Resistance Is Not Futile Part 2 : Power and Protest

Photo editing by Charles Garrett

"The strong man he will kneel down

Whilst angels strip him of cloak and crown

Through bitter lips come vile breath

He is the last one to confess

There will be no pity for him

We must kill him where he stands

No there will be no mercy for him

Nor for any of his clan..."

~ Sixteen Horsepower ~

In the early 1970's, my parents kept one of those large, off-white, leather-bound, illustrated, coffee-table edition, family bibles, with a picture of Jesus on the front cover, in our living room.  Curious, and an avid reader, I poked my nose into it often, particularly when it served the dual purpose of garnering an approving reaction from Mom.  The heft and feel of the big volume gave the tome an undeniable air of importance in my small hands, and the illustrations were vivid, fiery replications of classic religious paintings.  The texture of the thick pages, and the thumping noise that they made when large sections of them would fall together, stay with me still, like when you smile and no one is around... 

After skipping about for a bit and looking at my favorite pictures, I would normally settle in and start reading at the beginning.  The thrilling stories contained within the Book of Genesis never failed to hold my rapt attention.  Tales of Creation, the Garden of Eden, and Noah's Ark, all provided mountains of imagination fodder...but, it was the saga of the Tower of Babel that truly fascinated me.

Wikimedia Commons

Genesis 11:1-9 ~ New International Version (NIV) ~ The Tower of Babel:

1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” 5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

**Author's Note: To my young mind, there existed no extra-biblical sources of information beyond the country pulpit.  We had five television channels, Mom and Dad, relatives, older-siblings, and friends, from which to draw further inspiration and information.  I didn't know one iota about the history of the Middle East, existence of apocryphal texts, Masoretic texts, the Talmud, commentaries, other religions, etc.  When reading the text, my brain was processing it all in the most literal, exoteric manner possible.**

 Wikimedia Commons

These nine verses have historically been pondered and debated for many reasons, including the Tower's possible location, the penalty for hubris, structural feasibility, the identity of God's apparent companion(s), and the origin and migration of people, language, and culture.  While these topics and concerns are interesting, it was verse six, which resonated greatest with me as an imaginative youth. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them."  

That was heady stuff!  Humans could accomplish ANYTHING, when working together in harmony.  The fact that God felt threatened enough to act, in order to stop them, was all the evidence I needed. It all seemed to hint at some hidden power.

Over the course of my life, I have continued to contemplate Genesis 11:6, and consider the nature of human power throughout each experience, including parent/child/sibling/friendship dynamics, employer/employee relationships on both sides, street fights, sporting competitions of all types,  hunting various species in various environments, testing myself against nature, romantic relationships, military service, running a large sales force,  public speaking, entertainment, and trying to quit smoking, among a myriad of others.  I've often heard it said that, "Knowledge is Power."  Although I will concede that knowledge is potential power, or a type of power, in a broader sense I disagree.  Rather, it's the definition of power in Genesis 11:6 that has proven reliable through my 52 years:

Power = Organized Effort

Remember that time a country about the size of the State of Oregon nearly conquered the world?  Gandhi (pictured below) promoted the Hindu concept of ahimsa, and through organized passive resistance, eventually achieves complete independence from British rule.  Lech Walesa (pictured below) spearheaded the concept of Solidarity:  an independent trade union movement in Poland that developed into a mass campaign for political change and inspired popular opposition to communist regimes across eastern Europe during the 1980s.

Furthermore, it takes but a moment's consideration to realize that this concept operates on multiple levels and existential planes.  The power dynamic that concerns us most today, of course, is the relationship between the super-rich, ruling elite class, < 1%, their governmental mouthpieces (one and the same in many instances), versus the great majority of the human population, > 99%.

When you consider the question, why does the majority consent to this tiny minority, ruling and controlling them in ways they find undesirable and less than optimal, you must realize that more than mere money is necessary to accomplish this on a continuous basis.  This type of incredible power and perpetual control by a select few requires an extreme level of organized effort.  How could it reasonably be otherwise?  Consider the behind the scenes shenanigans in the 2016 general election as a tiny sample, from coordinated 'fake news' campaigns, to possible international, and inter-agency collusion.

So, while particular 'conspiracy theorists' may well be crazy (and surely offered up for your consumption as such), and specifically inaccurate, in premise they are not wrong.  In virtually every power situation, conspiracy of some form is required, by definition.  It may be likened to 'uninformed consent,' but maybe misinformed is more accurate.

Many institutions (as we have recently witnessed), like the electronic media, are used to promote continual disharmony and confusion,  Often, you will see this disguised brilliantly, but falsely, as freedom of choice and promotion of diversity (rather than the false dichotomies/false dilemmas they are).  It's Republican or Democrat, Black or White, Christian or Muslim, male or female, gay or straight, tastes great or less filling, Coke or Pepsi, and we're all part of it. Our language gets involved in a big way, of course.  For example, when the War Department changes its name to the Defense Department, when protections are called regulations, or taxes are called incentives...it's all part and parcel of the process of control.  "Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

Photo by Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

Power wielded in the form of organized effort has been observed more recently, in the case of the non-violent Native American protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the non-violent (global) Women's March on Washington (both pictured above).  The first has thus far succeeded in delaying construction of the proposed pipeline, and the second reportedly incensed all the right people (if possibly for all the wrong reasons...these particular protests were so important on so many levels, that they require separate posts to properly deconstruct, coming soon).  Regardless, make no mistake, as in the Genesis 11:6 example, our earthly 'lords' understand extremely well how outnumbered they are, and they are desperately afraid of something.  "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them."  

We MUST continue to put love of one another first, to support and celebrate each others' successes and failures, to take advantage of the cultural momentum, organize our efforts, wield our power effectively, and move together in a direction that leads to a better, more inclusive, sustainable world.  It's undeniable that we have the cultural momentum, and we must keep it.  As Cory Panshin astutely observes,

"...one thing I think yesterday's marches show us is that protest is about to go beyond the stage of spectator sport -- the made-for-TV 1960s model with parades, chants, colorful costumes, and occasionally giant puppets -- and become a participatory event.  

Call it the cosplay model, if you will. Everybody wants to be Princess Leia or Captain America. Everybody's grown up on movies and comic books that tell us the most satisfying thing in the world is to dust some Nazi-vampire-zombies. And even the tiniest towns are just raring to get into the act."

Protest had better stop being a spectator sport.  If you can't protest, support protesters.  The alternative:  those earthy lords and their loyal hordes will do everything they can to 'scatter us across the face of the earth.'

RM

Worst Case Scenario

"...There's an odd, set, stony quality to it.  It's as if tomorrow has already happened, and there's nothing you can do about it." 

~ Buford's Speech Before Battle of Gettysburg ~

Welcome (back?!) to Missives From The Damned my friends.  In the 'comments' section of the recent post entitled, Happy New Year: Now What?, my target audience for that missive is described as "the average individual who, like myself, is just looking to get their feet planted on firm ground again."  This post assumes a somewhat different trajectory.

On this day, Inauguration Day 2017, my words are instead carefully chosen for a select few.  Today, I write for the thinkers, the ones who have been paying attention.  This post also seeks to find those who have been paying attention, but lack clarity, and/or seek greater insight into what they are seeing.  Finally, this missive is conceived for those who haven't been paying enough attention, know that, and now want to learn 'what' is important to begin to pay attention to.  After reading this, you can decide which group you fall in.  As always, I urge you to follow the links in the text below for a greater understanding of what you read here.

My initial foray into political commentary took place during the run-up to the 2012 Obama v. Romney general election.  At that time, in another forum, I began to sound warning bells concerning the country's divided population, about something I then vaguely referred to as a "coming storm." After the election, I got more specific, speaking out against 'right-wing hate speech,' which I believed would result in even further social division, eventually birthing an undesirable outcome for all Americans.

Flash forward to today, Inauguration Day 2017, and the increase in social division has clearly manifested.  Now, this division seems to be polarized mainly between two distinct camps, described here briefly for heuristic purposes as:  1.  Liberals, who didn't believe for a moment that Trump had a chance to win (like myself admittedly, didn't think we were "there" yet), and have quickly reacted to become self-proclaimed 'Leaders of the Resistance,' and  2.  Conservatives who believe Trump will keep his promises, and are basking in their dreams of a glorious future.  In my sincerest opinion, neither side is prepared for what's probably coming.

Photo editing by Charles Garrett

Think of this next part as a "what-if" story of sorts.  For brevity's sake, I must forgo mention of  my bona-fides in the form of my deeply personal connections to much of this, and dozens more details, that I truly hope you are able to "fill-in" for yourselves.  I'm as 'real' as you are, and available for future discussion in the comment section or via email 'anytime.'  Now, gather 'round, and I'll run it down.

Worst Case Scenario...and it's happening right now

Trump and his followers have made their intentions plain, and we're all getting an idea of what that's starting to look like, and how they plan to get it done.  In a huge nutshell, some of the plans are to repeal and replace all things Obama, gut Social Security and Medicare, implement huge tax cuts for the wealthy, deregulate all things Energy and Environment, eliminate arts, humanities, and social programs, put 'one of their guys' on the Supreme Court, repeal Roe v. Wade, end marriage equality, rebuild the infrastructure to the tune of a trillion dollars, penalize corporations that move jobs overseas, 'rebuild' the military, cozy up to Putin and Russia, start a trade war with China and a new nuclear arms race, etc.  All in all, a pretty tall order, even with the Republican majorities currently in place.

These subjects are ALL worthy of blistering argument, and it's fun to believe the Executive Branch of our government wields certain power(s).  However, let's drop pretense here and now; that time has past.  Since December 23, 1913, there has been an elephant-in-the-room-sized variable involved within US political and economic reality that no President may control, and which may yet prove a hindrance to Trump's agenda:  The Federal Reserve.

The Fed’s balance sheet swelled to $4.5 trillion in 2014 from about $900 billion in 2008 on purchases of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities, during three stages of a strategy known as quantitative easing.  During this same time frame (and still) the Fed also kept interest rates at practically 0%.  These actions are the real cause of current stock and bond market inflation.

Photo editing by Charles Garrett

This all points to a Federal Reserve poised to raise rates in 2017 as needed, reduce credit and lending generally, and to adjust rates proportionally as an anti-inflationary measure against Trump's trillion dollar infrastructure scheme along the way.  The battle lines appear clearly drawn, with Fed chairwoman Janet Yellen securely in place until 2018.

Everything could be just fine.  The problem will come, when/if the narcissist-in-chief doesn't take kindly to not getting his way.  It's obvious that he has absolutely no intention of waiting until 2018 and beyond to accomplish certain goals.  We've also had a good long look at his temperament, and disdain for rules, and know full well that he will stoop to ANY depths to 'win.'

If Trump & Co. decide to go all in, between now and Yellen's departure, and take on the Fed, in geopolitical terms particularly, the consequences could be world-changing.  The dollar, currently stable, could quickly once again find itself in danger of losing its preferential status as the world's currency reserve.  This type of economic downturn, coupled with current social unrest, the situations in the Middle East, an unstable EU, and an unpredictable President, make for an extremely heady brew.

Here at home, one can easily imagine stepped-up violence during the current escalation of political protest, or another racially charged, powder-keg incident involving law enforcement, such as the ones that inspired the riots in L.A. and more recently Baltimore, and Ferguson.  Words or actions signalling approval or encouragement and/or support from Trump, the 'law and order' President, could swiftly usher-in a full police crackdown.  All accomplished with the smiling approval of a rabid base, who have been duped to perceive that Obama has weakened law enforcement, instead of continuing to heavily militarize it like his predecessors, as is the actual reality.

It gets worse.  Remember that (potential would-be dictator) Trump now has the reins to the world's most sophisticated surveillance system,  the God-like ability to order extra-judicial killings globally, and to detain US citizens indefinitely.  His cabinet is also full of retired military generals, many with recent experience in counter-insurgency. 

Abroad, Trump has already stepped into the deep fryer, and quite possibly "the Russian bear trap."  After years of trying (remember Obama's red line), Sunni jihadists and their allies (Israel, US, EU, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan...) failed to topple Assad's Shiite regime in Syria.  Trump has declared that he will reverse US policy, and ally with Vladimir Putin and Russia, and Syria's Assad, to fight 'ISIS.'  

Israel, which Trump has declared unconditional support for and claimed he will defend at all costs, has always openly supported the US-backed Sunni efforts to unseat Assad, desirous of regime change in both Syria and Iran.  The biggest deterrent to all of these efforts so far has come in the form of Vladimir Putin and Russia.  

Last week, Israel bombed a Syrian military airport.  Turkey continues to make moves in both Syria and Iraq.  Meanwhile, the Saudi's are still bombing Yemen into the Stone Age.  Alliances are shifting quickly in the Middle East as certain realities, like Soviet intervention, are combined with unique opportunities, such as the election of Donald Trump.  One has to wonder who are the 'players', and who's being played??  When I write names like Putin, Netanyahu, and Trump in the same sentence, I think I know.  Trump appears to have swallowed the hook.  As always, watch for anything that threatens the petrodollar.

The X-Factor

Since Eisenhower delivered his farewell address,  and JFK his  press club speech, and undeniably after Kennedy's assassination, the American public has been aware of the existence of what is colloquially known as "The Deep State."  Kennedy described the Deep State as "monolithic."  The recent release of the 'secret dossier' implicating Trump as a possible Russian puppet shows us otherwise.

While there's little doubt that members of the Intelligence community colluded to subvert a potential Clinton presidency, Trump has enemies of his own within the Deep State, and as Kennedy eloquently stated and demonstrated, they have the ability to take him out.  Kennedy also pointed out that they are 'invisible' and have unlimited budgets and zero accountability.  Taking down regimes is what these people do.  Just replacing the heads of the intelligence agencies won't fix this problem for Trump.  All this, of course, depends on the free press as a route for leaks to reach the public.  It's no secret that Trump & Co are engaged in a running war against the free press.

Note: At this juncture, I feel a moral obligation to echo Glenn Greenwald:

 "...cheering for the CIA and its shadowy allies to unilaterally subvert the U.S. election and impose its own policy dictates on the elected president is both warped and self-destructive. Empowering the very entities that have produced the most shameful atrocities and systemic deceit over the last six decades is desperation of the worst kind. Demanding that evidence-free, anonymous assertions be instantly venerated as Truth — despite emanating from the very precincts designed to propagandize and lie — is an assault on journalism, democracy, and basic human rationality. And casually branding domestic adversaries who refuse to go along as traitors and disloyal foreign operatives is morally bankrupt and certain to backfire on those doing it."

I suppose that's enough...for now.  But, I don't want it to be.  I want to talk about how all of this potentially leads to WW3, or the real possibility that we could see another 9/11 type event when Trump's popularity drops in the sewer.   The Republicans are notoriously great at uniting the people against a common foe.  Check out Bush's approval ratings before and after 9/11, and you'll get the picture.  Sorry for the reality check; I know that absolutely none of this is good.  It's certainly difficult for me to see where the American people come out ahead in the midst of this chaotic ugliness.  Keep your eyes open, and your head on a swivel.  Contingency plans are never a bad idea.

RM  

The Most Special Snowflake Of All

As for these shrieking statues, I'll not weep; 

They perish as they've lived, dull witless sheep 

In slaughterhouses far beyond their ken. 

I'll shed no tears for those who die unshriven, 

For they are men, just men. And what are men 

But chariots of wrath, by demons driven? 

~ Etrigan, the Demon ~

Swamp Thing #26, by Alan Moore

Photo editing by Charles Garrett

Quoting author John Goodrich from an essay entitled, Our Demons:

"In many ways, we are defined by our demons. Who we are, who we want to be is largely a function of our unexplained or unexamined desires. Our demons. We are driven, some more than others, to do what we do by childhood experiences half-remembered, embarrassing incidents we wish to never experience again, and sudden joys in unexpected places.

These are what drive us, from the back-seat of the mighty subconscious. Some few of us can recognize and direct our demons, riding them rather than allowing them to control us, directing their restless energy. But these people are all too rare. We are not a culture of great personal insight, but rather focus on the outer trappings of success; wealth, power, and fame."

Getty Images

In the recent post entitled, Happy New Year: Now What?, we discussed two separate distinct personality types: right-wing authoritarian (RWA) and social dominance orientation (SDO).  Donald Trump obviously displays more of the SDO traits, while Republicans in general fall into either category neatly, with various degrees of overlap.  These descriptive terms, RWA and SDO, while accurate, are not exactly "official."

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), offers a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders.  So, if we want a diagnosis for Donald Trump that we call all agree on, it's a pretty safe bet that what we are experiencing is called Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

From MentalHelp.net

People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder* (NPD) have significant problems with their sense of self-worth stemming from a powerful sense of entitlement. This leads them to believe they deserve special treatment, and to assume they have special powers, are uniquely talented, or that they are especially brilliant or attractive. Their sense of entitlement can lead them to act in ways that fundamentally disregard and disrespect the worth of those around them.

People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder are preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success and power, so much so that they might end up getting lost in their daydreams while they fantasize about their superior intelligence or stunning beauty.  These people can get so caught up in their fantasies that they don't put any effort into their daily life and don't direct their energies toward accomplishing their goals.

They may believe that they are special and deserve special treatment, and may display an attitude that is arrogant and haughty. This can create a lot of conflict with other people who feel exploited and who dislike being treated in a condescending fashion.

People with NPD often feel devastated when they realize that they have normal, average human limitations; that they are not as special as they think, or that others don't admire them as much as they would like.  These realizations are often accompanied by feelings of intense anger or shame that they sometimes take out on other people.  

Their need to be powerful, and admired, coupled with a lack of empathy for others, makes for conflictual relationships that are often superficial and devoid of real intimacy and caring.

Status is very important to people with NPD.  Associating with famous and special people provides them a sense of importance. These individuals can quickly shift from over-idealizing others to devaluing them.

However, the same is true of their self-judgments. They tend to vacillate between feeling like they have unlimited abilities, and then feeling deflated, worthless, and devastated when they encounter their normal, average human limitations. Despite their bravado, people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder require a lot of admiration from other people in order to bolster their own fragile self-esteem. They can be quite manipulative in extracting the necessary attention from those people around them. 

*It is important to remember that everyone can exhibit some of these personality traits from time to time. To meet the diagnostic requirement of a personality disorder, these traits must be inflexible; i.e., they can be regularly observed without regard to time, place, or circumstance. 

Furthermore, these traits must cause functional impairment and/or subjective distress. Functional impairment means these traits interfere with a person's ability to functional well in society. The symptoms cause problems in interpersonal relationships; or at work, school, or home. Subjective distress means the person with a personality disorder may experience their symptoms as unwanted, harmful, painful, embarrassing, or otherwise cause them distress.

So what can we expect from the narcissist-in-chief?  Sadly, the answer is: more of what we've gotten so far, much more.  Do yourself a favor and check out the article over at Quartz regarding NPD:

1) It’s not curable and it’s barely treatable. He is who he is....

2) He will say whatever feels most comfortable or good to him at any given time. He will lie a lot, and say totally different things to different people....

3) You can influence him by making him feel good....

4) Entitlement is a key aspect of the disorder. As we are already seeing, he will likely not observe traditional boundaries of the office...

5) We should expect that he only cares about himself and those he views as extensions of himself, like his children....

6) It’s very, very confusing for non-disordered people to experience a disordered person with NPD....

7) People with NPD often recruit helpers. These are referred to as “enablers” in the literature when they allow or cover for bad behavior, and “flying monkeys” when they perpetrate bad behavior on behalf of the narcissist.... 

8) People with NPD often foster competition in people they control. Expect lots of chaos, firings, and recriminations....

9) Gaslighting—where someone tries to convince you that the reality you’ve experienced isn’t true—is real and torturous. He will gaslight, his followers will gaslight.... 

10) Whenever possible, do not focus on the narcissist or give him attention. Unfortunately we can’t and shouldn’t ignore the president, but don’t circulate his tweets or laugh at him—you are enabling him and getting his word out. (I’ve done this, of course, we all have… just try to be aware.) Pay attention to your own emotions: Do you sort of enjoy his clowning? Do you enjoy the outrage? Is this kind of fun and dramatic, in a sick way? You are adding to his energy. Focus on what you can change and how you can resist, where you are. We are all called to be leaders now, in the absence of leadership.

Trump's biographers were recently interviewed by Politico magazine, in an enlightening piece entitled, He Has This Deep Fear That He Is Not a Legitimate President.  For additional insight into this particular narcissist, this piece is also highly recommended.  It's going to be a long four years.

As I continue to highlight, writers, artists, and performers also continue to step up to their true roles as agents of social transformation, setting the example and showing us the way.  In her recent take-down of all things Trump, during her Golden Globes acceptance speech, Meryl Streep never mentioned his name.  Tomorrow is Inauguration Day.  Don't give Trump the narcissist the satisfaction of high ratings.  Let's do the proper thing and ignore his 'celebration.'  Watch something else or shut your television off.  

None of us really know exactly what's going to happen after tomorrow, or just how much our worlds will change in the coming days.  For me, tomorrow is an official Day of Mourning.  Unlike Trump however, I'm not taking the weekend off to celebrate.  On Friday we mourn, on Saturday we rise!!!

RM

Happy New Year: Now What?

Photo editing by Charles Garrett

"I urge you, ask you, gentle you, to please not spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times. Especially do not lose hope. Most particularly because the fact is that we were made for these times. Yes. For years, we have been learning, practicing, been in training for and just waiting to meet on this exact plain of engagement......One of the most powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these, to be fierce and to show mercy toward others, are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity." ~ Clarissa Estes

"Sometimes things change even when the most diligent and open-minded can sense only darkness.  Make no mistake, these are dark times.  And more likely than not, they will get darker still.  But even here in this crucible there is light.  Even here there is the potentiality, the opportunity, for real change." ~ Raj Sisodia

Happy New Year 2017!!!  From celebrity deaths to endless war in the Middle East, we're all undoubtedly excited to put 2016 in the dumpster!  Still, it's no stretch to say that the festivities were 'dampened' significantly for millions, due in great measure to the recent general election results.

Reality has hit the rinse cycle for most of us.  It feels a bit like accidentally locking your keys in the car on a stormy night...times a hundred.  Worse, each  new day seems to bring with it a fresh torrent of outrage and despair.

Millions of us have been searching ourselves, desperately seeking answers.  In response to this, leftists of all stripes have risen from the ashes of November 8th to offer consolation and direction.  Everyone from author and filmmaker Michael Moore, Paula Green, founder of the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding, and Kali Akuno, organizer with Cooperation Jackson and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, to committed anarchists and former Congressional staffers have published something uplifting and constructive.

I highly recommend that everyone read them all, and any others you can find.  Take heart, take what you need, leave the rest behind.  Contact the authors or organizations mentioned, if you desire, and make a difference when, where, and how you can.  Leaders and members of these and other groups have been organizing and participating in movements of resistance for a long time.  They have much to teach, so I'll let them do it.

Photo editing by Charles Garrett

That said, I've decided to offer my ten cents as well.  My advice not only originates from my understanding of anthropology, culture, conflict resolution, politics, philosophy, and history, but comes from being born and raised in the cornfields, and coal country of southern Indiana, in a white, conservative Christian, blue-collar household and community.  My father was a strict authoritarian, ex-Special Forces Army Officer, and a social-climbing, high-ranking Freemason.  My young mother was fiercely religious with a strong Dominionist slant, and a violent disciplinarian. 

My bona fides are unimportant frankly.  I'm just a guy who gives a damn.  The fact is that when it comes to Trump supporters:  I come from these people, grew up with them, went to school, served in the military, went into business, married, divorced, and raised kids with them.  It's clear that a lot of people are hurting on a lot of different levels. and I'm just as certain that I don't have all the answers.  But, you'll unflinchingly get what I think might actually be useful if you keep reading; we'll talk straight.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll surprise you.

What to say to Trump voters

First things first, when engaging a rabid Trump voter in debate or conversation, give them their props immediately.  Offer your congratulations for the election victory, because like it or not, they've earned it.  Not only will it take them by surprise, but it will immediately derail their ability to call you a sore loser.  Understand as well, that they really want and need desperately to hear it.  Real or not, believe it or not, like most Americans, Trump voters needed a 'win' of any sort, just like we did.  It's a small price to pay to avoid unnecessary conflict, helps them to understand that you're truly interested in healing their wounds (interested in more than your own concerns), and keeps the conversation on level ground.  

Next, concerning any particular point of endless argument, let them know that your opposition to Trump was never opposition to them personally, just to their support of him, and of policies you feel are not in anyone's best interest; theirs included.  Remind them that even if we prefer to dine on separate decks, we're all on the same "sinking ship," and your intentions were good.  As North Carolina pastor John Pavlovitz perfectly states it:

"The misconception about those of us who voted for Hillary, is that we did so in part out of hatred for Trump supporters, but quite the opposite is true. We care for them and their children too much to have willfully placed their lives in the hands of someone so incompetent and with such disregard for them. With our vote, we were advocating for them as well. The bigger table we were seeking was for everyone, including them—but now we’re all losing our seats and our voices."

In other words, you tell and remind them, that you love them!  In simple summary:  Offer your congratulations, remind them that you love them, tell them that you sincerely hope you are wrong, and that everything does turn out favorably.  Then grin from ear to ear, announce that you still plan to continue to vehemently oppose their policies of course, and will definitely "get 'em next time!!"  There's a better than even chance that they will respect that posture; I'll explain why later.**  Diffuse any negativity, avoid wasting time now and in the future with pointless arguments, and move on to more productive pursuits.

It takes two to tango, and it's tough to go off on someone who is congratulating you and telling you that they love you and always have your back, even when you disagree.  There's no guarentee that the technique will work every time.  But, I think you'll find the results far preferable to, "You lost!! Get over it!!" Lest we also forget though, Obama said that first.  Many Trump voters are now just asking for some of their due and proper...let them have it....had our side won...many of us would do or expect no less.  Besides, it may be all they get.

Know your adversary

Regardless of your perspective or intentions, Trump has labeled you "enemies," and "losers," and signaled that clearly to his supporters.  Just who exactly are Trump voters anyway?! We've thrown around a lot of labels over the last few years, and none of them seem to quite catch-all or fill the bill.  Conservatives, conservative Christians, right-wingers, alt-right, Republicans, fundamentalists, evangelicals, and deplorables are some of the nicer ones on the list, and of course, the elusive "white working class."

It's been my observation, that the more one knows, acknowledges, and understands the motivations and needs of their opponent, the quicker that mutually beneficial conflict resolution may be reached.  On another tack, depending on your ultimate goal, the more likely it is that you will eventually defeat them or "win the war."  Additionally, when you understand these variables, their inherently dissonant, often outright cruel behavior becomes less frustrating and more predictable...therefore easier to thwart, defeat, or defuse.

Psychologist Dr. Robert Altemeyer proposes two separate personality types, which I feel accurately describe the great bulk of Trump Voters: Right-Wing Authoritarians (RWA) and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO).  Do yourself a huge favor and read the article.  We have to stop "expecting" them to make sense, and simply understand who they are.  Most Trump voters, with varying degrees of overlap, fit neatly into these two categories:

RWA: “By now we know quite a bit about them… high RWAs have been proven to be relatively submissive to government injustices, unsupportive of civil liberties and the Bill of Rights, supportive of the Experimenter in the Milgram situation, high shockers themselves in a ‘punish the learner’ situation, punitive towards law-breakers, mean-spirited, ready to join government “posses” to run down almost everyone (including themselves), happy with traditional sex roles, strongly influenced by group norms, highly religious (especially in a fundamentalist way), and politically conservative (from the grass roots up to the pros, say studies of over 1,500 elected lawmakers)...They also have remarkably compartmentalized minds, endorse a multitude of contradictory beliefs, apply a variety of double standards to their thinking on social matters, are blind to themselves, dogmatic, fearful of a dangerous world, and self-righteous to beat the band...Right-wing Authoritarians are also relatively prejudiced, against just about any racial, ethnic or nationalistic minority you can think of, and against homosexuals, women… atheists, and other religious people who happen to belong to different faiths. [They are the] enemies of freedom and equality [who] can give the flimsiest of excuses and even outright lies about things they’ve done wrong [and are]almost totally uninfluenced by reasoning and evidence.” 

SDO..."involves a more ruthless, gratuitous dog-eat-dog pursuit of hierarchy and inequality than RWA. In an ideal SDO world, the ‘strong’ in society oppress the ‘weak’ by whatever means they can, whether consistent with tradition and authority or not.  Whereas RWA is known to be driven primarily by fear of change and difference, with an anxiously aggressive quest for certainty, simplicity and the familiar, SDO has a different personality profile.  It is predicted not by the fearful, rigid, closed-minded personality of the authoritarian, but by antagonistic personality traits, including the ‘dark triad’ of personality; psychopathy, narcissism and Machiavellian-ism. These personality correlates share with SDO a “dark core” of callousness or lack of empathy, and dishonesty. Being cruel and ruthless simply feels satisfying to the socially dominating psyche, particularly when the target is weakened or vulnerable.(** This is why they respect an opponent who remains strong even in defeat) Lying comes naturally. There is no conscience to appease.  Although different from one another, SDO and RWA both correlate with conservatism or right leaning political orientation, and together explain almost all of the variance in prejudice. They are understood as two distinct pathways to conservatism and prejudice....Not only does bombing feel good to a social dominator, charity, mercy, kindness, humanity, generosity, altruism and compassion feel bad. They feel weak. Feeding people is just soft...High social dominance orientation is not a logical philosophical ideological stance. It is a psychopathology."

Trust your instincts

I'm soberly aware of how much I loathe to admit just how seriously worried I am that the absolute worst will occur:  America actually could fall into full-blown dictatorial fascism, or Trump's twitter finger could facilitate a nuclear exchange.  If you decide that the best thing to do in response to all of this is what your peers might consider "implementing a radical change," e.g. "leave the country," don't let them talk you out of it.  It's your life, your safety, your conscience, and completely your choice.

Consider this:  At age 57, in 1933, Albert Einstein immigrated to America to escape the rise of Hitler's Nazi Germany.  Once safely out of the country, he contacted leaders of other nations, including Turkey's Prime Minister, İsmet İnönü, to whom he wrote in September 1933, requesting placement of unemployed German-Jewish scientists. As a result of Einstein's letter, Jewish invitees to Turkey eventually totaled over 1,000 saved individuals.  History remembers Einstein for many things.  Being stupid is not among them.

Trust your instincts.  They've gotten you this far successfully.  Remember this as well:  You're not alone by a long shot.  Over 75 million other souls emphatically voted against Trump.  Our system may lawfully install him as President, but you are NOT in the minority, and there's absolutely no need to act or feel like it.  After reading the personality profiles above, it should be evident that you're on the "right side."  Draw strength from that understanding just like you always have. Remember who you are.

Educate yourself

One of the best things you can do for yourself, your country, and the world is to increase your knowledge.  More education = happier life.  It's 2017, and I know we love cat pictures, but you only live once, and you have the world's greatest library, research assistant, and teaching tool at your fingertips.  Stop playing Angry Birds, unplug your television set, and start expanding your world.  Become an even cooler person than you already are.  Even old dogs CAN learn new tricks!!

 If you can read, it's all there for you, open courseware, sacred texts and ancient manuscripts, classic literature, philosophy, etc., etc., etc.  There is no excuse for willful ignorance in the information age. Take a class at the local college, schedule a museum tour, watch YouTube tutorials, listen to podcasts on ANY subject, attend a lecture, and just get your hands on something brand new...the scarier the better, within reason.  Find something to get interested in and excited about, and your confidence level will soar.  Excitement and confidence are contagious; build community.

Get your sh*t together

First of all, even harder economic times are coming.  I have zero doubt...much harder. Secondly it's time to completely quit pretending that life as usual, business as usual, in the good old USA is anything but a cancerous, consumer blight on the rest of the planet.  From Super Bowl guacamole to disappearing orangutans, from the rain forest to your local water supply, if you really want to "Make America Great" it's time to actually put up or shut up.  It's time to truly be "the change you wish to see."  Here's a small list so you can begin to understand the types of things I'm talking about.  Don't poo-poo this stuff, just because some of it seems obvious...just do it.  Most of our lives could use a good Spring cleaning!!  It's called smart, sustainable living, and it's fun and easy to begin.  A baker's dozen examples, in no particular order:

1. Reuse, re-purpose, repair, and recycle everything.  If you can't figure out how, see "educate yourself" above.  We have become a disposable society of illusory convenience.  It must stop.
2. Consolidate/pay off old debt, and avoid new debt completely.  Debt is the trap of our existence.
3. Turn stuff you don't need or use into cash via yard sale, Craigslist, E-bay, etc.  It's time to dump the baggage...all of it.  You'll be glad you did it, and have a nice nest egg started.
4. Grow a garden in your backyard, or find a community garden.
5. Bike, walk, use public transportation, or carpool instead of drive whenever you can.
6. Help your neighbor: share, free-cycle, barter, trade, donate, volunteer, protest, speak-up, step-up, step-in, support, buy local, build community continually.
7. Make your own everything if you can.  Get creative: clothes. soap, candles, furniture, have fun.
8. NEVER waste food or drink, not a bite or a drop.  Adjust your cooking habits, eating habits, and shopping habits accordingly.
9. Drop the daily Starbucks...or whatever is "nickel and dime-ing" you to death.
10. Rediscover a clothesline.
11. Increase your income streams to offset risk if possible.
12. Buy wholesale, used, and/or in bulk.  Shop around and online, never pay full retail price.
13. Drop unnecessary expenses.  You can live without Spotify Premium et al., I don't even have a cell phone.

That's enough to make my point.  Stop thinking/talking about these types of things and start walking.  Instill good habits now if you haven't already, and it will lessen the blow of things to come.  Additionally, we must continue to set an example; nothing has changed in this regard.  Shake off the corporate doldrums of illusory, cheap, plastic, cookie-cutter materialism and create the unique world you really want to live in.  Take the high ground in your own existence and fight to keep it.  

Hold the lucid line

Photo editing by Raj Sisodia

Obviously, when Supreme Court nominees can't get a hearing, the people who think Obama is responsible for the poor gov't response to Hurricane Katrina, and going to invade Texas are in control of the government, a failed billionaire, draft-dodging, con-artist reality TV star is your President, and scientists are copying their data worldwide for safekeeping, somebody dropped the f*#king ball!!!  I don't need to go into an academic lecture about the nature of post-democratic societies, or delve into the idiosyncrasies of crisis cults.  Trump's cabinet picks should be enough to send shock waves of serious concern through the mind of any semi-aware citizen of a civilized nation.  I'll just say that the line must be drawn here.  In the name of free speech and tolerance, we've allowed the intolerant enemies of free speech, and their acolytes to seize power.  They must ALWAYS meet a wall of resistance.

That means you will have to be brave, stubborn, and sacrifice; we all will.  It is utterly necessary to resist the normalization efforts currently underway, regardless of the cost.  We have some cultural heroes to follow already.

In my post entitled, Resistance Is Not Futile, I added my voice to a call for writers, artists, and performers to step-up and assume their responsibility as agents of social transformation.  I'm proud as hell to say that everyone from late-night comedy hosts to aging rockers have answered that call.  As Cory Panshin so astutely observes:

"...a surprising number of creative people who should have known better felt an affinity with fascism. That was one reason why the fascists and Nazis were given a pass until it was too late.  But that simply isn't true now. Trump's problem getting performers for his inaugural is just one very visible aspect of it. Writers, artists, musicians, comic book creators, filmmakers, and creative people in general just aren't biting on what the alt-right, the religious right, or ordinary dumbass conservatism are selling, and most of them are committed to themes of tolerance, multiculturalism, and sex and gender equality. Moreover, these things are at the very heart of popular culture -- which again is in contrast with the 1920s, when modern art and jazz were widely seen as strange and dangerous."

Fans or otherwise, it's important to acknowledge that these people are putting their livelihoods and fortunes on the line for all of us.  It is incumbent upon us all to not allow their efforts to die like fruit unpicked on the vine. We must support them immediately; surely you can feel that we have the cultural momentum?!   Time to push back hard against things like "any attempt to revive the torture porn of TV shows of a decade ago or the glorification of the Great War on Terror."

They've set the example, paved the road, shown us a path.  The cool kids aren't coming to the party, and sooner or later, no one else will want to go either.  Friends, high school has been over for a long time.  We are the cool kids now, and you all damn well know it. To quote Cory Panshin once again,"Basically, I think I'm saying that the culture wars are over -- and we won them."

Non-participation and social marginalization like this, is a huge thing when it comes to social resistance; think taking a knee during the anthem.  Don't just sit back and wait and see what happens to these celebrities.  Let's all make a point of not participating in the world they are trying to build, and let's keep right on building the one we know is coming eventually anyway.  If we stop showing up for "the party"....... You don't have to be mean, but nobody can force you to be a "joiner."

A lot of Trump voters are the type that will do anything to get the attention of the cool kids.  That's what some of the election of Trump was about in the first place, believe me.  When they see that they ACTUALLY really did alienate us all, that we aren't coming to their dumb old party, that we are still crafting our reality diligently, that they didn't ruin our lives after all, that we are just great without them...they just might come around.   When they start asking you, "How's it been going?"  That's when you'll have the perfect opportunity to not only catch them up on your exciting adventures, but "craft messages of inclusivity and environmental protection that will draw strong moral lines and prod the culture even further in the direction of those values."

So, that's about it for now I suppose.  We can always build on this post in the future.  Once again, it is my sincere hope that you follow the links in the post, and honestly evaluate and consider the suggestions offered there.  I also hope that you've taken away something useful from this, even if it's just a little peace of mind, or a laugh.  I know it was long...thanks for staying with me.  Lots of love,

RM

Resistance Is Not Futile

Seeking Sentient Solutions

Since the general election last month, many of our lives have become blatant examples of what an Aussie friend of mine might call "The Turgid Miasma of Existence."  I know mine resembles a trailer park after hot sex with an F-5 tornado.  Of course, it still beats the frozen dog sh*t out of living in Yemen or Syria right now.

Discovering that over 60 million of our fellow citizens are 'missing part of their kindness chip' has jolted just as many of us into a surreal, liminal psychological state.  It reminds me of being stunned as a young boy when 'that one kid' started torturing a cat.  Oh yeah, I knew that kid...still do.  After a lifetime of drugs, jail, and violence, he has finally gotten sober and settled down with a nice woman.  These days, he does a lot of bass fishing, and talks constantly about Jesus, and his narcotics recovery.  He's a Trump voter.

I've been thinking a lot lately about people's stories....my story, your story, his story, her story, their story, our story, a story, the story.  An anthropologist, archaeologist, and fellow human, I am always, first and foremost, a collector of tales.  Some of my buddy-from-Brisbane's words on the subject of stories, and their power, have been floating through the warm, breezy, quiet place of my mind for the last few days...

"...Shamans, and others selected and trained specifically to venture to realms of the spectrum of reality which lie beyond the ken of our five-fold interpretation of that spectrum, all agree in their own way that story and symbol are the tools par excellence for leading a suitably primed candidate towards choosing to have direct experience of the Organic Light [...] I sometimes think that like ego, belief is best used as a tool, for short term use of specific purpose. Gather the experiences as data; put the tools away, with the pocket calculator. Consult and allow the sub conscious to do its thing processing your experiences. Try to learn the language, in which it whispers its secrets and listen and attempt to reconcile the accounts that it brings through symbol and story, both internal and external, and integrate them back to a new state of wholeness and grace...."

Synthesize these statements with the rebellious and relevant call of Raj Sisodia at Amid Night Suns:

"...The centers of our stories are being brutally disemboweled.  Our chymic weddings are being obliterated, or else sleight-of-handed from our immediate use.  Hollow Form is replacing Fantastic Function.  We are being tempted into a never-ending spiral of the most rampant apathy and mercenary mindsets.  It is put upon the visionaries and artists and seekers to rebel against this internecine hegemony..."

Let's finish the thought process with a bit from the master sorcerer of words Alan Moore:

"In latter times I think that artists and writers have allowed themselves to be sold down the river.  They have accepted the prevailing belief that art and writing are merely forms of entertainment.  They’re not seen as transformative forces that can change a human being; that can change a society.  They are seen as simple entertainment; things with which we can fill 20 minutes, half an hour, while we’re waiting to die.  It’s not the job of the artist to give the audience what the audience wants.  If the audience knew what they needed, then they wouldn’t be the audience.  They would be the artists.  It is the job of artists to give the audience what they need." 

I've been asking myself and all of you, "What are you prepared to do?"  For a long time now, I've been satisfied by "doing what I can."  But...have I really...done what I could??...I suppose not. I do what I do...which is more than many around me do...and that's been my personal pacifier for a couple years now.  But lately, it's just not enough to ease the restlessness growing daily inside me...the flavor is gone.  I know too much...I'm too old to lie to myself...and it's all gone way too damn far.  I find that I've lost something precious...something that I bled so hard to earn...my peace of mind.  Frankly that saddens me deeply; it also pisses me off!!

We can all see what's happening right in front of us.  Traditional morality, indeed the very concept of altruism, is being replaced by a cruel, heartless, Ayn Randian wet dream of bastardized, American, capitalistic, corporate, fascist Christianity.  Arguing over the hows, whys, and wherefores, while eventually necessary and important may just need to wait.

Now, more than ever, it is incumbent upon artists, writers, and visionaries to heed this call:  We  must reclaim our place as society's conscience, and as shamanic agents of social transformation.  You don't need anyone's permission, and you don't have time to worry about what people may think; the starting pistol has already gone off and the race has begun.  It's time to throw caution to the wind.  If not now, when?  If not us, who?  I don't care if you're showing at the local gallery, or tagging train cars with graffiti, it's time to get crazy:  They say the pen is mightier than the sword...let's find out.

At minimum, we all have a "sphere of influence;" people that we habitually come in contact with during our daily walk.  Consciously strive to be a positive influence for love, equality, freedom, creativity, passion, compassion, growth, education, happiness, and tolerance within your sphere of influence, and consistently prioritize these things over financial gain to the point of habituation, while encouraging others to do the same.  It's that simple, and it's often quite difficult...for me.  We all have a sphere of influence, and it's easy to see it, once we tear ourselves away from the mirror.

Like many of you, as a child I was raised to believe that the ultimate authority was in charge...I was taught to love my country, respect it's laws and leaders, and even once took an oath to "uphold and defend the constitution..."  I learned all about things like the 'chain of command,' taking orders, and military justice.  I was indoctrinated at home, school, work, and play to trust and believe in authority...and most of all, I was taught not to worry about these things, because this was God's purview.  Restated:  Authority was in charge of us, and God was in charge of and guiding Authority.  So, people in authority were placed on a special pedestal, and were to be respected...and obeyed.  But they aren't special...they are human and often monstrously so.  Thus, again like many of you, I was primed for a lifetime of power abuse from elected officials, teachers, preachers, employers, supervisors, and elders.   I was taught early on to "bend over and take it." It's time to break this programming if you haven't; it doesn't matter who you are.

Yes, writers, visionaries, and artists must write, teach, and create...and do more.  The establishment 'Left' and electoral government have both been nakedly revealed to be essentially useless at best, either unable or unwilling to prevent the systematic abuse and suppression of its population.  There's no way to sugarcoat this:  If we want real change in our lifetimes, we are going to have to fight for it.  Mass executions, rapes, and genocide have become after-dinner, sound-bite entertainment for the apathetic masses.  It's time to take the wheel, and find a way off this crazy causeway!!  Time to look deep inside and decide...what are you prepared to do?  Whatever you decide, know that you are not alone.

Thomas Paine (pictured above) was a fascinating man.  His words and deeds fanned the flames of the American Revolution.  Once the battle was won, Paine was deemed by many a bit too radical to live in the society that he worked so hard to help bring about.  I have a real good feeling that he didn't mind too much.  See, Thomas Paine said something else that I'm a big believer in: "It is the duty of the Patriot to protect his country from its government."  See you on the streets.

RM