The American Bison, by Scott Nelson, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. [1]
A few days ago, I was asked how I was doing and said that I was deeply concerned about the results of the November 5th, 2024, election, given the messages of hate and threats against those who had voted against GOP candidates. I have heard those messages from dictators who drove my family to the U S.
Why is it that the questioner and those who voted for the GOP appear not to read the news? It seems that they receive and assimilate propaganda readily, and I do not know why for sure. Does the propaganda deliver a sense of security? What is the future of this country and democracy?
Later that day on PBS I watched Ken Burn’s The American Buffalo documentary. It shows the devastation of the bison-based Indigenous American cultures through the doctrine of “Manifest Destiny”. Industrialized harvesting of the bison reduced the herds to a few bands from the millions of bison that formerly made up those herds. The indigenous population was driven into misery and famine in disease-ridden reservations and forced to send the children to religious and state-run institutions to “Kill the Indian, Save the Man”.
The next day I read Cole Haddon’s analysis of the screenplay for the blockbuster movie Jaws. His crisp analysis revealed how greed and suppression of facts are dangerous practices. The reality of a great white shark wreaking havoc on beachgoers was ignored to protect the economic health of the American village of Amity Island.
Unfettered capitalism has a thousand faces.
Early indications are that the incoming Federal Government will serve capitalists and oligarchs at the expense of American Citizens. Almost everyone will suffer under the unkind heel of the new reality, self-inflicted by voters and non-voters.
The sands in your way beg for your song and your movement, dancing water. Will you carry the burden of their lameness?
— RABINDRANATH TAGORE
On the day after Thanksgiving Day, may God inspire us to save America. I am confident that we have the wherewithal to compassionately share our bounty with others and seek justice and liberty for everyone. Let us stand for our beliefs.
Beautifully said, Manuel. This was decades in the making. I'm in a constant battle with my husband about "both sides" and complete unfounded degenerate "mistrust" in the system started after Nixon resigned and cemented by the Southern Baptist Convention, Reagan, and all the rest. It's now the default of many.
Has anyone ever heard of, read the book or seen the movie, "The 10% Solution "?