tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post85849180076028425..comments2024-03-29T10:02:52.586-04:00Comments on Politics and its Discontents: Is This Really Something To Be Proud Of?Lornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-11931032059300089072018-06-28T12:24:33.244-04:002018-06-28T12:24:33.244-04:00"since Ronald Reagan took office"....or ..."since Ronald Reagan took office"....or left?Ole Reahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04369532853721823201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-82682637692490398792018-06-24T20:59:41.952-04:002018-06-24T20:59:41.952-04:00Your description and analysis of those who conduct...Your description and analysis of those who conduct their lives premised on dividing and conquering is very useful in providing a key into a world that is hard for many of us to understand, Ruth. Thank you.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-53567130357248633952018-06-24T18:37:36.042-04:002018-06-24T18:37:36.042-04:00Do you know what they feel after they’ve spewed th...Do you know what they feel after they’ve spewed their hatred through words and actions? Crappy...and they don’t make the connection...so they continue hoping it will make them feel better so they continue with the behaviour...and they feel even worse. And so it continues...hoping to create a meaningful divide between themselves and the “other”...and convince themselves they are better. The idea that they could be like the people they’re victimizing is too threatening. They live in a world where there’s a pecking order...you’re either the victim or the victimizer...and so in order to distance themselves, the hatred and vile behaviour continue. How do we stop it? Not sure...a combination of the black and white thinking of fundamentalism combined with inadequate education and resaoning skill is dangerous; a consumer culture focussed on conspicuous consumption and the individual “lacking” in some way unless they buy products that help them reach a a desired lifestyle creates a pecking order of “winners” and “losers”; a spiritual hunger that mainstream churches do not seem to address (many fundamentalist churches seem to create a longing in their parishioners that turn them into fanatics); the breakdown of meaningful community where people from all ages, classes and races interact and care for each other...I could go on...obviously lots of factors have come together to create a toxic soup. I only hope that somehow the tide will turn at some point in the future ...but I’ve been hoping that since Ronald Reagan took office. And with the upcoming flood of climate change refugees, look for this behaviour to get worse, not better...Ruth Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-26451457297909544232018-06-24T17:13:28.012-04:002018-06-24T17:13:28.012-04:00He understood us too well, Owen.He understood us too well, Owen.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-10948485378707953002018-06-24T16:27:53.213-04:002018-06-24T16:27:53.213-04:00I think Frederick Neitzsche understood humanity an...I think Frederick Neitzsche understood humanity and our times very well, Lorne. He understood the Will to Power. And he knew that it could blot out all other concerns -- particularly benign concerns.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-42499837176837188132018-06-24T09:23:08.628-04:002018-06-24T09:23:08.628-04:00Yeah, life is tough for those folks, Mound. When y...Yeah, life is tough for those folks, Mound. When you are no longer at the top of the heap, it must be a real blow to one's 'racial pride.' My heart bleeds for them.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-10548876556214641872018-06-23T21:49:13.577-04:002018-06-23T21:49:13.577-04:00What do they feel? Precisely what they have been s...What do they feel? Precisely what they have been so thoroughly conditioned to feel - victims. At the heart of all bigotry, xenophobia, nativism lies victimhood. Notice that most of these Trump supporters are white folks "of a certain age." They remember a time when all they saw were other whites. Blacks and other races were there but they weren't as often seen as they are today. They hadn't taken their place in the ranks of the professions. Look how long it took America to desegregate major league baseball. Sammy Davis Jr. was a huge star in Vegas but wasn't permitted to take a room in the hotels where he headlined. Blacks are still under-represented but they have made inroads. There are a lot of working class whites uncomfortable with seeing a few blacks as their "betters."<br /><br />Demographics are changing in the US. Whites will lose their majority in a decade or two and they see that as a loss of their ability to dominate the society, to "make the rules."<br /><br />Along comes a guy like Trump who posits everyone else as a threat, stokes their fears and, no matter how degenerate he may be, they see him as their Messiah.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-76168134612736335662018-06-23T15:24:55.426-04:002018-06-23T15:24:55.426-04:00People have various filters and blinders so they s...People have various filters and blinders so they see only what they want to see, Sal. In the end, though, their actions, whether explained by willful ignorance, indoctrination, upbringing, prejudice or sheer mean-spiritedness, are their own. I have no sympathy for them.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-33619546400760203112018-06-23T14:45:00.377-04:002018-06-23T14:45:00.377-04:00.. there are various exceptional articles explaini..... there are various exceptional articles explaining the 'partisan phemomena.. as a a syndrome. Some articles also connect the various related belief systems and behaviors. Whether climate change denial, racism, white supremacy or numerous & sundry other fallacies such as shallowness or unwillingness to read or see, knformation, The American political system is built on being Republican or Democrat, eusually starting at birth.. Its quite startling to look at partisanship from a clinical and/or informed persective<br /><br />Someone just the other day blogged about those whose persective (I am being generous) will not or cannot change or adapt because they shut out alternative info, or views conflicting with their beliefs.. perhaps there's something entwined here about the bible and christianity.. a astonishing percentage of Americans are evangelical.. high 20's or low 30' %the salamanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853337802990122289noreply@blogger.com