A point of comparison between the two candidates in 2020 and 2024 that I am surprised more people are not making is that they *both* appeal to a sense of American values that seem "lost," even if neither candidates' supporters are so good at naming exactly what it is they are gravitating toward when they find a candidate's persona resona…
A point of comparison between the two candidates in 2020 and 2024 that I am surprised more people are not making is that they *both* appeal to a sense of American values that seem "lost," even if neither candidates' supporters are so good at naming exactly what it is they are gravitating toward when they find a candidate's persona resonating. The whole country knows something went amiss in the last few decades, and there is something we need to pick up again before we move forward, as if we are quickly driving back home to turn off the stove before we get back in the car and go to work again. We all want some of what we had, and some of what we never had yet. (For anyone under 40, the "what we had" part is almost entirely mythical, but I digress.) The chasm between the two elderly candidates and their supporters is down to one set of "lost values" being cheap facade for a vitriolic litany of grievances, while the other set is of the more down-home and down-to-Earth "Keep Calm and Carry On" variety.
My Nana (Dad's Mom, born 1913) told a simple anecdote that he passed along to me about the general American spirit in the Depression. One night while living in NYC studying nursing, she lost her coin that was needed to take transportation home. She and her friend who was accompanying her began asking around to strangers to see if anyone would be generous enough to help a young woman get home. Most people showed sympathy but had literally not a cent to spare. Someone decided they could part with a penny and began to help them ask around. Eventually they had the few cents needed, and made it back.
No "well they should have been more careful." No "it is probably a trick." Even on the streets of NYC people pitched in for a fellow American. Even when all you had was literally a penny. It was called COMMUNITY, it was called PATRIOTISM, and this is the attitude we are missing today, frankly. I think this is part of the reason President Biden has been as successful as he has been, and why so many in the media and our country as a whole are loathe to admit it. His mindset comes from this earlier era, and he has lived a long and full life already, seeing the arc of our country and our society for three-quarters of a century. He seems to genuinely believe that operating from a place of common sense and positivity is the best way to build unity and hope for the future. You know, the *good* part of the supposed "good old days," our ***actual*** "traditional values." He refuses to lead through drama and pettiness, and frankly it seems like a lot of people get high on that and are a tad resentful that he refuses to provide it for them. When he stands up and says "we have to remember who we are," that is what he means and what people his supporters - myself included - hear. We hear basic decency, common sense, empathy, integrity, and work ethic.
Conversely, the idea that "Make America great again" could ever be viewed as a patriotic slogan is maddening to me. If you truly loved this country and thought this country was great, you wouldn't need to return it to greatness (the "again" part), it would already be the case in your mind. What those words say is that your ability to have love and pride for your country depends on whether or not our society takes the form you prefer, and that form alone, for your version of the country is the only true one, and any deviation is so unacceptable that you are willing to erase the present by force (the "make" part) in order for you to have your pride in country back.
I don't love everything about the present state of the good ole USA, far from it, but I still love the USA. Period. Just like I think my brother is annoying as crap and was happy when he moved out, but I still love him and would give him a bone marrow transfusion if necessary. It is the difference between conditional versus unconditional love, and patriots have the latter. Patriots have hope and positivity, not blame and resentfulness. Period. Patriots build bridges, both literally and metaphorically, not walls, either literally or metaphorically. Period. Patriots believe that the country can be the best version of itself that it can be, and are excited about the future, and willing to work to make it so. Period.
Regardless of the sense of doubt and anxiety the media is attempting to instill, I know which version of old-fashioned, patriotic values resonate with me, and I will be working this year to re-elect the candidate that continues to reflect them. It really is that simple.
I love what Will said. There is so much more than just "me" and "we"", although that is pretty much true. I think there is a lot of fear of the unknown among Trump's base --the "socialism" , the "gays", the "liberals", the "immigrants", the "books", and whatever else they see as threatening their way of life. I was a teenager who listened to Mc Carthy hearings, and today's politics are just as filled with hatred of "the other" as those days when it was people called "communist". This is hard to counter with just information, even if they are told about what Biden has done to make their life better.
So it is... Education is key. The MAGAts don't know "the other", and that's why they are afraid of "them". Ignorance breeds fear, fear leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering. The Republicans have done everything in their power to keep their base undereducated, and it pays off (for them)...
The MAGA slogan pissed me off to the max. Still does. I thought who is stupid enough to buy that. When I hear them interviewed, it is clear that stupid is the operative word.
Jeri, to me it sounds a lot like my seven year old sister (who’d been “fetching” for our broken-legged grandmother while our mom was at the grocery store) when our mom got back from the store. She said “I quit! I don’t want to be a grownup anymore!”
The ones I’ve talked to seem to want to return to a time when they had a “parent “ who made all the choices and was responsible for their welfare, even if the “parent” acts like a drunken con man and burns the house down. And, like the spouse of an abuser, the more someone points out the abuser’s bad behavior, the more they defend him/her. The book “Beyond Contempt” by Erica Etelson explains it better than I have and offers hope.
You are right, I’m a tired old grandma, but no, I would NEVER defend abusers bad behavior. Nor republican’s treasonous behavior. I will never get that old and tired.
Jeri, my point is that it’s very hard to admit that you were tricked into giving your heart and soul to an abuser. Spouses keep telling themselves that the abuser will get better, that they only act that way part of the time. Look how the MAGA people are gaslighted into isolation as far as news is concerned , much like an abuser isolates the victim from friends and family. Trump uses mob tactics: first request is for a small thing, then for a bigger illegal thing…until the person is in deep. No one in Trump’s orbit manages to keep their reputation intact —and, when they finally find their red line, he attacks them.
I had a best friend who was excellent example of that. Smart, more intelligent, but bullied (gently) for the 20+ years that I watched from the sidelines. Now it’s a national epidemic. No argument here. It was her vision of “ideal family” that kept her sucked in. In the end, they look great, but there are holes I could drive a semi through that are not posted on FB. Phony perfection is quite a draw I guess.
Mary, Having been in that type of situation for several years, I ask myself why I haven't seen the similarities. You are absolutely correct. Those who stick with him are either too stupid to see what's really going on and/or too embarrassed to admit they've been scammed. And by staying linked to the scammer, they think they are saving face but really, the only people that agree with them are also being scammed. It's a very sick cycle of behavior to be involved in and it takes much strength and introspection to escape from their grasp.
Jeanne, that’s why the advice in the book “Beyond Contempt” is so useful. The author shows ways to allow people to see for themselves through skillful interaction. It’s a game changer. I hadn’t realized how the wording of my questions indicated superiority and closed down the conversations.
"Just find me a few votes. My people and I will take it from there." Haven't we heard that from SOM himself? What can they do to you if all you do is "find" a few votes? The picture of a mobster (M above) couldn't be clearer.
Mary, back during the 2020 election a friend and I were discussing the candidates and I asked how could anyone in their right mind still support Trump. She talked about a study that showed brain differences in conservatives and liberals. Conservatives desire authority (parent figure?) more than liberals.
Thank you so much for this link. I had read of a study (lost the reference) where a very small study (sample group about 10-20) split between those who self-identified as "liberal" or "conservative". They were hooked up with brain monitoring equipment, and asked to make a decision on an investment: high risk/reward or low risk/reward. Interestingly, the answer each participant chose reflected no affiliation with either liberal or conservative, it was a mish-mash.
What was really measured was the area of the brain used in the decision-making process: In conservatives, it was the midbrain, where the amygdala lives and in the liberals, it was the frontal cortex, where complex thought and reasoning live.
I am not an expert, by any stretch of the imagination, but when your primary processing center is the threat assessment department, much of your "daily input" is assessed as danger/no danger, there isn't a lot of room for complex thought. Conversely, if your primary processing center is for complex thought and assessment, you're going to be very slow to respond to a threat as you analyze it.
Note: My interest in this was as a law enforcement trainer, and figuring out ways for people to get out of "flight or fight" and into rational thought as fast as possible balanced with a way to teach complex thinkers to do a quick "threat assessment" before trying to "reason" into a situation.
I listened to a beautiful podcast interview with Tracy K. Smith, former U.S. Poet Laureate. The podcast was City Arts and Lectures. Responding to a question about how to handle conversations with far right people, she said (paraphrase) she thinks of them like a little brother who is cross about something. You don't belittle or dismiss him, you help him understand and grow past his tantrums. I recommend this interview. Tracy's view of America is inspiring.
I believe you mean Tracy K. Smith, the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019, and is also the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute.
Beau of the Fifth Column sometimes wears a shirt in his videos that says, "You traded your country for a red hat." A pretty good summary in my opinion.
Jeri, I came across a recent video, " Iowa's Christian conservatives follow their faith when voting, and some say it leads them to Trump." Members of an Iowa Church of God praise the MAGA theme.
"Who is stupid enough to buy that?" you ask.
Here are some answers to your question:
*One man "felt that the former president exemplified what Jesus would do."
(Despite the fact that Trump has "focused his 3rd
campaign around the message of retribution and
harsh justice.") However, this doesn't seem to be discouraging evangelicals to change their beliefs.
*One 72 yr. old man "likened Trump's legal troubles to a crucifiction. I think they are doing the same thing they did to Jesus on the cross."
* "I think God used that man to govern in Godly principles."
* "I want him to lead our nation back to that city on a hill- shining city on a hill."
* "MAGA is about returning the country to the Christian principles I belive it was founded on."
* "I definitely take my belief and understanding of the Bible into the voting booth with me."
The producer of the video, Michelle L. Price says, "Trump best aligns with their faith, suggesting his tough stance on the border, and calls for harsher punishment for crimes reflect a sense of justice they see rooted in Christianity."
I found that "God Made Trump" video blasphemous, appalling, and completely disgusting. These deluded people are no more following the teachings of Jesus than a man in the moon. Trump is being held accountable for the first time in his miserable life. I hope he is convicted on every single charge and sentenced to exile in Gitmo.
It’s ignorance, bad food (Big Ag), endless sitcoms (no movement), the failure of the education system to educate (the loss of core curriculum values), and watching FOX news (endless propaganda), etc. sadly too, sports are no longer for fun, only for money.
Yeah, I've seen that as the University of Oregon has abandoned the Pac 12 to go into a bicoastal conference. Works great for football (one game a week). Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Lacrosse... not so much.
HCR did a wonderful job of bringing out the kind of speeches that Biden and Harris have been making all along. Let’s help by sharing this article with the 🎃🤡💩 tfg supporters AND remind these good christians that he cheated on all 3 of his wives.
Pam, death star is the antiChrist and what they said tells me that they have no idea of what Jesus said or represents....exemplified what Jesus would do....gag me. And what part of the Bible goes into the voting booth, the OT, certainly not the first three Gospels. These are the same people who sit around and judge everyone else while not attending to the logs in their own eyes.
Didn't Jesus say, "Judge not, lest ye be judged"? and " Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye.?" (Matthew 7)
Yes, he did....hence my comment about the log in the eye. I also thought about judge not. They are exactly the type of people Jesus spoke against....people who pray loudly in the Temple. Form but no essence.
I also watched it on PBS. I made it through most of it but had to turn it off when the minister compared Trump's legal issues to his idea of Jesus. I'm not even religious but I just couldn't believe the level of stupidity. To think that a person like that actually leads a congregation of people is terrifying.
I have seen videos of such interviews. Resembles NOT at all the Jesus I learned about as a young person. "Shining city on a hill." Daddy Bush's verbiage as he approved the Willie Horton ad. Hypocrisy on steroids.
Yes, and, of course we know that Jesus was all about making punishment harsher and rejecting the stranger in our midst and exacting "retribution". These ignorant people don't even know what Jesus demands of them. And I'm afraid they don't deserve the beautiful democracy that is about to be destroyed.
Pam Taylor - "Jeri, I came across a recent video, 'Iowa's Christian conservatives follow their faith when voting, and some say it leads them to Trump.'"
Will, from Cal, thank You for your contribution. You are helping to restore the American mind, which some among us appear to have lost. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your words. I'm going to save it, print it, maybe tape it on the wall above my desk, to be reminded. Too often I find myself forgetting what politics was like in the '50s and '60s and into the '70s. The Old School politicians could argue vehemently all day long, yet remain true friends. Surely it couldn't hurt to dream that we can achieve that again.
Very insightful, Will. Biden is trying to lead by able example, Trump is trying to rule. The bygone values you speak of I see simply as values - so, I suspect, did people like Plato. I don't think honesty, respect for truthfulness, community, or courage are generational values, they have been shared by the true builders of the human spirit for a very long time now. Thanks for picking up the torch.
I still see those values in the same places that are deeply divided like where I live. Just one, before I entered the grocery store I noticed a car littered with pro trump slogans & anti liberal ones. A man coming out held the door as I entered & then got into the trump mobile. I have encountered kind acts in venues devoid of political energy.
This is the brain-breaking thing, isn't it? I see it in a few members of my own extended family. So many people who are kindly in daily interactions are supporting truly heinous people in their quest for power. It's really hard to square.
My aunt has never been anything but lovely to me. If I was asked "Is she a good person?" I would feel compelled to say yes. But what if I did not have that vested interest? I think of voting/donating/supporting as an active choice. If she is still agreeing with and supporting people I think are objectively evil, that means her actions are making the world worse. At what point does this continuous negative moral act outweigh the positives? Like, what if you mug some old ladies BUT ALSO make everyone at the children's hospital a birthday cake? How would that work? Conversely, I wouldn't think of an otherwise horrid person as forgiven because they voted "the right way."
We are now having to morally philosophize when we used to just say "oh well, she has her opinions" and it is exhausting.
I wonder how many of these people hold their nose when they vote for the massive RINO & any one with an R next to their name rather than do anything but vote for a D?
What a beautiful point of view and reflection. It truly brought tears to my eyes. It helped me become centered. Thank you. Will from Cal. I am Vee, formerly from Cal.
Aww, you guys make me smile! I'm always here! I just usually don't log in until it is the next day and all you other brilliant folks have said everything that needs to be said. I got here "early" today and couldn't sleep, so what is a guy to do but start gabbing?
IMHO Will, your comments are not gabbing. Stefanik, Jordan,Johnson and the other fascist criminals are the gabbers. Gabbing is thoughtless and trivial speech. So we need a better word for what people like you who are trying to save democracy are doing. 🏆👏🏼👍🏻
Isn't it funny? I always thought of gab as a vaguely fancy chatting, because I think I had only heard "gift of gab" in old books when I was a kid. But looking it up now, it indeed says that it is an archaic word that indicates trivialities and gossip. So I just learned that while I may still gab once in a while, I no longer WANT to be seen as gabbing now that I know what it means more clearly. Thanks, Gigi!
I remember my grandfather telling me about people leaving a penny tip during the Great Depression, as what they could do to show appreciation, and for many years after, always adding an extra penny to the better tips they could afford even if the tip was already very generous.
My mother-in-law continued the practice well into the years when dementia had started taking hold, but we were fortunate to find a few who graciously accepted the extra penny whether or not they knew of the old custom (a few I checked with, did know).
So moving. Nana passed when I was quite small, but the thing I actually remember is her always giving me quarters and dimes. I thought they were fun and shiny things to add to my toy that looked like a see-through ATM, because even 25 years ago a quarter would get you approximately one half a dust bunny, but I now know that to her younger self that would have been an extraordinary thing to be given out of the blue.
She also carefully took off the wrapping paper from gifts, rather than tearing it. She wanted to save it for later. The things those people then had to do is so beyond my experience, in a lucky way.
My aunt, who churned butter (she and my uncle had a small house that he built on a few acres of the farm she grew up on), always kept gift wrap for next presents. Now my daughter does also.
Oh, keeping it is definitely the thing to do that would most align with my values otherwise. But since I am thankfully always with family on Christmas, I would get the dagger stares for daring to slow down the process of voracious ripping and tossing that is standard there. So I have compartmentalized this one wasteful thing as allowed under the same "holiday exception" that allows - nay, requires! - me to eat garbage nostalgia candy because "Santa" left it in the stockings.
Your Nana was born three years ahead of my Dad (my folks were old when they had kids; my Dad was 41 when I was born, Mom was 36, and I'm the first born). Both my folks were depression era kids. We saved wrapping paper, monitored coffee consumption, and some other depression-era carryovers.
When they were courting, my Dad would arrive to the diner first, and order a cup of coffee. He'd drink it, and Mom would drink the refill, thus avoiding a penny tax on the coffee. Mom always tipped the extra penny.
That says everything about your Mom's character, I think. Saving a penny for the express purpose of giving it away immediately. Speaks volumes.
It also speaks to the level of trust in their relationship. I have yet to meet anyone on Earth I would drink out of the same cup directly after. But that's my issues talking lol.
Thank you Will for the reminder that my Grandma would always give me a quarter when I saw her during my younger years. After reading what Jim posted, I will remember her in a different way now.
"Make America Great Again," is code for "Make America Pure White." It is a call for White Nationalism, which will be a despotic state that will also punish the ill-informed white (alleged) Christians. Speaking of which, this comes to mind: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34.
Will...this is an excellent summary/evaluation of both candidates. Thank you for sharing your Nanna's story....it sums up, beautifully, the social attitude that lifts us all up. I think/know that social attitude is still out there and I hope the Biden campaign keeps the contrast of the two campaigns front and forward.
And I also hope someone finds a way to introduce the concept that if today your sentiments are aligned with Trump's and you are in the circle of privilege he's promoting... tomorrow Trump may feel differently, and you'll be out.
Only democracy protects us from the whims of a dictator and fascist government.
Thank you Will from Cal. I agree but with one caveat. There are millions of young voters out there and many who will have the right to vote in this next election (my granddaughter is one of them). The message of old fashioned values and community may or may not resonate so strongly with them since their youth experiences have been so different than ours. Even if their parents and/or grandparents have instilled good values, the sense of community is more about their social media presence. They are more about "me". They need to be inspired to understand the danger of either not voting at all or being lured in by people who use fear and loathing to mold their opinions.
Thank you. I always scroll down to check if you have made a comment on the letter of the day. Your ability to give the words to what our common goal will/can achieve is so appreciated. I share your words with others--and certainly give you as the source...Thank you
So, lost American values that "Both" left and right folks yearn for but probably can't describe. I think you are correct. Although the word "Both" was incased in quotes and I wondered why.
John Taylor Gatto wrote the book "Dumbing Us Down" in 1991. I've been paying attention to that premise ever since. At the end of his career, George Carlin had a standup bit about education that matches up to what Gatto wrote about our system of education.
Yes, it's anecdotal but does anybody disagree that one of the values we Americans think we have lost is a sense of is cultural intelligence, kindness, insight and clarity, part of the thing we called American Exceptionalism? And we used to believe that we were the fastest, strongest, best and the brightest, but as a whole, we are getting dumber and we are unhealthy. Then Donald Trump comes along and tells all the dummies, it's ok to be dummies. Be proud of that.
Carlin called consumption a civic duty. I thought he was being funny but he wasn't kidding. I take my consuming habits as a patriotic duty in a capitalist society ...(I kid). The irony is that I volunteered and fought in a war (Vietnam) on behalf of our capitalist leaders because "Communism" was going to take over the world.
Remember the 9-11 speech George W Bush gave on the night of the attack calling himself "A War President"? He literally asked us to continue to consume...keep buying stuff. And we did our patriotic duty, we went to Disney World, bought jewelry, bought stuff. A perfect example of a dumbed down president and population.
The word Culture is critical to this discussion. That is what this whole rebellion on the right is about. Millions of us do not want to accept the objective basis for science, laws and medicine. They want the illusory basis of this idea of "freedom". But pure freedom is not a friend to an 18th century Social Contract based in the premise that some limitations are necessary for a society to operate well and to exist.
Anti-intellectualism really does reign supreme in a lot of places. Somewhere along the line we shifted from "We are the greatest country because we never stop improving" to "We are the greatest because we were made that way and we don't need to try." It's the difference between "I won this race because I trained hard every day, and I am happy to share what I learned" and "I won this race because I'm bigger and taller, so stay outta my way, shrimps!"
You (and George Carlin) are also correct that there is an unmistakable link between this anti-intellectualism and rampant consumerism. "What is this really good for and do I really want it?" is a rather mutually exclusive thought pattern from "buy buy buy!" The smarter people are, the harder it is to make money off them. Who knows, they might end up smart enough to make some money of their own!
A point of comparison between the two candidates in 2020 and 2024 that I am surprised more people are not making is that they *both* appeal to a sense of American values that seem "lost," even if neither candidates' supporters are so good at naming exactly what it is they are gravitating toward when they find a candidate's persona resonating. The whole country knows something went amiss in the last few decades, and there is something we need to pick up again before we move forward, as if we are quickly driving back home to turn off the stove before we get back in the car and go to work again. We all want some of what we had, and some of what we never had yet. (For anyone under 40, the "what we had" part is almost entirely mythical, but I digress.) The chasm between the two elderly candidates and their supporters is down to one set of "lost values" being cheap facade for a vitriolic litany of grievances, while the other set is of the more down-home and down-to-Earth "Keep Calm and Carry On" variety.
My Nana (Dad's Mom, born 1913) told a simple anecdote that he passed along to me about the general American spirit in the Depression. One night while living in NYC studying nursing, she lost her coin that was needed to take transportation home. She and her friend who was accompanying her began asking around to strangers to see if anyone would be generous enough to help a young woman get home. Most people showed sympathy but had literally not a cent to spare. Someone decided they could part with a penny and began to help them ask around. Eventually they had the few cents needed, and made it back.
No "well they should have been more careful." No "it is probably a trick." Even on the streets of NYC people pitched in for a fellow American. Even when all you had was literally a penny. It was called COMMUNITY, it was called PATRIOTISM, and this is the attitude we are missing today, frankly. I think this is part of the reason President Biden has been as successful as he has been, and why so many in the media and our country as a whole are loathe to admit it. His mindset comes from this earlier era, and he has lived a long and full life already, seeing the arc of our country and our society for three-quarters of a century. He seems to genuinely believe that operating from a place of common sense and positivity is the best way to build unity and hope for the future. You know, the *good* part of the supposed "good old days," our ***actual*** "traditional values." He refuses to lead through drama and pettiness, and frankly it seems like a lot of people get high on that and are a tad resentful that he refuses to provide it for them. When he stands up and says "we have to remember who we are," that is what he means and what people his supporters - myself included - hear. We hear basic decency, common sense, empathy, integrity, and work ethic.
Conversely, the idea that "Make America great again" could ever be viewed as a patriotic slogan is maddening to me. If you truly loved this country and thought this country was great, you wouldn't need to return it to greatness (the "again" part), it would already be the case in your mind. What those words say is that your ability to have love and pride for your country depends on whether or not our society takes the form you prefer, and that form alone, for your version of the country is the only true one, and any deviation is so unacceptable that you are willing to erase the present by force (the "make" part) in order for you to have your pride in country back.
I don't love everything about the present state of the good ole USA, far from it, but I still love the USA. Period. Just like I think my brother is annoying as crap and was happy when he moved out, but I still love him and would give him a bone marrow transfusion if necessary. It is the difference between conditional versus unconditional love, and patriots have the latter. Patriots have hope and positivity, not blame and resentfulness. Period. Patriots build bridges, both literally and metaphorically, not walls, either literally or metaphorically. Period. Patriots believe that the country can be the best version of itself that it can be, and are excited about the future, and willing to work to make it so. Period.
Regardless of the sense of doubt and anxiety the media is attempting to instill, I know which version of old-fashioned, patriotic values resonate with me, and I will be working this year to re-elect the candidate that continues to reflect them. It really is that simple.
Summary: there are two kinds of people: those who think “me” and those who think “we”.
P.S. My comment is in no way meant disrespectfully, Wil! I love your story and agree wholeheartedly with it.
I love what Will said. There is so much more than just "me" and "we"", although that is pretty much true. I think there is a lot of fear of the unknown among Trump's base --the "socialism" , the "gays", the "liberals", the "immigrants", the "books", and whatever else they see as threatening their way of life. I was a teenager who listened to Mc Carthy hearings, and today's politics are just as filled with hatred of "the other" as those days when it was people called "communist". This is hard to counter with just information, even if they are told about what Biden has done to make their life better.
So it is... Education is key. The MAGAts don't know "the other", and that's why they are afraid of "them". Ignorance breeds fear, fear leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering. The Republicans have done everything in their power to keep their base undereducated, and it pays off (for them)...
The MAGA slogan pissed me off to the max. Still does. I thought who is stupid enough to buy that. When I hear them interviewed, it is clear that stupid is the operative word.
Jeri, to me it sounds a lot like my seven year old sister (who’d been “fetching” for our broken-legged grandmother while our mom was at the grocery store) when our mom got back from the store. She said “I quit! I don’t want to be a grownup anymore!”
The ones I’ve talked to seem to want to return to a time when they had a “parent “ who made all the choices and was responsible for their welfare, even if the “parent” acts like a drunken con man and burns the house down. And, like the spouse of an abuser, the more someone points out the abuser’s bad behavior, the more they defend him/her. The book “Beyond Contempt” by Erica Etelson explains it better than I have and offers hope.
You are right, I’m a tired old grandma, but no, I would NEVER defend abusers bad behavior. Nor republican’s treasonous behavior. I will never get that old and tired.
Jeri, my point is that it’s very hard to admit that you were tricked into giving your heart and soul to an abuser. Spouses keep telling themselves that the abuser will get better, that they only act that way part of the time. Look how the MAGA people are gaslighted into isolation as far as news is concerned , much like an abuser isolates the victim from friends and family. Trump uses mob tactics: first request is for a small thing, then for a bigger illegal thing…until the person is in deep. No one in Trump’s orbit manages to keep their reputation intact —and, when they finally find their red line, he attacks them.
I had a best friend who was excellent example of that. Smart, more intelligent, but bullied (gently) for the 20+ years that I watched from the sidelines. Now it’s a national epidemic. No argument here. It was her vision of “ideal family” that kept her sucked in. In the end, they look great, but there are holes I could drive a semi through that are not posted on FB. Phony perfection is quite a draw I guess.
Mary, Having been in that type of situation for several years, I ask myself why I haven't seen the similarities. You are absolutely correct. Those who stick with him are either too stupid to see what's really going on and/or too embarrassed to admit they've been scammed. And by staying linked to the scammer, they think they are saving face but really, the only people that agree with them are also being scammed. It's a very sick cycle of behavior to be involved in and it takes much strength and introspection to escape from their grasp.
Jeanne, that’s why the advice in the book “Beyond Contempt” is so useful. The author shows ways to allow people to see for themselves through skillful interaction. It’s a game changer. I hadn’t realized how the wording of my questions indicated superiority and closed down the conversations.
"Just find me a few votes. My people and I will take it from there." Haven't we heard that from SOM himself? What can they do to you if all you do is "find" a few votes? The picture of a mobster (M above) couldn't be clearer.
Mary, back during the 2020 election a friend and I were discussing the candidates and I asked how could anyone in their right mind still support Trump. She talked about a study that showed brain differences in conservatives and liberals. Conservatives desire authority (parent figure?) more than liberals.
Here is one account from the Scientific American:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/conservative-and-liberal-brains-might-have-some-real-differences/
Thank you so much for this link. I had read of a study (lost the reference) where a very small study (sample group about 10-20) split between those who self-identified as "liberal" or "conservative". They were hooked up with brain monitoring equipment, and asked to make a decision on an investment: high risk/reward or low risk/reward. Interestingly, the answer each participant chose reflected no affiliation with either liberal or conservative, it was a mish-mash.
What was really measured was the area of the brain used in the decision-making process: In conservatives, it was the midbrain, where the amygdala lives and in the liberals, it was the frontal cortex, where complex thought and reasoning live.
I am not an expert, by any stretch of the imagination, but when your primary processing center is the threat assessment department, much of your "daily input" is assessed as danger/no danger, there isn't a lot of room for complex thought. Conversely, if your primary processing center is for complex thought and assessment, you're going to be very slow to respond to a threat as you analyze it.
Note: My interest in this was as a law enforcement trainer, and figuring out ways for people to get out of "flight or fight" and into rational thought as fast as possible balanced with a way to teach complex thinkers to do a quick "threat assessment" before trying to "reason" into a situation.
Ally, I love the training to deal with threats. I seem to remember a Young Shelton episode that dealt with just that issue.
I listened to a beautiful podcast interview with Tracy K. Smith, former U.S. Poet Laureate. The podcast was City Arts and Lectures. Responding to a question about how to handle conversations with far right people, she said (paraphrase) she thinks of them like a little brother who is cross about something. You don't belittle or dismiss him, you help him understand and grow past his tantrums. I recommend this interview. Tracy's view of America is inspiring.
I believe you mean Tracy K. Smith, the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019, and is also the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute.
Beau of the Fifth Column sometimes wears a shirt in his videos that says, "You traded your country for a red hat." A pretty good summary in my opinion.
Jeri, I came across a recent video, " Iowa's Christian conservatives follow their faith when voting, and some say it leads them to Trump." Members of an Iowa Church of God praise the MAGA theme.
"Who is stupid enough to buy that?" you ask.
Here are some answers to your question:
*One man "felt that the former president exemplified what Jesus would do."
(Despite the fact that Trump has "focused his 3rd
campaign around the message of retribution and
harsh justice.") However, this doesn't seem to be discouraging evangelicals to change their beliefs.
*One 72 yr. old man "likened Trump's legal troubles to a crucifiction. I think they are doing the same thing they did to Jesus on the cross."
* "I think God used that man to govern in Godly principles."
* "I want him to lead our nation back to that city on a hill- shining city on a hill."
* "MAGA is about returning the country to the Christian principles I belive it was founded on."
* "I definitely take my belief and understanding of the Bible into the voting booth with me."
The producer of the video, Michelle L. Price says, "Trump best aligns with their faith, suggesting his tough stance on the border, and calls for harsher punishment for crimes reflect a sense of justice they see rooted in Christianity."
Oh my.
I found that "God Made Trump" video blasphemous, appalling, and completely disgusting. These deluded people are no more following the teachings of Jesus than a man in the moon. Trump is being held accountable for the first time in his miserable life. I hope he is convicted on every single charge and sentenced to exile in Gitmo.
They don't know a thing about Jesus or his teachings.
And he wants the country to go into a recession this year.
you and me both, Jenn!!!
You and me both!!!
And Soon!!
It’s ignorance, bad food (Big Ag), endless sitcoms (no movement), the failure of the education system to educate (the loss of core curriculum values), and watching FOX news (endless propaganda), etc. sadly too, sports are no longer for fun, only for money.
Yeah, I've seen that as the University of Oregon has abandoned the Pac 12 to go into a bicoastal conference. Works great for football (one game a week). Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Lacrosse... not so much.
My U of M won last night. The financial stakes were high. Go blue?
Huck the Fuskies. Except the marching band. They're cool.
HCR did a wonderful job of bringing out the kind of speeches that Biden and Harris have been making all along. Let’s help by sharing this article with the 🎃🤡💩 tfg supporters AND remind these good christians that he cheated on all 3 of his wives.
I started putting the word "christian" in quotes when so many started aligning themselves with Trump.
They are anything but in my estimation. But old, white men have been tainting the bible before there was a bible.
Pam, death star is the antiChrist and what they said tells me that they have no idea of what Jesus said or represents....exemplified what Jesus would do....gag me. And what part of the Bible goes into the voting booth, the OT, certainly not the first three Gospels. These are the same people who sit around and judge everyone else while not attending to the logs in their own eyes.
Didn't Jesus say, "Judge not, lest ye be judged"? and " Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye.?" (Matthew 7)
Yes, he did....hence my comment about the log in the eye. I also thought about judge not. They are exactly the type of people Jesus spoke against....people who pray loudly in the Temple. Form but no essence.
It's so sad that people can spout off about how people should live, claim to follow Jesus, and be the opposite of what they proclaim.
"Oh my", translates to YIKES!
My translation is more profane. YIKES!!! is much more socially acceptable.
Yeah, I thought of at least 3-4 “other” responses too 🤬
Yes it does!
Pam: I watched it on PBS NewsHour last night. All I could think of was those pitiful people. What suckers.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/where-the-gop-race-stands-with-1-week-until-iowa-caucuses
I also watched it on PBS. I made it through most of it but had to turn it off when the minister compared Trump's legal issues to his idea of Jesus. I'm not even religious but I just couldn't believe the level of stupidity. To think that a person like that actually leads a congregation of people is terrifying.
preaching bull schitt from the pulpit non-stop. Keep wondering why no lightening strikes
Pitiful is right.
The question is are there enough of these misguided people to vote him in?
If not enough of us show up, yes. (2016)
If enough of us show up, no. (2018, 20, 22)
Texas and more than a few other states have stacked the deck. No way it can be a fair election. Will take a miracle.
I do believe in miracles, and hard work.
Seems they’ve defaulted to the Old Testament, many tenets of which Jesus denied.
😩😩😩
Sad and scary isn't it?
I have seen videos of such interviews. Resembles NOT at all the Jesus I learned about as a young person. "Shining city on a hill." Daddy Bush's verbiage as he approved the Willie Horton ad. Hypocrisy on steroids.
I like that- "hypocrisy on steroids."
Yes, and, of course we know that Jesus was all about making punishment harsher and rejecting the stranger in our midst and exacting "retribution". These ignorant people don't even know what Jesus demands of them. And I'm afraid they don't deserve the beautiful democracy that is about to be destroyed.
Dave, well said!
Pam Taylor - "Jeri, I came across a recent video, 'Iowa's Christian conservatives follow their faith when voting, and some say it leads them to Trump.'"
One source:
https://apnews.com/article/iowa-evangelical-voters-trump-2024-22f81caeaec48f5206709d0c67df4be5
cult crap, no doubt about it
Sickening.
Indeed
Jeri, you are so right. I'm actually embarrassed for some of them and wonder how they got this far in life.
It is beyond embarrassing.
Will, from Cal, thank You for your contribution. You are helping to restore the American mind, which some among us appear to have lost. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your words. I'm going to save it, print it, maybe tape it on the wall above my desk, to be reminded. Too often I find myself forgetting what politics was like in the '50s and '60s and into the '70s. The Old School politicians could argue vehemently all day long, yet remain true friends. Surely it couldn't hurt to dream that we can achieve that again.
Cheers!
Very insightful, Will. Biden is trying to lead by able example, Trump is trying to rule. The bygone values you speak of I see simply as values - so, I suspect, did people like Plato. I don't think honesty, respect for truthfulness, community, or courage are generational values, they have been shared by the true builders of the human spirit for a very long time now. Thanks for picking up the torch.
Well said. Leading by example compared to ruling by decree. And while leading, always following the path laid out in the Constitution.
"Leading by example compared to ruling by decree."
Kind of like you led by example by coming up with this perfectly succinct phrase, and I hereby decree that it is now mine to use in admiration?
I still see those values in the same places that are deeply divided like where I live. Just one, before I entered the grocery store I noticed a car littered with pro trump slogans & anti liberal ones. A man coming out held the door as I entered & then got into the trump mobile. I have encountered kind acts in venues devoid of political energy.
This is the brain-breaking thing, isn't it? I see it in a few members of my own extended family. So many people who are kindly in daily interactions are supporting truly heinous people in their quest for power. It's really hard to square.
My aunt has never been anything but lovely to me. If I was asked "Is she a good person?" I would feel compelled to say yes. But what if I did not have that vested interest? I think of voting/donating/supporting as an active choice. If she is still agreeing with and supporting people I think are objectively evil, that means her actions are making the world worse. At what point does this continuous negative moral act outweigh the positives? Like, what if you mug some old ladies BUT ALSO make everyone at the children's hospital a birthday cake? How would that work? Conversely, I wouldn't think of an otherwise horrid person as forgiven because they voted "the right way."
We are now having to morally philosophize when we used to just say "oh well, she has her opinions" and it is exhausting.
I wonder how many of these people hold their nose when they vote for the massive RINO & any one with an R next to their name rather than do anything but vote for a D?
Think of the Germans..........1933 to 1941.
"They never hurt anyone themselves in their whole life! They were just trying to protect their own family!"
By ratting out their neighbors to face torture and death for the crime of menorah-ing? Yeah, good luck with that pleading at the pearly gates.
Ha - that quote makes me think of Walter White on "Breaking Bad"! ;)
Will, I think we share the same Aunt, different coasts. Mine lives her faith, serving the poor, but an evangelical through and through.
What a beautiful point of view and reflection. It truly brought tears to my eyes. It helped me become centered. Thank you. Will from Cal. I am Vee, formerly from Cal.
I am very touched, Veronica. Thinking deep thoughts today and it came from the heart. Cheers to you wherever you are currently!
Haven't seen your comments lately, Will. You have been missed.
Miselle, thought exactly that, with a smile, when I saw his name here once again!
Aww, you guys make me smile! I'm always here! I just usually don't log in until it is the next day and all you other brilliant folks have said everything that needs to be said. I got here "early" today and couldn't sleep, so what is a guy to do but start gabbing?
IMHO Will, your comments are not gabbing. Stefanik, Jordan,Johnson and the other fascist criminals are the gabbers. Gabbing is thoughtless and trivial speech. So we need a better word for what people like you who are trying to save democracy are doing. 🏆👏🏼👍🏻
Isn't it funny? I always thought of gab as a vaguely fancy chatting, because I think I had only heard "gift of gab" in old books when I was a kid. But looking it up now, it indeed says that it is an archaic word that indicates trivialities and gossip. So I just learned that while I may still gab once in a while, I no longer WANT to be seen as gabbing now that I know what it means more clearly. Thanks, Gigi!
I remember my grandfather telling me about people leaving a penny tip during the Great Depression, as what they could do to show appreciation, and for many years after, always adding an extra penny to the better tips they could afford even if the tip was already very generous.
My mother-in-law continued the practice well into the years when dementia had started taking hold, but we were fortunate to find a few who graciously accepted the extra penny whether or not they knew of the old custom (a few I checked with, did know).
So moving. Nana passed when I was quite small, but the thing I actually remember is her always giving me quarters and dimes. I thought they were fun and shiny things to add to my toy that looked like a see-through ATM, because even 25 years ago a quarter would get you approximately one half a dust bunny, but I now know that to her younger self that would have been an extraordinary thing to be given out of the blue.
She also carefully took off the wrapping paper from gifts, rather than tearing it. She wanted to save it for later. The things those people then had to do is so beyond my experience, in a lucky way.
My aunt, who churned butter (she and my uncle had a small house that he built on a few acres of the farm she grew up on), always kept gift wrap for next presents. Now my daughter does also.
It’s an ecological move .
Oh, keeping it is definitely the thing to do that would most align with my values otherwise. But since I am thankfully always with family on Christmas, I would get the dagger stares for daring to slow down the process of voracious ripping and tossing that is standard there. So I have compartmentalized this one wasteful thing as allowed under the same "holiday exception" that allows - nay, requires! - me to eat garbage nostalgia candy because "Santa" left it in the stockings.
Ain't that the truth. Book of LifeSavers, anyone?
Your Nana was born three years ahead of my Dad (my folks were old when they had kids; my Dad was 41 when I was born, Mom was 36, and I'm the first born). Both my folks were depression era kids. We saved wrapping paper, monitored coffee consumption, and some other depression-era carryovers.
When they were courting, my Dad would arrive to the diner first, and order a cup of coffee. He'd drink it, and Mom would drink the refill, thus avoiding a penny tax on the coffee. Mom always tipped the extra penny.
That says everything about your Mom's character, I think. Saving a penny for the express purpose of giving it away immediately. Speaks volumes.
It also speaks to the level of trust in their relationship. I have yet to meet anyone on Earth I would drink out of the same cup directly after. But that's my issues talking lol.
Probably where my sister gets her generosity as well.
Thank you Will for the reminder that my Grandma would always give me a quarter when I saw her during my younger years. After reading what Jim posted, I will remember her in a different way now.
"Make America Great Again," is code for "Make America Pure White." It is a call for White Nationalism, which will be a despotic state that will also punish the ill-informed white (alleged) Christians. Speaking of which, this comes to mind: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34.
Will...this is an excellent summary/evaluation of both candidates. Thank you for sharing your Nanna's story....it sums up, beautifully, the social attitude that lifts us all up. I think/know that social attitude is still out there and I hope the Biden campaign keeps the contrast of the two campaigns front and forward.
And I also hope someone finds a way to introduce the concept that if today your sentiments are aligned with Trump's and you are in the circle of privilege he's promoting... tomorrow Trump may feel differently, and you'll be out.
Only democracy protects us from the whims of a dictator and fascist government.
Thank you Will from Cal. I agree but with one caveat. There are millions of young voters out there and many who will have the right to vote in this next election (my granddaughter is one of them). The message of old fashioned values and community may or may not resonate so strongly with them since their youth experiences have been so different than ours. Even if their parents and/or grandparents have instilled good values, the sense of community is more about their social media presence. They are more about "me". They need to be inspired to understand the danger of either not voting at all or being lured in by people who use fear and loathing to mold their opinions.
I stand up and applaud you for being able to so succinctly state this “truth”. Thank you.
Brilliant.
Thank you. I always scroll down to check if you have made a comment on the letter of the day. Your ability to give the words to what our common goal will/can achieve is so appreciated. I share your words with others--and certainly give you as the source...Thank you
Great post, Will....Thank you.
So, lost American values that "Both" left and right folks yearn for but probably can't describe. I think you are correct. Although the word "Both" was incased in quotes and I wondered why.
John Taylor Gatto wrote the book "Dumbing Us Down" in 1991. I've been paying attention to that premise ever since. At the end of his career, George Carlin had a standup bit about education that matches up to what Gatto wrote about our system of education.
https://youtu.be/ILQepXUhJ98?si=ay5FEA76R3QYJ9Eg
Yes, it's anecdotal but does anybody disagree that one of the values we Americans think we have lost is a sense of is cultural intelligence, kindness, insight and clarity, part of the thing we called American Exceptionalism? And we used to believe that we were the fastest, strongest, best and the brightest, but as a whole, we are getting dumber and we are unhealthy. Then Donald Trump comes along and tells all the dummies, it's ok to be dummies. Be proud of that.
Carlin called consumption a civic duty. I thought he was being funny but he wasn't kidding. I take my consuming habits as a patriotic duty in a capitalist society ...(I kid). The irony is that I volunteered and fought in a war (Vietnam) on behalf of our capitalist leaders because "Communism" was going to take over the world.
Remember the 9-11 speech George W Bush gave on the night of the attack calling himself "A War President"? He literally asked us to continue to consume...keep buying stuff. And we did our patriotic duty, we went to Disney World, bought jewelry, bought stuff. A perfect example of a dumbed down president and population.
The word Culture is critical to this discussion. That is what this whole rebellion on the right is about. Millions of us do not want to accept the objective basis for science, laws and medicine. They want the illusory basis of this idea of "freedom". But pure freedom is not a friend to an 18th century Social Contract based in the premise that some limitations are necessary for a society to operate well and to exist.
Anti-intellectualism really does reign supreme in a lot of places. Somewhere along the line we shifted from "We are the greatest country because we never stop improving" to "We are the greatest because we were made that way and we don't need to try." It's the difference between "I won this race because I trained hard every day, and I am happy to share what I learned" and "I won this race because I'm bigger and taller, so stay outta my way, shrimps!"
You (and George Carlin) are also correct that there is an unmistakable link between this anti-intellectualism and rampant consumerism. "What is this really good for and do I really want it?" is a rather mutually exclusive thought pattern from "buy buy buy!" The smarter people are, the harder it is to make money off them. Who knows, they might end up smart enough to make some money of their own!
"patriots build bridges......not walls."