As Heather wrote, "we are still in a dangerous moment..."
However heartening the trend of forces weakening the Big Lie and Trumpism, this is no time to be lulled into complacency. As Heather wrote about the Civil War, “But, once they declared an insurrection, they found it hard to keep up enthusiasm for it. Confederate leaders approved th…
As Heather wrote, "we are still in a dangerous moment..."
However heartening the trend of forces weakening the Big Lie and Trumpism, this is no time to be lulled into complacency. As Heather wrote about the Civil War, “But, once they declared an insurrection, they found it hard to keep up enthusiasm for it. Confederate leaders approved the firing on Fort Sumter in April 1861 in part because interest in creating a new nation was fading…Sparking a crisis made sure that southern whites did not abandon the Confederacy…Wars are far easier to start than to stop.”
Our vigilance is necessary now more than ever to be on the alert for such a spark of a crisis by the far right, whether the spark be another organized insurrectionist move, or escalating an incident of violence:
• Monitor the far right extremists.
• Counter toxic negative messaging on social media and amplify positive supportive messaging for the Biden administration.
• Don’t react; assess for truth and respond effectively.
• Be prepared to participate in nonviolent resistance.
You're so right - we have to stay vigilant. My husband and I (in Arlington, VA) were going through our library of protest signs from the former guy's term, thinking about what the next DC area protest might be. Voting rights and the For the People Act, maybe? We're prepared to be out there.
Indeed. The last thing we want to be is violent as the GOP/Trump are the self- anointed law and order folks and, with extreme hypocrisy, claim the high ground when it comes to violence (on the part of anyone not on their team.)
Lined up against right wing militias is a more powerful group, the joint chiefs. They hate trump and he knows it. They have hatched plans A thru F at least and can’t wait for the paramilitary to meet the military. Mitch and ted and kevin will whine that the military should stay out of politics, and the chiefs will reply that this is not politics, this is war. This is when Mitch and ted and Kevin get woke.
Hopefully, the Joint Chiefs can do some housecleaning and root out the far right militia types from the military. It's becoming clear that there are many militia trainees in the military, as well as on police forces, and they end up as Oath Keepers, etc.
That “start a war to maintain interest” part of the “look back in history” caught my attention. Mainly, because I’m waiting for violence to be stoked into erupting, again. Right wing media contributes to my fear. Fox News has a giant megaphone, and host’s pronouncements are becoming more outrageous and unhinged. Thanks Ellie Kona for non-violent protest links. We may need them. ❤️🤍💙
Honestly, and in no way am I minimizing what you are feeling. But Fox News, every time I tune in for a segment just to stay up with the chatter, just seems so ridiculous. Talking blathering heads. I know their very large audience, but there are news outlets I respect with just as great an audience.
Every entity has a tipping point. Fox News is no different. I’m not so sure they have any fresh batteries for their bullhorn. Certainly not solar powered ones.
Fox News and Entertainment IS ridiculous—to people who operate in a fact-based world. For those who consume Fox Entertainment and/or OAN exclusively and without applying criteria for balanced news with verifiable, credible sources, Fox is their news, their truth, and their ideology fueling their behavior.
Fox heads are no different than Barr. Watch them change their direction incrementally. Especially after the investigation shows their collusion. Especially in calling Arizona early. Contrary to the supposed outrage, I think it was an early setup for the former president to start the “fraud wheels” rolling.
I try to listen in order to know what their audience, our fellow citizens, are attracted to as well as hearing. My capacity for it is very close to zero, 2 to 6 minutes once in a while, is my limit. With understandable reasons to know what Fox is dishing out, I'm not up to the job.
My experience too, Fern! Every once in a blue moon I check in ….but I only last about 30 seconds. It is unwatchable. My father, an M.I.T. graduate and devoted fan of Julia Child on PBS had dementia his last few years and would watch Fox for hours ….drove my mother nuts. She could not believe how awful they were and that they only appealed to old men with dementia who didn’t know better!
Janet, My mother had Alzheimer's disease. Until she could no longer do it (with help) she liked to go the bank. This subject is very difficult. You've provided the only evidence that Fox served a dear soul. Please don't spread it around.
This seems like a place to insert this article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about a right-wing extremist cell found in Wilkerson county in Georgia. They recruit from law enforcement and ex-military members, which is something the FBI is finding out as well. These people are nuts--but they are armed nuts.
“ Screening for white supremacist or other ideologically extreme beliefs is a hit-or-miss proposition when it comes to the recruits for local law enforcement. Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said the problem is that policing is a local government function, with each agency operating how they see fit when it come to screening applicants. ‘You’ve got almost 20,000 separate police forces and no national police force,’ he said.”
The longer term solution is prevention through screening, at the level of state licensing requirements that are in place for professions to help prevent harm to the people being served. Doctors, lawyers, nurses, mental health professionals, architects, engineers, etc. require education and training to pass licensing exams, then continuing education to keep the license. This cannot start soon enough for professionals charged with making life and death decisions at their fingertips—law enforcement officers. Typically, only a high school diploma is required to get into a police academy.
Ellie, Without knowing the intricacies of state licensing in bright Red states, it seems appropriate to question whether state licensing would prohibit the hiring of law enforcement officers with extreme beliefs
Ellie, Good point. After a few seconds, I thought about the traitors of Democracy with law degrees and have been elected members of the House of Representatives, the Senate, state legislatures, even appointed to be the Attorney General of the United States of America. And remember the guy who graduated from college and became ___________. I'm not being facetious. As a matter of fact, I frightened myself when I began to count the demons.
True that college is no guarantee for growing critical thinking skills. College does not screen for one's moral compass, which I don't think can be taught in college.
and I was starting to riff on Wilkerson County, they need to learn a few things from Isabel Wilkerson...but that was your Freudian slip! They're in Wilkinson County! :)
I know! One of those things that you see the split second after hitting "Post"! Then, I figured hardly anybody would know Wilkinson county ANYWAY, so I didn't bother to mention my slip...
Hey Ellie et alia - I am late to the party today, but I think I have 2 cents to toss into the hat while the day is still today in some time zones.
1. The Erica Chenoweth interview in The Harvard Gazette mentions the data collection and analysis aspect of her work with Maria J. Stephan. This reminded me of the Swarthmore Global Nonviolent Action Database (GNAD) which is a freely accessible repository of descriptions of hundreds of cases of nonviolent action from many different time periods and almost every country. The site provides browsing "cases" with several pre-defined filters (country, campaigns, etc.) as well as browsing "methods" based on a rich taxonomy of action types. This latter point speaks directly to Chenoweth's third of "four things" indicative of successful campaigns - "more than just protests."
2. The GNAD is described at some length in George Lakey's 2018 book "How We Win: A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning." Lakey also emphasizes "more than just protests" and articulates a fairly detailed architecture of actions, campaigns, movements, and even movements of movements (which in his 1970s work he would have called revolutions - but Those Were the Days).
3. I read Lakey last week because his work (and training) was recommended in conversation with Cathy Learoyd and others on this substack just a few weeks ago.
Thank you, Bill! This info on GNAD and Lakey is worth a whole lot more than two cents. It’s worth our lives and those of future generations—no pressure!
As Heather wrote, "we are still in a dangerous moment..."
However heartening the trend of forces weakening the Big Lie and Trumpism, this is no time to be lulled into complacency. As Heather wrote about the Civil War, “But, once they declared an insurrection, they found it hard to keep up enthusiasm for it. Confederate leaders approved the firing on Fort Sumter in April 1861 in part because interest in creating a new nation was fading…Sparking a crisis made sure that southern whites did not abandon the Confederacy…Wars are far easier to start than to stop.”
Our vigilance is necessary now more than ever to be on the alert for such a spark of a crisis by the far right, whether the spark be another organized insurrectionist move, or escalating an incident of violence:
• Monitor the far right extremists.
• Counter toxic negative messaging on social media and amplify positive supportive messaging for the Biden administration.
• Don’t react; assess for truth and respond effectively.
• Be prepared to participate in nonviolent resistance.
https://americansofconscience.com/
https://www.commoncause.org/
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/02/why-nonviolent-resistance-beats-violent-force-in-effecting-social-political-change/
You're so right - we have to stay vigilant. My husband and I (in Arlington, VA) were going through our library of protest signs from the former guy's term, thinking about what the next DC area protest might be. Voting rights and the For the People Act, maybe? We're prepared to be out there.
Thank you!
Thanks for these resources, Ellie, especially the research that says, on average, nonviolent resistance is far more successful than violent campaigns.
Indeed. The last thing we want to be is violent as the GOP/Trump are the self- anointed law and order folks and, with extreme hypocrisy, claim the high ground when it comes to violence (on the part of anyone not on their team.)
Lined up against right wing militias is a more powerful group, the joint chiefs. They hate trump and he knows it. They have hatched plans A thru F at least and can’t wait for the paramilitary to meet the military. Mitch and ted and kevin will whine that the military should stay out of politics, and the chiefs will reply that this is not politics, this is war. This is when Mitch and ted and Kevin get woke.
Hopefully, the Joint Chiefs can do some housecleaning and root out the far right militia types from the military. It's becoming clear that there are many militia trainees in the military, as well as on police forces, and they end up as Oath Keepers, etc.
desperado…right on the money you are.
That “start a war to maintain interest” part of the “look back in history” caught my attention. Mainly, because I’m waiting for violence to be stoked into erupting, again. Right wing media contributes to my fear. Fox News has a giant megaphone, and host’s pronouncements are becoming more outrageous and unhinged. Thanks Ellie Kona for non-violent protest links. We may need them. ❤️🤍💙
Honestly, and in no way am I minimizing what you are feeling. But Fox News, every time I tune in for a segment just to stay up with the chatter, just seems so ridiculous. Talking blathering heads. I know their very large audience, but there are news outlets I respect with just as great an audience.
Every entity has a tipping point. Fox News is no different. I’m not so sure they have any fresh batteries for their bullhorn. Certainly not solar powered ones.
Fox News and Entertainment IS ridiculous—to people who operate in a fact-based world. For those who consume Fox Entertainment and/or OAN exclusively and without applying criteria for balanced news with verifiable, credible sources, Fox is their news, their truth, and their ideology fueling their behavior.
Fox heads are no different than Barr. Watch them change their direction incrementally. Especially after the investigation shows their collusion. Especially in calling Arizona early. Contrary to the supposed outrage, I think it was an early setup for the former president to start the “fraud wheels” rolling.
and the money solicitations rolling, as they have picked up again...
I try to listen in order to know what their audience, our fellow citizens, are attracted to as well as hearing. My capacity for it is very close to zero, 2 to 6 minutes once in a while, is my limit. With understandable reasons to know what Fox is dishing out, I'm not up to the job.
My experience too, Fern! Every once in a blue moon I check in ….but I only last about 30 seconds. It is unwatchable. My father, an M.I.T. graduate and devoted fan of Julia Child on PBS had dementia his last few years and would watch Fox for hours ….drove my mother nuts. She could not believe how awful they were and that they only appealed to old men with dementia who didn’t know better!
Janet, My mother had Alzheimer's disease. Until she could no longer do it (with help) she liked to go the bank. This subject is very difficult. You've provided the only evidence that Fox served a dear soul. Please don't spread it around.
I wish I could realize comfort in your point. I do not see any movement towards truth in Fox News et al.
Good advice. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Time for vigilance!
This seems like a place to insert this article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about a right-wing extremist cell found in Wilkerson county in Georgia. They recruit from law enforcement and ex-military members, which is something the FBI is finding out as well. These people are nuts--but they are armed nuts.
https://www.ajc.com/news/castrate-kill-remove-voting-rights-ex-marine-georgia-deputy-was-in-extremist-cell-feds-say/I6GKOE2SDJFS5FLEOAUW2V4BFE/
From your Atlanta Journal Constitution article:
“ Screening for white supremacist or other ideologically extreme beliefs is a hit-or-miss proposition when it comes to the recruits for local law enforcement. Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said the problem is that policing is a local government function, with each agency operating how they see fit when it come to screening applicants. ‘You’ve got almost 20,000 separate police forces and no national police force,’ he said.”
The longer term solution is prevention through screening, at the level of state licensing requirements that are in place for professions to help prevent harm to the people being served. Doctors, lawyers, nurses, mental health professionals, architects, engineers, etc. require education and training to pass licensing exams, then continuing education to keep the license. This cannot start soon enough for professionals charged with making life and death decisions at their fingertips—law enforcement officers. Typically, only a high school diploma is required to get into a police academy.
Hat tip to MaryPat for this notion stemming from licensing standards for nurses.
Ellie, Without knowing the intricacies of state licensing in bright Red states, it seems appropriate to question whether state licensing would prohibit the hiring of law enforcement officers with extreme beliefs
Deeper than screening, state licensing requirements would require some level of college education—which tends to grow critical thinking skills.
Ellie, Good point. After a few seconds, I thought about the traitors of Democracy with law degrees and have been elected members of the House of Representatives, the Senate, state legislatures, even appointed to be the Attorney General of the United States of America. And remember the guy who graduated from college and became ___________. I'm not being facetious. As a matter of fact, I frightened myself when I began to count the demons.
True that college is no guarantee for growing critical thinking skills. College does not screen for one's moral compass, which I don't think can be taught in college.
and I was starting to riff on Wilkerson County, they need to learn a few things from Isabel Wilkerson...but that was your Freudian slip! They're in Wilkinson County! :)
I know! One of those things that you see the split second after hitting "Post"! Then, I figured hardly anybody would know Wilkinson county ANYWAY, so I didn't bother to mention my slip...
Very frightening!
My thoughts, exactly, Ellie! When will that other proverbial shoe drop? Is that the “…he will be reinstated in August” surprise?
Kari, I fear for September when Trump isn't reinstated in August.
Your comments are always sensible, objective and informative, Ellie! Thanks for teaching us so much!
Hey Ellie et alia - I am late to the party today, but I think I have 2 cents to toss into the hat while the day is still today in some time zones.
1. The Erica Chenoweth interview in The Harvard Gazette mentions the data collection and analysis aspect of her work with Maria J. Stephan. This reminded me of the Swarthmore Global Nonviolent Action Database (GNAD) which is a freely accessible repository of descriptions of hundreds of cases of nonviolent action from many different time periods and almost every country. The site provides browsing "cases" with several pre-defined filters (country, campaigns, etc.) as well as browsing "methods" based on a rich taxonomy of action types. This latter point speaks directly to Chenoweth's third of "four things" indicative of successful campaigns - "more than just protests."
2. The GNAD is described at some length in George Lakey's 2018 book "How We Win: A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning." Lakey also emphasizes "more than just protests" and articulates a fairly detailed architecture of actions, campaigns, movements, and even movements of movements (which in his 1970s work he would have called revolutions - but Those Were the Days).
3. I read Lakey last week because his work (and training) was recommended in conversation with Cathy Learoyd and others on this substack just a few weeks ago.
Okay, so 3 cents.
https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/
https://www.worldcat.org/title/how-we-win-a-guide-to-nonviolent-direct-action-campaigning/oclc/1083878607?referer=br&ht=edition
Thank you, Bill! This info on GNAD and Lakey is worth a whole lot more than two cents. It’s worth our lives and those of future generations—no pressure!
thank you!!
Exactly!
Exactly!
You are absolutely correct: There will be a Reichstag fire moment, and it will be coming within weeks from now.