Blog 7
December 21, 2016
The Man in the High Castle - Alternate Realities
Some of you may also be watching Season 2 of The Man in the High Castle. Based on a Philip K. Dick story, the outcome of WW2 leaves America vanquished. The Germans rule on the East coast and the Japanese rule on the West coast A resistance group is fighting from the shadows,but even more interesting is another reality in which different endings to the war co-exist with the main story. Watching the malevolence of the Germans and Japanese is disrupted by flashes of this other reality. As a viewer I am often left in confusion about which side people are on and which reality really exists.
My fears of a Trump reality mirrors the authoritarian control of the Germans and the Japanese . At the same time , I am searching to join the resistance and fantasizing about other possible outcomes. The show is powerful in its ability to show the effects of political and cultural mind control up against the human capacity to choose good over evil. Fear permeates as a political weapon of control and a personal obstacle to resistance and change.
In listening to Trump supporters I find myself in an alternate reality. What they believe and desire clashes up against what I hold dear. And yes, I know we all have human convergences of feelings, but getting past the wall of difference is daunting. Not sure how The Man in the High Castle will end (still three more episodes to go.) Right now an A bomb is threatening the city of San Francisco. Germany is attacking from the East. The resistance is planning an uprising. In the alternate reality a multi-race family is repairing old wounds and learning to live together. Political activists of that time are staging “Ban the Bomb” rallies. Where would you rather be in that story? And at this time, in our reality, what will each of us do to stand up for what we believe even if we feel afraid.
Wise Words
SundayReview | OPINION
Is Donald Trump Threat to Democracy?
By STEVEN LEVITSKY and DANIEL ZIBLATT DEC. 16, 2016
Excerpt:
Donald J. Trump’s election has raised a question that few Americans ever imagined asking: Is our democracy in danger?
…..American democracy is not in imminent danger of collapse. If ordinary circumstances prevail, our institutions will most likely muddle through a Trump presidency. It is less clear, however, how democracy would fare in a crisis. In the event of a war, a major terrorist attack or large-scale riots or protests — all of which are entirely possible — a president with authoritarian tendencies and institutions that have come unmoored could pose a serious threat to American democracy. We must be vigilant. The warning signs are here.
Excerpt: Obama Interview
Building from the Ground up
Obama: Building from the ground up and communicating to state legislators and financing school board races and public utility commission races, and, you know, I am a proud Democrat, but I do think that we have a bias towards national issues and international issues, and as a consequence I think we've ceded too much territory. And I take some responsibility for that……
Politics
To Rehabilitate Democratic Party, Obama Plans To 'Coach' Young Talent
Obama: I'm less likely to get involved in all the nuts and bolts of electioneering. In that realm, I'm much more likely to just give advice. What I am interested in is just developing a whole new generation of talent. There are such incredible young people who not only worked on my campaign, but I've seen in advocacy groups. I've seen passionate about issues like climate change or conservation, criminal justice reform, you know, campaigns for a livable wage, or health insurance, and making sure that
whatever resources, credibility, spotlight that I can bring to help them rise up. That's something that I think I can do well, I think Michelle can do well. That's part of what makes me optimistic about our future because I know those young people are out there ready to lead, and when they start moving into more and more positions of authority, then I think the issues that I care most deeply about are going to be well served.
Peter Fraenkel
Trump Bullies Beware: “This Time It’s Personal”
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about why Trump’s impending presidency
is pissing me off so much. In my adult life, as a lefty liberal from birth, I’ve
always been disappointed, uneasy, worried, and irritated when a
Republican wins the presidency. But this is different – I am really mad, I am
really angry, I am really, really pissed. There are all sorts of reasons to be
angry about the election process and about a Trump presidency, and
these have been repeatedly enumerated by many in the press, so I won’t
repeat the list. But I realized today that of all the reasons to be agitated
and angry, the one that hits me to my emotional, personal core is that
Trump is a bully. Bullying is defined essentially as “one person, or group of
persons, being deliberately cruel to another person or group, for any
reason.” (see www.mentalhealthsupport.co.uk). We all know about Trump’s
many middle-of-the-night bullying tweets, his bullying, demeaning
remarks at rallies, his bullying comments on TV….And we have seen how
his acolytes (some? many? Who knows the numbers) have followed his
lead, and lodged death threats to anyone who speaks up and out against
Trump. So, those of us committed to speaking up and out continuously
must be prepared to be bullied, and to see the people we care about – our
families, our friends, our colleagues, our students, our clients – be bullied.
We must have productive, protective ways to respond. It’s not a question
of whether, it’s only a question of when. McCarthyism redux. And worse….
...I’ve started reviewing the research and practical literature on bullying and
on what is suggested as a response to bullying. These are the behaviors
all sources recommend:
1. Avoid the bully whenever possible
2. If possible, ignore any bullying behavior
3. Use humor. (I don’t think this suggestion works for politically-based
bullying: I’m not gonna joke around with my politically-motivated
tormentor. This shit is not funny.)
4. Confront someone with whom you spend time with regularly. This is a
good suggestion for when a co-worker, neighbor, or other person you see
regularly is bullying you. Go to HR if it happens at work.
5. Remain calm. Don’t show fear. Bullies feed off of fear.
6. Be mindful of your physical and emotional reaction. Stand/sit straight,
keep voice steady. If responding in writing, use calm language, stay
centered.
7. Don’t take the bullying personally, even though it is personally directed.
Keep in mind that this bullying is a byproduct of larger social forces.
8. Don’t reciprocate the bullying
9. Don’t get into a verbal or physical altercation
10. Reach out to others immediately, tell what happened, don’t isolate. The
People United Will Never Be Defeated!
11. Document offenses. Report cyber-bullying to your online service
provider and to law enforcement (see www.stopbullying.gov)…….
What I want to say to you, President-Elect Donald Trump, if you happen to
read this (hey, I’m not putting it past him, or at least, one of his self-appointed lackeys), is that if you, your staff, or your supporters, henchmen
and hence women bully me or any of the people I care about – and I care
about a lot of people – I will not back down, and I and my friends will come
after you in a legal, nonviolent, adult manner, and you will be very sorry
that you bullied me and the people I care about. That means you best not
chase after Muslims, undocumented immigrants, welfare recipients, and
other groups you’ve repeatedly threatened to assault. If you do, it is
bullying, and there will be zero tolerance for it. We will grind you down,
perhaps slowly because you have way more power than us, but we will do
it, like water on a stone. Bruce Lee, the great martial artist, when asked the
secret to his fighting prowess, responded calmly, with a smile: "Be like
water, my friend." Speaking of water, as the tagline of the movie Jaws: The
Revenge, says, “This Time It’s Personal.”
Action:
Excerpt:
Indivisible-Practical Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda
EONE PAGE SUMMARY
Here’s the quick and dirty summary of this document. While this page summarizes top-level takeaways, the full document describes how to actually carry out these activities.
CHAPTER 1 How grassroots advocacy worked to stop President Obama. We examine lessons from the Tea Party’s rise and recommend two key strategic components:
A local strategy targeting individual Members of Congress (MoCs).
A defensive approach purely focused on stopping Trump from implementing an agenda built on racism, authoritarianism, and corruption.
CHAPTER 2 How your MoC thinks — reelection, reelection, reelection — and how to use that to save democracy. MoCs want their constituents to think well of them and they want good, local press. They hate surprises, wasted time, and most of all, bad press that makes them look weak, unlikable, and vulnerable. You will use these interests to make them listen and act.
CHAPTER 3 Identify or organize your local group. Is there an existing local group or network you can join? Or do you need to start your own? We suggest steps to help mobilize your fellow constituents locally and start organizing for action.
CHAPTER 4 Four local advocacy tactics that actually work. Most of you have three MoCs — two Senators and one Representative. Whether you like it or not, they are your voices in Washington. Your job is to make sure they are, in fact, speaking for you. We’ve identified four key opportunity areas that just a handful of local constituents can use to great effect. Always record encounters on video, prepare questions ahead of time, coordinate with your group, and report back to local media:
Town halls. MoCs regularly hold public in-district events to show that they are listening to constituents. Make them listen to you, and report out when they don’t.
Non-town hall events. MoCs love cutting ribbons and kissing babies back home. Don’t let them get photo-ops without questions about racism, authoritarianism, and corruption.
District office sit-ins/meetings. Every MoC has one or several district offices. Go there. Demand a meeting with the MoC. Report to the world if they refuse to listen.
Coordinated calls. Calls are a light lift but can have an impact. Organize your local group to barrage your MoCs at an opportune moment about and on a specific issue.
Sign this petition:
Tell Trump to #ActOn Climate
Take action with Planned Parenthood.
CHAPTER 1: HOW GRASSR
From Richard Adler:
ReplyDeleteEllen-This from the ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION which is a stalwart in defending the greatest advantage we have, free speech and access to information-we are always playing catchup with the “deep” corporate and governmental state. These people are worth a donation and a following.
No one can know for sure what the incoming Trump administration will do, but President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized and threatened the media in the United States. In lieu of attempting the impossible and predicting the future, we’ve gathered...
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/12/trump-free-speech-and-freedom-press