Gretchen Whitmer is fantastic! Thank you, dear Heather, for your concise, clear and factual accounting of how the working class in America has been completely betrayed by the Repugnants. I hope she runs for president at some point. My seat belt is fastened and my popcorn is waiting to go into the frying pan! Have a good weekend! All here…
Gretchen Whitmer is fantastic! Thank you, dear Heather, for your concise, clear and factual accounting of how the working class in America has been completely betrayed by the Repugnants. I hope she runs for president at some point. My seat belt is fastened and my popcorn is waiting to go into the frying pan! Have a good weekend! All here should watch “Waco” on Netflix. An incredible documentary short series I watched two nights ago. A MUST WATCH.
There's a dramatization coming in April on Showtime. "Waco: The Aftermath" deals with the trials of the surviving Branch Davidians. The series follows the trials of the surviving members of the Branch Davidian sect and the rise of Timothy McVeigh. Showtime says the five-episode series also “provides a broader context for the escalation of the American militia movement, which foreshadows the infamous attacks of the Oklahoma City bombing and the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.” On Showtime April 16, 30th anniversary of the end of the event.
TC, you should also watch “Bowling For Columbine” which links the first mass school shooting in Littleton, CO (headquarters of Lockheed Martin….) to the militia movement. It’s free on YouTube this weekend, thanks to Michael Moore, and he links Timothy McVeigh to all you have described. Incredible. I live in India and don’t have Showtime, but the Netflix documentary is really worth watching. Have a good weekend! Liz
I watched it yesterday on Youtube. Horrifying and depressing. Everyone should see it. I'll never watch another Charleston Heston film. What a sleazeball.
I just spent 2 hours watching this movie. Thank you so much....it explains so much as to why there are so many shooting in our country! I wonder how much money Heston has been paid over the years from the NRA! And I agree with Carolyn! It was so hard to control my tears!
Charleston Heston is not Mosses? What is the psyche of gun worshipers? The majority of Americans do not own a gun yet the gun world prevails. It is amazing how the world's oldest democracy ain't very democratic. In recent times two, that is 2 presidents elected by less than a majority of the vote. And look what those two did to us. For the sake of this country and the world can't we fix it?
I’d like to see the NRA’s book keeping. Where does the majority of their funding come from? Is it from $30 memberships? Or from gun manufacturers? Is it from foreign sources like Alexander Torshin, brokering for GOP influence?
“Since 2004, fundraising revenue from contributions has grown twice as fast as income from membership dues. The $96.4 million in contributions in 2013 represented a 108.2% increase over the $46.3 million in contributions in 2004. This difference can be attributed to a shift in fundraising strategy starting in 2005, when the NRA put more focus on soliciting donations from individuals and corporations (including 22 gun manufacturers). As a result, the NRA’s finances became more entwined with the success of the gun industry. “ (seems like a decent source 🤷🏻♀️)
Carolyn Nafziger: Something from your comment, and this whole string, made me want to refresh my memory of Charlton Heston, and googling immediately led me to this interesting link, his last interview, with Peter Jennings a few years before Heston died. It's only 6 minutes long. I highly recommend it.
Thank you for the link. I watched it, and it certainly gave another, and softer, aspect of Heston. (I actually used to love his films.) I spoke in the heat of anger about what was shown in Bowling for Columbine - and have very strong feelings about the shocking conviction some people have that the 2nd amendment bestows the right to collect murderous weapons and strut around with them, and Heston certainly promoted that idea.
Maybe I would feel different about this Heston interview had I not just watched "Bowling for Columbine". I feel he had a lot of blood on his hands and doesn't deserve to be another statue for the brutality in our country. How is it that I didn't see all the hate in our country until tfg became president of the USA.
Because the haters were emboldened to rise up out of their hidey holes once they believed they were under the protection of tfg. Won't they be surprised when the underside of a fleet of buses is where he kicks them, sooner or later.
It illustrates, for me that two very different aspects of a person, humility and strength vs. blind and dangerous thinking, can exist in the same person. I stopped watching his movies after he came out as a gun nut supporting the domestic terrorist organization - the NRA.
Columbine was kind of the "high water mark" of school shootings before the 21st century. In 1998, I worked a mass shooting in Springfield, Oregon a year before Columbine, where 20 kids were shot and two killed by a classmate armed with a .22 rifle. The difference between Columbine and Thurston was the AR-15 that the two shooters at Columbine had. There were other mass shooting events in 1998, one in Paducah, KY killing three and injuring 5 using a .22 pistol and another in Arkansas also killing 5.
The shooting at Columbine changed law enforcement responses to school shootings, where "contain, isolate, and negotiate" was replaced with "form a hasty team and go stop the shooting". Sadly, this was not the practice at Uvalde.
I'm going to watch "Bowling for Columbine" this weekend; I had not watched in previously and have mostly stayed away from these types of presentations. At almost 10 years retired, I think I am far enough removed from being "in the trenches" to be able to watch this.
The trenches can return, or the feeling of being there, can return in an instant. Watch carefully, with a friend if possible who can turn it off for you if necessary.
Thanks. I won't watch it alone. One of my collateral duties (and a hat that I still wear as a volunteer) is that of Peer Support, something that I believe very strongly in.
Thank you for these ideas for becoming educated. Another documentary that shows how corporate greed misdirects excellence and working class success watch:” Downfall,the case against Boeing” This has so much relevance to todays actions on Wall Street.
I saw Andrew Brady lose on Jeopardy last week, but he said he just wrote a book about "Conscious Capitalism." Intrigued, I immediately googled him. Here is a TED talk he did that sums up my view of what capitalism must be, and Andrew provides the data to prove it is more profitable!
Thank you for the link... I missed that Jeopardy episode (the show is on my 'must watch' list but sometimes I forget to set the DVR). I agree, he is a winner.
I did just go to youtube, but, for me at least, I still have to buy it, it is not free. I will see if it is at my library as a DVD. thanks for the pointer.
Michael Moore posted a link in his substack yesterday to make the YouTube video free. It was a little tricky to get it to cast to my TV, but I eventually did. It's definitely worth the trouble.
It is weird how we humans can get sucked into the circular thinking of cults. Like the Heavens Gate folks who took cyanide in order to join the alleged spaceship hidden in the tail of the comet Hale-Bopp. At least they didn't take any bystanders with them. We need to inculcate mental virus detection and removal. The scientific method helps.
"how we humans can get sucked into the circular thinking of cults"
Belief is ever so much more powerful, and attractive, than the complex, multi-faceted, multi-angle truth.
Belief gives us simplicity and certainty whereas the truth is always complex and multifaceted and often has both sides of good and evil represented.
Belief is easy. A few catch phrases ("Love your neighbor" pops into my mind, but, add any catch phrase here) and off to the races you go. "Make America Great Again" is another one. "Heil Hitler" is another good one.
Belief is easy, uncomplicated, gives us a tribe of others who believe the same thing, gives us confidence (belief requires no complicated moral system, for example, sex before marriage? Going straight to hail you are my young friend).
Lastly, belief makes ME RIGHT! What could be better than me being right ALL THE TIME? Heck, even my WIFE would listen to me (well, so much for that in my house, BUT, IF I were ultra religious, then, that would be a rule she would have to follow).
See? That is how anyone, at any time, can be sucked into BELIEF systems.
It is hard to live in reality. Painful. People might disagree with me/you. People might point out my flaws (and we all know I am perfect, especially I know that). I might have to THINK for myself!!
Dang, that whole reality thing? it is hard, painful, requires me to question my own thinking instead of thinking everyone else is wrong!
Give me belief any day JL. Easy street is for everyone, me included.
I was raised by flawed, but reasonable parents who felt that education was the path to a better life. That was their belief for their children, having no such opportunity themselves. Church bull Schitt was filled with human frailty, education exposed such. When chump came up with “MAGA,” I thought, no one is stupid enough to buy that. Ugh here we are, “easy street” it won’t be. Just a lure for the “belief-laden” fools. I call bull Schitt on your beliefs handed down by Rupert Murdoch from on high (Fox money machine). Cults are proof that there’s a sucker born every minute, and they reproduce and metastasize. Where is the inclination to question? It’s what my education (and common sense) taught me.
So, I had the good fortune to emanate from East Texas where Belief marked your caliber as a human being. IF you listened aptly to the white man Baptist Preacher spitting, crying and yelling at the front of the church, well, you were 0.30 caliber Christian!!
BUT, if you echoed that Baptist Preacher "Son, if you have sex before marriage you ARE GOING TO HELL", well, you were a 0.50 Caliber Christian.
So, all of us boys at the back of the church trying not to look at all of the girls wearing sheer shirts and dresses revealing their bras? Well, we all KNEW were were headed straight to hellfire.
It took me a BS in Chemical Engineering and then a PhD in Chemical Engineering at a huge liberal University (yes, the University of Texas, Austin) to work my way to an understanding of where my "belief" fits into my reality.
And, it also helped for me to NOT listen to the Baptist Preacher BUT to actually read the sermon on the Mount and some of that stuff about "judge not lest ye be judged".
So, I blended a passion for the truth with a philosophy taught 2000 years ago (that I fairly often fail to adhere to) and off I went.
Meet me today. I am a Texas "hoot" at these high brow northern dinner parties. No doubt about it.
Mike S--I understand what you're driving at, but don't blame the women and girls and their clothing. They did nothing to encourage you or your thoughts. If modern society--everywhere in the world--would put the responsibility of behavior on men rather than on the women they objectify and sexualize, we'd be a lot better off.
And this is exactly why the republicans are working to become a cult, a major thrust of which program is to take over the education system, from bottom to top. Let ‘us’ decide, under the guise of ‘parents' rights’, who gets to learn what (no to 1619, no to learning about 'others', however defined…gay, lesbian, trans, male, female, intersex, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, Sikh, Buddhist……doesn't matter the 'difference'…), when (no talk about menstrual cycles until 6th grade!), and how (no comparisons, no exploration, just the ‘facts’ we make available (get rid of the internet, and let us control the AI bots to spew our truths and alternative facts.) In all cases, trash the libs, denigrate the intelligentsia’s pretensions to knowledge, science be damned (one of my cousins got better from Covid with Ivermectin, but my uncle lost his left testicle after getting the Covid vaccination). Create so much chaos and noise that everything reasonable is drowned out and the only recourse for action is to follow the loud, irascible voice of the fat guy with the Betadine face and blond hair in the blue suit. He's more than easily identifiable; he's omnipresent, thanks to the media. In all cases, make sure our guys are armed to the teeth with rapid-fire guns, just to make sure you can protect your right to ‘protect’ whatever the leader tells you to fight like hell for.
I remember those preachers, except they were “Pilgrim Holiness,” in my case. Some of the “tent preachers” could put the fear into any young soul. Yes, the Jesus reality is lost today on the one’s expounding the loudest. Lordy
I was the bane of my parents' existence because I was born - without a silver spoon in my mouth - but with the word "WHY?" popping out at every turn. Today, 81 years later, that word still pops out - more so in these times than ever before.
Yes, Jeri, which is why we must support public schools, pay teachers a living wage, have free community college, teach the liberal arts, and know good science when it’s offered. Our greatest wealth is our ability to think rationally.
It's time to bring back the sideshow freaks that the old-time circuses featured. They flourished because they knew that 'there's one born every minute,' as pointed out by Ms. Chilcutt. Without them, the suckers turn to politics and religion which cause more harm than bearded ladies or two-headed farm animals ever did.
Well said, Mike. I call it the "slippery grayness of truth"...belief is black and white: no uncertainty. Truth is gray, slippery, easy to miss; hard to pin down, requires a lot of thought/work and is chock full of uncertainty. Little wonder so many people are easily seduced by "belief".
Good or bad, belief is a shortcut to thinking. It comes more from the brain, which unfortunately can be manipulated by voices of strangers. It's also different from faith, which comes from the heart and gut and is mysterious and unexplainable. Belief systems usually originate from people with agendas.
Belief also drowns out the fact that we often don't know and we don't have to reckon with uncertainty. I would also take issue with the whole idea of good and evil, which are both human constructs. Life, indeed is complex, and we don't know or may never know all the answers. But in nature there is no good or evil. There is just life in all its multifaceted and often unknowable state. Those same characteristics that lead people to be religious are also the same that allow people to believe the lies of a charlatan conman. Anything to avoid confronting this life with all its uncertainty.
They certainly do have much larger brains. But those who study intelligence in different creatures suspect that what's more important than absolute size is the brain to body weight ratio. Ravens, crows, and parrots are also very smart, possibly on a par with cetaceans and likely with elephants. Being able to manipulate stuff influences evolution of intelligence, and humans, chimps, and bonobos have that over the others, although elephants have finger like appendages on the ends of their trunks. And the general principle raises questions about whether one day squirrels and raccoons might develop high levels of intelligence.
You are not alone in being way out in front of that upcoming dramatization; tfg's handlers (yuk) have thought of that too, likely already have a prescient narrative for the poor actor to give mouth to. In my mind's eye I foresee tfg in a fortune teller type wrap (like Johnny Carson doing his schtick) alluding he foresaw this all in a dream state, hence the early announcement of 'place.' Egads, sometimes I hate my imagination....
Now that's an image I can't unsee... T**** dressed up as Carnac The Magnificent. Not funny, McGee (as my father used to say), though it was when Johnny did it.
I think, now that donnie is visiting, the correct pronounciation is Wacko.
Ex-president Wacko and his rally cult. The only way to keep them brainwashed is to continue the mind-control rally tactics. Just like Adolf used. A LOT of similarities.
Hmmmm -- I doubt anyone is going stop saying Way-co but that explains why my mother pronounced the plane she earned her pilot's license in as Wacko. Age 19, 1939. At 5'4", she had to put blocks of wood on the pedals. She didn't continue flying however, took it up just to show her two older brothers she could do what they could do. I just looked the plane up online and hadn't realized it was a biplane!
Impressive! What a hoot that she pronounced it that way! I cannot help myself ever since the Branch Davidian fiasco. Why do people want to live in such control and paranoia?
As a therapist, I should understand this. But I cannot fathom giving one's power over, especially to an idiot.
I took my niece for flying lessons every now and then beginning when she was 7, to show her what she could do. And she was good frm the get-go. On her very first flight, the instructor gave her an extra take-off and landing. Years later, she thanked me for it.
Read “Being the War Home” -Kathleen Belew, to learn more about McVeigh and Nichols, the vulnerability of white veterans, and how radicalization works, and the modern merger among anti gov, white nationalism and white supremacy,
My dream. But my then brother-in-law was a firm believer in the bull Schitt of the day and bought the whole scenario. He was a “Christian” believer who had no brain of his own. Belief is permission to ignore reality. How convenient and stupid.
I usually take a brief look at Twitter evey couple of days or so. Today, attendees at the TFG rally in Waco scheduled for tomorrow are smiling and waving for the cameras. Keep smiling and waving! That way it’ll be easier to identify you on the surveillance tapes when you follow TFG’s marching orders to use violence in some twisted, white nationalist, Christo-facist, false narrative you do dearly love to hear. You’re not special, you’re next. (I also posted this in Civil Discourse)
It pains me greatly to say it, but maybe "another "OKC" is what it will take to shake people out of their complacency. Words alone don't seem to be able to do it and we all know that actions do seem to speak louder. January 6th was the wake-up call that it can happen here. And then, even THAT event didn't awaken an entire political party out of its relentless pursuit of power in the guise of a false prophet. Maybe it will have to be an even more dramatic event, as if taking over our national capitol wasn't dramatic enough. The Republican party is now officially "lost", in my book. After the most recent occurrences: T***p essentially calling up followers to indulge in violence; the Manhattan DA receiving a death threat in the form of (benign) white powder in an envelope; and MTG and the "Free-DUMB" caucus delegation visiting the six 1/6 insurrectionists being held in prison (a pre-trial motion because they are considered a flight risk and are seen as "dangerous to the community") and treating them like heroes. And in response to these things, what has been the response of the so-called "leadership" of the Republican party?? Crickets. Not one word of condemnation. In fact, Rep. Gym Jordan's response to being shown what T***p threatened was to say he hadn't seen it because "he can't read well without his glasses". That's how serious they take this. To dislodge these reprobates out of their "slumber", I'm sorry to say, it may take something particularly dire to get them to finally wake up and stand up for what is right. These extremists that have absconded with the party, including their Orange Jesus, are more than ever emboldened to do and say ANYTHING because there is no need to fear repercussions anymore. If anything does happen, the blame can now wholly be laid at the feet of Donald J T***p.
Well said, Bruce! A former president of this country, and an almost indicted criminal threatening death and destruction to his 'fellow Americans', those real people that make this country great (as opposed to those who don't know anything about governing) should be condemned, not only by upright citizens, but at least by some of the 70 Millions that used to vote for that 'person'. "...If anything does happen, the blame can now wholly be laid at the feet of Donald J T***p..." And with any luck, he (tfg) will NOT get away with (literally) murder again.
100%. We have forgotten how many of Hitler's Nazi's went to their graves remaining true belivers. The same for Japanese people in Saipan. If it takes an unspeakable tragedy to break true belivers from the demagogue's spell, that's definitely a cult, right?
Elisabeth, every word you posted! I just said to my husband yesterday morning when he asked who else could we run that would win? Whitmer! She brings the receipts. Try taking away women’s rights while the country elects our first woman president.
I agree with every shred of my being...but never forget that the U.S is still very much part of a misogynstic culture. The first female president of this country will have to be an extraordinary human.
I cannot forget that the election of the first Black president unleashed the racism that we're seeing today in the dismantling of the VRA. If a woman were to be elected, would we appeal the 19th Amendment?
I find it bizarre that we can't elect a woman president, when Germany, New Zealand, and other countries have had female leaders. So much misogyny. Women are also held to a much higher standard than men.
I like her but is she tough enough. At this point I don't know and don't want to find out on the debate stage. The only woman that I believe could really stand up to a Trumpian onslaught of sexism, racist, misogynistic lies doesn't want the job; she doesn't fear for her country enough yet. I believe Michelle could have won in '16 and she could still do it today if she could generate and tap into the moral outrage that this old white guy feels everyday when I contemplate what these traitors want to do to our country.
I don't think Michelle wants the job, and you have to WANT it to do it well. I certainly believe she could, but I wouldn't push someone into it who doesn't really want it.
That is exactly what makes her such a good choice. One of the first history lessons I remember was of the Roman general, Cincinnatus, who also did not want the job, but was a great leader. I also feel that Governor Whitmer is definitely tough enough, and I think she has the necessary 'fire in the belly' for the office. Were she to run, she would have my vote.
What is your description of “tough enough”? Also I find one of the most misogynistic thing people do is to call women by their first names. If you have to distinguish them from their husbands, please include the last name.
A great big standing ovation for the state of Michigan. Gretchen Whitmer, and a host of other wonderful politicians in Michigan are restoring order and pride in that state. A model for other states to follow including mine (TN). But their enemies are numerous and powerful and devious. The trick there is to hold onto power for the long term.
For those of us who often feel powerless to stop the current round of Republican nonsense, PBS is running a documentary about how the anti-Vietnam War protests actually stopped Nixon from his planned escalation of the war, including nuclear threats.
My PBS station is premiering it Tuesday evening on American Experience “The Movement and the Madman”. Also available on the PBS app.
As someone who watched the protests and felt at the time they did nothing, I’m looking forward to seeing that they did have a big effect.
Thanks for the heads-up. As someone who was there as a participant in both of the Vietnam Moratoriums, they were incredibly important - it was the moment the antiwar movement became really strong. For anyone who wasn't there, you really should watch this. 9pm Tuesday local times. Mark it now!
She does this despite the threat to her life, don't forget. Now it's also Alvin Bragg and the grand jury. These days the military isn't the only place one risks one's life for their country.
We in Michigan are so grateful for Governor Whitmer’s leadership- she is fantastic. Waco is a tragedy that should never have happened. One would think that high level law enforcement officials would have enough education and street smarts to be able to tell the difference between gun loving criminals (Give me an excuse to use my guns, go on, I dare you), political terrorists (Advertise my agenda, please- or else), True prophets (Love is all there is, be kind to those who hurt you), and raving paranoid schizophrenics, “If you do not obey me, the world will end in fire!!!) To which group does it seem David Koresh fit? If you just want to fight anyone who disagrees with you, you are a terrorist or a criminal. If God (or whatever) is telling you to love everyone, you are a saint- carry on. If you feel afraid of people who are not like you and God starts telling you that the people who pray to some different God, or people with blue eyes, or brown skin should be punished, or are out to get you!, there is medication that will calm the demons and leave your actual faith intact. If criminals and terrorists try to steal your land and children, rape you and and castrate your menfolk, it’s ok to fight back with everything you’ve got. These categories are pretty clear cut in my head, you know? Somebody who tells you to love everyone , but you will get special favors if you give that person more of your money, edges rapidly from prophet status toward con artist. It really isn’t that complicated.
Many of us here in northern Michigan love "Big Gretch." Her cottage (where those lunatics surveilled her with plans to kidnap her) is in the village I live in. Not exactly the spotlight we were looking for when promoting our beautiful village.
Gretchen Whitmer is fantastic! Thank you, dear Heather, for your concise, clear and factual accounting of how the working class in America has been completely betrayed by the Repugnants. I hope she runs for president at some point. My seat belt is fastened and my popcorn is waiting to go into the frying pan! Have a good weekend! All here should watch “Waco” on Netflix. An incredible documentary short series I watched two nights ago. A MUST WATCH.
There's a dramatization coming in April on Showtime. "Waco: The Aftermath" deals with the trials of the surviving Branch Davidians. The series follows the trials of the surviving members of the Branch Davidian sect and the rise of Timothy McVeigh. Showtime says the five-episode series also “provides a broader context for the escalation of the American militia movement, which foreshadows the infamous attacks of the Oklahoma City bombing and the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.” On Showtime April 16, 30th anniversary of the end of the event.
TC, you should also watch “Bowling For Columbine” which links the first mass school shooting in Littleton, CO (headquarters of Lockheed Martin….) to the militia movement. It’s free on YouTube this weekend, thanks to Michael Moore, and he links Timothy McVeigh to all you have described. Incredible. I live in India and don’t have Showtime, but the Netflix documentary is really worth watching. Have a good weekend! Liz
I watched it yesterday on Youtube. Horrifying and depressing. Everyone should see it. I'll never watch another Charleston Heston film. What a sleazeball.
Free this weekend on Michael Moore's site:
https://youtu.be/wScIMiWT_dw
Thanks for the link, Mary Pat
I just spent 2 hours watching this movie. Thank you so much....it explains so much as to why there are so many shooting in our country! I wonder how much money Heston has been paid over the years from the NRA! And I agree with Carolyn! It was so hard to control my tears!
Charleston Heston is not Mosses? What is the psyche of gun worshipers? The majority of Americans do not own a gun yet the gun world prevails. It is amazing how the world's oldest democracy ain't very democratic. In recent times two, that is 2 presidents elected by less than a majority of the vote. And look what those two did to us. For the sake of this country and the world can't we fix it?
I’d like to see the NRA’s book keeping. Where does the majority of their funding come from? Is it from $30 memberships? Or from gun manufacturers? Is it from foreign sources like Alexander Torshin, brokering for GOP influence?
Follow the rubles. All my hunter friend's quit the NRA years, decades ago, when they (the NRA) switched from gun safety to gun selling.
“Since 2004, fundraising revenue from contributions has grown twice as fast as income from membership dues. The $96.4 million in contributions in 2013 represented a 108.2% increase over the $46.3 million in contributions in 2004. This difference can be attributed to a shift in fundraising strategy starting in 2005, when the NRA put more focus on soliciting donations from individuals and corporations (including 22 gun manufacturers). As a result, the NRA’s finances became more entwined with the success of the gun industry. “ (seems like a decent source 🤷🏻♀️)
https://amarkfoundation.org/nra-funding/
Alzheimer's victim, i seem to recall.
He was the epitome of “I’ve got it, piss on you.” Horrid excuse for a man…
I haven’t watched even The Ten Commandments in years because of Heston.
Imagine that. An America loving 2nd amendment advocate!
How could anyone respect that.
What if he spit on the flag? And was a gay American hating communist?
What a pathetic post. Everything is political for leftists.
Carolyn Nafziger: Something from your comment, and this whole string, made me want to refresh my memory of Charlton Heston, and googling immediately led me to this interesting link, his last interview, with Peter Jennings a few years before Heston died. It's only 6 minutes long. I highly recommend it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkS5i8qpEXA
Thank you for the link. I watched it, and it certainly gave another, and softer, aspect of Heston. (I actually used to love his films.) I spoke in the heat of anger about what was shown in Bowling for Columbine - and have very strong feelings about the shocking conviction some people have that the 2nd amendment bestows the right to collect murderous weapons and strut around with them, and Heston certainly promoted that idea.
Maybe I would feel different about this Heston interview had I not just watched "Bowling for Columbine". I feel he had a lot of blood on his hands and doesn't deserve to be another statue for the brutality in our country. How is it that I didn't see all the hate in our country until tfg became president of the USA.
Because the haters were emboldened to rise up out of their hidey holes once they believed they were under the protection of tfg. Won't they be surprised when the underside of a fleet of buses is where he kicks them, sooner or later.
It illustrates, for me that two very different aspects of a person, humility and strength vs. blind and dangerous thinking, can exist in the same person. I stopped watching his movies after he came out as a gun nut supporting the domestic terrorist organization - the NRA.
J. Nol, I sure understand that! I don't think I ever linked my movie-going with his abhorrent views. But was certainly aware of them!
Was that supposed to make me feel sorry for him?
An unfortunate ending of life for anyone. Even Charlton Heston.
This kind of suffering and how the disease affects the brain raises a large reservoir of compassion! No exceptions.
Columbine was kind of the "high water mark" of school shootings before the 21st century. In 1998, I worked a mass shooting in Springfield, Oregon a year before Columbine, where 20 kids were shot and two killed by a classmate armed with a .22 rifle. The difference between Columbine and Thurston was the AR-15 that the two shooters at Columbine had. There were other mass shooting events in 1998, one in Paducah, KY killing three and injuring 5 using a .22 pistol and another in Arkansas also killing 5.
The shooting at Columbine changed law enforcement responses to school shootings, where "contain, isolate, and negotiate" was replaced with "form a hasty team and go stop the shooting". Sadly, this was not the practice at Uvalde.
I'm going to watch "Bowling for Columbine" this weekend; I had not watched in previously and have mostly stayed away from these types of presentations. At almost 10 years retired, I think I am far enough removed from being "in the trenches" to be able to watch this.
The trenches can return, or the feeling of being there, can return in an instant. Watch carefully, with a friend if possible who can turn it off for you if necessary.
Thanks. I won't watch it alone. One of my collateral duties (and a hat that I still wear as a volunteer) is that of Peer Support, something that I believe very strongly in.
Hugs.
https://youtu.be/wScIMiWT_dw
Thank you right back. And just in case you missed other comments, it is "ma'am" (although call me anything but late for dinner!)
Michael Moore posted it free this weekend.
I found it on YouTube, no problem.
Thank you for these ideas for becoming educated. Another documentary that shows how corporate greed misdirects excellence and working class success watch:” Downfall,the case against Boeing” This has so much relevance to todays actions on Wall Street.
I saw Andrew Brady lose on Jeopardy last week, but he said he just wrote a book about "Conscious Capitalism." Intrigued, I immediately googled him. Here is a TED talk he did that sums up my view of what capitalism must be, and Andrew provides the data to prove it is more profitable!
https://youtu.be/eHZAqpvdkMw
P.S. Andrew is a WINNER in my book!
Thank you for the link... I missed that Jeopardy episode (the show is on my 'must watch' list but sometimes I forget to set the DVR). I agree, he is a winner.
Sounds interesting, will check it out!
Elizabeth,
I did just go to youtube, but, for me at least, I still have to buy it, it is not free. I will see if it is at my library as a DVD. thanks for the pointer.
Michael Moore has his own channel. Should be free for all.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wScIMiWT_dw
Thank you!
Try this from Michael Moore's site:
https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelmoore/p/guns-dont-kill-people-americans-kill?r=7ygy0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Michael Moore posted a link in his substack yesterday to make the YouTube video free. It was a little tricky to get it to cast to my TV, but I eventually did. It's definitely worth the trouble.
https://youtu.be/wScIMiWT_dw
Thank you as well.
It is weird how we humans can get sucked into the circular thinking of cults. Like the Heavens Gate folks who took cyanide in order to join the alleged spaceship hidden in the tail of the comet Hale-Bopp. At least they didn't take any bystanders with them. We need to inculcate mental virus detection and removal. The scientific method helps.
JL,
"how we humans can get sucked into the circular thinking of cults"
Belief is ever so much more powerful, and attractive, than the complex, multi-faceted, multi-angle truth.
Belief gives us simplicity and certainty whereas the truth is always complex and multifaceted and often has both sides of good and evil represented.
Belief is easy. A few catch phrases ("Love your neighbor" pops into my mind, but, add any catch phrase here) and off to the races you go. "Make America Great Again" is another one. "Heil Hitler" is another good one.
Belief is easy, uncomplicated, gives us a tribe of others who believe the same thing, gives us confidence (belief requires no complicated moral system, for example, sex before marriage? Going straight to hail you are my young friend).
Lastly, belief makes ME RIGHT! What could be better than me being right ALL THE TIME? Heck, even my WIFE would listen to me (well, so much for that in my house, BUT, IF I were ultra religious, then, that would be a rule she would have to follow).
See? That is how anyone, at any time, can be sucked into BELIEF systems.
It is hard to live in reality. Painful. People might disagree with me/you. People might point out my flaws (and we all know I am perfect, especially I know that). I might have to THINK for myself!!
Dang, that whole reality thing? it is hard, painful, requires me to question my own thinking instead of thinking everyone else is wrong!
Give me belief any day JL. Easy street is for everyone, me included.
I was raised by flawed, but reasonable parents who felt that education was the path to a better life. That was their belief for their children, having no such opportunity themselves. Church bull Schitt was filled with human frailty, education exposed such. When chump came up with “MAGA,” I thought, no one is stupid enough to buy that. Ugh here we are, “easy street” it won’t be. Just a lure for the “belief-laden” fools. I call bull Schitt on your beliefs handed down by Rupert Murdoch from on high (Fox money machine). Cults are proof that there’s a sucker born every minute, and they reproduce and metastasize. Where is the inclination to question? It’s what my education (and common sense) taught me.
Jeri,
So, I had the good fortune to emanate from East Texas where Belief marked your caliber as a human being. IF you listened aptly to the white man Baptist Preacher spitting, crying and yelling at the front of the church, well, you were 0.30 caliber Christian!!
BUT, if you echoed that Baptist Preacher "Son, if you have sex before marriage you ARE GOING TO HELL", well, you were a 0.50 Caliber Christian.
So, all of us boys at the back of the church trying not to look at all of the girls wearing sheer shirts and dresses revealing their bras? Well, we all KNEW were were headed straight to hellfire.
It took me a BS in Chemical Engineering and then a PhD in Chemical Engineering at a huge liberal University (yes, the University of Texas, Austin) to work my way to an understanding of where my "belief" fits into my reality.
And, it also helped for me to NOT listen to the Baptist Preacher BUT to actually read the sermon on the Mount and some of that stuff about "judge not lest ye be judged".
So, I blended a passion for the truth with a philosophy taught 2000 years ago (that I fairly often fail to adhere to) and off I went.
Meet me today. I am a Texas "hoot" at these high brow northern dinner parties. No doubt about it.
Mike S--I understand what you're driving at, but don't blame the women and girls and their clothing. They did nothing to encourage you or your thoughts. If modern society--everywhere in the world--would put the responsibility of behavior on men rather than on the women they objectify and sexualize, we'd be a lot better off.
And this is exactly why the republicans are working to become a cult, a major thrust of which program is to take over the education system, from bottom to top. Let ‘us’ decide, under the guise of ‘parents' rights’, who gets to learn what (no to 1619, no to learning about 'others', however defined…gay, lesbian, trans, male, female, intersex, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, Sikh, Buddhist……doesn't matter the 'difference'…), when (no talk about menstrual cycles until 6th grade!), and how (no comparisons, no exploration, just the ‘facts’ we make available (get rid of the internet, and let us control the AI bots to spew our truths and alternative facts.) In all cases, trash the libs, denigrate the intelligentsia’s pretensions to knowledge, science be damned (one of my cousins got better from Covid with Ivermectin, but my uncle lost his left testicle after getting the Covid vaccination). Create so much chaos and noise that everything reasonable is drowned out and the only recourse for action is to follow the loud, irascible voice of the fat guy with the Betadine face and blond hair in the blue suit. He's more than easily identifiable; he's omnipresent, thanks to the media. In all cases, make sure our guys are armed to the teeth with rapid-fire guns, just to make sure you can protect your right to ‘protect’ whatever the leader tells you to fight like hell for.
I remember those preachers, except they were “Pilgrim Holiness,” in my case. Some of the “tent preachers” could put the fear into any young soul. Yes, the Jesus reality is lost today on the one’s expounding the loudest. Lordy
I was the bane of my parents' existence because I was born - without a silver spoon in my mouth - but with the word "WHY?" popping out at every turn. Today, 81 years later, that word still pops out - more so in these times than ever before.
Now you have me trying to decide between "Why" and "No longer Available for Comment" on my urn.
Julia.
Uh Oh. Why is not a good word if talking to a religious person or a Republican. As Trump might say: "Not good".
Yes, Jeri, which is why we must support public schools, pay teachers a living wage, have free community college, teach the liberal arts, and know good science when it’s offered. Our greatest wealth is our ability to think rationally.
It's time to bring back the sideshow freaks that the old-time circuses featured. They flourished because they knew that 'there's one born every minute,' as pointed out by Ms. Chilcutt. Without them, the suckers turn to politics and religion which cause more harm than bearded ladies or two-headed farm animals ever did.
You absolutely MUST read Elmer Gantry.
By Sinclair Lewis. Third best book of my life behind Dr. Richardson's To Make Men Free: A History of the Republican Party and the 1619 Book Project.
Who can argue with your "beliefs"? For christ's sake, ugh.
:-)
Well, if you do, you are wrong!! And, not just wrong but evil!!
Well said, Mike. I call it the "slippery grayness of truth"...belief is black and white: no uncertainty. Truth is gray, slippery, easy to miss; hard to pin down, requires a lot of thought/work and is chock full of uncertainty. Little wonder so many people are easily seduced by "belief".
Good or bad, belief is a shortcut to thinking. It comes more from the brain, which unfortunately can be manipulated by voices of strangers. It's also different from faith, which comes from the heart and gut and is mysterious and unexplainable. Belief systems usually originate from people with agendas.
"belief is a shortcut to thinking"
absolutely!
Thanks TL.
Belief also drowns out the fact that we often don't know and we don't have to reckon with uncertainty. I would also take issue with the whole idea of good and evil, which are both human constructs. Life, indeed is complex, and we don't know or may never know all the answers. But in nature there is no good or evil. There is just life in all its multifaceted and often unknowable state. Those same characteristics that lead people to be religious are also the same that allow people to believe the lies of a charlatan conman. Anything to avoid confronting this life with all its uncertainty.
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer" Stevie Wonder
https://youtu.be/ftdZ363R9kQ
Thank you for the link.
H. sapiens. Big brains. Don't know how to use 'em. They don't come with a user manual.
I do believe whales, elephants and Dolphins all have much larger brains.
and, oh, yes, Mice.
:-)
They certainly do have much larger brains. But those who study intelligence in different creatures suspect that what's more important than absolute size is the brain to body weight ratio. Ravens, crows, and parrots are also very smart, possibly on a par with cetaceans and likely with elephants. Being able to manipulate stuff influences evolution of intelligence, and humans, chimps, and bonobos have that over the others, although elephants have finger like appendages on the ends of their trunks. And the general principle raises questions about whether one day squirrels and raccoons might develop high levels of intelligence.
And what cult nut knows what that is…
You are not alone in being way out in front of that upcoming dramatization; tfg's handlers (yuk) have thought of that too, likely already have a prescient narrative for the poor actor to give mouth to. In my mind's eye I foresee tfg in a fortune teller type wrap (like Johnny Carson doing his schtick) alluding he foresaw this all in a dream state, hence the early announcement of 'place.' Egads, sometimes I hate my imagination....
Now that's an image I can't unsee... T**** dressed up as Carnac The Magnificent. Not funny, McGee (as my father used to say), though it was when Johnny did it.
"Waco" is on Netflix now.
I think, now that donnie is visiting, the correct pronounciation is Wacko.
Ex-president Wacko and his rally cult. The only way to keep them brainwashed is to continue the mind-control rally tactics. Just like Adolf used. A LOT of similarities.
Hmmmm -- I doubt anyone is going stop saying Way-co but that explains why my mother pronounced the plane she earned her pilot's license in as Wacko. Age 19, 1939. At 5'4", she had to put blocks of wood on the pedals. She didn't continue flying however, took it up just to show her two older brothers she could do what they could do. I just looked the plane up online and hadn't realized it was a biplane!
Impressive! What a hoot that she pronounced it that way! I cannot help myself ever since the Branch Davidian fiasco. Why do people want to live in such control and paranoia?
As a therapist, I should understand this. But I cannot fathom giving one's power over, especially to an idiot.
I took my niece for flying lessons every now and then beginning when she was 7, to show her what she could do. And she was good frm the get-go. On her very first flight, the instructor gave her an extra take-off and landing. Years later, she thanked me for it.
Kudos to your mother!
Read “Being the War Home” -Kathleen Belew, to learn more about McVeigh and Nichols, the vulnerability of white veterans, and how radicalization works, and the modern merger among anti gov, white nationalism and white supremacy,
https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674286078
Waco: American Apocalypse is on Netflix. Watched the first 2 episodes last night. Highly recommend.
There's hope Mary Trump's smart ruse ensures that there are not hundreds of thousands of spectators at this overhyped rally...
I agree. There won’t be hundreds of thousands anywhere. But keep as many visuals of “no one” there as possible.
Suppose they give an insurrection, and no one comes?
My dream. But my then brother-in-law was a firm believer in the bull Schitt of the day and bought the whole scenario. He was a “Christian” believer who had no brain of his own. Belief is permission to ignore reality. How convenient and stupid.
Don’t give “them” any ideas…..lol!
lol ~
I usually take a brief look at Twitter evey couple of days or so. Today, attendees at the TFG rally in Waco scheduled for tomorrow are smiling and waving for the cameras. Keep smiling and waving! That way it’ll be easier to identify you on the surveillance tapes when you follow TFG’s marching orders to use violence in some twisted, white nationalist, Christo-facist, false narrative you do dearly love to hear. You’re not special, you’re next. (I also posted this in Civil Discourse)
How many New Tim McVeighs will the Waco rally awaken? We can’t afford another OKC.
It pains me greatly to say it, but maybe "another "OKC" is what it will take to shake people out of their complacency. Words alone don't seem to be able to do it and we all know that actions do seem to speak louder. January 6th was the wake-up call that it can happen here. And then, even THAT event didn't awaken an entire political party out of its relentless pursuit of power in the guise of a false prophet. Maybe it will have to be an even more dramatic event, as if taking over our national capitol wasn't dramatic enough. The Republican party is now officially "lost", in my book. After the most recent occurrences: T***p essentially calling up followers to indulge in violence; the Manhattan DA receiving a death threat in the form of (benign) white powder in an envelope; and MTG and the "Free-DUMB" caucus delegation visiting the six 1/6 insurrectionists being held in prison (a pre-trial motion because they are considered a flight risk and are seen as "dangerous to the community") and treating them like heroes. And in response to these things, what has been the response of the so-called "leadership" of the Republican party?? Crickets. Not one word of condemnation. In fact, Rep. Gym Jordan's response to being shown what T***p threatened was to say he hadn't seen it because "he can't read well without his glasses". That's how serious they take this. To dislodge these reprobates out of their "slumber", I'm sorry to say, it may take something particularly dire to get them to finally wake up and stand up for what is right. These extremists that have absconded with the party, including their Orange Jesus, are more than ever emboldened to do and say ANYTHING because there is no need to fear repercussions anymore. If anything does happen, the blame can now wholly be laid at the feet of Donald J T***p.
Well said, Bruce! A former president of this country, and an almost indicted criminal threatening death and destruction to his 'fellow Americans', those real people that make this country great (as opposed to those who don't know anything about governing) should be condemned, not only by upright citizens, but at least by some of the 70 Millions that used to vote for that 'person'. "...If anything does happen, the blame can now wholly be laid at the feet of Donald J T***p..." And with any luck, he (tfg) will NOT get away with (literally) murder again.
100%. We have forgotten how many of Hitler's Nazi's went to their graves remaining true belivers. The same for Japanese people in Saipan. If it takes an unspeakable tragedy to break true belivers from the demagogue's spell, that's definitely a cult, right?
Absolutely. Watch this, and tell me this is not a cult:
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1639358835302227972
Uh oh...what did I miss??! Something cool?!
Elisabeth, every word you posted! I just said to my husband yesterday morning when he asked who else could we run that would win? Whitmer! She brings the receipts. Try taking away women’s rights while the country elects our first woman president.
I agree with every shred of my being...but never forget that the U.S is still very much part of a misogynstic culture. The first female president of this country will have to be an extraordinary human.
I cannot forget that the election of the first Black president unleashed the racism that we're seeing today in the dismantling of the VRA. If a woman were to be elected, would we appeal the 19th Amendment?
Don't give 'em ideas, Ally. ;)
I find it bizarre that we can't elect a woman president, when Germany, New Zealand, and other countries have had female leaders. So much misogyny. Women are also held to a much higher standard than men.
I like her but is she tough enough. At this point I don't know and don't want to find out on the debate stage. The only woman that I believe could really stand up to a Trumpian onslaught of sexism, racist, misogynistic lies doesn't want the job; she doesn't fear for her country enough yet. I believe Michelle could have won in '16 and she could still do it today if she could generate and tap into the moral outrage that this old white guy feels everyday when I contemplate what these traitors want to do to our country.
I don't think Michelle wants the job, and you have to WANT it to do it well. I certainly believe she could, but I wouldn't push someone into it who doesn't really want it.
That is exactly what makes her such a good choice. One of the first history lessons I remember was of the Roman general, Cincinnatus, who also did not want the job, but was a great leader. I also feel that Governor Whitmer is definitely tough enough, and I think she has the necessary 'fire in the belly' for the office. Were she to run, she would have my vote.
What is your description of “tough enough”? Also I find one of the most misogynistic thing people do is to call women by their first names. If you have to distinguish them from their husbands, please include the last name.
A great big standing ovation for the state of Michigan. Gretchen Whitmer, and a host of other wonderful politicians in Michigan are restoring order and pride in that state. A model for other states to follow including mine (TN). But their enemies are numerous and powerful and devious. The trick there is to hold onto power for the long term.
We agree!
For those of us who often feel powerless to stop the current round of Republican nonsense, PBS is running a documentary about how the anti-Vietnam War protests actually stopped Nixon from his planned escalation of the war, including nuclear threats.
My PBS station is premiering it Tuesday evening on American Experience “The Movement and the Madman”. Also available on the PBS app.
As someone who watched the protests and felt at the time they did nothing, I’m looking forward to seeing that they did have a big effect.
Thanks for the heads-up. As someone who was there as a participant in both of the Vietnam Moratoriums, they were incredibly important - it was the moment the antiwar movement became really strong. For anyone who wasn't there, you really should watch this. 9pm Tuesday local times. Mark it now!
She does this despite the threat to her life, don't forget. Now it's also Alvin Bragg and the grand jury. These days the military isn't the only place one risks one's life for their country.
We in Michigan are so grateful for Governor Whitmer’s leadership- she is fantastic. Waco is a tragedy that should never have happened. One would think that high level law enforcement officials would have enough education and street smarts to be able to tell the difference between gun loving criminals (Give me an excuse to use my guns, go on, I dare you), political terrorists (Advertise my agenda, please- or else), True prophets (Love is all there is, be kind to those who hurt you), and raving paranoid schizophrenics, “If you do not obey me, the world will end in fire!!!) To which group does it seem David Koresh fit? If you just want to fight anyone who disagrees with you, you are a terrorist or a criminal. If God (or whatever) is telling you to love everyone, you are a saint- carry on. If you feel afraid of people who are not like you and God starts telling you that the people who pray to some different God, or people with blue eyes, or brown skin should be punished, or are out to get you!, there is medication that will calm the demons and leave your actual faith intact. If criminals and terrorists try to steal your land and children, rape you and and castrate your menfolk, it’s ok to fight back with everything you’ve got. These categories are pretty clear cut in my head, you know? Somebody who tells you to love everyone , but you will get special favors if you give that person more of your money, edges rapidly from prophet status toward con artist. It really isn’t that complicated.
Many of us here in northern Michigan love "Big Gretch." Her cottage (where those lunatics surveilled her with plans to kidnap her) is in the village I live in. Not exactly the spotlight we were looking for when promoting our beautiful village.