I’ve read several Substack today where the author referred to getting through the next four years. With radical right wing president, administration, Congress, and Supreme Court, and JD Vance in the wings, how do we believe there will ever be another election?
You're a better person than I am. I'm pointing at Mitch McConnell. I'm pointing at Merick Garland. I'm pointing at all those who voted for him. They saw everything the rest of us saw. They know he is a criminal. They know he lies, about everything. They know he is decrepit and deranged, and they voted for him anyway. They voted to put a deranged criminal in charge, and I am pointing that out.
I refuse to waste time or to give my life's energy to their racist misogyny. Those who voted for him chose to willingly. I will never forget what they chose to do to your children's future and the future of all our children's children's children. And, I won't forgive them for they know what they did.
Anyway i subscribed. Again? Is this normal? I have noticed this with a few others that i had subscribed to, not unaubscribed, then had to subscribe again.
Thank you for inspiring me with your work. For what it’s worth, I was in the ER watching the results of the election being announced, and while waiting for the results of my CT SCAN, I shed a tear. The doctor, who was from PA, was equally upset. But the thing is that I know I did my part to help Kamala, and I will not stop helping the Democratic Party because I know we are all much stronger than the rest of them……we will never give up or give in to the MAGA crowd who seem to believe that the former president is some kind of “ god.” I have lost three friends as a result of this election, and I know I’m much better off as a result. While I fully intended to move back to Canada, my work here is much more important, and I will continue my efforts to improve our lives and country. You rock!
Thank you. While I don’t have a brain bleed I have a remarkable concussion that will take up to two months before I start to recover. Sadly, my writing is on hold, but my painting has reached a new plateau. I will continue to follow your recommendations, and given that I have exactly $1.38 in my bank account, I will be sure to become a paid supporter upon receipt of my social security disability payment, which I hope is not stripped away from me by the Trump regime
Oh, goodness Shelley. I appreciate you whether or not you are a paid subscriber. Yes, I sincerely hope that no SS disability payments are stripped away. I would expect that would be a hard thing to approve since the remainder of the senate wouldn’t vote on it (I wouldn’t think they’d get re elected). Thank you for the thought!
Walter.. I’m Native Hawaiian Asian Norwegian. I’m not white and my kids can maybe pass as full white. I’m numb. But I’m also in a blue state in N.California. My eldest is in Nevada 40 minutes away my youngest is in a very rural area 4 hours away from me in a very red area of Nevada and she’s the fairest of us with hazel eyes.. I’ve been called the N word by a stranger.. and the N word and C word by my postman who is a federal employee.. he actually said my voting ballot was undeliverable.. I’ve filed a report against him at his USPS and absolutely nothing was done.. he leaves my packages thrown in the middle of our street.. I also had an altercation at our fav sushi bar where we go every week..we were sitting at the sushi bar everyone knows us but some couple who had a second home up here decided to harass me that I need to give them my seat.. cause there was only one left empty that I was sitting next to. She called me the the N word and the sushi chefs and staff lost their minds when this woman demanded I give her my seat. Now my hubby is very very well known to everyone in the area. I’m a fairly quiet person but I bake the staff cookies and muffins and when they have babies or get married I make them afghans or quilts.. my hubby turned around and the husband said aren’t you so and so?? He’s like yes I am.. oh well I’m looking for XYZ for our vacation home and I do business with a mutual vendor and I know so and so.. without blinking my hubby says loudly why the Fuck would I want to speak to you let alone do business with you. You just insulted my wife.. the dudes jaw dropped. My hubby continued: you ever come near me or my wife and I’ll fucking ruin you and I’ll make sure no one in this town will do business with you ever again. That comment made the staff jump to attention and the manager’s and owner bee lined it and told them they needed to leave and they reserved the right to refuse service to anyone.. the head chef loudly said get out you need to leave NOW.. after the wife huffed and puffed they were thrown out. When they exited.. everyone started hooting and fist pumping in the air.. it should have been a teachable moment but people like that never learn.. my hubby hugged me to reassure me and I was freezing cold with shock.. the staff was amazing.. they wrapped me up in someone’s jacket gave me hot tea and of course never charged us.. my hubby still left a ginormous tip.
All take that as a win right now with everything going on. Racism is alive and well now after the election. Before it was whispers.. now it’s blatant in our face bullshit
Makes me happy to hear when people (especially Hubbies 😉) take a stand & put such impossible arrogant individuals back in their places. Wish I knew what one could to make/help them change!
I've been writing today. That's the only thing that brings any comfort. My vote didn't count in deep red Texas, but I still have a voice. I'm not sure anyone will listen, but it helps me get my thoughts in order. Oddly, that does help a little.
Your comments today were deeply felt. I cried all morning. I cannot believe that Americans willfully chose this evil, nasty bigot. And it’s the pervasive evilness in his followers that scares me even more. Today I responded to a comment that was filled with lies that Democrats supposedly were guilty of. I saud that everything that was said was a lie promoted by the Magats (sorry!). He responded with F U & called me a “cunt”. That is who these people are & I have no words.
My 28 year old son and I crossed paths in the kitchen at about 2 am last night. He was just heading to bed and I was awake ridden with a somatic anxiety. Neither of us could speak. I still have so few words this morning.
So much hope, so much work, and now those awful, awful people who love performative cruelty will have power. The news made me physically sick. As soon as that passed, I've had to be strong for the people around me. and it's just so sad. We will regroup, we will resist. but I am so sad.
Walter, thank you. I wrote this piece this morning. I just feel like we will have no opportunity in 4 years to oust this jerk. I am devastated…
I woke up hours ago to the news that my country had betrayed me yet again. I wondered how many times I could get punched in the stomach with the disappointment — the disappointment of so many in my life either not caring or who had actually cast a vote for hate, misogyny, racism, willful ignorance, money.
I couldn’t cry. Just felt numb.
Then, I had a vivid memory of November, 2004, sitting numb and depressed with a friend at a cafe, in disbelief that people would give W another round. It felt like the end of the world then.
The memory made me cry… finally.
Perhaps, you might think I would offer words of encouragement at this point, as we got through that time, wars and all!
BUT, you’d be wrong. I am certain this country is in for so much worse, so much worse. Nazism, Religious Zealots, Rich Billionaires, Project 2025, here we come.
And my heart goes out to (mostly) all the young women and girls. 💔 Your country failed you and supported a rapist, felon, conman, racist, woman hater. Apparently, you are worth so little. All his rich buddies surrounded him and pulled it off, just like they planned.
“So many men, so little time” takes on a different meaning now.
I just don’t know if I can find the strength to keep fighting this behemoth beast made of lies, hate, crime, selfishness, misogyny, willful ignorance, and fear. I am tired… exhausted really. Screaming from the mountaintops just didn’t work. So many didn’t want to hear it.
I am sobbing now. They have taken us down with them.
I feel betrayed too, and i am not even American. But the disease of these ideas are not only soreading, but many have always been here.
I turned blind eyes to so much, because i was taught since a toddler, that "women's libbers" were evil. Internalised and inherited misogyny since i was so little....
Yet now i cannot unsee it.
Since 2020, and a bit before, everything has been coming up to the surface, like boils, that pus and make a mess. Such things still went on, sometimes far worse, but were covered up, or not even seen as wrong.
And now things ARE wrong, but it is out there. Acknowledged. Seen ...
I grieve, with you.
Maybe the votes were not all counted and something is afoot... It would not surprise me. Or maybe its that we see it more accutely.
I remember being frustrated by how dumb young bush was. Dumb and dangerous. The relief when people finally voted for an intelligent man was huge!! So happy about Obama. I had no idea of your parties or politics. Its just easier for other countries to deal with a president with a brain.
I am saying all this so that you do not feel alone. My face has frozen into its autistic blankness and i cannot yet cry, much as i need to.
Glad you can cry.
But this might be more of the same thing of the awful coming up to the surface to be healed.
Who knows? It might be maga that ends up demanding trump leave, once the leopards come for their faces?
Stranger things have happened.
In the meantime, we have the same job we have always had: to be kind, honest, find the funny and the beauty where we can.
You know that. I just have a gift for stating the bleeding obvious, though, ay; ) ?
Thank you, Frances, especially for wanting to continue your work here. I am actually having a dual between fight or flight, and Canada is on my mind. I’m so tired and this grief is overwhelming.
Walter, I feel for you. I forget where you live, but so far, I think and hope, there are places in this country where you can be safe. Unfortunately, those places are expensive (I live in Santa Cruz, California, south of what the world calls SIlicon Valley -- I call it Santa Clara Valley, it's proper name--which is 52 miles south of San Francisco. The area is multicultural which is one reason I love it so much.) It is one reason for the moment I hope I will be safe. I have Handmaid visions in my head and as a member of the LGBTQ community I am worried what the Christian Nationalist might do with the power they have achieved. I am retired now. After Trump and his cohort go after the non-white "illegal" immigrants and a political enemies, will the LGBTQ community be next. Where will I go? My Spanish and German are sketchy, best. Canada? Canada and Germany are also struggling with right-wing extemists. Scotland? Wales? The Republic of Ireland? England? I'll have to sit tight.
I am a writer and working on a novel. DJT's election has me fearful. Should I write? My characters are queer. I condemn authoritarian oligarchies. My favorite Substack authors have assuage some of my fear. The title of your Substach, I'd Rather Be Writing, is affirming. Janice Airhart wrote, " I've been writing today. That's the only thing that brings any comfort." Her words have inspired me. Walter, you inspire me.
Finally, be careful about Peru and it's economic and politic stability. That move might be like jumping from one frying pan into another. Take care.
Thank you for your lovely comment Karen. We'll find a way forward. I live in Northern Wisconsin and harassment is minimal though it does happen. Sigh... I'm still processing so much.
Thank you for sharing this, Walter. It provided some source of comfort to read your and everyone's posts and feel less alone. It is somber at our house and my husband keeps saying he feels like he lives in an alternate universe. I thought for a minute that I would not go to work today, but I did to see my students. I am glad I did. There were many tears. Many hugs. Many discussions. Colleagues were quiet, tired, talking in hushed corners. Our afternoon meeting was cancelled. I live in Milwaukee which, by the numbers, largely supported Harris. The high school where I teach is in a small, liberal older suburb (actually called a village) - mostly white, progressive leaning and voting. It's voters more than likely supported Harris. Nonetheless, the students who chose to speak to me in depth about their emotions over this are Black young girls who are devastated that this talented, powerful woman that they came to look up to and believe in, who looked like them or their aunts or mothers, who is so obviously miles above Trump in intellect and personal skills, actually LOST to the likes of him. Looking back and reflecting on the civil rights and suffragettes movements helped us deal with our grief of what could have been and our fear of what is yet to come. We will continue to look back at those who have fought these fights for rights, representation and freedoms and gain strength from their legacies. Together, we will move forward in spite of the resistance pushing to keep us back. As VP Harris said so many times: We are not going back.
Thank you for sharing Rae. These last few days have gone by in a blur. I feel so disconnected from reality. How can people not recognize how awful a person he is. It's stunning and disconcerting. I hope Harris stays in the public eye, we need her!
No one makes a rational decision. Everyone makes an emotional decision then rationalizes it.
A decision that seems irrational is often more plausible when you look to the emotions driving it and in this election, while fear and callousness could be suspected, I feel the true culprits are misogyny and racism.
But isn’t fear also the basis of misogyny and racism? I am a person with a European background living in a former colony. I suspect that the early colonizers knew they were in the minority and secretly feared they were incompetent and weak in their new environment. They assumed a position of superiority as protection. They could convince themselves of their superiority by using force and cruelty, by the false narrative that the indigenous people were inferior savages, by downgrading their personhood, by cultural and actual genocide. The same goes for men who are misogynists, bullies, predators, stalkers, rapists, homophobes. Fear and self-loathing leads to rage and hatred and a need to assert themselves over women and control what they most fear, the revelation that they are weak, that they are not real men, and that they need women.
I tend to believe that people filter their emotions through their temperaments. Fear for a conscientious person may trigger stockpiling while fear for a competitive person may trigger attack. All of us have many emotions but few dominant temperaments and our actions are a response to a whole spectrum of interactions between the two. The colonizers you describe would likely have dominant Adventurous, Competitive, and Self-Confident temperaments which, in their worst form can be triggered into anti social, sadistic, and narcissistic behaviors respectively. My short comment is kind of a poor fit for the psychological model that I tend to use to in trying to understand behavior but the whole topic is one of those squishy sciences that resist mathematical description.
I’ve read several Substack today where the author referred to getting through the next four years. With radical right wing president, administration, Congress, and Supreme Court, and JD Vance in the wings, how do we believe there will ever be another election?
Valid point.
You're a better person than I am. I'm pointing at Mitch McConnell. I'm pointing at Merick Garland. I'm pointing at all those who voted for him. They saw everything the rest of us saw. They know he is a criminal. They know he lies, about everything. They know he is decrepit and deranged, and they voted for him anyway. They voted to put a deranged criminal in charge, and I am pointing that out.
I refuse to waste time or to give my life's energy to their racist misogyny. Those who voted for him chose to willingly. I will never forget what they chose to do to your children's future and the future of all our children's children's children. And, I won't forgive them for they know what they did.
.
I thought i haf subscribed already, ages ago.
Anyway i subscribed. Again? Is this normal? I have noticed this with a few others that i had subscribed to, not unaubscribed, then had to subscribe again.
A bit tedious, but i thought you ought to know.
That’s odd. No, I didn’t realize that happened. I didn’t remove you.
Thank you for inspiring me with your work. For what it’s worth, I was in the ER watching the results of the election being announced, and while waiting for the results of my CT SCAN, I shed a tear. The doctor, who was from PA, was equally upset. But the thing is that I know I did my part to help Kamala, and I will not stop helping the Democratic Party because I know we are all much stronger than the rest of them……we will never give up or give in to the MAGA crowd who seem to believe that the former president is some kind of “ god.” I have lost three friends as a result of this election, and I know I’m much better off as a result. While I fully intended to move back to Canada, my work here is much more important, and I will continue my efforts to improve our lives and country. You rock!
Good for you Frances. I’m hoping for good results on that scan. Thanks for your encouraging words.
Thank you. While I don’t have a brain bleed I have a remarkable concussion that will take up to two months before I start to recover. Sadly, my writing is on hold, but my painting has reached a new plateau. I will continue to follow your recommendations, and given that I have exactly $1.38 in my bank account, I will be sure to become a paid supporter upon receipt of my social security disability payment, which I hope is not stripped away from me by the Trump regime
Oh, goodness Shelley. I appreciate you whether or not you are a paid subscriber. Yes, I sincerely hope that no SS disability payments are stripped away. I would expect that would be a hard thing to approve since the remainder of the senate wouldn’t vote on it (I wouldn’t think they’d get re elected). Thank you for the thought!
Walter.. I’m Native Hawaiian Asian Norwegian. I’m not white and my kids can maybe pass as full white. I’m numb. But I’m also in a blue state in N.California. My eldest is in Nevada 40 minutes away my youngest is in a very rural area 4 hours away from me in a very red area of Nevada and she’s the fairest of us with hazel eyes.. I’ve been called the N word by a stranger.. and the N word and C word by my postman who is a federal employee.. he actually said my voting ballot was undeliverable.. I’ve filed a report against him at his USPS and absolutely nothing was done.. he leaves my packages thrown in the middle of our street.. I also had an altercation at our fav sushi bar where we go every week..we were sitting at the sushi bar everyone knows us but some couple who had a second home up here decided to harass me that I need to give them my seat.. cause there was only one left empty that I was sitting next to. She called me the the N word and the sushi chefs and staff lost their minds when this woman demanded I give her my seat. Now my hubby is very very well known to everyone in the area. I’m a fairly quiet person but I bake the staff cookies and muffins and when they have babies or get married I make them afghans or quilts.. my hubby turned around and the husband said aren’t you so and so?? He’s like yes I am.. oh well I’m looking for XYZ for our vacation home and I do business with a mutual vendor and I know so and so.. without blinking my hubby says loudly why the Fuck would I want to speak to you let alone do business with you. You just insulted my wife.. the dudes jaw dropped. My hubby continued: you ever come near me or my wife and I’ll fucking ruin you and I’ll make sure no one in this town will do business with you ever again. That comment made the staff jump to attention and the manager’s and owner bee lined it and told them they needed to leave and they reserved the right to refuse service to anyone.. the head chef loudly said get out you need to leave NOW.. after the wife huffed and puffed they were thrown out. When they exited.. everyone started hooting and fist pumping in the air.. it should have been a teachable moment but people like that never learn.. my hubby hugged me to reassure me and I was freezing cold with shock.. the staff was amazing.. they wrapped me up in someone’s jacket gave me hot tea and of course never charged us.. my hubby still left a ginormous tip.
Thank you for sharing that wonderful story. It brought me some peace for a few moments at least :)
All take that as a win right now with everything going on. Racism is alive and well now after the election. Before it was whispers.. now it’s blatant in our face bullshit
Makes me happy to hear when people (especially Hubbies 😉) take a stand & put such impossible arrogant individuals back in their places. Wish I knew what one could to make/help them change!
I've been writing today. That's the only thing that brings any comfort. My vote didn't count in deep red Texas, but I still have a voice. I'm not sure anyone will listen, but it helps me get my thoughts in order. Oddly, that does help a little.
Me too.
Your comments today were deeply felt. I cried all morning. I cannot believe that Americans willfully chose this evil, nasty bigot. And it’s the pervasive evilness in his followers that scares me even more. Today I responded to a comment that was filled with lies that Democrats supposedly were guilty of. I saud that everything that was said was a lie promoted by the Magats (sorry!). He responded with F U & called me a “cunt”. That is who these people are & I have no words.
I know. I’ve been on the receiving end of that hatred too. Unfortunately, it’s not going to end anytime soon.
When finding myself in a bad situation, I’ve always said, “This too shall pass”. But now I can’t bring myself to believe it.
It will, though.
Hopefully "not like a kidney stone. "
.
(I bortowed that line, cant remember who from. Sorry.)
Hahahaha
Same
My 28 year old son and I crossed paths in the kitchen at about 2 am last night. He was just heading to bed and I was awake ridden with a somatic anxiety. Neither of us could speak. I still have so few words this morning.
We just have to console each other for the time being. Our bodies are still processing this.
Indeed, brother.
So much hope, so much work, and now those awful, awful people who love performative cruelty will have power. The news made me physically sick. As soon as that passed, I've had to be strong for the people around me. and it's just so sad. We will regroup, we will resist. but I am so sad.
I've been physically sick and losing weight since the election. I'm sad too. Strength to you Joan.
Walter, thank you. I wrote this piece this morning. I just feel like we will have no opportunity in 4 years to oust this jerk. I am devastated…
I woke up hours ago to the news that my country had betrayed me yet again. I wondered how many times I could get punched in the stomach with the disappointment — the disappointment of so many in my life either not caring or who had actually cast a vote for hate, misogyny, racism, willful ignorance, money.
I couldn’t cry. Just felt numb.
Then, I had a vivid memory of November, 2004, sitting numb and depressed with a friend at a cafe, in disbelief that people would give W another round. It felt like the end of the world then.
The memory made me cry… finally.
Perhaps, you might think I would offer words of encouragement at this point, as we got through that time, wars and all!
BUT, you’d be wrong. I am certain this country is in for so much worse, so much worse. Nazism, Religious Zealots, Rich Billionaires, Project 2025, here we come.
And my heart goes out to (mostly) all the young women and girls. 💔 Your country failed you and supported a rapist, felon, conman, racist, woman hater. Apparently, you are worth so little. All his rich buddies surrounded him and pulled it off, just like they planned.
“So many men, so little time” takes on a different meaning now.
I just don’t know if I can find the strength to keep fighting this behemoth beast made of lies, hate, crime, selfishness, misogyny, willful ignorance, and fear. I am tired… exhausted really. Screaming from the mountaintops just didn’t work. So many didn’t want to hear it.
I am sobbing now. They have taken us down with them.
Strength Suzanne. There are a lot of us who are here to help. We’ll support the people who need us. Don’t forget that you have allies!
Thanks, Walter. Just wallowing in grief right now.
Me too.
I feel betrayed too, and i am not even American. But the disease of these ideas are not only soreading, but many have always been here.
I turned blind eyes to so much, because i was taught since a toddler, that "women's libbers" were evil. Internalised and inherited misogyny since i was so little....
Yet now i cannot unsee it.
Since 2020, and a bit before, everything has been coming up to the surface, like boils, that pus and make a mess. Such things still went on, sometimes far worse, but were covered up, or not even seen as wrong.
And now things ARE wrong, but it is out there. Acknowledged. Seen ...
I grieve, with you.
Maybe the votes were not all counted and something is afoot... It would not surprise me. Or maybe its that we see it more accutely.
I remember being frustrated by how dumb young bush was. Dumb and dangerous. The relief when people finally voted for an intelligent man was huge!! So happy about Obama. I had no idea of your parties or politics. Its just easier for other countries to deal with a president with a brain.
I am saying all this so that you do not feel alone. My face has frozen into its autistic blankness and i cannot yet cry, much as i need to.
Glad you can cry.
But this might be more of the same thing of the awful coming up to the surface to be healed.
Who knows? It might be maga that ends up demanding trump leave, once the leopards come for their faces?
Stranger things have happened.
In the meantime, we have the same job we have always had: to be kind, honest, find the funny and the beauty where we can.
You know that. I just have a gift for stating the bleeding obvious, though, ay; ) ?
Thank you for that lovely message.
Lisa, thank you. This is beautiful and so supportive. Really appreciate your words.
I’m angry. This is beyond ridiculous
I know. It's bizarre.
Thank you, Frances, especially for wanting to continue your work here. I am actually having a dual between fight or flight, and Canada is on my mind. I’m so tired and this grief is overwhelming.
Walter, I feel for you. I forget where you live, but so far, I think and hope, there are places in this country where you can be safe. Unfortunately, those places are expensive (I live in Santa Cruz, California, south of what the world calls SIlicon Valley -- I call it Santa Clara Valley, it's proper name--which is 52 miles south of San Francisco. The area is multicultural which is one reason I love it so much.) It is one reason for the moment I hope I will be safe. I have Handmaid visions in my head and as a member of the LGBTQ community I am worried what the Christian Nationalist might do with the power they have achieved. I am retired now. After Trump and his cohort go after the non-white "illegal" immigrants and a political enemies, will the LGBTQ community be next. Where will I go? My Spanish and German are sketchy, best. Canada? Canada and Germany are also struggling with right-wing extemists. Scotland? Wales? The Republic of Ireland? England? I'll have to sit tight.
I am a writer and working on a novel. DJT's election has me fearful. Should I write? My characters are queer. I condemn authoritarian oligarchies. My favorite Substack authors have assuage some of my fear. The title of your Substach, I'd Rather Be Writing, is affirming. Janice Airhart wrote, " I've been writing today. That's the only thing that brings any comfort." Her words have inspired me. Walter, you inspire me.
Finally, be careful about Peru and it's economic and politic stability. That move might be like jumping from one frying pan into another. Take care.
Thank you for your lovely comment Karen. We'll find a way forward. I live in Northern Wisconsin and harassment is minimal though it does happen. Sigh... I'm still processing so much.
Thank you for sharing this, Walter. It provided some source of comfort to read your and everyone's posts and feel less alone. It is somber at our house and my husband keeps saying he feels like he lives in an alternate universe. I thought for a minute that I would not go to work today, but I did to see my students. I am glad I did. There were many tears. Many hugs. Many discussions. Colleagues were quiet, tired, talking in hushed corners. Our afternoon meeting was cancelled. I live in Milwaukee which, by the numbers, largely supported Harris. The high school where I teach is in a small, liberal older suburb (actually called a village) - mostly white, progressive leaning and voting. It's voters more than likely supported Harris. Nonetheless, the students who chose to speak to me in depth about their emotions over this are Black young girls who are devastated that this talented, powerful woman that they came to look up to and believe in, who looked like them or their aunts or mothers, who is so obviously miles above Trump in intellect and personal skills, actually LOST to the likes of him. Looking back and reflecting on the civil rights and suffragettes movements helped us deal with our grief of what could have been and our fear of what is yet to come. We will continue to look back at those who have fought these fights for rights, representation and freedoms and gain strength from their legacies. Together, we will move forward in spite of the resistance pushing to keep us back. As VP Harris said so many times: We are not going back.
Thank you for sharing Rae. These last few days have gone by in a blur. I feel so disconnected from reality. How can people not recognize how awful a person he is. It's stunning and disconcerting. I hope Harris stays in the public eye, we need her!
No one makes a rational decision. Everyone makes an emotional decision then rationalizes it.
A decision that seems irrational is often more plausible when you look to the emotions driving it and in this election, while fear and callousness could be suspected, I feel the true culprits are misogyny and racism.
But isn’t fear also the basis of misogyny and racism? I am a person with a European background living in a former colony. I suspect that the early colonizers knew they were in the minority and secretly feared they were incompetent and weak in their new environment. They assumed a position of superiority as protection. They could convince themselves of their superiority by using force and cruelty, by the false narrative that the indigenous people were inferior savages, by downgrading their personhood, by cultural and actual genocide. The same goes for men who are misogynists, bullies, predators, stalkers, rapists, homophobes. Fear and self-loathing leads to rage and hatred and a need to assert themselves over women and control what they most fear, the revelation that they are weak, that they are not real men, and that they need women.
I tend to believe that people filter their emotions through their temperaments. Fear for a conscientious person may trigger stockpiling while fear for a competitive person may trigger attack. All of us have many emotions but few dominant temperaments and our actions are a response to a whole spectrum of interactions between the two. The colonizers you describe would likely have dominant Adventurous, Competitive, and Self-Confident temperaments which, in their worst form can be triggered into anti social, sadistic, and narcissistic behaviors respectively. My short comment is kind of a poor fit for the psychological model that I tend to use to in trying to understand behavior but the whole topic is one of those squishy sciences that resist mathematical description.
Thank you