Tuesday, February 5, 2019
It's a Both/And Proposition
In response to the need to identify the most authentic progressive candidate for 2020, I'm in agreement with the the assertion that policy and ideology matter and that the continuation of the neo-liberal model as represented by the recent Democratic establishment needs to be replaced by a genuine progressive who better embodies the principles and vision inherent in a new and emerging base. That said, it is also true that electability matters and we must be mindful to balance our need to effect real change with a deep understanding of the political landscape in which we both operate and hope to transform.
Monday, February 4, 2019
Socialists Love Baseball Too!
Note to all Progressives: in spite of the heavy-handed capitalist marketing, the excessive allusions to and promotions of militarism implicit in American sports (please read Howard Bryant's The Heritage), the billionaire franchise owners, and the excessive salaries paid to a selected few...it's still okay to support your favorite teams and the individual athletes who populate them. It's not a mutually exclusive proposition to embrace Bernie Sanders while idolizing Sandy Koufax; hold Marx and Montana in high esteem; extol the virtues of Paul Robson and the Raiders; and sing the praises of George Bernard Shaw as you marvel at the exploits Georgie Best!! Remember: a well functioning team embodies the principles of collective effort and egalitarian regard for its constituent members while pursuing a common goal!
Friday, January 25, 2019
An Ignoble Legacy
With the imminent threat of yet another United States engineered coup d' etat looming in Venezuela, the Trump administration is poised to join the ranks of several past US administrations in orchestrating a regime change in Latin America. The ongoing political chaos under the leadership of current president Nicolas Maduro is a result of an unhappy mixture of governmental mismanagement, crippling economic sanctions unilaterally imposed by the US without United Nations authorization, and a relentless internal opposition by the US backed ultra right resistance which successfully undermined a recent agreement by members of the moderate opposition to negotiate a peaceful settlement with the Maduro regime in a peace conference in the Dominican Republic. At this point the National Assembly leader, Juan Guaido, is being touted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as the rightful heir to the presidency without the benefit of an actual democratic election...the classic trappings of a coup d' etat. Additionally, the election which brought Maduro to power was boycotted by the radical right opposition in an attempt to delegitimize Maduro presidency and pave the way for the coup we are now witnessing in real time.
This flaunting of international law which serves to protect the sovereignty of nations and protect against the illegal intervention of one nation into the internal affairs of another is, of course, perfectly consistent with past practice by the United States under the leadership of Democratic and Republican alike. The current inference of the US in the affairs of a sovereign nation reminds one of the CIA directed military coup against the democratically elected president of Guatemala, Jacobo Arbenz, in 1954 under the leadership of President Eisenhower and his Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles. It should be noted that an earlier attempt to unseat Arbenz was conducted during the administration of Harry Truman, which was successfully albeit temporarily thwarted by the Guatemalan government.
The Nixon/Kissinger regime became infamous in giving approval to the CIA backed assassination of the democratically elected president of Chile, Salvatore Allende, in September (11th, no less) of 1973. This resulted in one the most repressively brutal regimes of the 20th century under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
This legacy of illegal intervention continued under Bush the Elder (in 1991) and repeated itself during the regime of Bush the Lesser (in 2004) as they twice moved to undermine the popular presidency of Jean-Bertrand Aristide by presiding over his removal from office and his forced exile to Africa. It might be remembered with a degree of shame when then Secretary of State, Colin Powell, boldly announced on PBS, as an acquiescent Jim Lear passively looked on, that...'Aristide really has to go'. It was as if he was announcing to the world on behalf of the current, past, and future generations of American leaders that 'sovereignty be damned when we decide a regime change is in our best interests'! Of notable interest in the case of Haiti is that the ensuing chaos emanating from this coup led the way for the insertion of the Clinton Foundation in the 'rebuilding' of Haiti which resulted, instead, in further devastation of one of the poorest nations on the face of the Earth and the aggrandizement of Bush's predecessor.
A more recent example of our involvement in the removal of a democratically elected leader of a sovereign nation was 2009 military coup in Honduras, which ousted President Manuel Zelaya from office and replaced him with the US/CIA backed Roberto Micheletti with the full endorsement of then Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, under the direction of the Obama/Biden administration. The resulting dissolution of this society has brought endless suffering to the Honduran people and yielded an environment in which lawlessness and gang violence has thrived to this day. We see clearly the effects of this societal deterioration in the form of the multitudes of refugees fleeing the country, often seeking asylum in this country...a cruel example of the blowback from unintended consequences.
It cannot be lost on even the most inattentive reader that these examples of orchestrated regime change were perpetrated against leftists governments not ideologically allied with the United States. It follows that these incursions into the politics of these sovereign countries were done in order to re-assert a kind of ideological and economic hegemony in the Southern Hemisphere against the will of the people and in service of our more narrow geo-political ambitions.
The current situation is essentially no different than the cases cited above in that, however flawed the Maduro administration might be as a result of internally and externally imposed forces, Venezuela, much like Guatemala, Chile, Haiti, and Honduras before them, has its own unique set of issues with which it must deal and must be allowed, as an independent and sovereign entity, to resolve their challenges by reference to their own electorate, free from foreign interference, violence, and malicious intent.
This flaunting of international law which serves to protect the sovereignty of nations and protect against the illegal intervention of one nation into the internal affairs of another is, of course, perfectly consistent with past practice by the United States under the leadership of Democratic and Republican alike. The current inference of the US in the affairs of a sovereign nation reminds one of the CIA directed military coup against the democratically elected president of Guatemala, Jacobo Arbenz, in 1954 under the leadership of President Eisenhower and his Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles. It should be noted that an earlier attempt to unseat Arbenz was conducted during the administration of Harry Truman, which was successfully albeit temporarily thwarted by the Guatemalan government.
The Nixon/Kissinger regime became infamous in giving approval to the CIA backed assassination of the democratically elected president of Chile, Salvatore Allende, in September (11th, no less) of 1973. This resulted in one the most repressively brutal regimes of the 20th century under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
This legacy of illegal intervention continued under Bush the Elder (in 1991) and repeated itself during the regime of Bush the Lesser (in 2004) as they twice moved to undermine the popular presidency of Jean-Bertrand Aristide by presiding over his removal from office and his forced exile to Africa. It might be remembered with a degree of shame when then Secretary of State, Colin Powell, boldly announced on PBS, as an acquiescent Jim Lear passively looked on, that...'Aristide really has to go'. It was as if he was announcing to the world on behalf of the current, past, and future generations of American leaders that 'sovereignty be damned when we decide a regime change is in our best interests'! Of notable interest in the case of Haiti is that the ensuing chaos emanating from this coup led the way for the insertion of the Clinton Foundation in the 'rebuilding' of Haiti which resulted, instead, in further devastation of one of the poorest nations on the face of the Earth and the aggrandizement of Bush's predecessor.
A more recent example of our involvement in the removal of a democratically elected leader of a sovereign nation was 2009 military coup in Honduras, which ousted President Manuel Zelaya from office and replaced him with the US/CIA backed Roberto Micheletti with the full endorsement of then Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, under the direction of the Obama/Biden administration. The resulting dissolution of this society has brought endless suffering to the Honduran people and yielded an environment in which lawlessness and gang violence has thrived to this day. We see clearly the effects of this societal deterioration in the form of the multitudes of refugees fleeing the country, often seeking asylum in this country...a cruel example of the blowback from unintended consequences.
It cannot be lost on even the most inattentive reader that these examples of orchestrated regime change were perpetrated against leftists governments not ideologically allied with the United States. It follows that these incursions into the politics of these sovereign countries were done in order to re-assert a kind of ideological and economic hegemony in the Southern Hemisphere against the will of the people and in service of our more narrow geo-political ambitions.
The current situation is essentially no different than the cases cited above in that, however flawed the Maduro administration might be as a result of internally and externally imposed forces, Venezuela, much like Guatemala, Chile, Haiti, and Honduras before them, has its own unique set of issues with which it must deal and must be allowed, as an independent and sovereign entity, to resolve their challenges by reference to their own electorate, free from foreign interference, violence, and malicious intent.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
A Thankless Task
Taking a moment here to express appreciation and gratitude to my friend Rich Osborn (among others) who works tirelessly to sort through the muck, mire, and minutiae of the unseemly residue left behind daily by The Current Occupant and his band of decidedly unhappy and incompetent minions.
During the past three years, I've written well over one hundred pieces about TCO and have reached a point best described by Mr. Dylan where: 'you're sick of all this repetition...' and await the metaphorical arrival of 'Queen Jane' (save the rather obvious symbolic reference).
Meanwhile, Rich persistently, determinedly, and with great insight exposes the various ways in which our democracy is threatened and undermined by this ill-informed, directionless, and thoroughly corrupt administration.
Thank you, Rich and others, for staying true to the task of exposing the incessant mendacity endemic to this regime and pointing the way forward...away from this darkened moment in time.
During the past three years, I've written well over one hundred pieces about TCO and have reached a point best described by Mr. Dylan where: 'you're sick of all this repetition...' and await the metaphorical arrival of 'Queen Jane' (save the rather obvious symbolic reference).
Meanwhile, Rich persistently, determinedly, and with great insight exposes the various ways in which our democracy is threatened and undermined by this ill-informed, directionless, and thoroughly corrupt administration.
Thank you, Rich and others, for staying true to the task of exposing the incessant mendacity endemic to this regime and pointing the way forward...away from this darkened moment in time.
Monday, January 7, 2019
The Changing of the Guard
With the advent of such vibrant, forward thinking, diverse, and youthful new leaders in the House, Senate and state government, we are in the midst of a new wave of political thought and energy. This is embodied in the unapologetic confrontational style of Kamala Harris, Alexandra Ocasio Cortez, and Rashida Tlaib who are not likely concede ground in deference to protocol and establish patterns of thought. Washington governor, Jay Inslee, is running on a uncompromising environmental agenda and is a leading spokesman for the New Green Deal while Beto O'Rouke combines the qualities and values of inclusiveness, progressive ideals, youthful perspective, collective action, grass roots organizational skill, and a genuine ability to authentically connect with people.
By contrast, Joe Biden appears to champion the old, weathered, and tired set of ideas and methods of a status quo rapidly becoming irrelevant when compared to this new, inspired, hopeful and reinvigorated political landscape rapidly being forged. Instead of offering the fresh face of a man ready to lead us into the fertile fields of the future, Uncle Joe increasingly presents himself as the old guy who just wants you off his front lawn!
By contrast, Joe Biden appears to champion the old, weathered, and tired set of ideas and methods of a status quo rapidly becoming irrelevant when compared to this new, inspired, hopeful and reinvigorated political landscape rapidly being forged. Instead of offering the fresh face of a man ready to lead us into the fertile fields of the future, Uncle Joe increasingly presents himself as the old guy who just wants you off his front lawn!
Friday, December 21, 2018
Joy to the World
There appears to be some manner of controversy surrounding the proper labeling of the holiday season.
While we do our best to spread good cheer among our circle of friends and family during this special time of year, let's also keep in mind that we we are not an intrinsically Christian nation but rather a happy conglomeration of cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity. For us Christians, the season is a celebration of the birth of one of world's great prophets...Jesus of Nazareth; God made manifest in the world. To our Islamic-American, Jewish-American, and other brothers and sisters residing in this land of plenty, this is also a season of celebration, each joyously participating in their own unique manner.
So in the spirit of inclusiveness, I wish my Christian brethren a very Merry Christmas and to the vast array of others rejoicing in this time of love, reconciliation, and redemption...a very Happy Holiday.
I just checked and have it on very good authority that JC would want it this way!
While we do our best to spread good cheer among our circle of friends and family during this special time of year, let's also keep in mind that we we are not an intrinsically Christian nation but rather a happy conglomeration of cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity. For us Christians, the season is a celebration of the birth of one of world's great prophets...Jesus of Nazareth; God made manifest in the world. To our Islamic-American, Jewish-American, and other brothers and sisters residing in this land of plenty, this is also a season of celebration, each joyously participating in their own unique manner.
So in the spirit of inclusiveness, I wish my Christian brethren a very Merry Christmas and to the vast array of others rejoicing in this time of love, reconciliation, and redemption...a very Happy Holiday.
I just checked and have it on very good authority that JC would want it this way!
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
The Legacy of Fred Rogers
Recently, while watching the documentary 'Won't You Be My Neighbor' I was reminded of Fred Rogers' revolutionary impact on our culture and the lasting legacy of peace, kindness, understanding, and love he has bestowed upon a society not always accepting or entirely cognizant of his message or the impact of his life's work.
For nearly five decades, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood invited America's children (and open minded adults) into a world where their feelings and needs were regarded as valid, necessary, and essential to a sense of self still in the process of development. Implicit in his message throughout the years was the belief that all children (young and old) have an essential integrity and are to be regarded with equal respect. He consistently delivered this underlying theme with a caring gentleness of spirit that permeated the confines of the 'neighborhood' while providing a safe and predictable structure in which the world of the child was deeply understood, validated, and honored.
In so doing, Fred Rogers posited an alternative mode of being and a challenge to a prevailing male archetype. In a culture infused with conflict where violence (especially among the male population) is variously accepted, promoted, celebrated, taught, valued, and otherwise revered, his peaceful, kind, and loving presence stood in stark contrast with the surrounding ethos of the society in which he was operating and attempting to change with each visitation into his special world. Not surprisingly, his efforts, while universally praised by early childhood development experts, were met with resistance by segments of the larger society who felt his affirmation of 'just the way you are' was a repudiation of the concept contained in 'earning your way' and consequently yielded a generation of entitled citizens expecting recognition for their 'special uniqueness' instead of earning their way in the real world of competitive striving. Accordingly, he became the object of ridicule, scorn, and mean spirited defamation probably in direct proportion to the extent to which he simultaneously was challenging the prevailing paradigm of acceptable male behavior and societal norms.
In the meantime, the children and whomever chose to accept the wisdom of his implicit teaching continued to benefit by the persistent example of this gentle revolutionary. Thank you, Fred Rogers for inspiring us to see the world through the eyes of a child, reconnect with our abiding innocence, and help forge the path of the peaceful warrior toward a better tomorrow.
For nearly five decades, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood invited America's children (and open minded adults) into a world where their feelings and needs were regarded as valid, necessary, and essential to a sense of self still in the process of development. Implicit in his message throughout the years was the belief that all children (young and old) have an essential integrity and are to be regarded with equal respect. He consistently delivered this underlying theme with a caring gentleness of spirit that permeated the confines of the 'neighborhood' while providing a safe and predictable structure in which the world of the child was deeply understood, validated, and honored.
In so doing, Fred Rogers posited an alternative mode of being and a challenge to a prevailing male archetype. In a culture infused with conflict where violence (especially among the male population) is variously accepted, promoted, celebrated, taught, valued, and otherwise revered, his peaceful, kind, and loving presence stood in stark contrast with the surrounding ethos of the society in which he was operating and attempting to change with each visitation into his special world. Not surprisingly, his efforts, while universally praised by early childhood development experts, were met with resistance by segments of the larger society who felt his affirmation of 'just the way you are' was a repudiation of the concept contained in 'earning your way' and consequently yielded a generation of entitled citizens expecting recognition for their 'special uniqueness' instead of earning their way in the real world of competitive striving. Accordingly, he became the object of ridicule, scorn, and mean spirited defamation probably in direct proportion to the extent to which he simultaneously was challenging the prevailing paradigm of acceptable male behavior and societal norms.
In the meantime, the children and whomever chose to accept the wisdom of his implicit teaching continued to benefit by the persistent example of this gentle revolutionary. Thank you, Fred Rogers for inspiring us to see the world through the eyes of a child, reconnect with our abiding innocence, and help forge the path of the peaceful warrior toward a better tomorrow.
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