Time To Move On

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Resisting Distraction

Consistent with their coverage throughout the presidential campaign, MSNBC (I choose to focus on the so-called 'liberal' representative of the MSM), spent an inordinate amount of air time in various states of outrage over the latest Trumpian assertion (and the subsequent underscore by press secretary, Sean Spicer) that three to five million people had voted illegally in the recent election. Instead of focusing on the intent of the original tweet which involves sending a clear message to Republican legislators throughout the country to remobilize their efforts to suppress the vote, the MSM's 'journalistic' response to this absurd  contention was to obsessively point to the most recent bright shiny object appearing in cyberspace and, in so doing, collaborated with the new administration in their effort to distract the American people away from its very real attempt to manipulate and change the fabric of our political landscape. The recent statement was a purposeful attempt to reinvigorate efforts to suppress the vote around the country. The Republicans have won the popular vote in a national election exactly once (2004) since 1988. Given the continual and organic evolution of national demographics, they know that maintaining political relevance depends on reducing the turnout in specific regions of the country. It's been an essential part of their strategy for years but it is now critical for their survival.

The more outrageous the Trump utterance, the better it is for the MSM and their viewership ratings. We must never forget that corporate media's primary objective is to make money. If real journalism is what you are after, we can refer you to the archives for past H.L. Mencken articles, an Edward R Murrow editorial or two, or perhaps the occasional New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, or Intercept article. Save Amy Goodman's Democracy Now, one is not likely to find incisive and unfettered opinion and investigative journalism by turning on the TV.

While the collusion between Trump and the MSM successfully distracts our attention, real events are occurring concurrent with the unrelenting media circus. Trump rants, the media takes the bait, and the American public look away while Executive Orders are signed to continue the flow of environmentally polluting crude oil under our soil, federal funding is cut to NGO's thereby denying 20 million women worldwide vital health care, immigrant hopes of legal assimilation are dashed under the vengeful hand of an intolerant 'homeland' policy while fears of deportation increase, entire governmental agencies are given a gag order not to speak to the press, sanctuary cities are threaten with defunding, wages are frozen, fast-tracking environmental approval under the guidance of an EPA secretary who is a declared opponent of the agency he now heads is well underway, the freezing of all regulations the approval of which is now subject to Executive approval, and the unraveling of the Affordable Care Act without a coherent replacement thereby endangering the well being of millions of American citizens has begun unabated.

The current administration is counting on an inattentive public and media-induced distraction away form the very real events which will materially affect the quality of our lives and the character of our country. A major element of the work to be done going forward is to identify and resist any and all diversionary measures while maintaining focus on the ways in which we might continue to posit viable, visionary, and sustainable alternatives to the existing and ensuing model.

Resisting Trump

In response to a recent admonishment regarding taking care not to mirror the hate one would otherwise stand against, allow me to suggest that speaking out and standing up against this regime is not an expression of hate; it is rather an expression of resistance to the vulgarity, crassness, hateful rhetoric, xenophobia, racial scapegoating, mean spirited 'othering', persistent distortion of the truth, inability to engage in honest self reflection, self aggrandizement, corporate appeasement, disregard for environmental, public educational  and worker's concerns, and the tendency to favor authoritarian rule inherent in the words and actions of this president and many of those chosen to advise, represent, and influence this administration. To dissent, resist, and exercise one's voice as a free American is to engage in an act of love of country by fulfilling the sacred obligation of responsible citizenship.

The Coming Storm

After a close and sober examination of the apparent implicit philosophy of the recently assembled cabal surrounding the incoming president and at the risk of sounding an alarm a bit too loudly premature, one may nevertheless conclude that we might be only one terrorist attack/false flag operation away from the imposition of martial law in this country. The Trump administration's most likely chance for majority support will come from the inducement/existence of widespread fear among its people. The phenomenon was used with great success by Bush/Chaney in the wake of 9/11 and provides a blueprint for emulation by future unpopular regimes who must resort to this kind of manipulation in order to engender consensus among an otherwise unwilling population.

Given the enormous resistance on display in the recent demonstrations nationwide, it will be interesting to observe the extent to which the Trump administration can redirect the current constituency's mindset toward its dystopian worldview of perennial threat, constant fear, and the ongoing need for authoritarian control. The resolve of the opposition to this form of governance will surely be tested in ways we can now only imagine. We are well advised, therefore, to prepare for a challenge to basic values and norms the likes of which we have heretofore never seen. People get ready.

Reflections in the Wake of Trump's Inaugural Address

Call me an optimist but I was actually anticipating some degree of conciliation in DJT's inaugural address today which would be in keeping with the long standing tradition of a graceful acceptance of presidential office. Instead, we were given a condensed version of a stump speech wherein he offered a rather dystopian vision of the American landscape replete with 'carnage', despair, and a weakened military (an absurd contention given the fact that we spend about ten times more capital on the DOD as compared with our closest rival).

A particularly disturbing aspect of the speech was the persistent reference to 'America first' as a rallying cry for a new era of isolationism wherein protectionists policies will rule the day and where the needs of 'real' Americans will once again be given priority over the countless 'others' who somehow threaten an imagined way of life which apparently is destined to replace the naturally organic and inevitable evolution of a multicultural society in which the rich array of human representation is eager to express itself (Trump has recently taken to referring to certain native-born Americans as 'Mexican' and 'Afgan'). The 'America first' reference also invokes the chilling reminder of the pro-Nazi movement in the 1930's, promoted by the likes of William Randolph Hearst and championed by none other than Charles Lindbergh, which argued for an insular and neutral American stance with regard to the advance of fascism in Germany and the practice of 'othering' specific racial groups as the root cause of an' International malaise'. One can reasonably conclude that DJT's reference to 'America first' was intended to echo an era of isolationist thinking and an imagined vision of past glory the renewal of which is close at hand. Of course, this reactionary impulse is occurring concurrent with the very real existence of a rapidly expanding and culturally diverse society which clearly reflects an inclusive and alternative paradigm to President Trump's conception of America. One of the challenges of the ensuing four years will be to find creative ways to reconcile the inevitable conflict between an attempt to superimpose an imagined past over the ongoing reality of a rapidly evolving and functioning society in real time.

An equally disturbing element of today's address, and a persistent aspect of DJT's rhetoric throughout the campaign, is his rather casual and cynical suggestion that somehow the common person has found a true champion in the form of a Trump administration. It beggars belief to see how this advocate of the 1 % who has now filled his cabinet with billionaires whose professional focus has been centered on the acquisition of enormous and inordinate personal wealth (with scant regard for the welfare of the worker and often at his/her expense) as well as a preoccupation with the bottom line will suddenly be transformed into an agent of populist rejuvenation. The callous manipulation of fellow human beings to further one's own objectives was captured brilliantly by Robert Zimmerman. When reflecting on the origins of the hate implicit in the murder of civil rights pioneer Medgar Evers he said: 'The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid; And the marshals and cops get the same; But the poor white man's used in the hands of them all like a tool. He's taught in his school...From the start by the rule...That the laws are with him...To protect his white skin...To keep up his hate... So he never thinks straight...'Bout the shape that he's in...But it ain't him to blame...He's only a pawn in their game.'
And earlier: '...(he) is used it is plain...For the politician's gain...As he rises to fame...And the poor white remains...On the caboose of the train...But it ain't him to blame...He's only a pawn in their game.'

With these words still hanging in the air, many of us now might imagine that Trump and his ilk 'would be made to wear earphones' so that sound of millions could 'startle his sleeping ears to hear a distant voice'...at once clear and transformative.

The Legacy of Martin Luther King

After the official day of celebration of MLK's birthday, I find myself reflecting, once again, on his revolutionary and radical ideas of answering the corrosive presence of hate and warfare with the restorative, godly inspired application of love and the peaceful embrace of brotherhood. For him, this was not an unachievable ideal or abstract concept but rather an active mandate of global proportions. His vision pointed the way for a significant paradigm shift away from the self interested accumulation of power and resources and toward the realization of a world in which the fellowship of humankind would become a global priority. He saw this change as being in keeping not only with God's will but also consistent with the fundamental core values of this great nation.
While reflecting on some of MLK's essential ideas as a uniquely spiritual leader, I also was seized with sadness over the loss of two other significant voices for radical change: Robert F Kennedy and John Lennon. The former was in a position of political influence sufficient to accomplish many of the lofty goals set forth by Martin's eloquent and inspired rhetoric while the latter provided the artistic vision and popularity to influence an entire generation to seek new answers to old problems and to value the common good of all humanity over the narrow interests of the very few. Sadly these voices have been silenced (a topic for another day) but the legacy of their message remains as a beacon for all who envision a more equitable, sustainable, and hopeful future.

The Commutation of Chelsea Manning

After 8 years of systematic prosecution and persecution of whistleblowers and journalists who expose governmental, corporate, and military wrongdoing, Barack Obama has commuted the sentence of Chelsea (Bradley) Manning who had been serving 7 of an inordinate 35 year sentence for her role in revealing, among other things, the massacres committed in Fallujah and Haditha during the Iraq War and the government's efforts to hide these events from the American people. This is only slight atonement for the outgoing president who has presided over the incarceration and torture (brutal solitary confinement in forced positions) of an American who sought only to bring to light military and governmental transgressions heretofore kept secret from its own people and the international community. In spite of an orchestrated campaign to discredit and demonize this loyal service member, it should be noted that her revelations were vetted in advance so as not to endanger American personnel or to comprise vital intelligence (none of the documents released were classified as top secret). As he steps away from office, Obama is to be given faint praise for the long overdue rectification of at least one case of injustice.