Q-ANON, ET AL.

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Initiating Post here.

For your thought, consideration and conversation

The day after the carnage at our nations Capitol Jan. 6, I was participating in a regular meeting of a group I’ve long been part.  It was Zoom, of course, and there were ten or so of us.

In the gathering time, I asked my colleagues about the previous day in Washington D.C., to the effect: “We all know people who reflect the attitudes & opinions of those who invaded the Capitol yesterday.  Does anyone know of someone in their acquaintance who would participate in such an act?  Personally, I don’t.”

One member on the call responded almost immediately.  She said she knew five – all people she knew well.

We didn’t have time to go into detail, and the regular meeting proceeded to conclusion.  But the early interaction has stuck with me.

My colleague misinterpreted my question (more likely, I didn’t clearly ask it).  Not unusual in any spur-of-the-moment conversation like ours had been.

The following morning I followed up with my colleague by e-mail: “I think I mis-phrased my question to you and the others.  I was wondering how many people knew anyone who’d be the type who’d actually invade the capitol like the insurrectionists did on Wednesday.  I said I didn’t know anyone; I think you mentioned several.  Actually, if I went by your criteria, I’ve actually counted a couple of dozen people I know who are [strong Trump supporters] – they’re all people I know, mostly well – but I don’t think any of them would even think of invading even the local state capitol, or maybe not even demonstrate.  But they are absolutely devoted to [the current President, for varying reasons].

Awful as Jan 6 and following events have been, and whatever similar happens going forward, the events should be “a shot across the bow” for all of us.

Every single one of us need to confront, in the many assorted – and appropriate and non-violent – ways, this primary and in many ways evil legacy of the soon to depart President.  It won’t be easy, but we can’t sit it out.  We all can make a difference.

Q-anon et al.

For context, the last weeks have caused me to reflect on two past events.

The first was a conversation with a woman about my kids age in the coffee shop I frequent.  This was some months before the Super Bowl in Minneapolis, which was in Feb. 2018.  She was concerned about child sex-trafficking, and how Super Bowls were super-spreader events for such exploitation of young people.  It was a legitimate question, not connected to politics…I thought.  [Postnote Jan 17.  Much to my surprise this person was front page material in today’s Sunday Star Tribune. She’s apparently front and center “Alley Waterbury” is the name she goes by.  There’s more, but enough for now.]

The second was an e-mail I received in 2019 from a woman my age, forwarding something from her son, my kids age, which speaks for itself.  It is the only “QAnon” stuff I have ever directly received.  Here is the two-page pdf (click to enlarge): Q-anon 2019.  I had heard of Q-anon, but this was my first knowing brush with what has generically become Q-anon.

I checked out the book.  I noted back to my friend that the book was published in 1991, at the end of 12 years of Republican presidencies of Reagan and George H.W. Bush.  The Orion project mentioned was quite likely during the Eisenhower administration. “The deep state” was in the times Republicans were President of the United States.

I’m no expert.  But here’s what seems to be a credible article about the author of the book referred to above. Here is more about the history of what might be what has come to be dubbed the Orion project of the CIA.

It is worth your time to learn more about this dangerous movement which thrives on misinformation and conspiracy theories and out and out deliberate lies.

[POSTNOTE JAN 21, 2021: Brookings Institution.  “How to respond to the Qnon threat”]

Second, there’s “Christianity”, the faith I espouse which is a very ragged collection of denominations and leaders with a not always pristine history.

Some years ago, somehow, I got on the mailing list for a right wing group whose mission is to reform the Methodist Church in its own image – to purify its practices.  It is apparently well-funded by someone(s) who think Methodism is too liberal.

The newsletter, “The Christian Methodist”, posited its Christian position, before the 2020 election, giving a so-called “Christian” perspective.  I think the 4-page newsletter is well worth a read to get a perspective from a particular point of view.  Note especially “Dr. James Dobson’s Concerns” on pp 2-4.  I have actually been to Dobson’s Focus on the Family operation in rural Colorado Springs.  It was about early 1990s, and about 100 of we visitors were given a talk on the evils of sex education in the schools, as I recall.

(I use “Christian” in quotations because there are endless “Christian” points of view, including my own, often in opposition to each other.

There are many people, like Dobson, and the editor of the newsletter, who declare in various ways their own supposedly superior positions on what being “Christian” means.  And control the microphone and the printing press.  Ultimately, this gets down more than the sanctity of belief, to the even greater lust for temporal power, in my opinion.)

There are very serious problems within the very ragged bunch who call themselves “Christian”, among whose numbers I count myself.

Trumps most reliable base is the evangelical Christians group.  But all is not happy these days.  David Brooks of the New York Times wrote a very interesting column on Jan 14: “Trump Ignites a War Within the Church”.  You can read it here: Christians & Trump.

Yesterday, a friend called attention to an interview on National Public Radio of an evangelical leader, Ed Stetzer of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College.  You can listen to the 7 minutes here.  

I only ask that regardless of your “brand” when it comes to the beliefs noted above, that you seriously think about the implications for al of us who live in this hopefully continuing great country.  And that you not be silent.


COMMENTS:

from Jermitt: A very important message.  I agree, it has been long in the making, even longer then the Author believes. Thanks for sharing.

from David: When I read anything about Q-anon, it just sounds so bat-shit crazy that I can’t get my head around how anyone could believe it. I mean, really, a cabal of Democratic pedophiles operating a child sex ring in the basement of a pizza parlor? We all believe, I guess, that what we know as the truth must be true. So, we look at the Q folks and say, how can they believe that insane stuff? They look at us and ask how we’re able to believe the things we believe. Both of us lay claim to “facts.”

It’s the Cruz and Hawley in leadership who know the truth yet still spout the lies are the ones who are sustaining the danger to our country. Trump will slither off to Florida. Biden becomes president facing strong headwinds. However, he does have the advantage of a bar set very low. His Covid/economic plans announced today truly offer hope for a better tomorrow. You wonder if even the most dedicated of the MAGA mob might find their fury slaked a bit if Biden manages to turn things around on the virus and create conditions for an economy that works for those left out in both rural and urban America. Heck, it’s hard to imagine him doing worse than Trump.

from long-time friend in London (first portion of this letter at Jan. 13 post):  As for QAnon, conspiracy theories are spreading fast & can threaten entire societies. They aim to be attractive regardless of how difficult to believe & how obviously false. Who would not want to protect children from paedophiles? Thus QAnon is attractive especially to women. These theories have political agendas so QAnon for example points to Democrats as the perpetrators again with no attempt at supplying proof – as in the case of “Stop the Steal”.

When Buzz Aldrin was questioned by someone who didn’t believe men had landed on the moon, Aldrin who had himself landed on the moon punched him in the face. A bit of an extreme reaction for my taste but . . .

As in finance there is the supply side & the demand side. Shutting the supply of conspiracy theories (e.g. Trump’s Twitter account etc) can work but has the problem of going against free speech – Holocaust denial is punishable in Germany.

Taking the fight to the demand side which is extremely high at the moment due to various causes is important: children should be given lessons in scepticism & verification. Echo chambers should be challenged. Conditions that encourage the proliferation of conspiracy theories such as extreme inequality, poverty, people’s dignity being trampled, feelings of powerlessness & not having voices heard . . .

 

Impeachment Jan. 13, 2021

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POST-NOTE Jan 15, 2021: Words seem irrelevant now, at least to a general audience.  These words are written early Friday morning, Jan. 15, 2021.  Inauguration Day for the President of the United States is January 20.  Overnight came the most recent summary of what is happening in our country, and for those who actually read other than conspiracy theories, I encourage you to take the time to read, and actively reflect, on Suddenly America, here.   America is better than this.  Today, I’ll add some thoughts on impeachment at the end of this post as well.

Directly related posts Jan. 15 (two posts): “Q-anon, et al“, and Covid-19 vaccine; and Jan. 6 (the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol).

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Jan. 13, 2021: This afternoon the House of Representatives concluded the 2nd impeachment of Donald Trump.  For the moment, this is simply a placeholder for later comments.

Impeachments of Presidents are a rare occurrence.  Apparently Trump has half of the Presidential impeachments in U.S. history, and is the only President to be impeached more than once.  (Nixon resigned before being impeached in 1974; Bill Clinton was impeached in 1999; Andrew Johnson in 1868.)

Here is an article about U.S. President impeachments.  More information about the Jan.13, 2021, impeachment and followup will be added here from time to time.  Check back.

Jan. 14, 2021:  The first comment to this was posted overnight by John, below. “Count Him Out“, Just Above Sunset, was in my e-mail box when I awoke at 4:30 a.m.

Personally, I feel this impeachment was one of the most crucial and in the long run the most important decision in the history of our country.  We can now begin to recover.

Somebody yesterday said that letting the President off with little more than good riddance, and moving towards  reconciliation without other action like the impeachment would be tantamount to inviting the arsonist to help rebuild the house he had just burned down.

Heather Cox Richardson “Letters from an American Jan. 13 2021

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Brief Thoughts on Impeachment, Jan. 15, 2021.

To my knowledge there have been four Impeachments of a President of the United States.  (Richard Nixon was never impeached: he resigned and then was pardoned by Gerald Ford.). That occurred in August, 1974, and I remember those days very well.  A group of us at a leadership conference at the College of St. Benedict watched Nixon’s resignation speech on TV in the Commons area of the dormitory in which we were staying.  As I recall, we were – all of us – a very sober group.  Gerald Ford was vice-president because he’d replaced Spiro Agnew, who had resigned the previous year under less than honorable circumstances.  Ford had been Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Later I saw him in person in August of 1975, at the Marriott near what is now the Mall of America in Minneapolis.  My 11-year old son, and possibly my 6-year old daughter, and a. couple of neighbor kids came along.  Here’s my picture from that day, only a rope line between us (you can see the very top of my sons head).  Three Secret Service men were around the President.  Those were different times.  Ford was a decent man, not of my party, but deserving of respect.

Gerald Ford Aug. 19, 1975, Bloomington MN.

The other Presidential Impeachments?  I wasn’t around yet when Andrew Johnson was impeached in Feb. 1878.  That story is easily accessed.

Bill Clinton was impeached in December, 1998, (perjury, about an affair) after a year of endless investigation which we all were subjected in most every days news.  Sex sells….  As a citizen, I took my own position on this case, which you can read here, if you wish: Clinton Impeachment001.  He wasn’t convicted.

Recently, inadvertently, I came across two contemporaneous archival notes about this case.  The first was early this month when I decided to re-listen to a set of 4 CD’s of former President Jimmy Carter teaching Sunday school in Plains GA in Jan. 1998 (Carter taught hundreds of these classes which attracted people from everywhere.)  In one of these tapes, he talked about going to Washington to meet with President Clinton about current national and world events; not directly spoken but obvious to everyone, was the Impeachment of his predecessor. Carter’s  messages  in those four  Sunday  mornings  focused  on St. Paul and reconciliation.  You probably can purchase this set on-line.  It is worth your time.  Carter’s message should resonate today.

Carter was one of those who define the gold standard of U.S. Presidents for me.

Secondly, this week, literally, I decided to re-listen to another set of audio tapes, these from the 25th anniversary collection of Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion.   On Jan. 9, 1999, he did his monologue on the childhood thrill of blowing up Cowpies in pastures, but the essence of the story was the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton, just beginning in Washington.

I fairly often sat in the audience at live Prairie Home Companion in St. Paul and we were – dare I say? – “populists” of a different sort than are recognized today.  We knew rural roots, we were Keillor’s base.  This Cowpies story, now 22 years old, was about the impeachment without a specific direct word.  Everybody in the audience knew exactly what he was talking about – the scandal had been milked by Clinton’s enemies for over a year.  And the audience was with Keillor on the absurdity of it all.  (The next month Clinton was found not guilty, and life went on, and he was more popular, even, than he had been before.)

Which brings us to Donald Trump. the first President in American History to be impeached twice, we are living within this story, as I speak.

Personally, I took a position as a citizen on the first Trump impeachment in early September, 2019.  It was a brief letter, hand-delivered to the office of my Congressperson in St. Paul. Here is a later letter referring to the first: Trump Impeachment.

I would ask the reader to note only a couple of things:

First, I was not, and Congress did not, race into impeachment of Donald Trump.  Some would say Congress waited too long, then.  Not I. When I delivered that citizen letter to the Congresswoman’s office, the House of Representatives was nearing decision time; and the next few months will live on, and none of us best forget what happened.

The current impeachment is happening in real time, and we are deciding our own future as a civilized society.  ur civil society is at risk.  I hope for a good decision by all of us.

There is the old saying, “you reap what you sow”.

COMMENTS (more at end of post): 

from long-time friend in London (more of this letter at Q-anon post Jan 15): I hope 2021 has started well for you & yours.

Lovely picture of president Ford with your son’s head!

I too think as you wrote president Carter “was one of those who define the gold standard of U.S. Presidents”. I remember him asking all to lower their thermostats in winter to save on fuel during that crisis & I thought he himself would be doing the same – & not slinking to some posh mansion (now we think of Mar-a-Lago or golf courses!).

from the Financial Times, UK

To be impeached once is serious but twice is unique – reminds me of the ever witty Oscar Wilde: “To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.” This is much worse than carelessness, although that is evident in much of Trump’s impromptu speeches as well, it is breaking the law & the constitution the president swore to uphold. The world expects no less from US democracy than upholding the law. The fact that some members of the House & the Senate are scared that extremists will do them harm is not an excuse: that is letting threats & terrorism win.

There is also the concern that there will be a much smarter & harder working populist president who will further damage institutions & democracy. Indeed his son, his daughter & his daughter in law are all thinking of running for political positions & they all hold similar views. Perhaps convicting him in the Senate will send them a message and encourage them to change direction and do something useful with their lives instead of spreading lies and conspiracy theories.

L.I.T. (that’s not “lazy incompetent Trump” & throw in the UK prime minister for good measure), but Law, Immigration & Trade, three pillars which have supported US prosperity and political health. Trump has sought to disrupt all three.

Congress should send a powerful message and not just a rap on the knuckles.  (letter continues in Q-anon post 1-16)

 from Steve, Jan. 15: His comments would fit with any of the recent posts about what is going on in our state and nation.

Several years ago, a student asked me : “in which period of history would you choose, if you had your choice?”.
“I think the years of my life have been the most fascinating of recorded history,” I answered. Maybe that’s because information travels so quickly now and over such distance–if you want, you can watch events in another part of the world as they happen–or in another part of the galaxy. It’s hard to miss anything now, as opposed to those days when news travelled only as quickly as a horse and rider or a ship sailing by the wind. The news of the last few days, and the anticipation of then next few months, have me a little baffled. News of protest, challenge and insurrection were right in front of us, just as I saw a man walk on the moon or the events of 9/11. How did all of this come about? Each one took my breath away. I don’t think we’ve recovered from the horror of hijacked airplanes attacking buildings in New York and Washington. The astounding accomplishment of sending people into space, landing in another part of the universe seemed an enactment of science fiction, a marvelous accomplishment of the mind and technology. I haven’t gotten over seeing that happen.
And now an assault on our history. I don’t think we’ll get over this for a very long time–maybe ever. Recognizing the division in our society, the vulnerability of our institutions, and the vindictive nature of those who feel as if they’ve been ignored or cheated, and are willing to assail the institutions of our government, is frightening. It took the breath away from many of us. Luckily, the habits and intentions of most of our elected representatives survived. and so did our government.
What happens next? How should this president be admonished, held accountable, for his political behavior and actions? If a Senate trial could begin and quickly result in conviction we could put the former president’s presence aside and look for a new direction. I’d hope that can happen.

 

 

Infrastructure

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I continue to update the Jan. 6 post.  Check in once in awhile.

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Last evening our neighbor, 91, called.  He lives almost literally across the street.  He lives alone, and he’d fallen twice and was in distress.

We went over.  It resulted in a 911 call and an ambulance trip to the hospital where he spent at least an overnight.  At this writing, I’m not sure of next steps.  He has increasingly severe cognitive problems, and he’s afraid of losing his independence.  But that issue will be forced at some point.

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About now, you’re saying, “so what else is new?”  If you have family reasonably close by, you’ve experienced something akin to what I’ve just described.

As I told my wife, we’re on deck for the same experience ourselves.  We’re older.  Stuff happens.

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With all its messiness, humans tend towards empathy for each other.  We care.  And that’s where the infrastructure – society itself – comes in.

The 911 operator last night was very helpful; the ambulance arrived in appropriate time; the EMT persons were professional; as were the people at the hospital in St. Paul.

Of course, Covid-19 makes room visits impossible at this point in time.

My wife is arranging a visit with our friends brother, who’s in his mid-80s himself, and live a half hour from here, to begin arrangements for an in-person meeting to decide on next steps if will be needed sometime.  Our friend has three other friends who in their own way will be involved in this as well.

Our society in general is inclusive.  So far, kindness trumps selfishness; caring for each other is valued as much as caring for our own well-being.

There are many ragged edges, granted, including the one we are not living through.

But I can sit here less than 24 hours after a crisis across the street, and know that society is directly involved with caring for a neighbor who cannot at this moment care for himself.

Thank you.

 

January 6, 2021 Capitol of the United States

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Overnight, Jan. 7, 2021, 6:40 a.m.: The Thinking Here, from Just Above Sunset, comments on the aftermath of Jan. 6.

Personally, while I’ve not been a frequent visitor to D.C. I’d guess there have been more than a dozen trips there over the years, usually for several days, always visiting the federal area – an inspirational place for me.  The rest is editorial.

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Jan. 6, 2021, 4 p.m. CST: random TV screen shots I took.  Words are superfluous.


A snapshot from many years ago, probably 1970s about sunset, taken by myself on an early visit to Washington D.C.   It has hung on my home office wall for many years.

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

PRENOTE:  In previous recent blogs I have recommended an on-point film available on-line, which will be discussed in an on-line zoom call the evening of Jan. 17 (7 p.m. CST.  Details here (scroll down to Third Thursday Global Films ….)

from Jim: The US has been humiliated. And the world has lost much ground toward a just world peace.  Just one of the grave consequences of the Trump administration.  But we know the arc of history is not smooth.

from Laura:  Sad as can be, Dick. My heart hurts.

Minneapolis Star Tribune ‘above the fold’ Jan. 7, 2021.

from Marion: Something must be done. Now!

from Norm:  Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that tends toward rebellion against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent toward, or rebellion against, established authority. Sedition may include any commotion, though not aimed at direct and open violence against the laws. Seditious words in writing are seditious libel. A seditionist is one who engages in or promotes the interest of sedition.

“I won by a landslide!”
 
Serious talk of invoking CM [Constitution Amendment] #25 to try to prevent “I never lose” from doing more damage to America than he already has done.

More from Norm:  The next two weeks will be very tough as well as critical for America as well as for the Dems and Biden/Harris unless Trump is placed under the lock and key of CM#25.

The poor bastard can never lose and admit defeat!
When “beaten” in business and so on, he has always threatened to sue or defame his perceived “enemy” since he thinks that since he cannot lose, his opponent must have cheated or defrauded him in some way or manner,
That is who this ignorant, arrogant, narcissistic, insecure draft-dodging bully is, has always been and will always be!
It is also so disappointing to see so many prominent Republicans supporting Trump in his continued claims of election fraud, including Emmer, Fischbach and Hagedorn.
They all seem to have a much different view as well as understanding of what many of us think that America is, has been and should be.
These prominent Republicans really seem to have no respect or love for America in my view at least!
So disappointing, Dick, and disillusioning as well!
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from Flo: I kept saying to myself, is this for real?! It was truly horrifying. My greatest fear is the havoc that Trump and his supporters will continue to create. A split Congress is not a good way for Biden to start his tenure as President, for sure!

This, too, will pass … But where will it end up?
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from Molly:I tried to respond to your post last night, but found I was writing my way into trying to understand or make sense or a future of the mess, instead of writing an actual note.

I did find this posting by Jan Richardson, which I have been sending to my various groups, and thought you might like.  [Dick: This is a Facebook link which probably can only be opened if you have Facebook, which I can’t cut and paste.  It is very appropriate, and brief, from Richardson’s “Circle of Grace: a Book of Blessings for the Seasons“.]
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Jimmy Kimmel on Jan. 6: here.
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from Don: The image that says it all.
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Just Above Sunset, overnight Jan. 8, 2021:  “A number of people of good will“.
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from Dick, early Jan. 8, 2021: There is a great deal to be said about Jan 6 and indeed the entire 78-or-so day time period between Nov. 3, 2020, and Jan 20, 2021.  Our entire nation has a learning opportunity here.  We will all, together, “vote” on our own future, in our own ‘secret ballots’, about our future public behavior.  We will all have a part in defining “Team USA” in the coming years.
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Dick, postnote Jan 8, 2021 noon: Two days ago at this time I was preparing to watch the confirmation of the election of the President of the United States.  I expected some conflict, not what soon cascaded into chaos.
Now the sorting out.  I predict the conquest of the Capitol by insurgents will end up a Pyrrhic victory for the perpetrators.
I keep thinking of my TV screen shot, which I included first, above.  Here it is again:

I call attention to the woman in the stocking cap on which you can see “TRU..”  Who is she?  Why was she there?  What was she thinking then?  What is she thinking now?  Where is her home?

Every insurgent in that building will be in some photograph.  Anybody with a mobile phone who sent out a text or a photo likely has identified him or herself by their exact location at the time of the call – you don’t need to watch many crime shows to learn that.  Unlike in the old days, those folks trespassing the Capitol cannot melt into the neighborhood.  They are not anonymous.

A long-time friend of mine had a brief e-mail exchange with me on Jan. 5.  He apparently did not like my post, “Armageddon“, and was asking to be removed from my distribution list.  No problem  (he was one of three so requesting, out of a total list of about 500).

I responded to him, sending a copy of our single sheet “thread” of four brief e-mails, which occurred entirely on Jan 5, at 8:13 a.m., 3:17 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 6:33 p.m.  I sent my friend the printout of our thread.

Our exchange was completely respectful – we have been friends for many years.  The only point: the entire thread between us occurred before the polls closed in Georgia on Jan. 5, and obviously before Jan. 6.  Likely there are many legally defensible records of such electronic communications on Jan. 6.

But, as I say, all of this will take months if not longer to sort out, and the tragedy of Jan. 6 needs to be pursued.

There will be justice.  Each of us need to be ‘on the court’.

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Sunday, January 10, 2021: We remain in post-2020 election history.  Rather than new posts about this, any continuing commentary, until inauguration of President Biden on Jan. 20, 2021, will be included below, at this space.

In the interim, I strongly recommend the 2011 film, The Wave, about a teacher’s experiment with authoritarianism.  Details here (scroll down to Third Thursday Film). Watch on your own, and if you wish, RSVP to join the discussion Thursday evening Jan 21, 7-8 p.m.  Please note, there are other films with the same name and topic, The discussion will be based on the 2011 film, which is in German, with subtitles.  You can find more versions at YouTube.  I believe there is a film rental cost of $3.99.

This morning, the Minneapolis Star Tribune headline was stark and clear, about January 6: “A Nation left violated.  America forced to face threat from within”.   It dominated the front page, along with a photo with the now infamous hangman’s noose framing the Capitol dome in the background.  As a nation, we need to face ourselves.  We are, after all, the individuals who ultimately decide our fate.  Those who desecrated the U.S. Capitol thought they represented all of us.

Minneapolis Star Tribune front page Jan 10, 2021

Also, this morning, a friend sent a short film from the U.S. military  from the year 1947.  It is also powerful.  Take a look, here.  You’ll note there is an entire menu of choices.  The one I watched is the second one on the menu, about 2 minutes, presented in the wake of Charlottesville Va in 2017.

Authoritarianism was in fashion in Minnesota and other places in 1930s U.S.  I still have copies of a 32 page insert to the Minneapolis Star Tribune in October which I would be glad to send on request so long as I have copies available.   Post here.

Monday, Jan. 11, 2021:   Just Above Sunset, “Our Home-Grown Fascism”.

Much of 60 Minutes last night was also devoted to the insurrection.

Like many, I wonder how many people were at the Presidential event and the following attempt at insurrection.  The most reasonable analysis I’ve seen thus far is here (maybe 10,000 maximum).  For perspective, the population of the United States is 330,000,000.  This is not intended to minimize the problem, just to give initial perspective.

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021:  A Little Reality Slipping In.  Just Above Sunset.

Re “white nationalists’ by whatever their name, here is an article from US News and World Report in late Sep. 2000 – the year before 9-11.  It is worth rereading: USNews 9-25-2000001

The American Abyss by Timothy Snyder, New York Times Magazine Jan. 9, 2021 is very well worth your time.  This is lengthy (15 pages printed).  Here is a pdf of the article (click to enlarge): American Abyss NYTimes Mag

Wednesday, Jan. 13 2021: Living Through History, Just Above Sunset.

This seems a good time to repost my blogs of August 1 and 2, 2020, on the D’s (Democrats), and the T’s (Republicans).  I post them without any changes to either.

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021:  Yesterday, President Trump was impeached for the second time.  There have been only four actual impeachments of Presidents in all of U.S. history.  I began a blog post on this last night.  You can pick up, comment, whatever, there.  I will save the editorial for there.

Sunday, Jan. 14, 2021: America has had its own ‘beer hall putsch”

Armageddon

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For about 234 years now America, the United States, has been experimenting with citizen management of government.  (It’s called “elections”.). I’ve been alive for about one-third of that time.  We have survived so far.  We are now testing Abraham Lincoln’s concern expressed at Gettysburg in 1863 – whether, or how, our nation will endure.  We’ve become careless.

The battlefield today is the state of Georgia; tomorrow at Congress in Washington D.C.; January. 20, again in Washington….

Last night, while watching the news I scribbled my recollection of Presidencies in my adult life, beginning with the election of 1960.  It is pictured below, and typed in a somewhat neater form in this pdf (click to enlarge): American Presidents since 1940 (any errors are inadvertent, corrections etc are solicited).  In the last 56 years, Republicans have been President for 32 years, Democrats have been President for 24.

The simple process of scribbling those few words from memory generated many thoughts, probably similar to how Abe Lincoln’s own scribblings caused him to think back to the history of his (and our) own young nation.

All the rest I have to say is my own opinion.  What do you want our future to be?

A great summary of the last three days of our history is once again captured by Just Above Sunset: “Sinking in”, hot off the press, hours ago..

Postnotes:

“Armageddon”, the title, is intentional.  I was actually to this place in Israel in January 1996.  It has historical context.

A brief, recent and related post about President Jimmy Carter is here.

I’d really recommend a film and activity my Citizens for Global Solutions group is going to discuss on Jan. 17.  All details here. Scroll down to Featured Events, Third Thursday Global Films.  This is a new activity for us, this is the 4th film.  We plan to continue these virtual gatherings every Third Thursday.  Publicity will always be at the web site noted above.

Jimmy Carter, Rock and Roll President

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Sunday Jan 3, on CNN, at 8 p.m. CST, will be a special entitled “Jimmy Carter, Rock and Roll President”.  All details here.

I have admired President Carter from the start – his election as U.S. President in 1976.  My son and I visited Plains GA a few months after his inauguration.

In 1980 I was actively engaged in his reelection campaign, which was effectively harpooned by the U.S. Embassy hostages in Teheran, and the Arab Oil Crisis among other things – his time in office coincided with the beginning of filthy attack politics where the objective was to destroy the opposition by any means.

That’s another very important story for another time.

Enjoy the show Sunday night.

COMMENTS:

from Greg: Yes, I agree it was the beginning, with Ronald Reagan saying government is not the answer but it is the problem. Yes, there may have been malfunctioning in the federal and state governments. But Reagan seemed to be advocating doing away with government functions entirely rather than improving them.  Look where we are now in terms of our national attitude toward the governments.

POSTNOTE:

We watched this most interesting program on Sunday night.  I hope it is repeated.

I have several of Jimmy Carter’s books – he became a prolific author.  In addition to the books, I came into possession of two audio tapes which were most interesting, on aging, and the one pictured below, which was four CDs of 4 Sunday school classes of Jimmy Carter at his Baptist Church in Plains GA in January 1998.  In these talks, Carter would fold in current events and his own experiences with biblical texts to an always large audience of visitors to Plains.  They remain available.  Check Amazon or like providers.

 

Carole Lewis Anderson: Reflecting.

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Carole is one of those on my mailing list, a long time friend, who sent me the following reflection which deserves its own space.  Thank you, Carole.

Carole Lewis Anderson

Dear Friends:

2020 was the most provocative year of my life.

Most analyses have focused on the bad news. There has been much of that, driven by the actions of the Trump administration, and the systematic murdering of black Americans, followed by the first in-a-hundred-years pandemic, with its attendant toxic individualism.

The Trump administration, timed with the maturing of the Internet, has brought together extreme groups, which heretofore had existed in local isolation. Those individual voices of intolerance have existed since the founding of the country.  The Internet has enabled them to create communities of likemindedness. Trump has given his imprimatur and the implicit right to forego courteous conversation, which had enabled disparate societies to function together successfully. This, combined with the silence of the members of the GOP, has shown that “never-again”s can recur, as long as those in power remain silent. That broad lack of courage has contributed to the expansion of Covid-19 with its huge death rate, and to attempted unconstitutional actions. An affirmative vote on the President’s impeachment might have mitigated the worst of the pandemic and stopped policies that desecrate the Planet and threaten our democracy.

As a result, the very existence of our Republic is in question. The health of the Planet has been dramatically further jeopardized. The refusal to rely on experts, and the unwillingness to listen and learn have become tokens of pride. Over 70 million Americans voted for Trump. Fiction-based media has popped up, and Twitter-based groups have established large followings.

But, some good news has sprung from this catastrophe. We elected a moderate and decent person as President, and importantly, we elected a progressive person as Vice President. 

Let’s take this moment to revisit the definition of progressive: “happening or developing gradually; favoring or implementing social reform or new, liberal ideas”. 

What the bad news has shown is that America needs to become progressive. The pandemic surge has proven that we need a central healthcare system; that pharmaceutical companies and hospitals should not operate for profit; and, that the poor and infirmed should not be sacrificial lambs. 

The self-aggrandizing administration’s appointments and actions have shed light on the still imbedded racism on which the country’s early growth was based. We need progressive policies to root out racism in many of our institutions, and to underscore the value of education and the efficacy of diversity.

We did not need the pandemic to highlight the often unreported murder of black people for “being black”. We need progressive policies to reform the role of police in our communities. We need public ownership of prisons, which should be reformulated for repair and recovery of those incarcerated. We need enhanced community services and low-income housing.

The economic fallout from the pandemic has disproportionately affected the poor. We did not need a pandemic to expose the greedy underside of U. S. capitalism. To wit: excessive wealth  for some while an inordinate number of Americans live under the poverty level. We need progressive policies to redress these issues.

The pandemic has given many of us time for introspection. Please feel free to share your thoughts on 2020, and importantly on 2021. I would love to listen.

 

A New Year

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19 days remain until Joe Biden is inaugurated as President of the United States.  As we all know, this is not a peaceful transition in the American tradition.  It’s anybodies guess what will happen between now and January 20, and after

I strongly support President Biden and Vice-President Harris.  My primary ask was for a change in “tone” from the office of President: a United States of America, not competing individuals in tribes.  Biden brings great experience in office from local to U.S. Vice-President for eight years.  The job of President is an incredibly difficult one under the best of circumstances – everything is wrong in someone’s point of view.  The departing President had no experience and no apparent interest in learning.

Tone matters.  And experience.

Biden/Harris were elected with over 81 million votes; their opponents received 7 million less.

Almost a third of all eligible voters in the United States – about 80 million – did not vote for anybody in Nov. 2020.

I – indeed everyone of us – are the proverbial grains of sand which in aggregate make a beach.  We aren’t noticed, but without us there is nothing.  We have to be the change we seek in this country of ours.

Best I can do is witness to my own beliefs about what is best for my country and our world.

Each individual counts…but we need to be on the court to succeed.  A note pad someone gave me years ago says it well:

Change will come if we work for it.  We begin from a position of strength, not weakness.  My side got 7 million more votes.

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(My comments on the past four years were published December 31, 2020.   Take a look.)

A tip for 2021: A group of which I’m a long-time member, Global Solutions MN,  has embarked on a series of Third Thursday movie discussions.  Participants are asked to watch a selected film at their home and at their leisure, then on the third Thursday, if they wish, to participate in a one hour zoom conversations.  Here are the details for January:

“Citizens for Global Solutions, Minnesota is proud to present the “Third Thursday Global Films Discussion Group.”
Each month, CGS-MN will share the name of a film or documentary with a global perspective, chosen to expand our horizons and educate us about the world.
JANUARY 2021Film: “THE WAVE”
Film (2011) | Running time: 1h 47 min
Director: Dennis Gansel
Available at: Amazon and YouTube
**A high school teacher’s experiment to demonstrate to his students what life is like under a dictatorship
**Watch the movie on your own and then join us to discuss the film.
DATE: Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 7pm (Central Time – USA)
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RSVP to me receive the zoom link
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COMMENTS (more at the end):
from Carole Lewis Anderson: a long reflection that deserves its own space as a blog this day, here.
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from Marion: “Best I can do is witness to my own beliefs about what is best for my country and our world.”  There’s no better “best,” Dick.  Keep at it.
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from Laura: Thank you so very much, Dick! Your words are so well-written. Of course I concur with them all.

As I prayed for you this morning, I also am thankful for your friendship and your support for me.
I would join your discussion on Thursday the 21st, except it’s zoom for one of my  book clubs, and I’m the coordinator that evening. Of course I’ll watch the film anyway. By the way, the book I’ve selected that we’re discussing is called The Women of Copper Country, about the 1913 copper strike in upper Michigan. It’s excellent, so you may want to pick it up.
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from Len: Happy New Year to you and your wife and family. I am counting on 2021 being a better year and wish you all the best.