To say I cannot imagine how stressful it must be to be in the USA right now

[amillionnamechangeslater000]

Lockdown in the uk has been awful. Scary, sad and uncertain. But... I cannot imagine going through this in the US!

Donald Trump, the awful killing of George Flloyd, the rioting. It must be terrifying.

And quite frankly if you’re BAME - so much worse.

[Buster72]

It's a big country, not everywhere is ablaze with rioters...

[stopgap]

I’m in the US. I’m an ex pat. The lockdown hasn’t been particularly stressful. We haven’t had limits on daily exercise, for instance.

Now, to the protests. Well, I feel despair. I am praying that Biden is elected in November. I don’t know what else to say, other than I’m disgusted by the police officer’s actions and so is everyone around me.

[Ze1tGeist]

my brother lives 35 miles outside central Minneapolis and says you wouldn’t know anything was going on. they are horrified at what has happened, but honestly, the whole country hasn’t gone up in flames.

[amillionnamechangeslater000]

Thanks for the perspective. I sort of imagined a combo of how it is here (or how it had been in recent weeks) mixed with the London riots (and I was in an area that was affected).

Sorry just realised that this looks like an American bashing thread and it isn’t supposed to be.

[Ze1tGeist]

(i should clarify - they are horrified at the public execution of an innocent black man, not that protests are happening because of it)

[amillionnamechangeslater000]

@ze1tGeist don’t worry knew what you meant!

[amillionnamechangeslater000]

Apparently my vote is running at 117%

[Hushpuppy1]

I’m in the US over 1000 miles from Minneapolis but wish I could join the protests. I am beyond appalled by the actions of the police officers. I wouldn’t say it’s stressful to me personally though, more sad and furious and wondering how we will ever be able to fix the racism in our country.

[BritWifeinUSA]

Right now? You think police brutality is a new thing? I’m not excusing it by any means but this is not new. Rioting is not the way to put a stop to it but rioting is not new either.

Lockdown? Here it was a lot more realistic and relaxed than the UK. No limits on how often you go outside or where. Theoretically I could have driven 3000 miles coast to coast if I had had the inclination. Some states didn’t even close down at all.

And no, the whole country isn’t ablaze. But that’s what the media wants you to think. I’m almost 2000 miles from Minneapolis.

[SomewhereEast]

I think thats a bit like people watching the London Riots and assuming the whole UK was up in flames? I lived not far from London at the time & someone breaking a few windows in the local MacDonald's was the height of our excitement.

Agree about African-Americans though!

[amillionnamechangeslater000]

I’m in London - in an area that was quite badly affected by the riots. I’m also in an area that has a high number of covid cases.

I suppose I was imagining the notable strain of suffering both at once.

[amillionnamechangeslater000]

Mental strain! Not notable strain!

[MadameMarie]

Wait till No Deal Brexit next year with millions already on the dole from Covid.

[highmarkingsnowbile]

Eh? It's a geographically huge country with 350m+ people . Some states are not on lockdown anymore. A lot of people don't even know where Minnesota is. Or care.

[mbosnz]

I can understand you imagining and empathising with how hard it would to be undergoing both at once.

[Lifeisabeach09]

I have friends in CA and IL. Not affected by the riots at all and are pretty relaxed about Covid whilst adhering to their respective lockdown rules.

[amillionnamechangeslater000]

I just imagine the media onslaught of both must be hard going (though I guess it’s just a case of switch the news off).

Additionally for BAME Americans surely again it must feel worse.

[highmarkingsnowbile]

You're over-imagining. Most people are just chuntering on, same as they are here. Yes, they're angry but a lot of people have big worries just now financially and have noses to grindstone. Lockdown varies vastly by state.

[KickAssAngel]

well, lockdown happened quicker and more effectively where I live, much better than in the UK. Although the total figures for the US are very high - if you look at the Financial Times' figures for excess deaths, the UK is in a far worse situation - a 65% increase in the UK v 26% increase in the US. So, as far as the virus goes, I am significantly more worried about all my family in the UK. In fact, in the county I live in there are almost 0 cases.

My phone call with my Mum started this morning with her asking whether I was traumatized by the disease & violence. I am actually gob-smacked by how skewed the UK press reports have been about the virus. I read UK and US news, and almost every day the British papers seem to be saying "look how bad it is in the US" when actually people in the UK are far more likely to contract the virus and die from it. About 3 times more likely.

The rioting itself doesn't bother me - I just won't go into Detroit (nearest big city). The events leading to the rioting absolutely appall me. I teach here, and the best I can do is teach about equity & inclusion, tolerance etc. But tbh, racism is just the same old same old. I hate it, I work hard against it, but that isn't the same as feeling stressed out and terrified for my life.

I'm a Brit living in the US, and although I desperately wish I could visit my family right now, I would choose to be in the US (if I had a choice) as I feel far more confident about being able to walk around safely than I would if I were in the UK.

The racism is horrific, but it doesn't mean that everyone is walking around in fear. Try to dig deeper than the media hype.

[DamnYankee]

HI! In the US.

[bonsaidragon]

Some people will be unaffected by it as it''ll be so far away emotionally as some Americans are apathetic in the same way some British people are. I say this having seen people standing in shopping malls at the 1 week on silence for 9/11 complaining about the shops closing for it and carrying on talking.

[HoldMyLobster]

TBH I feel much safer here in the US than I would in the UK.

[DamnYankee]

Ooops!
We're ok. Upset about it all, but we can't stop moving forward. We'll live through this.
Most of us ignore Trump.
Do think 2020 is a sh*t year so far, however...

[GreytExpectations]

Op, the issues with police brutality and rascism isn't a new thing. It's been happening for decades. People like you who think this is "suddenly bad" are part of the problem. Please educate yourself on history and the current struggles BAME people face and then you will understand.

Also America may be big but the rascism is prevalent everywhere. Look at the lady in Central Park last week. Black people get murdered by police all the time, across different states.

[amillionnamechangeslater000]

I don’t think it’s a new thing. I think it’s one thing piled on top of another thing.

My dad was caught in the Brixton riots - and I’m old enough to remember Rodney king. Bit I’m not remembering Spanish flu happening at the same time.

But I do totally take on board all the comments.