These are large questions, Steven. It's amazing, isn't it, that so much of mankind's history has been shaped by the delusions of grandiose men driven by irrational conviction and greed? The rise to prominence of blinkered, Silicon Valley broligarchs, some of whom espouse the teachings of the Nazi legal theorist Carl Schmitt, is but one such example.
If there is an answer for humankind, it lies in humility and the universal cultivation of rational thought through education.
So much of history is of domination of “inferior” people. In the Bible it’s the Samaritans, then it becomes anyone without wealth, such as the system of monarchy. Slavery is the ugly proof of man’s inhumanity to man.
The current regime in Washington is trying to subjugate ordinary people to the whims of the uber wealthy. This seems to me to be anti progress, we fought a civil war to sort out the mess, but now we have the billionaires who cannot be satisfied with enough money to live a thousand lifetimes, they need more and more, while society suffers from lack of shelter and food. I have no answers except to say that we must stand together to topple this ruthless regime.
I’m hoping and praying for enough Americans to turn out to No Kings 2.0 to reach the point where we number over 3.5% of the population, so those in power realize that we will not accept their tyranny.
I would suggest that 3.5% is just an indicator. It doesn't magically trigger anything. It just makes our discontent visible enough that those who have been hesitant (or unaware) feel safe to join in, as well as serving as notice to our oppressors that we ARE to be taken seriously. And it is time.
You bring up some great questions and great answers. Greed and cruelty has always been part of society. I'm appalled at what has happened in the last 10 years. I'm concerned about the safety of our grandchildren. We need to make sure young people know the law, know their rights, and follow the law completely. As adults our job is also to take steps to have leaders who care about the people they are taxing. I was an elementary principal for over 30 years. If I wouldn't have taken care of the students, teachers, and parents I wouldn't have had that pleasure.
In 1975 I took a course in college called Cherokee Removal. It was the first time I had learned of the absolute cruelty perpetrated on indigenous peoples. I will always remember the betrayal I felt that I had never known this happened. What else did I not know? I have spent all these many years trying to learn what was in the gaps of my education. Currently, the Trump posse is trying to rebury a great deal of the past. Teach your children. Please.
Steven, this is beautifully written, but more importantly, it guides the reader through the sets of assumptions that brought us to where we are in a way that does not blame, but clarifies what our responsibility is in all of this. Not in the past, but in the here and now, looking toward the future. I hope it is read (and thought about) widely. I don't have a large audience, but I will share as I can.
I was going to save this to read early tomorrow but it was compelling from beginning to conclusion:
A vibrant emotional mix of history and yearning that matches my own for us as Homosapiens to ingest urgency !!! into our goals, and rush to evolve beyond the self destructive mindsets binding our current existence.
These are large questions, Steven. It's amazing, isn't it, that so much of mankind's history has been shaped by the delusions of grandiose men driven by irrational conviction and greed? The rise to prominence of blinkered, Silicon Valley broligarchs, some of whom espouse the teachings of the Nazi legal theorist Carl Schmitt, is but one such example.
If there is an answer for humankind, it lies in humility and the universal cultivation of rational thought through education.
So much of history is of domination of “inferior” people. In the Bible it’s the Samaritans, then it becomes anyone without wealth, such as the system of monarchy. Slavery is the ugly proof of man’s inhumanity to man.
The current regime in Washington is trying to subjugate ordinary people to the whims of the uber wealthy. This seems to me to be anti progress, we fought a civil war to sort out the mess, but now we have the billionaires who cannot be satisfied with enough money to live a thousand lifetimes, they need more and more, while society suffers from lack of shelter and food. I have no answers except to say that we must stand together to topple this ruthless regime.
I’m hoping and praying for enough Americans to turn out to No Kings 2.0 to reach the point where we number over 3.5% of the population, so those in power realize that we will not accept their tyranny.
I would suggest that 3.5% is just an indicator. It doesn't magically trigger anything. It just makes our discontent visible enough that those who have been hesitant (or unaware) feel safe to join in, as well as serving as notice to our oppressors that we ARE to be taken seriously. And it is time.
I realize that it isn’t ‘magical’, but it is the number that usually signifies that the movement will be successful. I would agree that it is time.
All these characters suffer from extreme “I got mine. Too bad about you.”
You bring up some great questions and great answers. Greed and cruelty has always been part of society. I'm appalled at what has happened in the last 10 years. I'm concerned about the safety of our grandchildren. We need to make sure young people know the law, know their rights, and follow the law completely. As adults our job is also to take steps to have leaders who care about the people they are taxing. I was an elementary principal for over 30 years. If I wouldn't have taken care of the students, teachers, and parents I wouldn't have had that pleasure.
In 1975 I took a course in college called Cherokee Removal. It was the first time I had learned of the absolute cruelty perpetrated on indigenous peoples. I will always remember the betrayal I felt that I had never known this happened. What else did I not know? I have spent all these many years trying to learn what was in the gaps of my education. Currently, the Trump posse is trying to rebury a great deal of the past. Teach your children. Please.
Steven, this is beautifully written, but more importantly, it guides the reader through the sets of assumptions that brought us to where we are in a way that does not blame, but clarifies what our responsibility is in all of this. Not in the past, but in the here and now, looking toward the future. I hope it is read (and thought about) widely. I don't have a large audience, but I will share as I can.
Thanks fir your thoughtful note, Annie.
Thank you, Mr. Beschloss.
Lies by men, Steven, at the time of Columbus. Always embellishing their quests and “discoveries”. Not so unlike our present Con-in-Chief.
I was going to save this to read early tomorrow but it was compelling from beginning to conclusion:
A vibrant emotional mix of history and yearning that matches my own for us as Homosapiens to ingest urgency !!! into our goals, and rush to evolve beyond the self destructive mindsets binding our current existence.
I’ll end here for now with another thank you.
💙🇺🇸💙
Thanks much.
Well done contrast contained in our “progress.”