I have hope because people like you are educating people like us so that we can respond creatively and intelligently to the problems in our nation and our world.
I have hope because people like you are educating people like us so that we can respond creatively and intelligently to the problems in our nation and our world.
Responding "creatively and intelligently to the problems in our nation and our world" is exactly the process supported by democracy, rather than the limitations of the politics of inevitability, as articulated by Timothy Snyder with Ezra Klein. If anyone missed it, this is a very worthwhile listen to the podcast or a read of the transcript, including on the power of words, Putin's take on history and the Ukraine, and Ukrainians' self-determination.
But my friends who religiously watch Fox and listen to Conservative radio just repeat the lies they hear on these venues. They won't read "Letters from an American". Too Liberal. I have great fear of the midterm election. Too many people want to go back 50 years and eliminate the advances we made in our society. They fear anything "new".
Hi Sharon, I live in the formerly deep red state of Georgia and we are beyond worried about going back! WeтАЩre focusing on voting and keeping the conversation open.
And I live in the RED Red state of Idaho, where our governor signed an anti-abortion bill last week similar to TX. GOOD GRIEF! I used to feel like a blip of blue in the red mire, yet I have carefully found a handful of people who add to my blueness and help me feel stronger. I found a FB group Idaho Women for Biden/Harris. That REALLY helped. Perhaps there is a similar group for IN.
We can outvote Republicans but in at least 19 states (so far) the state legislatures have given themselves to power to not accept the voters' choice if the legislature decides not to accept the results, and... I think...certify the losing candidate instead[ if the legislature prefers that candidate.
I read more liberal learning news papers on line, watch one of the big 3 mainstream news channels and rely on HCR letters and ect for the real meat and potatoes to what is going on. I have been racking my brain on how do we have the the miss informed come over to the light. I wonder if it has to do with the psychology of feeling like a fool for doing something dumb? That feeling you have when you realize that you were wrong about something? Pride is a deadly sin. You feel like a fool when you realize that you were off base.
Besides these letters every morning, I also listen to HCR Facebook chats on Tuesdays. She speaks about to change the ideas we have to take up oxygen. By showing there is an other side to the argument. With out heat when we do it. Pointing what we both believe in that we have in common. Writing to our local papers, pushing the other mainstream media news outlets, to focus what Biden is doing right. If we here can all be a pebble in the water imagine the profound impact we can have.
"I have been racking my brain on how do we have the the miss informed come over to the light." Jake, I rack my brain too. I spent a large amount of my adult life in the Seattle area. One gets a particular mindset there - it is a progressive place with progressive people and progressive ideas. It has its problems. but in general the place benefits greatly from the mindset of its citizens. Why is it that way? I don't know. It needs to be that way everywhere. But I have been living in the Memphis area for more than a decade now, in a conservative suburb. It is a different planet. Living here has been a revelation. And that revelation is that bringing the misinformed to the light is not going to happen by and large. Just like the recent e-mail exchange between Mark Meadows and Ginny Thomas reveals, their minds are made up. No amount of evidence to the contrary will change anything. And they HATE us. It's either religious fervor, outright racism, disdain for all things modern, or what you suspect - pride and unwillingness to consider something different from what they have taken as truth all their effin' lives. It's a powerful thing. The vast majority of them are not going to change. We can thank Trump for making them more politically powerful than in the past. And that is our challenge. I do believe there are more of "us" than "them". It's a war, they are not playing fair, and we have to win at the ballot box. The biggest criticism I have of our side is apathy.
Apathy is a big issue as well as taking the defense to the rights offense. We need to drive the conversation, not respond to misinformation. If we say these books are worth reading because of X,Y,Z. Or do you really want to live in a state that says you can't buy condoms or other forms of birth control? I also feel it's time we show up at school board meetings regardless of whether we have kids in school or not. Someone else needs to stand up and say no I don't see it that way.
We are neighbors, Jay. Living inside the city, however, our blue shines a bit brighter. The burbs of many cities across the US remain red (often white, privileged populations), as youтАЩre probably well aware. Even we white, privileged folk can do our part to call out others with our actions to recruit votes. ЁЯТЩ
тЭдя╕П Sharon, Your bright spirit and kindness have blessed the forum. It is time now for me to follow other worthwhile pursuits. With appreciation and warm wishes to you and your family, always.
Tuesday at 4pm eastern time for politics and history and Thursday at 1pm eastern time for history. HRC is doing the whole history of the United States. It's very much in the beginning. If you look at her Facebook page you can find her live chats. And view at your leisure.
Ours has been for too long a dynamic political landscape to believe we can't and won't influence change by our own continuing education, sharing ideas wherever and whenever possible, VOTING, and INVOLVING OURSELVES WITH VOTER REGISTRATION AS WELL AS GET-OUT-THE-VOTE PROGRAMS WHERE WE LIVE. I grew up in Washington State, spent 15 years in Southern California, and have now been in Virginia for 31 years. Virginia was a reliably red state when we arrived. We have become a purple swing state. Our governor is a conservative Republican, while the legislature is still controlled by a slim democratic majority. We have two U.S. senators who are Democrats, and we have U.S. congressional from both parties. I'm so grateful for Heather's work to show us today's news through the lens of our history. I don't necessarily see that as either 'too liberal' or even liberal leaning, although she admits being a liberal at heart. She also admits agreement with some conservative ideas. But Heather's approach is to show us the political ideologies and partisans at work, then and now, ever reminding us of the trail of consequences and historic fact as a measure against what is happening today. She leaves me to decide for myself how I'd like that course corrected--or not. I share her column and links to FB talks often, and friends have picked up on this and are following suit. Repeating the truth of our history is a proactive approach to making change happen. ЁЯШК
Just do not give up! Those who are brainwashed by the propaganda are unable think for themselves, so it's vital that we step up and that each one of us does what we can to keep our democracy.
I have hope because people like you are educating people like us so that we can respond creatively and intelligently to the problems in our nation and our world.
Responding "creatively and intelligently to the problems in our nation and our world" is exactly the process supported by democracy, rather than the limitations of the politics of inevitability, as articulated by Timothy Snyder with Ezra Klein. If anyone missed it, this is a very worthwhile listen to the podcast or a read of the transcript, including on the power of words, Putin's take on history and the Ukraine, and Ukrainians' self-determination.
https://twitter.com/ezraklein/status/1503744585780109313?s=20&t=R3SO_0DW7gGAqB5EBFOILA
Thank you.
Thank-you for this link. How illuminating. Have passed it on.
Thank you so much - I missed this one.
Thanks, Ellie, for reposting this link. ItтАЩs so informative.
yes
But my friends who religiously watch Fox and listen to Conservative radio just repeat the lies they hear on these venues. They won't read "Letters from an American". Too Liberal. I have great fear of the midterm election. Too many people want to go back 50 years and eliminate the advances we made in our society. They fear anything "new".
Agreed. But there are more of us than them. It is about voter turnout. Our biggest problem is apathy.
Can't we out vote the Republican's when it comes to selection of who becomes president of the USA? I live in the Red Red State of Indiana!
Hi Sharon, I live in the formerly deep red state of Georgia and we are beyond worried about going back! WeтАЩre focusing on voting and keeping the conversation open.
It is scary!
And I live in the RED Red state of Idaho, where our governor signed an anti-abortion bill last week similar to TX. GOOD GRIEF! I used to feel like a blip of blue in the red mire, yet I have carefully found a handful of people who add to my blueness and help me feel stronger. I found a FB group Idaho Women for Biden/Harris. That REALLY helped. Perhaps there is a similar group for IN.
Yes, leserenity we have one that has gotten me through the last few years besides Heather's letters! They are wonderful!
We can outvote Republicans but in at least 19 states (so far) the state legislatures have given themselves to power to not accept the voters' choice if the legislature decides not to accept the results, and... I think...certify the losing candidate instead[ if the legislature prefers that candidate.
That scares me!
As it should scare every American voter.
I read more liberal learning news papers on line, watch one of the big 3 mainstream news channels and rely on HCR letters and ect for the real meat and potatoes to what is going on. I have been racking my brain on how do we have the the miss informed come over to the light. I wonder if it has to do with the psychology of feeling like a fool for doing something dumb? That feeling you have when you realize that you were wrong about something? Pride is a deadly sin. You feel like a fool when you realize that you were off base.
Besides these letters every morning, I also listen to HCR Facebook chats on Tuesdays. She speaks about to change the ideas we have to take up oxygen. By showing there is an other side to the argument. With out heat when we do it. Pointing what we both believe in that we have in common. Writing to our local papers, pushing the other mainstream media news outlets, to focus what Biden is doing right. If we here can all be a pebble in the water imagine the profound impact we can have.
"I have been racking my brain on how do we have the the miss informed come over to the light." Jake, I rack my brain too. I spent a large amount of my adult life in the Seattle area. One gets a particular mindset there - it is a progressive place with progressive people and progressive ideas. It has its problems. but in general the place benefits greatly from the mindset of its citizens. Why is it that way? I don't know. It needs to be that way everywhere. But I have been living in the Memphis area for more than a decade now, in a conservative suburb. It is a different planet. Living here has been a revelation. And that revelation is that bringing the misinformed to the light is not going to happen by and large. Just like the recent e-mail exchange between Mark Meadows and Ginny Thomas reveals, their minds are made up. No amount of evidence to the contrary will change anything. And they HATE us. It's either religious fervor, outright racism, disdain for all things modern, or what you suspect - pride and unwillingness to consider something different from what they have taken as truth all their effin' lives. It's a powerful thing. The vast majority of them are not going to change. We can thank Trump for making them more politically powerful than in the past. And that is our challenge. I do believe there are more of "us" than "them". It's a war, they are not playing fair, and we have to win at the ballot box. The biggest criticism I have of our side is apathy.
Apathy is a big issue as well as taking the defense to the rights offense. We need to drive the conversation, not respond to misinformation. If we say these books are worth reading because of X,Y,Z. Or do you really want to live in a state that says you can't buy condoms or other forms of birth control? I also feel it's time we show up at school board meetings regardless of whether we have kids in school or not. Someone else needs to stand up and say no I don't see it that way.
We are neighbors, Jay. Living inside the city, however, our blue shines a bit brighter. The burbs of many cities across the US remain red (often white, privileged populations), as youтАЩre probably well aware. Even we white, privileged folk can do our part to call out others with our actions to recruit votes. ЁЯТЩ
We proved that when Biden was elected. Now the Repubs are trying to do everything possible to discredit him!
тЭдя╕П Sharon, Your bright spirit and kindness have blessed the forum. It is time now for me to follow other worthwhile pursuits. With appreciation and warm wishes to you and your family, always.
Fern, your comments will be missed!
Can you tell me when are HCR facebook chats?
Tuesday at 4pm eastern time for politics and history and Thursday at 1pm eastern time for history. HRC is doing the whole history of the United States. It's very much in the beginning. If you look at her Facebook page you can find her live chats. And view at your leisure.
Thanks.
I am with you on Tuesdays, Jake and I also watch and listen to Thursday and most podcasts!
Anthony, Some of the far right want to go back to 1790, not just 50 years.
Ours has been for too long a dynamic political landscape to believe we can't and won't influence change by our own continuing education, sharing ideas wherever and whenever possible, VOTING, and INVOLVING OURSELVES WITH VOTER REGISTRATION AS WELL AS GET-OUT-THE-VOTE PROGRAMS WHERE WE LIVE. I grew up in Washington State, spent 15 years in Southern California, and have now been in Virginia for 31 years. Virginia was a reliably red state when we arrived. We have become a purple swing state. Our governor is a conservative Republican, while the legislature is still controlled by a slim democratic majority. We have two U.S. senators who are Democrats, and we have U.S. congressional from both parties. I'm so grateful for Heather's work to show us today's news through the lens of our history. I don't necessarily see that as either 'too liberal' or even liberal leaning, although she admits being a liberal at heart. She also admits agreement with some conservative ideas. But Heather's approach is to show us the political ideologies and partisans at work, then and now, ever reminding us of the trail of consequences and historic fact as a measure against what is happening today. She leaves me to decide for myself how I'd like that course corrected--or not. I share her column and links to FB talks often, and friends have picked up on this and are following suit. Repeating the truth of our history is a proactive approach to making change happen. ЁЯШК
All true, but we can each only control our own actions.
It is not 50 years. States Rights reaches back to the times of perpetuating slavery.
And honestly.
Yes.
Just do not give up! Those who are brainwashed by the propaganda are unable think for themselves, so it's vital that we step up and that each one of us does what we can to keep our democracy.
We. Can. Do. This.
ЁЯТХ