away from right in front of my eyes.

Bankrupt lying government… no problem. Red light cameras, warrantless wire taps, porno scanners, authorized child molesters… its all good. Illegal invasion, nanny state, regime changing…who cares. GM foods, union thuggery, abortions, destruction of the family and gender roles, normalizing homosexuality….go for it.
In this state of mind, seeing America crumble and humanity spiral towards extinction is a bit of an out-of-body experience. It is akin to watching a time lapse of the erosion of a rock: interesting, but ultimately insignificant.

I encourage you to step back for a moment and gauge the emotional state of those around related to the state of the US, society or humanity in general. You will likely be able to place them in one of the above stages. You yourself likely fit into one or more of these stages.

To end on a light note, enjoy this comical rendition of the 5 stages.

Cheers!



*I wasn't sure as to which forum this would best fit in. If one of the mods feels this needs a better home, please help it finds its way. Thanks.

I think alot of the people skipped right over most the steps and went straight to accepting the fate of this country and there i the problem. If so many are already accepting it then its gonna be hard for the rest of us to be able to stop it

I've had these very thoughts regarding the demise of our once great country.

I tend to waffle a bit though. I'll have reached the stage of acceptance for a time and find myself backsliding to anger or depression. Denial didn't last long for me either and bargaining, well not much I can do about that.

The acceptance phase is almost impossible though because they continue to animate the corpse. How do you grieve for your loss when they won't let the patient die? When full on collapse finally does happen, I think the acceptance phase will be easier for me because I have gone through these stages.

reply to post by Wolf321


People are aware of how our nation has gone down the hill.

I have done my grieving already and like many others I am going to let the new generations do the fighting.

Sadly the America of today is the creation and result of my generation's inability to protect it for the future generations.

Originally posted by Scalded Frog
The acceptance phase is almost impossible though because they continue to animate the corpse. How do you grieve for your loss when they won't let the patient die? When full on collapse finally does happen, I think the acceptance phase will be easier for me because I have gone through these stages.

I think if people haven't gone past the denial stage before the full on collapse, it will be even harder on them. At that point, they wont have the luxury of time or any standard of living to be able to deal with convulsions before humanity disappears.

reply to post by Wolf321


The Stages of Political Awakening
Ignorance (Knowledge of Only What you want to Believe)
Knowledge (Awakening to True Facts)
Denial (Attempting to go back to Ignorance)
Shock (Realization that your Beliefs are not True)
Grief (Realization that you have lost something)
Depression (Sadness over loss)
Anger (Sadness projected outward)
Bargaining (Hoping to get back what was lost)
Acceptance (Changes are Beyond Your Control)

Until one goes through this painful process one is unable to accept Political Reality. Politics has always been about Slavery and Warfare, with the Elite Rich Psychopaths trying to Control everyone else so they can acquire all the money and power. Everyone else is just cattle to them. The middle class is their enemy.

Most people have not gone through this awakening. They are still in ignorance and denial. Thus they still
believe in the Two Party Lie.

The USA is devolving into a third world country of poverty and violence, while Europe devolves into a
Muslim Caliphate. Its almost funny if it doesnt effect you personally.

Were we ever great?

our history is full of slavery, fascism, non equality, greed and corruption, McCarthyism, cronyism, concentration camps, wars of aggression and expansionism, imperialism, and genocide.

people always refer to our society becoming Orwellian, but maybe it always has been.

Were we ever Great or did we just have a good pr campaign?

Excellent thread.

We are seeing a breakdown of a system of complexity. We have problems, so many problems that the average citizen can't even comprehend, let alone offer (or vote for) a solution to.

I consider myself slightly above average intelligence, and the kind of things we face today so bewilders me I find myself looking at more and more extreme and irrational answers to questions that I can't even believe I'm asking.

That alone tells me we have passed a point of no return. It seems to me we are beginning to face more crises to the point that anyone who could solve them individually are starting to tune out, because of the sheer volume of the tidal wave.

reply to post by LDragonFire


I would say that ours was an ever advancing struggle against the evils inherit to humanity. Everything you listed were things we struggled to overcome and it improved the nation and humanity. More recent efforts to counter the efforts for a continued societal evolution have been so strong that they have turned the tide. If it were only one single thing, I could equate it to introducing the atom bomb in WW2, but it is best compared to a total system shock and awe. We have been left decimated and hopeless.

Originally posted by marg6043
reply to post by Wolf321

 

People are aware of how our nation has gone down the hill.

I have done my grieving already and like many others I am going to let the new generations do the fighting.

Sadly the America of today is the creation and result of my generation's inability to protect it for the future generations.

If you chose to try to educate and inform those following after you, you are not responsible for the ones who didn't get your message. You did your best. That's all any of us can do...

Perfect OP, what more can i say? Great analogy of what we all know but just needed it put out like you took the time to do.

reply to post by Wolf321


For the longest time I was in the bargaining phase. I was watching the debt climb and thinking... well there is no way congress will allow the US to go bankrupt... we need to write them lots of letters. But since then I've accepted the terminal illness.

I'd like to bring attention to a very important number that basically determine when America dies. It can be found at:
www.usdebtclock.org...
The GDP to debt ratio in the middle of the big board on that webpage, currently standing at 97.5%. That number hitting 100% is basically a death bell for the US feds. I plan to write an RIP message when that happens.

Of course it won't die overnight. The number is just an estimate. Personally I don't expect an actual default on debt (or hyperinflation) until the number hits about 130%, which would be some time before 2020. The 100% number is just a rule of thumb for the point of no return.

reply to post by marg6043


Today's America is an America that isn't clouded by rose-colored glasses.

That is why so many people cannot accept this fate of ours and react in a way that only digs us deeper into a hole (witness the TeaTards in the House as an example).

reply to post by civilchallenger


I don't know if I think the fiscal state of the nation can hold out that long. If it does manage to scrape by till then, I am sure there will be something to make life more difficult, miserable and the people less free.

Breply to post by Count Chocula


The complexity of the problems is what makes the situation fatal. Instead of a single cancerous tumor, the problem has matastisized and infected every system and is beyond cure.

reply to post by Wolf321


Damn exactly what i went through
It's like having a cheating wife or girlfriend and it's all the same symptoms and reactions.
In both cases i felt like i lost a piece of myself and once acceptance took place i now have inner peace but can never go back to the way it was and can only move forward but much wiser with eyes wide open to reality and find the truth much easier to deal with.
I do however use sarcasm and laughter as a defense mechanism to deal with the anger when i see the pompous, arrogant, ludicrous and outrageous actions besides the belittling and down talking as if we are ALL stupid and could never understand or comprehend what they are doing.

I too have hit the bottom.
The peace is not an easy one however.
How does one reconcile with the impoverishment of ones offspring?
I have grandchildren that i worked many years for, and am willing to die for.......it breaks my heart just thinking about their future.....
Though i realise it will never come, i still hold a part of me for the revolution, and seek signs of that spark.....
(No not nessessarily a violent one)just a spark of awareness that is shared till its a flame......when everyone knows, there is no goverment on earth that can withstand the people.....
Ive turned to purchasing a boat i can live on, and getting far from this insanity.....there is really nothing one can do yet....

It's an ongoing grieving process.

While I think you think you've experienced acceptance, I see it as a new level of denial. That's cool though, because you get to learn all over again.

I think everyone went right away into the acceptance stage. Sure there are some people protesting but how far will that go?

Well ... so much for the revolution. Now I have to find a second job (no joke).

reply to post by stirling


Good idea and i never thought of a boat to live on.
I am in the process of moving overseas and now wonder if i can just get a boat and live on it there rather than buying a house or renting an apartment.
I will have to look into this as it seems like a good alternative

I do sincerely feel for you and from the time i was old enough to think i always felt it in my heart that i never wanted children to bring into this world but often consider this as selfish and not sure if it was the right decision (although now it does seem right) but hindsight is 20/20
I can never truly understand or empathize with those that have children as i only have nephews and nieces but i do recognize the pain of parents feeling helpless and although i do not have children of my own i would be willing to give back and sacrifice my life for those that do if it would truly make a difference but i would only be saving the bad ones as well and it would only repeat the process all over again as it has throughout history.
I know deep in my heart there are still good people left in this world but unfortunately outnumbered a million to one.
It was always my theory that while the good people are trying to do the right thing and only have children they can provide for the bad people were bringing into the world 2 to 3 times that growing even larger exponentially over the years with no regard for the welfare of the world or even care or think of how they are going to feed them.

My quandary is while i don't believe in killing and death there does need to be some accountability by those that just spew out kids while they can't even take care of themselves and only becoming a detriment to the Earth.
When i lived in Panama there were so many single parents and those that have children by two, three and even four different dads who do not support the kids and just go on to other women and do the same and couldn't even feed their children yet no contraception used and on top of that come the weekend the children would be roaming the streets looking for food while the parents took whatever money they had and used it for alcohol and parties and clubs while the children roam the streets hungry, dirty, shoeless and these are their role models.
The parties would last til the sun came up and the children sleeping wherever their body shut down and even witnessed 5 years old on up staying out til 2, 3, 4am and yes parents giving them booze and watching their reactions and laughing.
And that does not even count the number of illegal people in the USA having kids just to collect from Uncle Sam and getting more benefits from the system than any natural born American can.
There is no easy solution or fix and the only one adequate enough to deal with it is "unthinkable".
Please stay strong for those you love and all you can do is the best you can with the time we have here on Earth.