I really try to not let myself be drawn into discussions related to the current state of politics in the USA in my blog. I will, and have, admitted to having a tendency to support what most people might consider to be rather “left-wing” positions on many issues, but I really don’t wish to stoop to the level of so much that is on the Internet and all forms of the media which seems to me to be relatively poorly thought out and which certainly appears to serve no purpose but to try to “prove” (through frequency, repetition, and LOUDNESS) that whatever position is being promoted must be the only acceptable one because the writer, speaker, or SCREAMER supports it.
Now, I really dislike being yelled at and I wish that we could make greater attempts to find a way of getting along without guns, yelling, and name-calling. I think it’s quite probable that simply listening to one another; accepting that others have the right to a different opinion than our own (always insisting that they should grant me the same right); and, basically, allowing others to have their own ideas and beliefs, as long as they don’t try to force them onto me. This, I always thought, was the “American way.”
I am not a theologian, but this simple approach seems to be in agreement with what I learned in Sunday School at the church I attended as a young person and (based on a bit of studying of various spiritual traditions and religions) it seems to be, if not completely supported by these different belief systems, at least acceptable to them as of some value.
It would appear, however, that there are people who don’t wish to accept this, essentially, “live and let live” approach and feel that they should have the right to force others to support whatever position THEY desire. At the moment, at least in the USA, some of the notions which are being promoted as being of this sort relate to who is “deserving” to be considered an “acceptable” person to become a citizen of the USA, or even be allowed to enter our borders.
It appears that there are, in fact, some people wish to make the US a homeland for only those they accept as the right type of “Christians,” which has led to my encountering images in the press such as this cartoon by Andy Marlette.
Now, I really dislike being yelled at and I wish that we could make greater attempts to find a way of getting along without guns, yelling, and name-calling. I think it’s quite probable that simply listening to one another; accepting that others have the right to a different opinion than our own (always insisting that they should grant me the same right); and, basically, allowing others to have their own ideas and beliefs, as long as they don’t try to force them onto me. This, I always thought, was the “American way.”
I am not a theologian, but this simple approach seems to be in agreement with what I learned in Sunday School at the church I attended as a young person and (based on a bit of studying of various spiritual traditions and religions) it seems to be, if not completely supported by these different belief systems, at least acceptable to them as of some value.
It would appear, however, that there are people who don’t wish to accept this, essentially, “live and let live” approach and feel that they should have the right to force others to support whatever position THEY desire. At the moment, at least in the USA, some of the notions which are being promoted as being of this sort relate to who is “deserving” to be considered an “acceptable” person to become a citizen of the USA, or even be allowed to enter our borders.
It appears that there are, in fact, some people wish to make the US a homeland for only those they accept as the right type of “Christians,” which has led to my encountering images in the press such as this cartoon by Andy Marlette.
I confess that I was taught that Christians are supposed to behave as Jesus suggested we do. I think this means, in essence, that what you do, defines what you are. Now it appears to me that, if this image is accurate, the people behind this practice can’t possibly actually BE Christians because their behavior seems so contrary to what Jesus taught.
I (a Mayflower descendent) am also reminded by our recent celebration of Thanksgiving that the people who lived here before ANY of us of European extraction arrived did NOT greet those folks as shown in the image below.
I (a Mayflower descendent) am also reminded by our recent celebration of Thanksgiving that the people who lived here before ANY of us of European extraction arrived did NOT greet those folks as shown in the image below.
I’m also struck by the idea that the “native” ICE agents are NOT shown wearing masks to hide them from identification. I wish that actual ICE had that sort of courage of their conviction that they were in fact “the good GUYS.” But, there’s another issue which seems of greater importance to discuss (and is really upsetting me).
I had thought it was pretty well accepted that we were supposed to be a representative republic, a form of democracy. However, it appears that I may have been incorrect, as there seem to be a fair number of folks who wish to limit the rights of some citizens, and have the controlling power of the government lie with a selected few, or even a single tyrant (a term which derives from the ancient Greek).
There are a fairly large number of folks who don’t think this is a good idea. Most will agree that it IS efficient, but, by placing all power in the hands of a very few, it would seem unlikely to “… form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity….” This, after all, was the purpose of our Constitution, and the ideas expressed seem to be pretty desirable today, as do the processes established (and amended) in that document.
Those processes (at least as I read them) do NOT suggest that a declaration by the President of the existence of an “Emergency” provides that officer with the right to ignore the Constitution, laws, courts, Congress, or the prerogatives of the states and, basically, do whatever he wishes. There is a name for the sort of government which is controlled by a single individual (or a small group)! That name is TYRANNY!
Not being a political historian-scholar, I rely on those who actually are experts in the field to guide my thinking. Among the items of some importance in this area is an article by Timothy Snyder, Housum Professor of History at Yale University, which was published on 15 November 2016. I reproduce it below at Professor Snyder’s suggestion:
20 Lessons from the 20th Century by Timothy Snyder
Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience. Now is a good time to do so. Here are twenty lessons from the twentieth century, adapted to the circumstances of today.
1. Do not obey in advance. Much of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then start to do it without being asked. You've already done this, haven't you? Stop. Anticipatory obedience teaches authorities what is possible and accelerates unfreedom.
2. Defend an institution. Follow the courts or the media, or a court or a newspaper. Do not speak of "our institutions" unless you are making them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions don't protect themselves. They go down like dominoes unless each is defended from the beginning.
3. Recall professional ethics. When the leaders of state set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become much more important. It is hard to break a rule-of-law state without lawyers, and it is hard to have show trials without judges.
4. When listening to politicians, distinguish certain words. Look out for the expansive use of “terrorism" and "extremism." Be alive to the fatal notions of "exception" and "emergency." Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.
5. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that all authoritarians at all times either await or plan such events in order to consolidate power. Think of the Reichstag fire. The sudden disaster that requires the end of the balance of power, the end of opposition parties, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Don't fall for it.
6. Be kind to our language. Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. (Don't use the internet before bed. Charge your gadgets away from your bedroom, and read.) What to read? Perhaps "The Power of the Powerless" by Václav Havel, 1984 by George Orwell, The Captive Mind by Czesław Milosz, The Rebel by Albert Camus, The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt, or Nothing is True and Everything is Possible by Peter Pomerantsev.
7. Stand out. Someone has to. It is easy, in words and deeds, to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom. And the moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.
8. Believe in truth. To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.
9. Investigate. Figure things out for yourself. Spend more time with long articles. Subsidize investigative journalism by subscribing to print media. Realize that some of what is on your screen is there to harm you. Learn about sites that investigate foreign propaganda pushes.
10. Practice corporeal politics. Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them.
11. Make eye contact and small talk. This is not just polite. It is a way to stay in touch with your surroundings, break down unnecessary social barriers, and come to understand whom you should and should not trust. If we enter a culture of denunciation, you will want to know the psychological landscape of your daily life.
12. Take responsibility for the face of the world. Notice the swastikas and the other signs of hate. Do not look away and do not get used to them. Remove them yourself and set an example for others to do so.
13. Hinder the one-party state. The parties that took over states were once something else. They exploited a historical moment to make political life impossible for their rivals. Vote in local and state elections while you can.
14. Give regularly to good causes, if you can. Pick a charity and set up autopay. Then you will know that you have made a free choice that is supporting civil society helping others doing something good.
15. Establish a private life. Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around. Scrub your computer of malware. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative forms of the internet, or simply using it less. Have personal exchanges in person. For the same reason, resolve any legal trouble. Authoritarianism works as a blackmail state, looking for the hook on which to hang you. Try not to have too many hooks.
16. Learn from others in other countries. Keep up your friendships abroad, or make new friends abroad. The present difficulties here are an element of a general trend. And no country is going to find a solution by itself. Make sure you and your family have passports.
17. Watch out for the paramilitaries. When the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching around with torches and pictures of a Leader, the end is nigh. When the pro-Leader paramilitary and the official police and military intermingle, the game is over.
18. Be reflective if you must be armed. If you carry a weapon in public service, God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no. (If you do not know what this means, contact the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and ask about training in professional ethics.)
19. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die in unfreedom.
20. Be a patriot. The incoming president is not. Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it.
--Timothy Snyder, Housum Professor of History, Yale University, 15 November 2016.
-- (PS from the author: If this is useful to you, please print it out and pass it around! 1 December 2016)
https://www.facebook.com/timothy.david.snyder/posts/1206636702716110
I think these are wise words and I would encourage everyone to read them, think about them, and use them as a guide in their political thinking. I do NOT require that you agree with all (or even ANY) of Snyder’s points, but I think they are worthy of consideration.
As you join with family and friends at this time of year, I urge you be kind to one another (even those with whom you may disagree).
I leave you with some sayings (below) from some people I consider rather wise.
Have a Happy Holiday Season and New Year.
🖖🏼 LLAP,
Dr. B
I had thought it was pretty well accepted that we were supposed to be a representative republic, a form of democracy. However, it appears that I may have been incorrect, as there seem to be a fair number of folks who wish to limit the rights of some citizens, and have the controlling power of the government lie with a selected few, or even a single tyrant (a term which derives from the ancient Greek).
There are a fairly large number of folks who don’t think this is a good idea. Most will agree that it IS efficient, but, by placing all power in the hands of a very few, it would seem unlikely to “… form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity….” This, after all, was the purpose of our Constitution, and the ideas expressed seem to be pretty desirable today, as do the processes established (and amended) in that document.
Those processes (at least as I read them) do NOT suggest that a declaration by the President of the existence of an “Emergency” provides that officer with the right to ignore the Constitution, laws, courts, Congress, or the prerogatives of the states and, basically, do whatever he wishes. There is a name for the sort of government which is controlled by a single individual (or a small group)! That name is TYRANNY!
Not being a political historian-scholar, I rely on those who actually are experts in the field to guide my thinking. Among the items of some importance in this area is an article by Timothy Snyder, Housum Professor of History at Yale University, which was published on 15 November 2016. I reproduce it below at Professor Snyder’s suggestion:
20 Lessons from the 20th Century by Timothy Snyder
Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience. Now is a good time to do so. Here are twenty lessons from the twentieth century, adapted to the circumstances of today.
1. Do not obey in advance. Much of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then start to do it without being asked. You've already done this, haven't you? Stop. Anticipatory obedience teaches authorities what is possible and accelerates unfreedom.
2. Defend an institution. Follow the courts or the media, or a court or a newspaper. Do not speak of "our institutions" unless you are making them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions don't protect themselves. They go down like dominoes unless each is defended from the beginning.
3. Recall professional ethics. When the leaders of state set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become much more important. It is hard to break a rule-of-law state without lawyers, and it is hard to have show trials without judges.
4. When listening to politicians, distinguish certain words. Look out for the expansive use of “terrorism" and "extremism." Be alive to the fatal notions of "exception" and "emergency." Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.
5. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that all authoritarians at all times either await or plan such events in order to consolidate power. Think of the Reichstag fire. The sudden disaster that requires the end of the balance of power, the end of opposition parties, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Don't fall for it.
6. Be kind to our language. Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. (Don't use the internet before bed. Charge your gadgets away from your bedroom, and read.) What to read? Perhaps "The Power of the Powerless" by Václav Havel, 1984 by George Orwell, The Captive Mind by Czesław Milosz, The Rebel by Albert Camus, The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt, or Nothing is True and Everything is Possible by Peter Pomerantsev.
7. Stand out. Someone has to. It is easy, in words and deeds, to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom. And the moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.
8. Believe in truth. To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.
9. Investigate. Figure things out for yourself. Spend more time with long articles. Subsidize investigative journalism by subscribing to print media. Realize that some of what is on your screen is there to harm you. Learn about sites that investigate foreign propaganda pushes.
10. Practice corporeal politics. Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them.
11. Make eye contact and small talk. This is not just polite. It is a way to stay in touch with your surroundings, break down unnecessary social barriers, and come to understand whom you should and should not trust. If we enter a culture of denunciation, you will want to know the psychological landscape of your daily life.
12. Take responsibility for the face of the world. Notice the swastikas and the other signs of hate. Do not look away and do not get used to them. Remove them yourself and set an example for others to do so.
13. Hinder the one-party state. The parties that took over states were once something else. They exploited a historical moment to make political life impossible for their rivals. Vote in local and state elections while you can.
14. Give regularly to good causes, if you can. Pick a charity and set up autopay. Then you will know that you have made a free choice that is supporting civil society helping others doing something good.
15. Establish a private life. Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around. Scrub your computer of malware. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative forms of the internet, or simply using it less. Have personal exchanges in person. For the same reason, resolve any legal trouble. Authoritarianism works as a blackmail state, looking for the hook on which to hang you. Try not to have too many hooks.
16. Learn from others in other countries. Keep up your friendships abroad, or make new friends abroad. The present difficulties here are an element of a general trend. And no country is going to find a solution by itself. Make sure you and your family have passports.
17. Watch out for the paramilitaries. When the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching around with torches and pictures of a Leader, the end is nigh. When the pro-Leader paramilitary and the official police and military intermingle, the game is over.
18. Be reflective if you must be armed. If you carry a weapon in public service, God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no. (If you do not know what this means, contact the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and ask about training in professional ethics.)
19. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die in unfreedom.
20. Be a patriot. The incoming president is not. Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it.
--Timothy Snyder, Housum Professor of History, Yale University, 15 November 2016.
-- (PS from the author: If this is useful to you, please print it out and pass it around! 1 December 2016)
https://www.facebook.com/timothy.david.snyder/posts/1206636702716110
I think these are wise words and I would encourage everyone to read them, think about them, and use them as a guide in their political thinking. I do NOT require that you agree with all (or even ANY) of Snyder’s points, but I think they are worthy of consideration.
As you join with family and friends at this time of year, I urge you be kind to one another (even those with whom you may disagree).
I leave you with some sayings (below) from some people I consider rather wise.
Have a Happy Holiday Season and New Year.
🖖🏼 LLAP,
Dr. B
RSS Feed