Olof, ‘Parade of the Old New’ (1939), is he poem by Brecht that you have quoted, And what are the 'new forces' that you write may not be recognized or easily dismissed? Is the incessant noise drowning them out?
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the 'mission to study the earliest stars and peer back farther into the universe's past th…
Olof, ‘Parade of the Old New’ (1939), is he poem by Brecht that you have quoted, And what are the 'new forces' that you write may not be recognized or easily dismissed? Is the incessant noise drowning them out?
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the 'mission to study the earliest stars and peer back farther into the universe's past than ever before with new look deep into nearby dust clouds to study the formation of stars and planets.' The telescope gets some if small continuing attention. In technology: sand technology; xenotransplantation, which will, perhaps, revolutionize surgery; AI image-generation; Brain reading robots; Hydrogen planes... and in other fields of knowledge...
Here in the USA we rush to decry the latest Republican cruelty or try to avoid getting sucked in. Is another of our divisions between fear and avoidance? The balance or balances between threats to democracy, achieving a civil society, maintaining rich daily lives and close relationships....does life now feel like a jumble of factions and fragments? It is crucial to recognize the 'old' menace within the so-called 'new' one.
Your comment, Olof, can call us to pause and reflect a while. Thank you.
Well, I was quoting Christoffer Hobson, and his quote of Brecht. I forgot to mention it was from 1939. Thank you Fern for adding this; that is also a reminder, of someone who very early saw the black swan coming; many did not, or dismissed it until the tide of war was turning.
Yes indeed 'incessant noise'. "Fill the internet with sh*t" is just the gross expression of it. Seeking media shadow when some big event is occupying the whole space, is more subtle but very effective.
Olof, The poem by Brecht written in 1939 represented here is another illustration of the 'old' reflecting the new. Your keen observation of Trump's and the MAGA Republicans' dual use of the media to be 'seen' and 'not seen' also contributes to our understanding of how we are being manipulated.
Today’s Letter reminded us repeatedly to see the country’s past in the MAGA Republicans’ claims that they are fighting for our liberty against what they call a ‘tyrannical government. See the ‘old’ demons in the words and actions in the current Republican Party.
‘Today the Senate approved a short-term extension of government funding to prevent a shutdown.’
‘Behind this measure is a potential nightmare scenario. MAGA Republicans have already threatened to refuse to fund the government unless President Joe Biden and the Democrats reverse all their policies.’ (Letter)
‘Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned then that a default “could trigger a spike in interest rates, a steep drop in stock prices and other financial turmoil. Our current economic recovery would reverse into recession,… Moody's Analytics warned that a default would cost up to 6 million jobs, create an unemployment rate of nearly 9%, and wipe out $15 trillion in household wealth.' (Letter)
‘This plan is an echo of an effort by former Confederate leaders to destroy the federal government’s Reconstruction policies by withholding funds until the president did as they demanded. In 1879, having taken control of both houses of Congress during a recession, Democrats believed they had a mandate to get rid of federal protection of Black rights. Insisting they were fighting for liberty from a tyrannical government…' (Letter)
See the ‘old’ in the MAGA Republicans are claiming as ‘new’.
‘Cartoonist Thomas Nast drew an image of Fort Sumter, the installation in Charleston Harbor fired on by Confederate troops in April 1861, with the caption: “REVOLUTIONARY, AS USUAL—It is not the first time that an attempt has been made to stop the Government.” Three weeks later, the cover of Harper’s Weekly showed a skeletal U.S. soldier, starved at the infamous Andersonville prison camp, as a symbol of the starvation of the government.’ (Letter)
Olof, ‘Parade of the Old New’ (1939), is he poem by Brecht that you have quoted, And what are the 'new forces' that you write may not be recognized or easily dismissed? Is the incessant noise drowning them out?
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the 'mission to study the earliest stars and peer back farther into the universe's past than ever before with new look deep into nearby dust clouds to study the formation of stars and planets.' The telescope gets some if small continuing attention. In technology: sand technology; xenotransplantation, which will, perhaps, revolutionize surgery; AI image-generation; Brain reading robots; Hydrogen planes... and in other fields of knowledge...
Here in the USA we rush to decry the latest Republican cruelty or try to avoid getting sucked in. Is another of our divisions between fear and avoidance? The balance or balances between threats to democracy, achieving a civil society, maintaining rich daily lives and close relationships....does life now feel like a jumble of factions and fragments? It is crucial to recognize the 'old' menace within the so-called 'new' one.
Your comment, Olof, can call us to pause and reflect a while. Thank you.
Well, I was quoting Christoffer Hobson, and his quote of Brecht. I forgot to mention it was from 1939. Thank you Fern for adding this; that is also a reminder, of someone who very early saw the black swan coming; many did not, or dismissed it until the tide of war was turning.
Yes indeed 'incessant noise'. "Fill the internet with sh*t" is just the gross expression of it. Seeking media shadow when some big event is occupying the whole space, is more subtle but very effective.
Olof, The poem by Brecht written in 1939 represented here is another illustration of the 'old' reflecting the new. Your keen observation of Trump's and the MAGA Republicans' dual use of the media to be 'seen' and 'not seen' also contributes to our understanding of how we are being manipulated.
Today’s Letter reminded us repeatedly to see the country’s past in the MAGA Republicans’ claims that they are fighting for our liberty against what they call a ‘tyrannical government. See the ‘old’ demons in the words and actions in the current Republican Party.
‘Today the Senate approved a short-term extension of government funding to prevent a shutdown.’
‘Behind this measure is a potential nightmare scenario. MAGA Republicans have already threatened to refuse to fund the government unless President Joe Biden and the Democrats reverse all their policies.’ (Letter)
‘Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned then that a default “could trigger a spike in interest rates, a steep drop in stock prices and other financial turmoil. Our current economic recovery would reverse into recession,… Moody's Analytics warned that a default would cost up to 6 million jobs, create an unemployment rate of nearly 9%, and wipe out $15 trillion in household wealth.' (Letter)
‘This plan is an echo of an effort by former Confederate leaders to destroy the federal government’s Reconstruction policies by withholding funds until the president did as they demanded. In 1879, having taken control of both houses of Congress during a recession, Democrats believed they had a mandate to get rid of federal protection of Black rights. Insisting they were fighting for liberty from a tyrannical government…' (Letter)
See the ‘old’ in the MAGA Republicans are claiming as ‘new’.
‘Cartoonist Thomas Nast drew an image of Fort Sumter, the installation in Charleston Harbor fired on by Confederate troops in April 1861, with the caption: “REVOLUTIONARY, AS USUAL—It is not the first time that an attempt has been made to stop the Government.” Three weeks later, the cover of Harper’s Weekly showed a skeletal U.S. soldier, starved at the infamous Andersonville prison camp, as a symbol of the starvation of the government.’ (Letter)
Aha, 'what's old is new again'.
Like your comment, Fern. As usual (I clicked the heart - it didn't show, so I needed to tell you - thanks as always)
Dana, thank you. ❤️🌿