2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumFarmer
White man celebrates something that happened 2,000 years ago. To him, nothings happened since then. Its all over. All he can do is remember. Indians celebrate whats happening now. When the sacred strawberries come up in early spring, thats what we celebrate. Theyre not just strawberries to us. Theyre the Creators gift to his children. Theyre good to eat, good to drink. But more than that, they have the Creators power in them.
-- Chief Louis Farmer; Eel Clan; Onondaga Nation.
Every four years, the majority of republicans in their primary will speak of the United States as being a Christian nation. That leap year mythology -- that the Founding Fathers political beliefs were rooted in their church -- is clearly false: a reading of Jeffersons writings, for example, knocks the legs out from under this attempted leap of faith before it can jump off the ground. Clearly, these men were intent upon a wall of separation between church and state.
There have been a number of Americans who have exercised their personal religious beliefs in a manner that advanced social justice in our country. The majority of these men and women were not career politicians. Not all of them were Christians. Indeed, not all of those advocating for social justice are religious.
Likewise, in todays society, there are a number of honorable people who are committed to the Good Fight -- the struggle for social justice -- and this includes, but is clearly not limited to, some who are Christians. Yet, if we step outside the picture frame to get an objective view of America, based upon the message that the Pope delivered while touring our country last year, the United States is not in a position to claim an elite, moral high-ground.
The above quote from Chief Farmer helps to define one of the stumbling blocks that prevents our country from reaching that potential. Its a cultural dynamic that is not limited to religion, though the overlapping results from this form of disconnect is expanded by the mindset that Chief Farmer identified. Its found in the removal of Jesus from where he rightly belongs -- in the context of humanity -- and placing his image on a stained glass window. It is found in the wealthy using donations to a church as a convenient tax write-off. The stumbling block is found in mega-churches that worship opulence.
It is not a coincidence that Senator Bernie Sanderss campaign in rooted in the same spirit as found in the Popes message to America. The media tended to provide good coverage of the Pope. And they were pretty accurate in delivering his message. That same media, while it no longer completely ignores Bernie, continues to have largely negative coverage of Sanderss message.
The result has been that social media has been the vehicle that propels the Sanders campaign. Those who are getting their news from a variety of sources, tend to have different opinions about the primary, than those who primarily get their news watching television. Its good that the debates allowed the public to compare and contrast both candidates position. Its good to listen to their campaign speeches. And to watch old clips on You Tube, and consider who has been consistent.
The republican primary provided a great deal of entertainment to human beings. But it apparently was a painful experience for the republican establishment. Still, it is an important chapter in political history, and it is something that we should both take seriously, and study closely.
Sometimes, the media can fool people into trusting their enemies, and despising their friends. For example, if one believes the media, then every person supporting Trump is a racist. Now, it may be true that every racist supports Trump. Even if by chance that was true, there are still plenty of people who support him for other reasons. These might be reasons that I disagree with. Still, I know that most people who hunt and fish are good environmentalists. Thus, I am comfortable in dealing with them on that common ground.
Its good to look for common ground, and work from there. It beats the heck out of giving those who disagree with you a label that misrepresents and de-personalizes them
.and then trying to cooperate with them. Not surprisingly, this very thing happens within our party.
I suspect that most of the Clinton supporters to mistake our support of Bernie for a cult of personality are sincere. They experience that separation, that results in their being in fan clubs for politicians, athletes, and movie stars. So long as they are incapable of grasping that Sanderss message is a very real social possibility, it remains impossible for them to understand why so many people are working harder for Senator Sanders than they ever have for any other politician. This does not make Clinton supporters bad people, unethical or immoral. It simply means that the Truth has not taken root in them. Thus, while they do not walk in the total darkness of, say, that now extinct species, Ted Cruz supporters, there is a heavy morning fog that prevents them from seeing the rising sun.
Those who inhabit that foggy bottom land tend to be on edge when confronted with new thinking. Its easy to celebrate Martin Luther Kings holiday these days, while ignoring his social gospel. Just like it is more comfortable to edit the message of Philip and Daniel Berrigan from our collective social conscience, than to connect their messages on what the Vietnam War was doing to Americas soul, from the US involvement in the Middle East today.
Our society is facing extremely serious problems. Pretending that climate change isnt a pressing issue -- indeed, the most intense threat that humanity faces -- wont make it safer to continue living like we do. Forgetting that US forces are engaged in violence every day does not change the reality that they are. Lying to ourselves about how corruption has saturated our political system can only cause that corruption to become more entrenched, something that might seem impossible when one looks at Washington, DC today.
To the extent that we can work together with individuals and groups that think differently than ourselves, we will be successful in addressing these crises that confront us all. For we are not sitting on some imaginary fence (or great wall) that will provide safety and comfort for some, while damaging others. Things like earthquakes and cancer touch everyones lives.
At a time when every social group appears to be contracting, and becoming more emotionally out of touch with others, only one national group is actually growing. Its what is known as the Sanders Revolution. Its a non-violent revolution: we arent throwing bricks from rooftops, we are simply trying to discuss issues that normally arent talked about in campaigns. Its not one group seeking to grab power over others: what we are advocating is social justice, which benefits everyone.
An Lamh Foisteanach Abu!
H2O Man
kgnu_fan
(3,021 posts)I've got to go out in a room where I store all my records, and grab the files from Philip and Daniel. They were extraordinary human beings.I have the greatest respect for them.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,611 posts)H2O Man
(73,537 posts)bigtree
(85,996 posts)...and furthering your theme that there's something superior about Sanders supporters' values that you can discern from that choice.
This a fundamentally wrong approach to presidential politics. People choose candidates for many reasons. You don't seem to have a clue about why some don't choose to support Sanders in this primary, opting, instead, to label them as unconcerned with the issues you've raised. This is a dishonest and arrogant post looking to draw a wedge between Democrats here; posturing as some profound wisdom, but betraying a profound partisan ignorance of the views of those who've chosen to support a different candidate than you.
Yeah, I'm insulted by this. More than that, I'm genuinely amazed at the disconnect between all of the talk about humanity while eschewing any respect for the people you disagree with; opting for this condescending bullshit.
"I suspect that most of the Clinton supporters to mistake our support of Bernie for a cult of personality are sincere. They experience that separation, that results in their being in fan clubs for politicians, athletes, and movie stars. So long as they are incapable of grasping that Sanderss message is a very real social possibility, it remains impossible for them to understand why so many people are working harder for Senator Sanders than they ever have for any other politician. This does not make Clinton supporters bad people, unethical or immoral. It simply means that the Truth has not taken root in them. Thus, while they do not walk in the total darkness of, say, that now extinct species, Ted Cruz supporters, there is a heavy morning fog that prevents them from seeing the rising sun."
Like I said, you don't have a clue. To insult people like this requires a heap of hubris.
I've already experienced responses from you attempting to ridicule me for disagreeing with your broad-brush insults of Clinton supporters. You can save that if you want, I'm no longer listening to these self-important screeds of yours.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)ebayfool
(3,411 posts)You know, I'm gonna get a printer one of these days, just for your writing. It makes me want to share it with those I love, and paper is the easiest way. That's saying something, too. I have been able to resist printers and the attached expenses (ack! ink!) for years!
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)I just read your response to my oldest son. We both really like it. I am definitely honored that you would think that highly of my essays. It makes it so worthwhile. Again, thank you more than you might know!
pmorlan1
(2,096 posts)That's common sense common ground.
I once worked as a moderator on a forum called common ground common sense. The website came about after the Kerry/Edwards campaign website shut down. I'd been a moderator on the Kerry/Edwards site and when the new site was proposed I agreed to continue as a moderator. As a moderator I had to help resolve disputes among people who had totally different world views. We had leftists, liberals, conservatives and libertarians all discussing the issues of the day. Working on that website made me realize that when you talk to people sometimes you discover that you have a lot more in common with your "enemies" on some issues than you thought. Because of that experience I can have very good conversations with some rank and file Republicans (the anti-establishment ones that Bernie can appeal to). Some of us have opened our eyes to that fact too.
Anyway, thank you once again for a great OP.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)One of the things I learned while working for Onondaga is the Iroquoian concept that a person who was your ally in yesterday's struggle, isn't necessarily still your ally today.
And one thing I learned from cab drivers in Boston is that you might always support a certain politician as a candidate for a Senate seat -- and have an overall approval of their service in the Senate -- yet not support them for the presidency .....even if that politician believes their last name entitles them to unquestioning support.
pmorlan1
(2,096 posts)We certainly see evidence of that concept every day.
I agree with you 100%. And yes, we can even see evidence of this in one of the responses to my OP. I suspect, if I'm reading it correctly, that something I said might have offended that person. But I do not apologize for knowing that the Iraq war was wrong, that fracking is wrong, and that the advocates of that war, and the poisoning of water for selfish financial gain, are immoral.
CentralCoaster
(1,163 posts)Rough translations:
"Gentle Hand to Victory" or "Nobel Hand to Victory"
The longer translation I most like is "What we gained by conquest we secure by clemency."
Thank you, H2O Man.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)The phrase has special meaning to members of the O'Sullivan Clanna (including the O'Sullivan-Mor). Blood memory.
CentralCoaster
(1,163 posts)A rich history, I found several different references and then a page about the surname, O'Sullivan, and the family crest and short history.
This page: http://heraldry.celticradio.net/search.php?id=25
Thanks for providing another moment of inspiration.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)My older son is much more fluent in the language than I am. We are in the process of re-doing our living rooms, with Irish and Irish-American historical "artifacts." My grandfather came to the US in 1879; my boys visited the Old Sod a couple years back. At times, I'm tempted to move back to my grandfather's farm.
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)H2O Man
(73,537 posts)obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a show-off .....I have been called all of these. Of course, I am."
-- Howard Cosell
hootinholler
(26,449 posts)I wish I could throw in a Myron Cope quote too. (A Pittsburgh sportscaster of the Cosell era who also had a distinctive, um, style)
I just saw the essay on FB and came looking for it. Another great insight, I'm so glad you're on humanity's side.
H2O Man
(73,537 posts)My son read the essay before I posted it. After he stopped laughing, he said that because it was true, it would likely upset some, who would then resort to name-calling. He thought the first angry response was hilarious, a wonderful example of projection.
I think that a couple of hostile responses adds spice to an OP/thread. I like Jane, and in a very real sense, agree with her. I am imperfect. Yet, the OP tells the Truth.