10-05-2024, 07:00 PM
THIS is why I love this community.
We all observe, we all agree and disagree, we all focus objectively in differing ways; and yet we CAN still talk about it. Why? Maybe something that helps is the undercurrent that this is not the place for partisan sniping, performance games about ego-bashing, Hollywood/Madison thought viruses, and the abject stupidity of "If you don't agree with me, you're the enemy." I leave that to the Facebooks, and TikToks of the world.
Putnam6, you are correct, and the argument I offer is not specifically meant to be a "lesson" (I'm not so smart that I can teach lessons, and I don't presume this is anything more valuable than an opinion... my opinion.) I recognize you in respect and honor... you deserve that for your words, and the part of your heart that they reflect. Were I not to show that, I would be at best, insinuating disrespect, or at worst insult... (again that's my opinion.) Nothing I say here is directed specifically to you, nor is it a description of you personally in any specific way.
In my opinion, this is a matter of great importance, all of us should learn from it, which means - to any adult, that you mustn't just satisfy yourself with "being told about it" by a partisan story-teller or some modern "news" service... we must observe and think on it ourselves... (otherwise it's just indoctrination, propaganda, and a sheepish surrender of your mind to the sanctioned 'speakers' of your 'side.')
There is anxiety, agitation, and dare I say it anger over the conduct and behavior of the federal authorities; exacerbated by the attitude of entitlement and unquestionability with which they prance around. I admit, it seems like the people who have been "chosen" to lead these organizations were chosen precisely to be what they seem... committed to themselves and their party FIRST... while otherwise putting on a show, rendering a performance, and meanwhile "getting away with" whatever they can to serve them or the party. "Appearances."
But I have to admit, I my intent for my chosen form of exchange with you, is truly not pinned on any hatred of politics.
I (personally) LOVE politics as a topic of study, I LOVE political discussion as a venue to exchange thoughts and perspectives, to learn and expand my understanding of the ideas of others both friendly and not...
But we sometimes muddle our feelings within our considerations, focusing on 'personalities' instead of politics, we hate a person, instead of the actual issues we should care about. We forget that promoting an idea or perspective doesn't actually require humiliating or diminishing "some person"... that just "feels good" to do because it resolves an emotional need.
However, the real world is untouched by how any 'individual' feels. Our problem aren't hinged on someone thinking differently than us. And we all think differently from one another... it's one of those things that makes us both strong and weak at the same time.
In American "politics" "Kamala Harris" is a construct, "Biden" is a construct,... and so is "Trump." These people are "products" - and they know this. They are both crafted partisan "imagery" and personal partisan "performances"... that is not "us." Despite the party and its' attendant theatric machinery being hard at work to convince everyone they are "us" as they tell us what to think, and what we are.
So I resist, and call out when I see partisanship included as if it were a "vital component" of an issue which requires actual resolution... something they almost never do. It's not a "popularity" competition just because that's how they offer it up.
There's no intent to make anyone's kvetching any less poignant or meaningful, I just try to steer towards the actual emergent issue, and let the popularity angle sit aside, where it belongs, as an aside; a literal "and another thing" matter.
I am aware that becomes tiresome... and I do apologize if it seems that means I disagree... when very often I actually don't.
Every time we have a crisis, these people demonstrate for all to see, exactly "who they are" and just how explicitly "they are not us." Their 'reporting' media actually engages to "convince" rather than report. This represents a problem in governance... a real one.
I always thought Trump (and many others) were wrong in their assertion that there is a "swamp" in our government... it's not a swamp... it's a moat. They've been deliberately crafting it for decades, all while pretending they weren't...
FEMA leadership is just now standing out - they likely think they are 'regretfully' visible... but they won't change now... the DOJ have become the moat masters, and the latest tools of oppression have all been brought to bear. Yeah... that really sucks...
But in the meantime, all I want to remember to make the first matter of importance... there are people missing, hurt, and damaged...
Or is it always to be only used in the bashing of our political opponents, the glory of the preposterously postured virtue of 'public figures,' and the creation of bullshit "charity-money funnels" for middlemen 'players?'
And then there's unintentionally echoed activism. Activism is a poison to almost ALL sincere dialogue.
Where dialogue is people talking and listening alternately to each other, activism is a person on a soapbox with a loudspeaker yelling scripted lines, no listening.
Activism has no place here... this is not the place for 'calls to action' or 'rallying support for a cause of moment.'
It wasn't designed that way. This isn't theater... Facebook, X, etc., those are built to be theater... We are more like a think-tank than a "show."
Sadly, many political discussions manifest wanton mimicry of activism... as if that were an argumentative "point."
Using it like that can cause actual harm to our community... if not immediately, eventually. (I learned that from ATS' recent history.)
Anyway, sorry about another TLDR from me...
We all observe, we all agree and disagree, we all focus objectively in differing ways; and yet we CAN still talk about it. Why? Maybe something that helps is the undercurrent that this is not the place for partisan sniping, performance games about ego-bashing, Hollywood/Madison thought viruses, and the abject stupidity of "If you don't agree with me, you're the enemy." I leave that to the Facebooks, and TikToks of the world.
Putnam6, you are correct, and the argument I offer is not specifically meant to be a "lesson" (I'm not so smart that I can teach lessons, and I don't presume this is anything more valuable than an opinion... my opinion.) I recognize you in respect and honor... you deserve that for your words, and the part of your heart that they reflect. Were I not to show that, I would be at best, insinuating disrespect, or at worst insult... (again that's my opinion.) Nothing I say here is directed specifically to you, nor is it a description of you personally in any specific way.
In my opinion, this is a matter of great importance, all of us should learn from it, which means - to any adult, that you mustn't just satisfy yourself with "being told about it" by a partisan story-teller or some modern "news" service... we must observe and think on it ourselves... (otherwise it's just indoctrination, propaganda, and a sheepish surrender of your mind to the sanctioned 'speakers' of your 'side.')
There is anxiety, agitation, and dare I say it anger over the conduct and behavior of the federal authorities; exacerbated by the attitude of entitlement and unquestionability with which they prance around. I admit, it seems like the people who have been "chosen" to lead these organizations were chosen precisely to be what they seem... committed to themselves and their party FIRST... while otherwise putting on a show, rendering a performance, and meanwhile "getting away with" whatever they can to serve them or the party. "Appearances."
But I have to admit, I my intent for my chosen form of exchange with you, is truly not pinned on any hatred of politics.
I (personally) LOVE politics as a topic of study, I LOVE political discussion as a venue to exchange thoughts and perspectives, to learn and expand my understanding of the ideas of others both friendly and not...
But we sometimes muddle our feelings within our considerations, focusing on 'personalities' instead of politics, we hate a person, instead of the actual issues we should care about. We forget that promoting an idea or perspective doesn't actually require humiliating or diminishing "some person"... that just "feels good" to do because it resolves an emotional need.
However, the real world is untouched by how any 'individual' feels. Our problem aren't hinged on someone thinking differently than us. And we all think differently from one another... it's one of those things that makes us both strong and weak at the same time.
In American "politics" "Kamala Harris" is a construct, "Biden" is a construct,... and so is "Trump." These people are "products" - and they know this. They are both crafted partisan "imagery" and personal partisan "performances"... that is not "us." Despite the party and its' attendant theatric machinery being hard at work to convince everyone they are "us" as they tell us what to think, and what we are.
So I resist, and call out when I see partisanship included as if it were a "vital component" of an issue which requires actual resolution... something they almost never do. It's not a "popularity" competition just because that's how they offer it up.
There's no intent to make anyone's kvetching any less poignant or meaningful, I just try to steer towards the actual emergent issue, and let the popularity angle sit aside, where it belongs, as an aside; a literal "and another thing" matter.
I am aware that becomes tiresome... and I do apologize if it seems that means I disagree... when very often I actually don't.
Every time we have a crisis, these people demonstrate for all to see, exactly "who they are" and just how explicitly "they are not us." Their 'reporting' media actually engages to "convince" rather than report. This represents a problem in governance... a real one.
I always thought Trump (and many others) were wrong in their assertion that there is a "swamp" in our government... it's not a swamp... it's a moat. They've been deliberately crafting it for decades, all while pretending they weren't...
FEMA leadership is just now standing out - they likely think they are 'regretfully' visible... but they won't change now... the DOJ have become the moat masters, and the latest tools of oppression have all been brought to bear. Yeah... that really sucks...
But in the meantime, all I want to remember to make the first matter of importance... there are people missing, hurt, and damaged...
Or is it always to be only used in the bashing of our political opponents, the glory of the preposterously postured virtue of 'public figures,' and the creation of bullshit "charity-money funnels" for middlemen 'players?'
And then there's unintentionally echoed activism. Activism is a poison to almost ALL sincere dialogue.
Where dialogue is people talking and listening alternately to each other, activism is a person on a soapbox with a loudspeaker yelling scripted lines, no listening.
Activism has no place here... this is not the place for 'calls to action' or 'rallying support for a cause of moment.'
It wasn't designed that way. This isn't theater... Facebook, X, etc., those are built to be theater... We are more like a think-tank than a "show."
Sadly, many political discussions manifest wanton mimicry of activism... as if that were an argumentative "point."
Using it like that can cause actual harm to our community... if not immediately, eventually. (I learned that from ATS' recent history.)
Anyway, sorry about another TLDR from me...
