Honestly don't give a single solitary fuck about your religion dude, especially not from such an evil creature such as Yahweh. Stick to people, stay on earth, shit is real down here. Let whatever gods may exist do whatever it is that they may be doing, content with reality on reality's terms. Stick by your friends and family, don't close your hands in prayer, keep them ready for your kin and friends, no god will protect them, only you.
Correction: It is a symbol of the hundreds of millions it has killed: It is a symbol of death, a red and yellow warning, similar to nature's warnings of something venomous or poisonous, something deadly that will fuck you over if you let it.
My mindset is focused on the possibilities of what can and may go wrong and how to deal with them, it is called thinking ahead, and being a realist. Optimism, in my personal opinion, is a fool's end, leaving you open and vulnerable without any benefit except making you feel better.
I don't want to feel better, I want to BE better. I can't do that by just thinking about how neat things could be. I have to consider the reality of what's going on while facing the facts of the situation and plan and act accordingly.
You sound incredibly naive and you trying to direct me to some hippy self help book just reinforces my suspicion that you are in fact some trust fund kid who hasn't had to actually deal with the world when shit hits the fan.
I don't consider my mindset defeatist, its strategic, I have to think ahead, because if I don't, I'm screwed. If one more thing goes wrong, I've got to start back at square one again, so there isn't any room for error where I am currently at. What you're advocating for requires so much wiggle room you can practically fit a stadium inside of it.
The world isn't nice, it isn't easy, things rarely go to plan, and if you don't take steps to protect yourself, the fallout may extend beyond just yourself. You must think ahead, and you must consider what may go wrong. It's like why we keep a fire extinguisher or first aid kit on hand, we don't intend for fires to erupt around us or for injury to befall us, but it's the 'just in case' contingency, a precautionary measure. How I think and how I act is exactly in line with that.
So not only can you not think five minutes in front of your face, you cannot read either. If I didn't value reality over fantasy, I would almost be envious of how blissful you seem to be in whatever fantasy world you've fabricated where shit is this easy.
I know my limits and what is and is not within my reach, and right now, a lot of shit is outside of my reach, because down here in reality, nothing is free, and if you think it's free, you're paying by another method that will usually fuck you over later.
Oh, right, why didn't I think of that? I'll just use my determination to manifest someone with a vehicle. Well shit, even if that happens, I can't pay for the ride. Also, shit, I'm screwed for gas money, so I would be some jackass bitch who can't even pitch in for the fuel getting there AND BACK. And double shit, being unable to afford gasoline would also make it difficult to ration out funds for food as well. I'm curious, do you take visits to this fantasy land often, or do you only vacation here in reality? I initially was just lightly bitching about missing out on something I've been interested in participating in for some time now, and mostly curious on the off chance that some way was forged if I would be able to safely travel, which is why I asked the question about open carry, but you being this level of asshole just irritates the piss out of me with how little you seem to understand how shit down here in reality actually works. It's like you can't even think five minutes infront of your face.
I accepted the reality of my death when I was twelve years old, had to go through several days of panic and shock grappling with the fact that I will cease to exist and there is nothing I can do to stop it, I may slow it down and postpone it, but I will die. I then decided that since there wasn't anything I could do to stop my own demise, be it by old age, or death my combat, disease, or some other method, I can't abide by permitting the world I leave behind to be as a shitty place as when I was brought into it. There are going to be hard choices that will separate those who speak, and those who act. That choice will be visited upon each and every man, and the only time you will know who is truly ready are those who hold that fear to their chest and grip it tight as they step forward regardless, to accept what inevitability that is to come and take control of it to choose which path your blood will lend aid to. Fear is natural, always remember this, it's not something easily shrugged off, but how you act in spite of that fear is what will show you, your friend, family, ancestors, and community are really made of. Always be prepared, keep your tools on you, keep your first aid kit nearby, keep your weapons oiled and well maintained, be prepared even if things feel calm, keep your eyes peeled and your head on a swivel, be the most dangerous person within a hundred miles if you can help it, do not permit yourself to become lazy, do not permit yourself to grow lax. Treat each day as if it will be your last, because you may find yourself in that situation where you will either need to protect those who need it. We are beset by enemies from within today more than without, our enemies are not as clear as they were once, there are no clear cut battle lines. And those enemies from without are waiting for us to be weak enough within to strike, and rest assured they have been patiently waiting to do so. This is the time to prepare, and be patient. To watch, and observe, to be ready. This is the calm before the storm, so buy a bit more water than usual, get a few extra cans on every trip to the store of sealed goods that will last, stock up on first aid supplies, brush up on wilderness survival and read everything you can. Support your friends and family, because this is going to be a time you will miss, this level of calm before the tumult begins in earnest.
Most of all, be safe, and do not lose your cool, patience is a painfully grating virtue, but is a very rewarding one. Support your brothers and sisters around, let your friends and family know you're there for them, give them a hug. It may sound corny and cheesy as fuck, but trust me (as much as you can trust some random person on the internet) the tension that can be felt now is reciprocal, this country feels it, and the mainstream media sources are all required to downplay it because anything else would inevitably acknowledge their role and fault in this situation, and they must remain blameless and pure in their own eyes, not to mention their cowardice knows few bounds and any hint or sign of conflict and they will instantly flee from that bonfire they had so long cultivated and nurtured, by intent or happenstance, by design of accident, it is still something they have been working very diligently to bring to bear for the past four decades at the least.
The President forced their hand in many ways, forced them to accelerate, forced them to get sloppy, and forced them to upscale that which they were already doing and thus are now dealing with the consequences, as long as The People know when to show spine and know when to stand by and be patient, victory is already ours.
This is the racism they are teaching in schools. It is getting even worse by the day. Openly advocating to wipe out an entire people simply because they perceive oppression from them, despite the fact they are actively oppressing them.