Tag: White Supremacy

Opinion

Warriors against Evil

A core characteristic of evil is the belief that what one person desires is more important than what others want. Putin and his followers in Russia believe that what they want matters more than what the people of Ukraine want. Ukrainian refugees who abuse persons of color also attempting to escape war are guilty of exhibiting the same characteristic. I am not saying the evil acts are the same. I want to point out and clarify that evil can easily exist in any human being. The way that we can fight evil is to be clear about what it is. Rabbi Hillel described the Old Testament as telling us to ‘treat others as we would wish to be treated’; but modern life is full of examples and prompts that lead us to diminish others to maximize ourselves. Prompts for evil can be subtle or overt; a real estate commercial with testimonials from customers who all happen to NOT be Black or Asian people (are they too different or not transact real estate?), A presidential candidate telling police to handle suspects roughly, a political party denying accountability for criminal behavior while constantly lying and then saying “both sides do it”, state legislatures reducing the rights of women to control their bodies. Jesus told us “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. Liars attack decency and reality because they want to set up a world that puts them at the top of a hierarchy with EVERYONE else diminished. Do not buy the fascist idea that your group or tribe will be elevated over others, ultimately liars play everyone else for pawns in their delusional pursuit of power. Real power comes from controlling ourselves, not stealing it from others. Demand the truth and hold liars who damage reality to undermine others and aggrandize themselves accountable. Having a decent world depends on us being warriors against evil in all of it’s forms.

Opinion

Threats and harassment in a war against truth

Far-right Republicans (who are rarely rebuked by other Republicans with Trump never held accountable) and Fascists around the world have adopted a strategy of lies and threats to shape their version of self-centered reality. Everything that does not elevate the disturbed people who are filled with self-hate and repression is attacked. If you are different that is attacked with the victim portrayed as less than human. The fascist typically slip up and reveal the truth – there is not a threat from others driving their behavior; it is a profound disturbance inside themselves that they lack the courage to face. Every person who dreams of better days for humanity and the world must first seek the truth while fighting indecency, disrespect for others, and violence. Humankind is facing the increasing threat of climate crisis that will reveal our true nature; we will learn to work and live together as brothers, or die as fools. Act and prepare now to resist the power of hatred, greed, and deception. Ukrainians are seen on the front line of the battle against fascism now, but it is really all of us.

Opinion

Oligarchs on the offensive

Vladimir Putin and the Russian oligarchs appear to be set for an attack on Ukraine despite warnings from a united NATO. Putin does not seem to be concerned about the long-term consequences because he has allies. American right-wing media buy the fascist tribal rationales that Putin and the oligarchs use to obscure their theft and greed. The Russian oligarchs have heavily invested in western businesses and have made a lot more headway than the communists ever did. Money and power are desired by amoral opportunists everywhere. Republicans are attacking the right to vote and the impact of the vote in America; just like Putin and the oligarchs in Russia. Russians are not free and they will be distracted by Putin’s war in Ukraine as he solidifies himself as ruler for life. Are we headed for a similar fate in America? Americans need to be ready to defend freedom and democracy over here, and over there. Support President Biden and the Democrats until Republicans cease their support of Trump’s attacks on truth and democracy.

Opinion

Dysfunctional Democracy

America today is a dysfunctional democracy. One party is under the control of Donald Trump, a person who tried to overthrow the will of the American people in 2020. Trump maintains his control of the Republican party through fear, so it is hard to claim the elected persons in that party are leaders. The Republican Party is full of cowardly followers and opportunistic charlatans who will say and do anything to advance their personal careers. The dysfunction of the Republicans has been a long journey fueled and bolstered by racism, misogyny, and fascism. Ridiculous lies and criminal actions by Republicans have become meaningless because their supporters seem not to care. We may be drifting towards a crisis where the usual loudmouths threaten and harass the republic; the real explosion will come when the silent democracy-loving majority responds in the streets. Republicans will use voter suppression, gerrymandering, harassment, lies, and propaganda to win or appear to win elections. We all should do everything that we can to avoid Republican political victory due to apathy or confusion. Research and act to preserve peace and hope in America.

Opinion

Trump is Putin’s partner in American flank of Ukraine threat?

The Russian leader and his oligarch henchmen currently menacing Ukraine and NATO’s eastern border are counting on a weakened United States and Western Europe. Putin’s primary tools in weakening his foes are cyber warfare, white supremacist fascism, and propaganda spread by right wing mass and social media. The Russians know America is divided and that they have allies who openly champion the cause of the oligarchs under the cover of racism and grievance. We don’t know who the new oligarchs will be in America, or if they are already members of the club. We have a lot of evidence of strange behavior by people in power who seem not to care about democracy or truth. Every American should make themselves aware of clear and present dangers that have factual basis. Conspiracy theories can typically not be proven, but we have evidence piling up of internal and external threats to freedom and democracy. Act and vote to defend your rights and freedoms.

Opinion

Evidence to vote Democrat and save the Republic

Examples of Republican weakness in the face of an attempted fascist takeover byTrump and his followers continues to grow. Many Republican officeholders appear to have participated in a conspiracy to overthrow a democratic election in 2020; but former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich threatens Democrats with imprisonment if they keep investigating. The saying that power corrupts absolutely is played out daily in front of the American people by Republicans who offer racism and victimization of the other as a rationale to vote for obviously corrupt liars. We can no longer pretend that both sides do it when one party has made an effort to overthrow the will of the people and is planning to block access to the ballot after manipulating voting districts. Tribalism is a powerful force but so is love of the truth and freedom. America is at a crossroads where one road leads to a land of lying politicians whose only goal is power as they increase their control of reality through media propaganda outlets. When you see or hear stories about how terrible Biden and the Democrats are think of Trump and the weak twisted liars running the Republican Party.

Opinion

Are more Americans losing their moral compass?

Donald Trump won the 2016 election with a minority of the vote and a majority of the electoral college. Republicans are looking to 2022 to win a majority of gerrymandered districts to take over the House of Representatives (and state legislatures) despite not investigating or holding accountable any Trump followers for insurrection, criminality, or corruption. Elections have not taken place yet, but many political experts believe the Republican Party that has displayed no morality or accountability, will be placed in a position of power in America. Rewarding criminality, corruption, lies, and threats are evidence of evil and/or immorality. The questions for citizens of America is why are you allowing Republicans to continue on their path of inequity? What do supporters of Republicans believe they will get out of their bargain with the devil? For a person who is mentally capable to say they are unaware of the threat to decency or the constitution posed by Republicans is absurd. The truth would have to be in Evolutionary biology which is on the other side of morality; I want more for me and mine. Evolutionary biologists say that when things don’t make sense from a moral standpoint look to evolutionary biology; I seek an advantage is the short version. World War II and the Holocaust was the result of the last period of nations becoming amoral or immoral in their politics. Research, act, and vote your values to build a better world.

Opinion

Is the attack on Critical Race Theory really about handing off white supremacy to the next generation?

It has been said that the attack by Republicans and the right wing is really about blinding any analysis of systemic racism and white supremacist structures. Republicans lie and say that Critical Race Theory (CRT) is being taught in K-12 schools not to stop it from happening, but to demonize an analytical approach to understanding structural racism. If you make questioning evil a bad thing, then bad actors can continue the journey to hell unobstructed. Historians and academics are routinely warning us that we are on the road to authoritarianism because of the fascist playbook right wing politicians are using today. The right is increasingly desperate to limit democracy and intelligent discourse on the issues of the day. The goal of current Republicans is power; not improvement, or liberty and justice for all. Control the truth, control history, control the future. Research, act, and vote to preserve the American republic because white supremacy leads to authoritarianism.

Opinion

2022 and 2024 elections are about white fragility/supremacy (same thing)

Upcoming elections are really about white supremacy. Why is this the situation we are in? Republicans continue to lie and support the Big Lie to gain power and provide fascist sympathizers with an excuse if they cannot face the truth. Evidence: 1) Republicans refuse to hold Trump or his insurrectionists accountable for January 6, or an ongoing attack on the Rule of Law and the US Constitution. 2) Republicans claim that Critical Race Theory is taking over the schools as a racist trope to stage attacks on factual history (George Orwell said “who controls the past controls the future”) in the education system. 3) Republicans undermine the right to vote, ease of voting, and the primacy of the vote (if Republicans don’t win they seek the right to overturn or replace the election results). 4) Republicans consistently support welfare and government support for the rich while blocking any investments in working American citizens. The list of authoritarian and anti-democratic acts and behaviors by Republicans could continue, but the most important thing is for Americans to act and vote to stop the creeping disaster that is the Republican Party today.

Opinion

What is Journalism?

It is Labor Day 2021 and many Americans are concerned about a NY Times front-page article attacking Joe Biden. We call it journalism because they are supposed to keep a record of what is taking place, but for what; are they journalists or scribes? You rarely see “journalist” hold people accountable for the truth, so do they look at their journals after the fact, or just write and agree with what they are told? Many Americans noticed when Trump lied regularly and “journalists” moved on to the next question with a lie for an answer. The media was cowardly with Trump, and now they demonstrate anger as they question the Biden Administration about issues that have little impact on average Americans. We need good journalists who pursue and defend the truth, while pushing back on lies. We, as citizens, have to demand journalism be held to a high standard and not just defend their tribe or class. Do high-paid journalists attack Biden because he wants to raise taxes on those making more than 400k (to pay for the Build Back Better plan)? Do they overlook Trump’s madness and massive criminality because he offered tax cuts with renewed systemic white supremacy? Why don’t we know the names and faces of the persons who wrote and introduced the Texas bounty on women pursuing reproductive rights? Research and demand journalism that informs and respects American citizens.