Fury. Confusion. Despair. A year may be ending, but those who cherish American democracy look over the horizon at 2024 with a strong sense of foreboding. A former president strides, seemingly unstoppable and with authoritarian glee, toward the Republican nomination for president.
If steadiness is required it must come from consensus. The voice of our citizens is clear on what we want for the environment and foreign policy related to Gaza and our Non-support for genocide. It is now evident that the USA is working with other nations to help Palestinians recover but first priorities are STOP killing them. Second is clarity that their independent state will be self-governing and NOT under "control" by Israeli police or armed forces or governed by other than their own and global, international law. In the past International Court of Justice has called on International armed forces to keep peace and restore order, stop genocide in Bosnia. These UN agencies ( many already had offices and functions in Gaza) will assist in recovery and restoration of life-saving help and should control all resources that may be needed but may be held and controlled by Israel, to assure life and survival of those harmed by their recent Genocidal actions. This help may be use of water supply, power sources and agricultural lands from Israeli resources, now used to rebuild livable and vital systems for Palestinians. YES, Israel's populations and settlements ( the illegal ones first) may be used for housing and business restorations. Ask those not born there to return to their nations of birth, to make room for what the government destroyed that displaced people, destroyed homes and community health systems, businesses and places of worship and culture.. Consensus from USA and the world, around this responsible rebuilding after destruction cannot replace the dead and wounded lives but it MAY deter future wars and the vast waste of resources on Military Non-solutions.
Merry Christmas Dan and thank you for reminding us of Thomas Paine’s words. I’m sad that so many young people have probably never read those words nor do they even know who he is. If we are fortunate enough to have an electorate who once and for all deny Trump from the presidency I hope that whoever is elected will return history and civics to the curriculum so that America will be less likely to make the same mistakes yet again. I hope that citizens will oust him for the last time by voting in November in droves, our last best hope to for our democracy to survive.
Happy New Year my steady friends. I pray for our future and that if our children and grandchildren.
Thank you for reminding us of these timeless, stirring words. Driving down the main road outside my neighborhood, I see the US flag waving high on a pole next to a small house. The owner painted TRUMP across the flag. This desecration is a daily reminder that there are too many citizens who do not value the laws of our nation. Trump and his cronies are among them. While keeping "Steady," we also have to care enough to engage actively in the process that determines candidates for election at all levels of government.
I saved this one to read again. What we do know is that there are far too many people in this country who, either from fear, anger, or bigotry, would replace democracy with some form of authoritarianism. They have not studied how authoritarians who arise from democracies moved to consolidate and then abuse power, leaving no one unscathed. To think that an American King or Dictator would be benign is a naive, almost infantile, belief. Trump goes this route because it is his only route to power and, at least according to him, freedom from prosecution from crimes he has already committed.
It is the time to be steadfast in our resistance to the millions who support authoritarians. They must be made to see their ways are fraught with risk and anguish for not only the rest of us but for themselves, too.
As usual, I found your blog inspiring and spine-stiffening, renewing my own determination to stay steady.
What worries me more than almost anything else these days is to realize that, when I read the words of Thomas Paine which you quoted, they could equally inspire Trump supporters in their determination to enthrone him in the Presidency.
The perspective, the assumptions, the ideological foci are so diametrically opposed it is almost like living in a parallel universe. Each 'army' of steady sodliers is completely sure of its rightness.
Do we have a chance to come through this as a country that is united in something that matters to us all, that we can all agree upon?
As I have already replied in a related continuum/string in this dialogue, you really must stop diminishing yourself in public this way. The rules of written communication exist to facilitate understanding and diminish misunderstanding. Negate them if you wish, but doing so does not strengthen your advocacy of whatever departure from the norm you intend, whatever it is in service of. "Tedium" to you is constructive form to the educated, meant to diminish chances of misunderstanding, and to strengthen clarity of understanding. No more, no less.
Allow me to point out that your response is marred by yet more gaffes, as follows:
1. The first person singular, "I" is always capitalized.
2. Your opening sentence deserves a comma after "No," not a period.
3. "I'm" is the proper contraction denoting "I am." Not "im" as you wrote.
4. The first word starting a new sentence is always to be capitalized, a rule you broke several times.
5. The familiar form of address for anyone named Theodore is "Ted," not "theo,," especially when not
capitalized.
6, The name of the person you are writing to should always be set off appropriately by commas,
not as you did it..
7. If you think laughing at attention called to your underdeveloped rhetorical skills is the best way to
proceed through life, no one can stop you. Most fools confirm themselves as fools without outside
help. You're no exception. Just don't expect applause for it, much less a following of any sort.
"Tedium to you, proper form to the educated masses that sees them as guardrails assuring the
If you want to defy convention, no one can stop you from diminishing yourself in public that way. There is a place for iconoclasm. This is not it, in the way you fell into trying it.
My comments were not meant to entertain, but to inform, in hopes of improving how you present your intellect to the world. Clearly a wasted effort on my part.
If I become one of your fans, as you assert, it won't happen until you improve your rhetorical skills. The rules are there for constructive purpose, not to be broken gratuitously in a lame attempt at hilarity. Tedium to you, correct form to the multitudes, so as to aid communication.
The rest of your remarks were a waste of time, effort and good taste. Eventually you may learn what good taste means, but clearly you would really have to apply yourself, based on your remarks so far.
Here's a bit of wisdom posted long ago on a church outdoor bulletin board: "Your critics may be right." I hope it does you as much good as it has for me.
If steadiness is required it must come from consensus. The voice of our citizens is clear on what we want for the environment and foreign policy related to Gaza and our Non-support for genocide. It is now evident that the USA is working with other nations to help Palestinians recover but first priorities are STOP killing them. Second is clarity that their independent state will be self-governing and NOT under "control" by Israeli police or armed forces or governed by other than their own and global, international law. In the past International Court of Justice has called on International armed forces to keep peace and restore order, stop genocide in Bosnia. These UN agencies ( many already had offices and functions in Gaza) will assist in recovery and restoration of life-saving help and should control all resources that may be needed but may be held and controlled by Israel, to assure life and survival of those harmed by their recent Genocidal actions. This help may be use of water supply, power sources and agricultural lands from Israeli resources, now used to rebuild livable and vital systems for Palestinians. YES, Israel's populations and settlements ( the illegal ones first) may be used for housing and business restorations. Ask those not born there to return to their nations of birth, to make room for what the government destroyed that displaced people, destroyed homes and community health systems, businesses and places of worship and culture.. Consensus from USA and the world, around this responsible rebuilding after destruction cannot replace the dead and wounded lives but it MAY deter future wars and the vast waste of resources on Military Non-solutions.
Yet Still He Persists
Trump:
Obnoxious
Xenophobia-
Inspired
Calamity
It's Useless
Futile:
Understanding
Trump
It
Leaves
Empty
Futures,
Unsatisfied
Throngs,
Inspires
Loss,
Emptiness.
THartigan
Thanks Dan and Elliott as a country and its populist we need incourgment to as FLip used to say "keep the faith baby "
Merry Christmas to all.
We need to “Keep calm and carry-on.”
lol no I’m not on crack, Hunter has it all!
Maybe not on crack, but definitely misguided!
Thank you so much. As always your Remain Steady is uplifting , in trying to do just that.
Merry Christmas Dan and thank you for reminding us of Thomas Paine’s words. I’m sad that so many young people have probably never read those words nor do they even know who he is. If we are fortunate enough to have an electorate who once and for all deny Trump from the presidency I hope that whoever is elected will return history and civics to the curriculum so that America will be less likely to make the same mistakes yet again. I hope that citizens will oust him for the last time by voting in November in droves, our last best hope to for our democracy to survive.
Happy New Year my steady friends. I pray for our future and that if our children and grandchildren.
Well said
Get rid of Biden and his corrupt cronies, then put President Trump back in office!
Are you on crack?
Thank you for reminding us of these timeless, stirring words. Driving down the main road outside my neighborhood, I see the US flag waving high on a pole next to a small house. The owner painted TRUMP across the flag. This desecration is a daily reminder that there are too many citizens who do not value the laws of our nation. Trump and his cronies are among them. While keeping "Steady," we also have to care enough to engage actively in the process that determines candidates for election at all levels of government.
I saved this one to read again. What we do know is that there are far too many people in this country who, either from fear, anger, or bigotry, would replace democracy with some form of authoritarianism. They have not studied how authoritarians who arise from democracies moved to consolidate and then abuse power, leaving no one unscathed. To think that an American King or Dictator would be benign is a naive, almost infantile, belief. Trump goes this route because it is his only route to power and, at least according to him, freedom from prosecution from crimes he has already committed.
It is the time to be steadfast in our resistance to the millions who support authoritarians. They must be made to see their ways are fraught with risk and anguish for not only the rest of us but for themselves, too.
Thank you for reiterating Thomas Paine’s vital perspective.
As usual, I found your blog inspiring and spine-stiffening, renewing my own determination to stay steady.
What worries me more than almost anything else these days is to realize that, when I read the words of Thomas Paine which you quoted, they could equally inspire Trump supporters in their determination to enthrone him in the Presidency.
The perspective, the assumptions, the ideological foci are so diametrically opposed it is almost like living in a parallel universe. Each 'army' of steady sodliers is completely sure of its rightness.
Do we have a chance to come through this as a country that is united in something that matters to us all, that we can all agree upon?
Thank you for this important reflection. We are in dangerous times. And we must be grounded and clear and persistent in defense of democracy.
Thank you as always to try to calm our souls.
As I have already replied in a related continuum/string in this dialogue, you really must stop diminishing yourself in public this way. The rules of written communication exist to facilitate understanding and diminish misunderstanding. Negate them if you wish, but doing so does not strengthen your advocacy of whatever departure from the norm you intend, whatever it is in service of. "Tedium" to you is constructive form to the educated, meant to diminish chances of misunderstanding, and to strengthen clarity of understanding. No more, no less.
Allow me to point out that your response is marred by yet more gaffes, as follows:
1. The first person singular, "I" is always capitalized.
2. Your opening sentence deserves a comma after "No," not a period.
3. "I'm" is the proper contraction denoting "I am." Not "im" as you wrote.
4. The first word starting a new sentence is always to be capitalized, a rule you broke several times.
5. The familiar form of address for anyone named Theodore is "Ted," not "theo,," especially when not
capitalized.
6, The name of the person you are writing to should always be set off appropriately by commas,
not as you did it..
7. If you think laughing at attention called to your underdeveloped rhetorical skills is the best way to
proceed through life, no one can stop you. Most fools confirm themselves as fools without outside
help. You're no exception. Just don't expect applause for it, much less a following of any sort.
"Tedium to you, proper form to the educated masses that sees them as guardrails assuring the
intended. understanding.
If you want to defy convention, no one can stop you from diminishing yourself in public that way. There is a place for iconoclasm. This is not it, in the way you fell into trying it.
My comments were not meant to entertain, but to inform, in hopes of improving how you present your intellect to the world. Clearly a wasted effort on my part.
If I become one of your fans, as you assert, it won't happen until you improve your rhetorical skills. The rules are there for constructive purpose, not to be broken gratuitously in a lame attempt at hilarity. Tedium to you, correct form to the multitudes, so as to aid communication.
The rest of your remarks were a waste of time, effort and good taste. Eventually you may learn what good taste means, but clearly you would really have to apply yourself, based on your remarks so far.
Here's a bit of wisdom posted long ago on a church outdoor bulletin board: "Your critics may be right." I hope it does you as much good as it has for me.