Exactly nine months ago today, the U.S. Capitol building experienced an unprecedented siege, spurred by an outgoing president’s antidemocratic attempts to cling to power. Sorry it’s been a few days since my last post. Before I proceed, I want to give you all a reading recommendation: do not read any histories about the fall of the Roman Republic. Mark Twain said that history never repeats itself, but it does rhyme. Well, when the rhyme is in the same exact meter and on the same exact line, that’s a whole lot of rhyming.
For me, it is facing the fact that this is "on our watch" and that our choices, what we do or don't do, matter for the future, our own and generations after us. But it is easy to be defeated by the overwhelming need for change at every level of society and in every part of the planet. The temptation, and it is a strong one, is to disengage-- (just for mental health in TFG's reign). Sanity in today's society means a constant effort to get a handle on context in the midst of fragmentation. Ain't easy! Reading both you and HCR helps me a lot to stay in the struggle. Thank you.
TC, I appreciate your thoughtful tangled musings. It takes courage and fortitude to put them in writing. By doing so, one might find the strength to do or not do. I was with you all the way. Thank you.
A quote that got me through some dark times is this one: "When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly." Edward Teller
For me, "faith" did not translate as religious faith, but just an acceptance that either I was going to crash and burn or I was not, and either way, it was a choice and I hopefully would survive. You know like Mark Twain's two roads? Making the tough choice or the easy choice was going to land me somewhere.
As I read your comments about Grisham, the thought kept flashing in my mind that almost every person who got caught up in that "celebrity" nightmare of the orange dumpster began to change PHYSICALLY. I called it the Pinocchio Syndrome. But instead of growing longer noses to accompany their lies, their FACES began to change - almost to melt. Look at Sarah Huckabee Sanders before and after pics - heck look at Lindsey Graham. Their cheeks sag, their eyes are puffy, they look perpetually hung over. They look desperate and angry. They ARE desperate and angry. All the time. I guess it's easy to wake up every morning and go through another day of being desperate and angry and sputter through telling oneself lie after lie...than to do as you did - look in the mirror and face the truth and the consequences of that truth.
People wax poetic when talking about American exceptionalism. But as you wrote native indigenous people have always known how tarnished the American brand is and how the reality of America has NEVER lived up to the promise of the idea. Despite the fine words of Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Hamilton, etc. white supremacy has always been the reality of America. The South has lived under authoritarian rule for generations. We are now seeing how fragile our institutions are and that their guardrails were “norms and traditions”. We have counted on men’s good character to do the right thing to uphold democracy. Now that people on the dark side are in Congress, we see how counting on someone’s good character is a shaky foundation for a country, especially with regard to the presidency. We need a system update in America; compromises from 240 years ago are putting us in peril today. The electoral college enables the minority vote getter to win the presidency is an example we have being played out to its logical conclusion. For lack of vision the people perish, I hope; I pray good people will stop evil from flourishing.
“Do or Do not. There is no Try.” I have always believed that’s what the Nike slogan was all about.
I find it fascinating how many athletes I talk to understand this very thing you discuss with us, TC. I asked a premier athlete once why “Just Do It” became such an iconic slogan. I had to laugh when the reply was….”when most people get to the point of giving up, they say ‘well, at least I tried.’ So Nike knew they better not put “Just Try” next to their swoop.”
And this was a college athlete.
Leads me to remember to put some real muscle behind my convictions.
Ellen Massey - what a great quote from of all people Edward Teller! And what a thoughtful piece of writing today, TC of LA, and a call to stand up, speak up, and keep going despite the awful stuff the gop of the former "president" is still doing to create a Belarus of the West. We've got plenty of those guys and gals in Michigan and they believe their seats are assured even with a citizen led redistricting process, which of course they have fought tooth, nail and in the courts since the voters passed it by a 62% margin! They've already named their leadership for the state house and the state senate in 2022! They figure they'll win. And they might just because of the drip drip drip of lies from the gop over 20 years of controlling the state has weakened the intellectual capacity of too many Michiganders, and perhaps Americans, to allow them to ask questions of what they're hearing and who is rattling on from the heights. So thank you. Plenty to think about and to act upon. Plus - I've shared this column with friends who are committed to stay standing no matter what. Whatever we do, we can't do it totally alone. We need compatriots.
TC, I have been privileged to read your comments on Professor Richardson's Substack and did not realize until today that you, too, write here. So here I am, another subscriber, because I Geel I gain knowledge and insight from the two of you, and I appreciate the opportunity to support you both with my small stipend. Your writing today is thought provoking, and more than a little frightening, but I will say this: Never in my history of voting (and there have been quite a few elections under this old girl's belt!) have I been more motivated to speak out and take action, and I attribute part of that willingness to writing from the two of you. I thank you for aiding my motivation, and I hope it helps in some small way to keep us from losing our democracy...if [it is even possible to keep it at this stage.
Best advice since the (possibly apocryphal) Churchillian comment - "When you're going through hell, the best thing to do is keep going." In respect of "nice, easy, comfortable, safe, WRONG choices." are we discussing the current President who seems to be digging it deeper every day and, if so, who represents in effective, electable improvement?
Wow. Someone asked to be de-listed because of this. I must have done something right.
For those who want to do that, that's why there's an "unsubscribe" option in the e-mail notification you get.
For me, it is facing the fact that this is "on our watch" and that our choices, what we do or don't do, matter for the future, our own and generations after us. But it is easy to be defeated by the overwhelming need for change at every level of society and in every part of the planet. The temptation, and it is a strong one, is to disengage-- (just for mental health in TFG's reign). Sanity in today's society means a constant effort to get a handle on context in the midst of fragmentation. Ain't easy! Reading both you and HCR helps me a lot to stay in the struggle. Thank you.
Be afraid. Be very afraid. Then muster up the courage to do what you can to change it.
TC, I appreciate your thoughtful tangled musings. It takes courage and fortitude to put them in writing. By doing so, one might find the strength to do or not do. I was with you all the way. Thank you.
This was thought provoking. Thank you.
A quote that got me through some dark times is this one: "When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly." Edward Teller
For me, "faith" did not translate as religious faith, but just an acceptance that either I was going to crash and burn or I was not, and either way, it was a choice and I hopefully would survive. You know like Mark Twain's two roads? Making the tough choice or the easy choice was going to land me somewhere.
As I read your comments about Grisham, the thought kept flashing in my mind that almost every person who got caught up in that "celebrity" nightmare of the orange dumpster began to change PHYSICALLY. I called it the Pinocchio Syndrome. But instead of growing longer noses to accompany their lies, their FACES began to change - almost to melt. Look at Sarah Huckabee Sanders before and after pics - heck look at Lindsey Graham. Their cheeks sag, their eyes are puffy, they look perpetually hung over. They look desperate and angry. They ARE desperate and angry. All the time. I guess it's easy to wake up every morning and go through another day of being desperate and angry and sputter through telling oneself lie after lie...than to do as you did - look in the mirror and face the truth and the consequences of that truth.
People wax poetic when talking about American exceptionalism. But as you wrote native indigenous people have always known how tarnished the American brand is and how the reality of America has NEVER lived up to the promise of the idea. Despite the fine words of Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Hamilton, etc. white supremacy has always been the reality of America. The South has lived under authoritarian rule for generations. We are now seeing how fragile our institutions are and that their guardrails were “norms and traditions”. We have counted on men’s good character to do the right thing to uphold democracy. Now that people on the dark side are in Congress, we see how counting on someone’s good character is a shaky foundation for a country, especially with regard to the presidency. We need a system update in America; compromises from 240 years ago are putting us in peril today. The electoral college enables the minority vote getter to win the presidency is an example we have being played out to its logical conclusion. For lack of vision the people perish, I hope; I pray good people will stop evil from flourishing.
“Do or Do not. There is no Try.” I have always believed that’s what the Nike slogan was all about.
I find it fascinating how many athletes I talk to understand this very thing you discuss with us, TC. I asked a premier athlete once why “Just Do It” became such an iconic slogan. I had to laugh when the reply was….”when most people get to the point of giving up, they say ‘well, at least I tried.’ So Nike knew they better not put “Just Try” next to their swoop.”
And this was a college athlete.
Leads me to remember to put some real muscle behind my convictions.
Great post, TC. Sizzlin’.
BRAVA!!!
Most excellent, clarion call. I think Bernie may have heard you...
Ellen Massey - what a great quote from of all people Edward Teller! And what a thoughtful piece of writing today, TC of LA, and a call to stand up, speak up, and keep going despite the awful stuff the gop of the former "president" is still doing to create a Belarus of the West. We've got plenty of those guys and gals in Michigan and they believe their seats are assured even with a citizen led redistricting process, which of course they have fought tooth, nail and in the courts since the voters passed it by a 62% margin! They've already named their leadership for the state house and the state senate in 2022! They figure they'll win. And they might just because of the drip drip drip of lies from the gop over 20 years of controlling the state has weakened the intellectual capacity of too many Michiganders, and perhaps Americans, to allow them to ask questions of what they're hearing and who is rattling on from the heights. So thank you. Plenty to think about and to act upon. Plus - I've shared this column with friends who are committed to stay standing no matter what. Whatever we do, we can't do it totally alone. We need compatriots.
Destiny takes the shape we give it. Thanks for the reminder. Time to fight.
TC, I have been privileged to read your comments on Professor Richardson's Substack and did not realize until today that you, too, write here. So here I am, another subscriber, because I Geel I gain knowledge and insight from the two of you, and I appreciate the opportunity to support you both with my small stipend. Your writing today is thought provoking, and more than a little frightening, but I will say this: Never in my history of voting (and there have been quite a few elections under this old girl's belt!) have I been more motivated to speak out and take action, and I attribute part of that willingness to writing from the two of you. I thank you for aiding my motivation, and I hope it helps in some small way to keep us from losing our democracy...if [it is even possible to keep it at this stage.
Best advice since the (possibly apocryphal) Churchillian comment - "When you're going through hell, the best thing to do is keep going." In respect of "nice, easy, comfortable, safe, WRONG choices." are we discussing the current President who seems to be digging it deeper every day and, if so, who represents in effective, electable improvement?