Monday Morning Quote
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Monday Morning Quotes
Monday Morning Quotes
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Since 1998 I've been sending out these reflections first thing each week--one or more quotes plus my thoughts about the intersections and contradictions. They're archived here back to 2002, and a new one is posted every Monday morning. Dialogue is still welcome . . .
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Quote #828 - #WorldGoneAwry
18 Jun, 2018
WORLD GONE AWRY
"The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respected Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges."
George Washington
"Remember, remember always, that all of us, you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
"People come here penniless, but not cultureless. They bring us gifts. We can synthesize the best of our traditions with the best of theirs. We can teach and learn from each other to make a better America."
Mary Pipher
So ... here we are, in a crumbling democracy, in a crumbling world, and what are we all going to do about it?
If we end up in a revolution, it will be the revolt of those with privilege--because they feel persecuted by those who are actually disenfranchised and without privilege somewhat achieving equality and justice. Not even privilege for some, just the perception of privilege--that their white skin makes them more deserving somehow. They might have been up in arms if Hillary had won, but it's even more likely if Trump is actually impeached. Those dog whistles are for those ready to leap to action, and it will get very ugly if and when they do.
There are none who have historically had less privilege than most of our families when they first arrived to our shores as immigrants. How we are treating the immigrants right now at our borders is the heart and soul of our country, and how we all will be treated soon if we don't do something now.
The revolt of the privileged--an odd sort of revolution. But then, wasn't the Civil War the same? The revolt of the privileged against their slaves and those who would free their slaves?
And, perhaps, because of how the Civil War ended--because Lincoln wanted to make it as easy as possible for the South to concede--because the North wanted the South to not feel too badly about themselves (and, therefore, the horror that they had perpetuated)--many illusions and delusions about the South's positions and motives were allowed to be maintained and, now, to re-surface, with even better messaging.
Those who have no moral leg to stand on become terrifically adept at messaging, because they don't have to revise their position with the facts--they can just keep stating the message. States' Rights. Honoring History. Silent Majority. Right to Life. God-fearing. Ordained in the Bible. Law-abiding. Hard-working. Real Americans. Politically Correct (yeah, no liberal ever advocated that anyone should be "politically correct"--that was a right-wing term created to vilify the position).
And for those who are only half-listening--or, worse, are just looking for an excuse for their own immorality--will happily learn and mimic the message.
This is becoming more and more dangerous as Putin is more and more in control of our country's foreign policy through his Trump puppet, and as mercenary Republicans continue to allow it because they're afraid of losing their little piece of a fast-shrinking power pie.
And it's not just happening here. It's happening all over Europe. This is a war that Putin is waging on the world, we just don't see bullet-ridden bodies on our streets, so we don't understand.
In the immigration detention centers, they know this is a war.
In the tent cities and prisons, they know this is a war.
In Puerto Rico, they know this is a war.
In Yemen, they know this is a war.
And it may be a world war before too long. But here's the really horrific realization: if we don't do something soon to change direction and we end up in a world war, our country, the United States of America, will be on the wrong side of that war.
And what will we do then?
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