Just about to go to bed and I saw this and had to read it. Again, as always, thanks for making sense of the senseless with that voice of confidence and authority, knowing full well as if looking backward from five years from now, what's happening and how we'll come out of it!
The worst racists, the ones not only racist but eager to "do something about it," found their home in the Republican Party indeed. Happy & feeling strong & safe in their own company, they pass laws & join in gleeful supportive celebrations when SCOTUS or individuals manage to accomplish even more than they can.
Of course racism has existed in various forms ever since nighttime was made symbolic into a time of terror. On the stage of darkness, it was easier to make danger the fruit of blindness, not surprising joy. Easy to understand why and how "the dark" or "blackness" became synonymous with "potential dangers." Easy to see how relating black colors, skin included, tended to have negative connotations.
Add to this tribalism. We all tend to group into "our tribes." Historically, we've looked at the "neighboring tribe" with both curiosity & suspicion. First impressions of course, by appearance. If they looked like "our tribe," that already moved into a certain realm of security considerations & after that, behaviors & customs became the defining issues.
All this was always more difficult if the neighboring tribe didn't look like ours. That first impression mattered then, matters today. It's an instant reaction to note ... Native American? Asian, and then what kind? Brown, Black, Pale? Body shape? Eyes? Lips? Language or voice-tones? We even note someone with an excessive tan in mid-summer in a tourist zone, noticing if "it's extreme-to-an-unnatural." One really might ask oneself, "Why do we even notice!"
Maybe the America-style racism develops from too-little mixing with "other tribes?" Not enough time spent among those others to get passed the first impressions?
Of course this is true, but there's another thing as well...
Maybe after mixing time has taken place, decisions might also take place that result in rejection of those others. It's here that experience, flexibility, curiosity, and natural humanity play the great role that leads to successful integration. That form of education is not easy to pass on by teaching. It must be lived. This could explain why so many individuals appear to be racists by their statements or even actions, but never actually spent any real quality time with "others" & chose to stay with undeveloped decisions that appeared satisfactory "enough." "We're the good guys, THEY are not." Made only on the basis of, say, the clothing those others wear, or a food they prefer, or a custom they take part in, or their appearance, or their language. Etc.
Racism in America has a history. Our major cities still have their Chinatowns, their Korea-towns, their black ghettos, their Spanish quarters, not to mention rural areas where Native Americans are still living in separate areas, some still reservations.
Not even mentioning religious separations.
Or economically-based ones we've developed as well (Haves-Have-nots)
The problem in America is not the existence of racism (and acceptance of inequality), but how certain groups react to others. Our laws are designed to keep all this in check, under control, and for the most part, it has worked quite well even if not at all ideally. But all signs were there that America was aware of the need to tend to this, and was willing to develop it all into a more & more satisfactory direction without letting it overwhelm.
However, clearly this was-is a fragile thing. A more-delicate balance than we thought. That fight for recognized equality has not been easy at all and have a loudmouth racists appear in public & suddenly those who had already made those undeveloped decisions as a part of themselves heard a voice loudly trumpeting what they had been secretly hoarding. And that group responded eagerly raising their hands, "Aye!" to the vote.
Freed of their secret, they quickly bonded into a "new tribe" of like-sentiment, today being the Republican Party with their loudmouth leader donald trump.
They have no idea why they are racists & don't care. It's part of their very being by now. Just as Democrats are "the enemy" regardless of any reasons that might say that there is no basis for such a sentiment. It's what the tribe expects of its joined membership.
This is why these people must be controlled by our laws! With meaningful consequences in place as reactions to activities deemed illegal, racism is kept in check & allowed the time to develop into a mix rather than a hardened separation. That takes time. Lots of time. And that time is won by good, humane laws in place with the proper structure in place to sustain it.
We're in a moment now when this is all troubled & in turmoil. The reasons are not simple nor easy to solve by any means. Americans recognized there are serious problems facing us & are working hard to understand just what those problems are, & it's not easy at all. Sadly, America still does not have a champion standing up for We the People truly helping us out of this chaos we've blundered our way into. It's still going to take even more time & only with patience & wisdom will we be able to find our way back out.
America has both, & the signs that these are consolidating are there. Adding America's inherent energy & power to that patients & wisdom, and We the People become unstoppable again, as we've always proven ourselves capable of being.
I apologize up & down for this next statement, which is an attempted comparative one, in advance! Of course Floofles is not trump! Of course not! SORRY !!! But ... one could use that video image of Floofles playing with that field mouse as trump playing with We the People, quite terrifying us just as Floofles is doing to that mouse, and yet that mouse knew that it COULD escape from the threatening world of "Floofles" by leaping into that pool & swimming with great force & focused energy.
That is what We the People will do as well when trump pushes us just that one step too far. While a mouse might flee for its life as the goal, for us it would be fleeing for respite to regroup & once regrouped, no trump could ever stop us.
& PS ... Excellent about that certificate! Hope your friends-circle takes note & sees that if you could do it, so could (and should!) they! I would, but I suspect a German certificate wouldn't do much good in a USA election this time around!
Beautiful essay Dorian. Racist = ignorant. Tribal indeed. I enlightened. But I love the fight this has brought out from all of us. Good for you getting your election worker certification in Germany. That’s cool!
"The next Democratic POTUS can reverse every Trump Executive Order. A majority Democratic Congress can reverse every Republican bullshit bill passed through reconciliation. Every dirty SCOTUS justice can be investigated, and the court reformed." I am going to steal this paragraph and forward it excessively.
A great read to start my day/weekend Lorraine! Yes, the snowball of defeat and chaos that the Trump cruelty machine has been pusing to the top of the hill is starting to roll back down and this talentless group has no defense except lighting matches to melt it! The joy that brings to the the free world is resounding! Thanks for your persistent reminders!!
Your birthday month too? Happy, happy birthday then Lorraine. A biggie for me is coming up Sunday; another decade has passed. Big party scheduled for tonight. I just hope I can keep up 😂.
As for all the bad that’s happening, I hope it all lands in a big way on top of all of them. I hope people who have been sleepwalking through this horror are finally beginning to wake up and see all the hate that has been turned loose by this rotten bunch of people and will help drive them out of power.
Lorraine Evanoff, Louise Moscow -- internationally called on, and the endearing Floofles!
Really happy to hear of an effective counter-punch by the NAACP, which hits the white racists in the only way we can catch their attention: their pocketbook.
All you say about White Racism is exactly my experience of this abhorrent group.
Meanwhile, it looks to me like the little fellow, the mouse, is an instinctive swimmer. She was swimming to safety in the only secure feline-proof escape: The Pool.
As I watched the video, the little mouse seemed like an expert swimmer.
Thanks for a condensed look at the sheet storm hovering over us.
Just about to go to bed and I saw this and had to read it. Again, as always, thanks for making sense of the senseless with that voice of confidence and authority, knowing full well as if looking backward from five years from now, what's happening and how we'll come out of it!
I hope this gives you some comfort to get much needed sleep Lisa 🥰
The worst racists, the ones not only racist but eager to "do something about it," found their home in the Republican Party indeed. Happy & feeling strong & safe in their own company, they pass laws & join in gleeful supportive celebrations when SCOTUS or individuals manage to accomplish even more than they can.
Of course racism has existed in various forms ever since nighttime was made symbolic into a time of terror. On the stage of darkness, it was easier to make danger the fruit of blindness, not surprising joy. Easy to understand why and how "the dark" or "blackness" became synonymous with "potential dangers." Easy to see how relating black colors, skin included, tended to have negative connotations.
Add to this tribalism. We all tend to group into "our tribes." Historically, we've looked at the "neighboring tribe" with both curiosity & suspicion. First impressions of course, by appearance. If they looked like "our tribe," that already moved into a certain realm of security considerations & after that, behaviors & customs became the defining issues.
All this was always more difficult if the neighboring tribe didn't look like ours. That first impression mattered then, matters today. It's an instant reaction to note ... Native American? Asian, and then what kind? Brown, Black, Pale? Body shape? Eyes? Lips? Language or voice-tones? We even note someone with an excessive tan in mid-summer in a tourist zone, noticing if "it's extreme-to-an-unnatural." One really might ask oneself, "Why do we even notice!"
Maybe the America-style racism develops from too-little mixing with "other tribes?" Not enough time spent among those others to get passed the first impressions?
Of course this is true, but there's another thing as well...
Maybe after mixing time has taken place, decisions might also take place that result in rejection of those others. It's here that experience, flexibility, curiosity, and natural humanity play the great role that leads to successful integration. That form of education is not easy to pass on by teaching. It must be lived. This could explain why so many individuals appear to be racists by their statements or even actions, but never actually spent any real quality time with "others" & chose to stay with undeveloped decisions that appeared satisfactory "enough." "We're the good guys, THEY are not." Made only on the basis of, say, the clothing those others wear, or a food they prefer, or a custom they take part in, or their appearance, or their language. Etc.
Racism in America has a history. Our major cities still have their Chinatowns, their Korea-towns, their black ghettos, their Spanish quarters, not to mention rural areas where Native Americans are still living in separate areas, some still reservations.
Not even mentioning religious separations.
Or economically-based ones we've developed as well (Haves-Have-nots)
The problem in America is not the existence of racism (and acceptance of inequality), but how certain groups react to others. Our laws are designed to keep all this in check, under control, and for the most part, it has worked quite well even if not at all ideally. But all signs were there that America was aware of the need to tend to this, and was willing to develop it all into a more & more satisfactory direction without letting it overwhelm.
However, clearly this was-is a fragile thing. A more-delicate balance than we thought. That fight for recognized equality has not been easy at all and have a loudmouth racists appear in public & suddenly those who had already made those undeveloped decisions as a part of themselves heard a voice loudly trumpeting what they had been secretly hoarding. And that group responded eagerly raising their hands, "Aye!" to the vote.
Freed of their secret, they quickly bonded into a "new tribe" of like-sentiment, today being the Republican Party with their loudmouth leader donald trump.
They have no idea why they are racists & don't care. It's part of their very being by now. Just as Democrats are "the enemy" regardless of any reasons that might say that there is no basis for such a sentiment. It's what the tribe expects of its joined membership.
This is why these people must be controlled by our laws! With meaningful consequences in place as reactions to activities deemed illegal, racism is kept in check & allowed the time to develop into a mix rather than a hardened separation. That takes time. Lots of time. And that time is won by good, humane laws in place with the proper structure in place to sustain it.
We're in a moment now when this is all troubled & in turmoil. The reasons are not simple nor easy to solve by any means. Americans recognized there are serious problems facing us & are working hard to understand just what those problems are, & it's not easy at all. Sadly, America still does not have a champion standing up for We the People truly helping us out of this chaos we've blundered our way into. It's still going to take even more time & only with patience & wisdom will we be able to find our way back out.
America has both, & the signs that these are consolidating are there. Adding America's inherent energy & power to that patients & wisdom, and We the People become unstoppable again, as we've always proven ourselves capable of being.
I apologize up & down for this next statement, which is an attempted comparative one, in advance! Of course Floofles is not trump! Of course not! SORRY !!! But ... one could use that video image of Floofles playing with that field mouse as trump playing with We the People, quite terrifying us just as Floofles is doing to that mouse, and yet that mouse knew that it COULD escape from the threatening world of "Floofles" by leaping into that pool & swimming with great force & focused energy.
That is what We the People will do as well when trump pushes us just that one step too far. While a mouse might flee for its life as the goal, for us it would be fleeing for respite to regroup & once regrouped, no trump could ever stop us.
& PS ... Excellent about that certificate! Hope your friends-circle takes note & sees that if you could do it, so could (and should!) they! I would, but I suspect a German certificate wouldn't do much good in a USA election this time around!
Beautiful essay Dorian. Racist = ignorant. Tribal indeed. I enlightened. But I love the fight this has brought out from all of us. Good for you getting your election worker certification in Germany. That’s cool!
Congrats on the Voter Center Certificate!
My husband was interested in that.
Thank you for your vigilant heart trying to keep the monsters at bay. I have total faith in the good people of Earth and you are one of them.
My husband: Albert Bertini will subscribe soon Lorraine
Love LA
Laura you and Albert are an inspiration I can’t wait to meet him too. 🙏🏻💗
Congrats!
Will you be acquiring a fire hose to spray and melt any ICE that shows up?
Thanks Malcolm. Here in LA they’re pretty strict about unauthorized armed presence unless they’re voting. Either way they better not try💪🔥🔥🔥
"The next Democratic POTUS can reverse every Trump Executive Order. A majority Democratic Congress can reverse every Republican bullshit bill passed through reconciliation. Every dirty SCOTUS justice can be investigated, and the court reformed." I am going to steal this paragraph and forward it excessively.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💙💙💙awesome Rowland!!
A great read to start my day/weekend Lorraine! Yes, the snowball of defeat and chaos that the Trump cruelty machine has been pusing to the top of the hill is starting to roll back down and this talentless group has no defense except lighting matches to melt it! The joy that brings to the the free world is resounding! Thanks for your persistent reminders!!
Wow, mice can swim? Cats are so cool!!
Fantastic metaphor Fraser! They crushed under their own stupidity.
Yes I was amazed that little fella was such a good swimmer too!😻
I won't tell my cat:)🥰
Love this, my friend!
Congratulations on your certification, Lorraine. Your post highlights the folly of excess while governing. 🙏🏻
Your birthday month too? Happy, happy birthday then Lorraine. A biggie for me is coming up Sunday; another decade has passed. Big party scheduled for tonight. I just hope I can keep up 😂.
As for all the bad that’s happening, I hope it all lands in a big way on top of all of them. I hope people who have been sleepwalking through this horror are finally beginning to wake up and see all the hate that has been turned loose by this rotten bunch of people and will help drive them out of power.
Lorraine Evanoff, Louise Moscow -- internationally called on, and the endearing Floofles!
Really happy to hear of an effective counter-punch by the NAACP, which hits the white racists in the only way we can catch their attention: their pocketbook.
All you say about White Racism is exactly my experience of this abhorrent group.
Meanwhile, it looks to me like the little fellow, the mouse, is an instinctive swimmer. She was swimming to safety in the only secure feline-proof escape: The Pool.
As I watched the video, the little mouse seemed like an expert swimmer.
How was she doing when you fished her out?