Sunday, September 6, 2020

Racism, The Division Of The United States Into Two Separate Polities (Red And Blue), And The Sudden Collapse Of The Soviet Union

USSR maps | Eurasian Geopolitics
Russia (in pink), and the former Soviet satellites in other colors.

Dear Tom,

Thanks for your email - enlightening as always.

I was unaware of the "wealth belt" between St. Louis and New Orleans.

Concerning the reeducation of American racists...

Although it is easy to seize upon simple, presumed panaceas, I believe that the quickest way out of our dumbfuck, barbarian conundrum is to make two entire years of American History a prerequisite for high school graduation.

History would be taught dialectically with an ample sampling of history texts and "coursepacks" from all across the political spectrum.

All student assignments in addition to reading -- essays and examinations for example -- would require arguing both sides of any given issue, often (if not always) with opportunity (or obligation) to synthesize bipolar information.

It will, I believe, be profoundly instructive to study the process of curriculum formation.

With near unanimity, conservatives and far-right-wingers will fight tooth and nail against this 2 year American History proposal for they know (even if they cannot articulate their "knowledge") that an all-encompassing, dialectical approach to history will toll the death knell for jingoism, platitudinous chauvinism, witless flag-waving and the kind of counterproductive bellicosity that treats the American flag as if God Himself designated the stars and stripes to be a shroud in search of a dark-skinned body.

Compendium Of Best "Pax" Posts On The Cornerstone Necessity Of Education https://newsfrombarbaria.blogspot.com/2020/07/compendium-of-best-pax-posts-on.html


I'm done being kind to idiots - mostly those who bring it on themselves (which is most of them).

To be clear, active intelligence and broadly contextualized learning are indispensable to any semblance of civilization.

Unless Truth Is Richly Contextualized, It Is Likely That Uneducated, Ideologically-Driven People (Who Never Learned How To Think In Context), Will Use Fragmented Shards Of Truths To Tell Colossal Lies


And so, the self-seeking right-wingers who yelp about "the intellectual elites" are precisely the barbarians who have maimed civilization (and civility) throughout history by virtue of their intellectual indolence and their assiduous cultivation (or perhaps I should say assiduous maintenance) of dimwittedness as dense as a black hole. 

Concerning your comment that there will not be two Americas, there are already five (at minimum): Canada, The "United" States of Barbaria, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

I think the quickest way to achieve "one America" is by way of a federation between the Blue States and Canada, expanding to Mexico, then Central America and South America. (God only knows how long Jesusland theocrats can stay stupid, but once these pissy, violent, spiteful, malicious people are obliged to live in their own political stew -- without access to liberal and progressive whipping boys (and girls) -- even they might see the light... and with remarkable rapidity. Request for readmittance to "The Union" will happen even faster if the world boycotts "Jesusland" just like the world boycotted South Africa back in the days of apartheid. Plus, boycott would be a huge boon for The United States of Compassion And Education since "Jesusland" produces nothing  that cannot be bought from U.S.o.C.a.E.)

Is It Time For Red States And Blue States To Collaborate On The Creation Of Two Nations?


If you do not know the story of Savonarola's meteoric rise to theocratic leadership of late 15th century Florence -- and his precipitous fall just 3 and a half years later, it is paradigmatic of the unsustainability of theocracy - even more so in modern times. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girolamo_Savonarola

In fundamentalist theory, "God is going to make it all right," heal all the booboos and comfort everyone's sorrows no matter how malevolent and Trump-like they are. 

And so, the glowing promise of God "making it all right" animates "true believers" until they enact their own theocratic swamp; then hell breaks loose and heads roll.

Notably, people are never kind to "the gods that fail."

Pax on both houses: "Absolute Faith Corrupts As Absolutely As Absolute Power," Eric Hoffer

Here is an essay in which I hybridize a lot of academic learning with the actual experience of the three generation "Archibald-Noll" family I grew up in.

"How We Ended Up In 2 Totally Divided Camps, Both Convinced They're Absolutely Right"


I will close by noting the astonishing -- and astonishingly fast -- dissolution of the Soviet Union... without a single shot being fired!?! 

Has any human-mediated occurrence ever been so "miraculous?"

If such TOTAL political transformation can happen "overnight" with one of the world's "Two Superpowers," then I am wide open to the possibility that red states and blue states can go their separate ways until the sewer backs up on the red states which will see the light quite suddenly as a result of having to live with endless iterations of their own moronic selves. 

Of course, "all bets are off" if the morons re-elect Fuckwad and we slide into a mini-Dark Age, stopping briefly at "The Fascist States Of Amerika."

Pax

Alan


On Sun, Sep 6, 2020 at 6:29 PM TM wrote:

Interesting dialogue, thanks for sharing, Alan. As regards two new countries, the problem has always been a fair distribution of assets. Blue states have the population, and red states have the military bases with but a few exceptions.

We have ahead a massive clean up. We need to find some way to rid us of our confirmed racists without murdering them, though the latter is always a not unreasonable possibility. After the Civil War Reconstruction failed because of the latent wealth of the South; most US millionaires lived between St. Louis and New Orleans. Just as do the current racists, they bought enough politicians to shut down Reconstruction and reinstate slavery under new rubric. Before the War Sherman had headed up the Louisiana Military Institute and Grant, frankly, had grown tired of butchery, and the Old School Tie, their common love of the US Military Academy compromised our military leaders. Bless there hearts, they realized the error of their way and at the end of WWII they imposed a peace on Japan and Germany that they should have visited on the Confederacy. There will not be two Americas, so we need to re-educate or remove the racists.

tom
_________________
  TM

"No more dynasties, no more celebrities, and no more damned oligarchs in public office."
On Sun, Sep 6, 2020 at 4:19 PM Alan Archibald <alanarchibaldo@gmail.com> wrote:
image.png
Dear Fred,

Thanks for your emails.

You're the only one who still calls me Arch - at least out loud to my face. 

I heartily approve all the names people wish to give me.

My pastor at Oakland Cathedral (St. Francis de Sales parish) ALWAYS called me John.

After a few years politely correcting him, I finally decided to revel in my unexpected good fortune of living a tiny bit of my life as "John" - slipping into another persona.

I think there's only been one John in the Archibald line, my great, great grandfather who immigrated to America from County Clare c. 1850. 

It appears that he spelled his name (or it was re-spelled for him upon entry by border guards) as John Archbold. 

John's wife Honora Leyden Archibald/Archbold - sailed as a 20 year old to Australia, and back -leaving her brother, Daniel, in Sydney.

Honora was the descendant of a mercenary Dutch soldier, (b. 1610-ish) who settled out in County Clare following his "service."

***

Avocados are a religion in my home too. (I currently have two that are "perfectly" ripe.)

I had a bumper apple crop this year. Thanks for asking. 

As a native of upstate New York "apple country" --  peach, pear, cherry and berry country too -- I'm particularly fond of my MacIntosh - a variety now marketed here in North Carolina.

Concerning your French Catholic family...

I've probably mentioned to you "the saying": "Judaism has become more of a fate than a faith."

The same might be said of Catholicism. 

I must say that -- judging by our St. Mike's experience of "Catholics born and bred" -- I wonder how long it will be before we join the chorus: "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got til it's gone?" 

Far from perfect, of course... 

But that's the point. 

There is now more fussy perfectionism in the world than ever. 

At least we knew how to sin within a context of moral inquiry.

"The terrible thing about our time is precisely the ease with which theories can be put into practice.  The more perfect, the more idealistic the theories, the more dreadful is their realization.  We are at last beginning to rediscover what perhaps men knew better in very ancient times, in primitive times before utopias were thought of: that liberty is bound up with imperfection, and that limitations, imperfections, errors are not only unavoidable but also salutary. The best is not the ideal.  Where what is theoretically best is imposed on everyone as the norm, then there is no longer any room even to be good.  The best, imposed as a norm, becomes evil.”  
"Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander,” by Trappist monk, Father Thomas Merton

Another great Merton quote among many: "Dread is a form of infidelity."



Recently, sister Janet subscribed me to "America" magazine, the Jesuits' premier publication, not only in the United States, but in the world I think. It was one of several Catholic magazines my Dad subscribed, along with the Catholic lay publication, "Commonweal," "U.S. Catholic," "St. Anthony's Messenger," and "Maryknoll Magazine" - still a freebie - which gets delivered to my home in both English and Spanish editions.

I woke up this morning with the firm resolve to forward you a fine "America" article about James Baldwin. 

Here it is: 

At Least Read The First Paragraph Of This "America Magazine" Story: "Reading Jame Baldwin Can Help Heal The Wounds Of Racial Division"


And finally, the problematic part of this email...

I know you have a lot on your plate, Fred, and I know this is not a good time to lay the following on you.

But there is no good time.

The best I can do is present "the issue" in the context of an email I just sent my Calgary neurologist friend - son of my Air Force general friend.

That way, you'll get a good sense what it's about, and whether you want to touch kryptonite.

Dear Arthur,

I think we've spoken of Umair Haque before.

Umair is the only columnist whose writing I always read.

Admittedly, his article below - which uses events in Kenosha as its point of reference - is very dark.

Although it may be my own darkness that resonates with Umair's view, I think there is at least a 50/50 chance he's basically right.

It "ALL" hinges on November's election, and even if that result is favorable, there is no certainty we'll be out of the woods.

"We Don’t Know How to Warn You Any Harder. America is Dying": Umair Haque


I still remain "guardedly optimistic" about November's outcome.

 But I also value FiveThirtyEight.com's recent assessment that Trump has a 29% chance of winning. (On the eve of the 2o16 election, Nate Silver's 538 gave Trump a 15% chance of winning - the same odds as losing Russian Roulette.)

 On one hand, I'm reluctant to circulate this information, especially to people like you who fight the good fight of "keeping hope alive."

 On the other hand, if we don't see this threat clearly, I think we will be less likely to surmount critical near-term hurdles.

 Speaking of "amor fati" and the frequently good outcomes that arise from bad situations, I will again mention my background passion promoting the idea that the moment is ripe for exploring possible division of the "United" States into two independent polities.  

Is It Time For Red States And Blue States To Collaborate On The Creation Of Two Nations?


If Joe wins in November - and Republicans persevere in their absolutely uncompromising obstructionism - what would happen if President Biden himself suggested --- just suggested --- that red states (basically the neo-Confederacy) seem to want to live in another world from the one blue states wish to live in?

And vice-versa. 

So, Joe says: "What's the deal, my friends? Do you want to be part of the United States which depends now -- as it did in 1787 -- on The Great Compromise? Or, not?"

It seems to me that Americans would be happy -- or, more accurately phrased, Americans would emerge from their intractable depression, divisiveness, hostility and rage -- if the United States were divided into two new nations.

Pax et amore

 Alan

 PS I fully understand that you may dislike the prospect of dividing the United States into two countries. On the other hand, if the idea attracts you, the Calgary Centre for Global Community may wish to promote examination of the idea, as a potentially productive prelude to Global Federation.

The United States Should Promote A "Hemispheric Federation"

(2015)
(Currently, five years after writing this post, I would make significant modifications to this essay. Chiefly, I would look toward ways of incorporating China into a Global Federation.)

***
Pax et amore

Alan

PS As near as I can tell, almost all "America's" magazine material is freely available online. Consistently thoughtful, conscionable, thought-provoking and deeply satisfying stuff. https://www.americamagazine.org/

image.png
Alan: I'm struck by how many precisely definable issues "Christian" "conservatives" won't even discuss.
Tom's observation is one of them.

Perhaps the most salient such issue is:

"The Love Of Money Is The Root Of All Evil" - An Open Invitation To Christian Conservatives
On Sat, Sep 5, 2020 at 9:23 PM Arthur Clark <awcimp@gmail.com> wrote:

“Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day.  The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them.  Most people don’t see any.”  - Orson Scott
Our next dialogue will be like a box of chocolates (as usual): You never know what you’re going to get.   It’s on Wednesday September 9, starting at 6:30 PM.  The Zoom link provided by Greg is here:
Link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3830471170?pwd=U3lXMnlnR29RWThJYzFXT2c1c1lYZz09
Meeting ID: 383 047 1170
Passcode: 727036
Greg MacGillivray 
Managing Director 
Scenarios to Strategy Inc. 
C: 403.605.6493   P:403.270.0232

Several topics have been suggested:
·       Universal Basic Income
·       Building our skill as dialogue artists
·       Helen Ostrowski’s project on the Trans-Canada Trail
I’ll add one more to the box:
Amor fati: Seeing the “problem” as an opportunity.
Amor fati is a concept from the Stoic philosophers, advising us to “Love whatever happens.”  How is that possible?  One way to approach it is to think of whatever happens as an opportunity for a creative response.  Had it not been for the war in Viet Nam, I might never have taken the path of global citizenship that I have taken.  My book on global citizenship might never have been written, I might never have become connected with the many brilliant Calgarians it has been my privilege to know.  I would never suggest that the US war on Viet Nam was a good thing, and yet it opened a door for me and when I walked through that door my life had a purpose.  And that is a good thing. 
War is a “problem,” the pandemic is a “problem,” and each of you if asked to do so could write down a dozen more “problems,” ranging from small ones to large ones.  Think of some of your favorite movies and there will probably be at least one key “problem” that was essential to making each of them a good story. 
So I’ll suggest the following exercise for our next dialogue if this appeals to you as a topic. 
1.    Define an interesting “problem.” (How you define it is important.)
2.    Explain how that “problem” could become a golden opportunity.
3.    Come up with at least three creative “solutions” (or responses) to the problem you have defined.
By Wednesday, I’ll send you the synopsis of a book that is highly relevant to this topic.
Please have a chocolate.
Arthur
On Sun, Sep 6, 2020 at 1:17 PM Fred Owens <froghospital911@gmail.com> wrote:

Arch, If you don't mind me calling you that, you're the only guy that I can email more than once a day, on account of your natural abundance. Also I send to you stuff that I self-censor in more public formats. Or contact you about more trivial matters, like what we are having for breakfast today  -- BLTs, actually BALTs counting the avocado, which is not essential but really tasty. Avos are like religion in SB. She is making five pieces of bacon in the microwave. Usually I fry the bacon but it is too hot today.

I dread the future. America is on its last breath it seems. I wonder if Kamala Harris ever thinks that way. I hope so. But I just saw her on CNN and she manages a pretty good smile. We need to cook up a scenario where Joe and she win and Trump  goes away. Anyhow I don't like to put such gloomy projections on Facebook even though so many people feel just like I feel.

How are your fruit trees doing?

I advised a friend who grew up in a large French Catholic family in New England. He is non-practicing but can't seem to shake the image and the teaching. I just said to live with it. I do. The Catholic church is the church I don't go to. But renounce it? Never.

all for now,

tu amigo,

Fred


Fred Owens
cell: 360-739-0214

My gardening blog is  Fred Owens
My writing blog is Frog Hospital

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)