There is an adage that has served me well whenever I find myself faced with a thought dilemma. The kind of conundrum that has me wondering about the consequences of an important decision or asking the question, "How can I begin to make sense of this?"
What I do is follow some simple advice: what do the finest minds, in your view, have to say about this? Seek out the ideas of those you respect the most and try to find out what their perspectives teach you.
We all know that there is a palpable fear running through this country right now? Despite our attempts at unity, we are a hugely divided nation that seems to be resting on the brink of disaster. All the signs are there. Things are not going well. Life is tough and tougher. If ever there were to be a second Civil in this country, this is the time.
I don't need to run down the list of circumstances and realities, the improbable cast of characters. The daily stream of violence and savagery in all forms that presents itself wherever we go. What I do need to do is pass along some thoughts from one of those brilliant thinkers we still possess.
In a new article, Chris Hedges has outlined his take on America 2018 and how we can turn around this fragile mess we're in if we so desire.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/05/21/coming-collapse
Hedges uses the term inverted totalitarianism (and credits its author) to highlight why no one particular party is to blame, but rather it is the system we often defend that needs replacing. I'll reference the article, and document it here, but I'm not going any further because it is one particular thought contained therein that has captured my attention.
We all know that the media is out of control, but it's hard to criticize it sometimes because it is under attack by the current administration. And, after all, one of the hallmarks Fascism is to attack and destroy a free press. Yet, the media as it exists today often supports unintended consequences. As Hedges notes,
"It drones on and on and on about empty topics such as Russian meddling and a payoff to a porn actress that have nothing to do with the daily hell that, for many defines life in America. It refuses to critique or investigate the abuses by corporate power, which has destroyed our democracy and economy and orchestrated the largest transfer of wealth upward in American history."
Few would dispute these claims.
But what resonates most in all this with me is what the American people are willing to do about that "daily hell" that seems to have defined their lives.
Group catharsis coming?
What I do is follow some simple advice: what do the finest minds, in your view, have to say about this? Seek out the ideas of those you respect the most and try to find out what their perspectives teach you.
We all know that there is a palpable fear running through this country right now? Despite our attempts at unity, we are a hugely divided nation that seems to be resting on the brink of disaster. All the signs are there. Things are not going well. Life is tough and tougher. If ever there were to be a second Civil in this country, this is the time.
I don't need to run down the list of circumstances and realities, the improbable cast of characters. The daily stream of violence and savagery in all forms that presents itself wherever we go. What I do need to do is pass along some thoughts from one of those brilliant thinkers we still possess.
In a new article, Chris Hedges has outlined his take on America 2018 and how we can turn around this fragile mess we're in if we so desire.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2018/05/21/coming-collapse
Hedges uses the term inverted totalitarianism (and credits its author) to highlight why no one particular party is to blame, but rather it is the system we often defend that needs replacing. I'll reference the article, and document it here, but I'm not going any further because it is one particular thought contained therein that has captured my attention.
We all know that the media is out of control, but it's hard to criticize it sometimes because it is under attack by the current administration. And, after all, one of the hallmarks Fascism is to attack and destroy a free press. Yet, the media as it exists today often supports unintended consequences. As Hedges notes,
"It drones on and on and on about empty topics such as Russian meddling and a payoff to a porn actress that have nothing to do with the daily hell that, for many defines life in America. It refuses to critique or investigate the abuses by corporate power, which has destroyed our democracy and economy and orchestrated the largest transfer of wealth upward in American history."
Few would dispute these claims.
But what resonates most in all this with me is what the American people are willing to do about that "daily hell" that seems to have defined their lives.
Group catharsis coming?
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