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| Mrs. Drouin's Breakfast Scramble |
(Disclaimer: Feel free to ignore the "write-think" below).
Part 2: And Then Some
In light of the last election, the current state of discourse in the country, and the looming importance of 2020, my thinking lately has been informed these books, blogs, podcasts, documentaries, a small dose of cable news (both sides) and of course, I review my news feed, although in that I’m mostly a headline reader, refusing as much as I can to succumb to “click bait”.
It’s my reading selections that mold most of my thought. Here’s a list of my recent reads.
1491, 1493 by Charles C Mann…the Americas before Columbus
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond..the fates of human societies
Being Mortal by Atu Gawande
White Fragility by Robin J Diangelo
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Dark Money by Jane Meyer
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker by Damon Young
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer
Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Who Can You Trust? by Rachel Botsman
After the Fact by Nathan Bomey
Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance
Superpower by Ian Bremmer
Deep South by Paul Theroux
The Road to Character by David Brooks
Out of the House of Bondage by Thavolia Glymph
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Dixie Be Damned by Neal Shirley and Sarape Stafford
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Ruiz, Don Miguel, Janet Mills
All of Lee Child’s Reacher books.
All of John Sanford’s Prey Books
All of David Balducci books
All of Daniel Silva Books
All of Vince Flynn’s books
Redeployment by Phil Klay
All of Jim Lynch’s books
All of William Kent Krueger’s books
Ali: A life by Jonathan Eig
Less: A Novel by Sean Andrew Greer
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (A re-read; it’s my favorite book of all time)
Back from the Dead by Bill Walton
Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Jayber Crow by Kendall Berry
The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy
Sugar Run by Mesha Meran
Freak Kingdom: Hunter Thompson… by Timothy Dinevi
Daily podcasts
Daily podcasts
NPR: Up First
New York Times: The Daily
Pod Save America (Although their pompous arrogance turns me off somewhat despite the fact that I’m in their choir).
Blogs
Random political blogs.
Frequent reads from Law and Liberty
Documentaries
Hale County: This Morning, this Evening
I Am Not Your Negro
Who Put the Klan into the Ku Klux Klan
An Uncomfortable Truth
Operation Wetback
I’ve compiled this (incomplete) list to check how my reading choices in the last two years have conspired to formulate my personal bias, my bedrock principles, and my ever evolving world view. After all, like any who will admit it, I operate on Ben Franklin’s idea that “…a rational man can make up a reason for anything he wants to do…” In addition, I’ve long been interested in the notion of equity, coming as do from a a single parent upbringing on the lower end of the economic ladder. Despite my humble beginnings, I feel as though I’m living proof of the “American Dream”. I was persistent, lucky, and diligent, so it’s easy for me to accept the notion that I’ve earned my privilege. That is until I realize, almost instantly, that I owe most of my success to grace or fate or genetics or luck. Who knows? I do find myself at nearly seventy to be in good health physically, comfortably well suited economically, and well loved emotionally. Lately, because of the state of the country, I find myself basking in the privilege of my "European white man" status. I didn’t earn it. It’s merely an accident of fate, and while I’m often embarrassed by America’s long history of imperialistic hypocrisy, I'm also grateful to live where I do. So while I bask in the benefits of white privilege and good life, I’m critical of my own existence. What I wish is that everyone had a chance to play this game on, as they say, “a level playing field”. It’s simply not the case. All men are not created equal. Not all are free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Prosperity is not within the reach of everyone. People are subjected to discrimination based on whatever “otherness” those in power choose to define. It’s all legal, all self-serving, and all morally corrupt. The question I’ve been asking myself is “To what degree am I complicit?” Following that, “What can I do other than what I already do—contribute to causes, take care of my friends and family, try to live an honest, straight thinking life.” What depresses me is how many of my fellow Americans seem to be driven by ideology. This next election will define us as Americans. Trump’s forces will push their fascism under the notion of patriotism. They will rail against the "socialist" left, the America haters. The Democrats will ring so many alarm bells that people won’t be able to discern what’s truly important. So, if Trump wins it will point to a dark, morally indefensible period. That will truly be sad. On the other hand, if the voters of conscious come forward in 2020 and prove that our system works by removing the vile hater purveyors from office, I will then be encouraged. Time will tell.
Part 1: Bridge is Just a Game
1 NO TRUMP: Dishonesty
I’ve been trying to figure out what detests me first and foremost about President Trump. I’ve come to the conclusion that he can’t be trusted. Everything coming out of his mouth is couched in half-truth, disinformation, or flat out lies. As a model for living, a bedrock belief for me has been this notion, it’s an old one: My word of honor. I spent thirty-one years in education teaching students to learn how to learn, how to think, how to write. I modeled good character and integrity. I respect good character. I respect honesty. My first bid in the game of NO TRUMP is flatly this. He can't be trusted.
2 NO TRUMP: Cruelty
Secondly, he’s a crude, rude, and arrogant bully. He ridicules others; he calls people names; and he incites others to do his actual dirty work, so as to claim his hands are "clean". It’s mystifying to me that so many of his “best people” have been indicted, jailed, or ruined. Again, right thinking people do not espouse belittling others, for any reason, especially not for personal gain.
3 NO TRUMP: Greedy
Third, his bedrock value seems to be based on money: personal gain through personal wealth—wealth amassed at any cost. It’s all about greed. In his mind there are winners and there are losers. Those not of his ilk are losers, plain and simple. He seems in no way to be guided by a moral compass. In that vein, he holds a position only so far as it will add to his bank account. His record is rife with flip flops and lawsuits . As he says, it’s all about the big, beautiful baskets of cash (“I love the Saudis; they pay cash”). Now, this is America. There is nothing wrong with financial success; it just should come as a result of individual industry as opposed to “advantages” over others.
4 NO TRUMP: Slimy
Fourth, and this is almost said in awe. He’s masterfully manipulative. I told my friend, Ed Drouin, months before the 2016 election that Trump would win. I based that on the fact that though I find nearly everything about him revolting, I could still feel the emotional power of his words. He’s one of those salesman who constantly measures things against the bottom line. He will say anything, do anything, reverse suddenly, back track, attack, slip, slide, deflect. His favorite tactic is to attack others for the very things he’s currently practicing as a “disgrace”. Again, the record is rife with examples of this. One recent example, (soon to be fleshed our more fully in the 2020 election), is his attack on the Democrats, calling them hateful un-Americans incapable of loving their country, framing them as SOCIALIST left wingers who present a clear and present danger to the true patriots in our country. This country, ironically, was based on a rebellion against tyranny. What could be more tyrannical than trying to vilify those of disagree?
5 NO TRUMP: Conceit
Fifth, his conceit knows no bounds. “I could shoot someone…”; “When you’re a star, they let you do it…”. However, the worst facet of his narcissism is that nothing is ever his fault, and EVERY successful event is a direct result of his actions. I live in the belief that pride comes before the fall and that humility is recognition that I’ve had and require help along the way. As Trump claims, "I alone can fix it."
6 NO TRUMP: Goose Stepping
The most difficult aspect of America’s history for me to reconcile is that our early European ancestors left for the New World in search of religious and economic freedom. We then proceeded to build our country on the backs of genocide and slavery solely due to the pressures of exacted by profit, personal comforts, and white privilege. Racist, suppressive acts are not new in this country. Ample evidence is available that documents the institutional inequality in this country. So, even with the heat of this racist stick Trump is stirring the pot with, it’s not new. I hope it’s not even representative of the true nature of America (See 2020). I believe in the notion that everyone lucky enough to be born in America or come to America should have the opportunity to earn their own dream. I find segregation distasteful. I find institutional racism, though legal, to be patently unfair. I think the immigration problem, for example, could be solved simply: Make the creed written on the Statue of Liberty our mission statement. Simply say, “Welcome to America. Here’s your number to pay your taxes. Go and prosper to your ability”. And of course, as part of the reparation for our past inequities, there should be a path to citizenship. Unlike the president and his minions suggest, I do think our path should include social services that serve citizens (Social Security, Medicaid, etc.) but not as a free ride. No one wants a hand out. Everyone appreciates a hand up, and each of us should contribute to the process (Fair taxes) Finally, I think it’s our diverse mosaic that makes us different. Inclusion is good. We should make it policy.
7 NO TRUMP: Teflon Don
It’s beyond my comprehension, other than a desire for unadulterated self interest, that nothing seems to stick to Trump. Though I have no real evidence for this, I’d imagine that the American oligarchs are just fine propping Trump up. Money trumps all if you’ll pardon the pun. My greatest fear is that Trump will deflect, distract, inflame, indulge, lie, cheat, and steal with impunity (See Ukraine). The real test for this will be decided in 2020. If the country chooses to ride the Trump train, I fear he’s a man who will be unable to get enough power or influence. If enough people abdicate their moral courage with their vote, I believe we’d be far along the yellow brick road to making him the Grand Wizard. If we turn Trump into an emperor, we can indeed strip off our clothes because any true human wouldn’t be able to stand the stench of them, but of course, that would open those who choose to stand up as targets. Lynching, bombing, discrimination, rape, pillage, and murder could be the reward. Who will risk it?
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Part 2: And Then Some
My real complaint has nothing to do with President Trump. I wouldn’t go across the street to meet him. As often as I can, I merely ignore his existence. Unless he blows the whole thing up, I don’t think he will matter in my daily life. As the very tired trope says, “My bed is mostly been made”. No, my real problem is myself. And the questions are forcing themselves into my psyche.
What am I willing to risk?
What am I doing to fight for my view of America?
How am I helping the oppressed?
Is my money, literally and metaphorically, where my mouth is?
What am I willing to do?
What am I able to do?
What is enough?
Where is the focus?
Why shouldn’t I just focus on my family and those I love?
Digression: These talking cable news pundits, diligent teams players on both sides, accomplish nothing. There is only one vehicle we have: our vote. If I were either party, I’d be consolidating my argument. The bad news for the left is that the right’s position, born of a long oppressive American history has a clear message. The democrats and the leftists are fractured. As I see it, there is only one answer: vote, vote you conscience, have a conscience, be human, accept differences, share like a kindergartner is suppose to. Love one another as you love yourself. As you treat the least of these, so do you treat Me.
Back to my problem ( I’m so selfish). What am I will to risk?
(This question derives from Alexis de Tocqueville's work Democracy in America in which he posits that Democratic despotism arises when the people, too occupied by their petty private concerns, neglect politics and so let themselves be ruled by an unworthy government that ends up forcing things on the people that they do not actually want.)
In truth. I'm dominated by my "petty private concerns". Oh sure, I’ll volunteer once in a while; I’ll write a check, but I’m less willing to act on my conviction than I am to try and define what I actually think so as to crystallize my views in some coherent way. I often find myself lost down some irrelevant rabbit hole, some off Broadway cause, some historically insignificant digression. So I do nothing, really because there’s nothing in it for me. It’s the old WIIFM? The answer is not much. Because I’m often cynical, I really believe that even the small amount of volunteer work I’ve done, and the causes Judy and I support, amount to very little. Our reality allows us to live comfortably. We’re privileged in the sense that most problems don’t touch us. We’re not homeless; we’re well fed; we live in a comfortable home; we have recreational income that manifests itself into travel and other casual recreational pursuits; we’re able to support our children; we support our church; we care for my father; we consider ourselves good people. I'm struggling with the real question: Is any of this enough?
But when I finish beating myself up, I realize I’m lifted up by the people I meet traveling. If all I did was watch cable news, it would be easy to believe the narrative that everything in my petty little world is falling apart. The people I meet, good humans all, present a different view. They give me hope, just as young parents do (It takes faith to bring new life to this world). And life continues, so while I think it’s important to consider the threat the “robber barons” present, and I find value in questioning my own motives, I don’t believe the “sky is falling”. As I’ve believed forever, God has a plan. God is good. And finally, I’m NOT in charge of anything but my outlook. Therefore, I continue to enjoy life, believing that IT is good (and worthy), especially today.
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