Steven, what you've written here is of utmost importance to all of us, whether or not some people know it or not. I hope your post is shared far and wide. Thank you so much! Lisa (rural Montana)
Oct 23, 2023·edited Oct 23, 2023Liked by Steven Beschloss
These are all important points to consider as we move toward whatever the future holds. We are living with the natural evolution of a political strategy “enrage to engage.” Miller confirmed the reason for hot rhetoric and public targeting of individuals. Tactics utilized by a minority to gain leverage against the majority. His words indicate everyone / anyone should anticipate future threats and harassment for failing to fall in line.
For years the boundaries of public discourse were tested, pushed and rolled over. Some found success in its dark potential. It gained traction in our institutions with a certain brand of politics, “influencers” and proxy followers. The lies destroy trust; provoke anger; weaponize our rights like free speech and right to petition the government - including through the courts.
After impeachments there was muted reporting about harassment & threats influencing votes of legislators. It did not register in the public conscience as a major emergency. The House dysfunction brings another warning. We the majority; we the voters, ignore it at our own peril.
Steve, the article today on response to the war in the middle east hits the nail square. I was shocked by the outrage of Jewish people I know who attacked me for stating what I believe was the cause of this attack by Humas.
It gave me great pause. I realized that the Israeli government from the beginning of Israel 75 years ago, has never allowed anyone country person to disagree with their polices without calling them out as antisemites. Of course, this is ludicrous, many people who speak out are also Jewish. It has become the rallying cry by American Jews, “if you don’t agree with us, you are an antisemite” Even the mainstream media agrees, that if you don’t agree with Israel, you are antisemite. Not agreeing with the government of Israel does not mean you are against the people of Israel. It means you do not agree with the government’s policies on the Palestinian solution.
I love history and read a great deal about development of the world starting with ancient history to the Middle Ages and up. The history of the Israelites and their place in the development of humans in the middle east and Europe is not what is told today as history. What we are told today is the religious history of Judaism. This is not real history, any more than the history of Christianity being the history of people’s through-out the middle east or Europe.
We must get religious history out of our teachings and learn the actual history of human development. History of a single god only began in the year 300BCE . Humas existed with written history 5000 years before that time.
We must rid ourselves of religious history and learn the real human evolution history.
While I agree with everything written her, and have reposted on my FB page, I am left with a question: how do we get to calm the clowns that are currently holding GOP seats in the House.
As a Dem, I see so much danger, and I have written to several GOP FL reps. Tell us a way to engage the House GOP without waiting to vote them out. The time is NOW.
Do we email every House GOP ? Is there a way to maximize, by our collective numbers, this method?
Let's put our heads together ❤️ and find a solution.
Agreed, we need to do something now that may change minds before the election and which should give the Dems improved prospects for the election. We must do a better job of marketing now, how all of our lives will be changed under an Authoritarian/Fascist styled government.
A lot of the shocking hate and negativity we are experiencing is because of Donald Trump. It was already simmering just below the facade of polite society and he was the trigger and role model for the type of person drawn to evil. He is incorrigible. He will never change. He is a unique figure to be reviled for the rest of time. I feel so strongly that he must be removed from society that I find myself having to consciously tamp down my emotions by reading a good novel or watching a movie.
Nevertheless, I truly believe this will pass and my fervent hope is that this orgy of hate will result in
a new era of tolerance, even kindness as a backlash
to our current experience. I believe it will pass because it’s a worldwide phenomenon. Quantum
The question has always been is violence a result of nature or nurture. Most believe it is an inherent human deficiency. Violence has always been part of America . John List, a ne're do well, killed his mother, wife , 3 children in NJ, ate a sandwich, then, disappeared for 18 years. Susan Smith left her 2 sons in her car that she let roll into a lake because her love interest didn't like children. 14,000 rapes were committed by American soldiers in Europe during WWII (and such in every conflict. I never say thank you for your service when I see men with war hats, pins. Who knows? ) The Ohio nat'l guard killed 4 Kent State students who were protesting the Viet Nam war. Soldiers massacred the whole population of My Lai in Viet Nam for no reason other than brutality. What could be more violent than slavery and our Civil War. 13 presidents owned slaves. Jefferson called them " merciless savages.' Woodrow Wilson supported segregation and also opposed women's rights. Then there are the racist Hoovers -Herbert and J. Edgar. The KKK arose during Reconstruction with its cross burnings and lynchings. Odd coincidence that 3 assassinations have the same letters- JFK, RFK, MLK-KKK. Jackson (trump's favorite) acted with virulent hatred against American Indians, commanding their resettlement and perpetrator of the 'trail of tears' that killed 6,000. Covid resulted in beating, kicking to the sidewalk, an Asian woman in NYC. A duel left Hamilton murdered.MTG says Nancy Pelosi should be executed by a bullet in the head, and of course, Mr. Pelosi was smashed in the head with a hammer. Labor strikes have led to violence against strike breakers hired by company owners. How about water boarding? The NRA, 450,000,000 owned guns, crazies driving trucks into crowds. Frontier days are not called the wild west for nothing. Was every man for himself. Give me liberty or give me death said Henry to stir up Virginians to fight in the Rev. War. Live free or die. So over these past years,we have a psychopath running loose saying things like-punch him in the face, knock the crap out of him,carry him out in a stretcher. And loyal followers, so many women -one said Biden ruled 10 miles around DC but trump is commander in chief. Jordan opponents in his own party receiving threats on their lives, one's wife keeping a gun next to her bed. trump be gone would be a big help at this moment in history. Unbelievable that the United States could produce such a man, and even more outstanding, that he would have almost half of the population taking part in his pity party. But will the chaos, violence ever stop? History says, "No."
You have done a great service to those who have or will read your essay by speaking truthfully on some of the issues fueling the climate of violence. You have done so without histrionic and useless rhetoric, instead choosing to instill in your readers calm, knowledge and tolerance. Trump and his pals of followers both inside and outside of government are an aberration and a cancer that must be arrested before it metastasizes into other factions. Judge Engoron acted within his limits to penalize Trump for his boorish comments both public and on his social media. The amount that was applied may seem inappropriately low, but the point of the fine was to rebuke him. Judge Chutkan is also doing her part to demonstrate her ability to impress upon Trump and his lawyers that she will not tolerate a clown show in her court. I say we support both these judges enthusiastically and allow them the time for the system of Justice to go work through the States’ constitutions and laws.
As to the Israel war with Hamas, I would prefer not to be reminded on a daily basis of the horrific details committed against the Jewish people who were slaughtered. I have tuned out CNN because of its never ending graphic interviews with loved ones of the deceased. I have 4 Jewish grandkids who were horrified at what was done. The incessant re-runs of interviews must be reduced lest my teenage grandkids become inured to the horrors.
I fully agree that our voices to calm the maddening crowd and seek compromise should be loud and clear. Equally important must be non stop public education showing how all American lives would be changed if we allow former Authoritarian bent elected officials or those right wingers who will soon seek election to gain the seats of power.
How does a climate of violence de-escalate? What can we do to help? Would love for that question to be asked and for readers to offer answers from their own perspectives. Thank you.
It would be difficult to avoid right-wing propaganda if one listens to radio anywhere in Northern Illinois.
There are no checks, no balances for right-wing propaganda boiled out from one radio tower after another. The fulminators sit in studios sometimes thousands of miles from the “local” radio station pumping out their lies 24/7. The station owners, at least some of whom likely believe the fascist rhetoric themselves, will not try to balance it as that might cost them money by having to program locally instead of merely downloading a satellite signal.
The federal government long ago gave up trying to regulate the airwaves aside from technical interference. And, of course, there has never been any attempt to balance the lies on cable channels and social media.
We are a country where free speech, fundamental to any democracy, has been polluted by a combination of greed and lack of critical listening/thinking by audiences. Government cleans up polluted water so we can drink it without fear of contamination.
“Shirley,” he said, “there must be a way to clean up cable, the internet, and radio.”
“Why dontcha get your buddy, that A.I. guy, to do it,” Shirley replied.\
Steven, what you've written here is of utmost importance to all of us, whether or not some people know it or not. I hope your post is shared far and wide. Thank you so much! Lisa (rural Montana)
Thank you, Lisa.
These are all important points to consider as we move toward whatever the future holds. We are living with the natural evolution of a political strategy “enrage to engage.” Miller confirmed the reason for hot rhetoric and public targeting of individuals. Tactics utilized by a minority to gain leverage against the majority. His words indicate everyone / anyone should anticipate future threats and harassment for failing to fall in line.
For years the boundaries of public discourse were tested, pushed and rolled over. Some found success in its dark potential. It gained traction in our institutions with a certain brand of politics, “influencers” and proxy followers. The lies destroy trust; provoke anger; weaponize our rights like free speech and right to petition the government - including through the courts.
After impeachments there was muted reporting about harassment & threats influencing votes of legislators. It did not register in the public conscience as a major emergency. The House dysfunction brings another warning. We the majority; we the voters, ignore it at our own peril.
Well said!
Steve, the article today on response to the war in the middle east hits the nail square. I was shocked by the outrage of Jewish people I know who attacked me for stating what I believe was the cause of this attack by Humas.
It gave me great pause. I realized that the Israeli government from the beginning of Israel 75 years ago, has never allowed anyone country person to disagree with their polices without calling them out as antisemites. Of course, this is ludicrous, many people who speak out are also Jewish. It has become the rallying cry by American Jews, “if you don’t agree with us, you are an antisemite” Even the mainstream media agrees, that if you don’t agree with Israel, you are antisemite. Not agreeing with the government of Israel does not mean you are against the people of Israel. It means you do not agree with the government’s policies on the Palestinian solution.
I love history and read a great deal about development of the world starting with ancient history to the Middle Ages and up. The history of the Israelites and their place in the development of humans in the middle east and Europe is not what is told today as history. What we are told today is the religious history of Judaism. This is not real history, any more than the history of Christianity being the history of people’s through-out the middle east or Europe.
We must get religious history out of our teachings and learn the actual history of human development. History of a single god only began in the year 300BCE . Humas existed with written history 5000 years before that time.
We must rid ourselves of religious history and learn the real human evolution history.
While I agree with everything written her, and have reposted on my FB page, I am left with a question: how do we get to calm the clowns that are currently holding GOP seats in the House.
As a Dem, I see so much danger, and I have written to several GOP FL reps. Tell us a way to engage the House GOP without waiting to vote them out. The time is NOW.
Do we email every House GOP ? Is there a way to maximize, by our collective numbers, this method?
Let's put our heads together ❤️ and find a solution.
Agreed, we need to do something now that may change minds before the election and which should give the Dems improved prospects for the election. We must do a better job of marketing now, how all of our lives will be changed under an Authoritarian/Fascist styled government.
A lot of the shocking hate and negativity we are experiencing is because of Donald Trump. It was already simmering just below the facade of polite society and he was the trigger and role model for the type of person drawn to evil. He is incorrigible. He will never change. He is a unique figure to be reviled for the rest of time. I feel so strongly that he must be removed from society that I find myself having to consciously tamp down my emotions by reading a good novel or watching a movie.
Nevertheless, I truly believe this will pass and my fervent hope is that this orgy of hate will result in
a new era of tolerance, even kindness as a backlash
to our current experience. I believe it will pass because it’s a worldwide phenomenon. Quantum
entanglement is real. Our innermost thoughts do
affect reality even when they aren’t expressed.
The question has always been is violence a result of nature or nurture. Most believe it is an inherent human deficiency. Violence has always been part of America . John List, a ne're do well, killed his mother, wife , 3 children in NJ, ate a sandwich, then, disappeared for 18 years. Susan Smith left her 2 sons in her car that she let roll into a lake because her love interest didn't like children. 14,000 rapes were committed by American soldiers in Europe during WWII (and such in every conflict. I never say thank you for your service when I see men with war hats, pins. Who knows? ) The Ohio nat'l guard killed 4 Kent State students who were protesting the Viet Nam war. Soldiers massacred the whole population of My Lai in Viet Nam for no reason other than brutality. What could be more violent than slavery and our Civil War. 13 presidents owned slaves. Jefferson called them " merciless savages.' Woodrow Wilson supported segregation and also opposed women's rights. Then there are the racist Hoovers -Herbert and J. Edgar. The KKK arose during Reconstruction with its cross burnings and lynchings. Odd coincidence that 3 assassinations have the same letters- JFK, RFK, MLK-KKK. Jackson (trump's favorite) acted with virulent hatred against American Indians, commanding their resettlement and perpetrator of the 'trail of tears' that killed 6,000. Covid resulted in beating, kicking to the sidewalk, an Asian woman in NYC. A duel left Hamilton murdered.MTG says Nancy Pelosi should be executed by a bullet in the head, and of course, Mr. Pelosi was smashed in the head with a hammer. Labor strikes have led to violence against strike breakers hired by company owners. How about water boarding? The NRA, 450,000,000 owned guns, crazies driving trucks into crowds. Frontier days are not called the wild west for nothing. Was every man for himself. Give me liberty or give me death said Henry to stir up Virginians to fight in the Rev. War. Live free or die. So over these past years,we have a psychopath running loose saying things like-punch him in the face, knock the crap out of him,carry him out in a stretcher. And loyal followers, so many women -one said Biden ruled 10 miles around DC but trump is commander in chief. Jordan opponents in his own party receiving threats on their lives, one's wife keeping a gun next to her bed. trump be gone would be a big help at this moment in history. Unbelievable that the United States could produce such a man, and even more outstanding, that he would have almost half of the population taking part in his pity party. But will the chaos, violence ever stop? History says, "No."
Man’s inhumanity to man will never stop, but relatively sound minds can keep fighting to lessen the carnage
Exactly. That’s what we have to do.
You have done a great service to those who have or will read your essay by speaking truthfully on some of the issues fueling the climate of violence. You have done so without histrionic and useless rhetoric, instead choosing to instill in your readers calm, knowledge and tolerance. Trump and his pals of followers both inside and outside of government are an aberration and a cancer that must be arrested before it metastasizes into other factions. Judge Engoron acted within his limits to penalize Trump for his boorish comments both public and on his social media. The amount that was applied may seem inappropriately low, but the point of the fine was to rebuke him. Judge Chutkan is also doing her part to demonstrate her ability to impress upon Trump and his lawyers that she will not tolerate a clown show in her court. I say we support both these judges enthusiastically and allow them the time for the system of Justice to go work through the States’ constitutions and laws.
As to the Israel war with Hamas, I would prefer not to be reminded on a daily basis of the horrific details committed against the Jewish people who were slaughtered. I have tuned out CNN because of its never ending graphic interviews with loved ones of the deceased. I have 4 Jewish grandkids who were horrified at what was done. The incessant re-runs of interviews must be reduced lest my teenage grandkids become inured to the horrors.
I fully agree that our voices to calm the maddening crowd and seek compromise should be loud and clear. Equally important must be non stop public education showing how all American lives would be changed if we allow former Authoritarian bent elected officials or those right wingers who will soon seek election to gain the seats of power.
How does a climate of violence de-escalate? What can we do to help? Would love for that question to be asked and for readers to offer answers from their own perspectives. Thank you.
TY for another 'makes sense, must share message. Is one thing to defend your Country, is another to inflame an entire region. TY for sanity
So what radio station(s) did he listen to?
It would be difficult to avoid right-wing propaganda if one listens to radio anywhere in Northern Illinois.
There are no checks, no balances for right-wing propaganda boiled out from one radio tower after another. The fulminators sit in studios sometimes thousands of miles from the “local” radio station pumping out their lies 24/7. The station owners, at least some of whom likely believe the fascist rhetoric themselves, will not try to balance it as that might cost them money by having to program locally instead of merely downloading a satellite signal.
The federal government long ago gave up trying to regulate the airwaves aside from technical interference. And, of course, there has never been any attempt to balance the lies on cable channels and social media.
We are a country where free speech, fundamental to any democracy, has been polluted by a combination of greed and lack of critical listening/thinking by audiences. Government cleans up polluted water so we can drink it without fear of contamination.
“Shirley,” he said, “there must be a way to clean up cable, the internet, and radio.”
“Why dontcha get your buddy, that A.I. guy, to do it,” Shirley replied.\