Random Remarks About Confederate History Month And Humanity's Endless Struggle For Dignity Against The Status Quo
This post may appear irrelevant to the topics covered on this blog, but they are clearly connected both in terms of economics and democracy. Plus this is an important topic. Maybe the most important topic of our time.
We've probably all compromised our principles at some time or another. It's part of the human condition. With media invading everyone's lives, we clearly see no one is perfect. Such is life. But this recent pronouncement of confederate history month by the governor of Virginia is deeply disturbing to me. It's not so much a compromise of principles but lack of principles.
I believe we should have an intent to learn and share our diversity in a free society. Education, sharing and communication helps us realize as human beings that our differences are generally small while our bonds and desires are most often the same. People around the world seek fulfillment of the same basic needs. To belong, to love and be loved, to achieve, to feel safe, to exercise their self-determination. To achieve some level of basic human dignity. Throughout history, the status quo has often preyed on humanity by perpetuating fears through created and artificial differences. These fears still manifest themselves today as stereotypes and through lies perpetuated to keep people divided rather than united by our shared desires, compassion and connection as spiritual beings.
Divisiveness based on fear and lies allows the status quo to perpetuate their fraud and tyranny over humanity. There are countless examples throughout world history where artificial differences and outright lies were used as a wedge to dominate and control people. I could name many today including ones many aren't even conscious of. That includes blaming "lazy" government workers and the pay and benefits they receive. This disparity is a symptom of the sickness of our economy and the delta must be adjusted, but rather than blaming people for desiring jobs that pay a living wage which allows some semblance of dignity, wouldn't it be more productive for society to focus on everyone receiving a living wage and achieving some level of dignity? To use our energies on behalf of bettering society instead of jealous and often hateful vitriol directed at our fellow citizens? People should be careful what they wish for. Draining more money out of the economy will only perpetuate an environment of worsening fundamentals. This type of divisiveness of attacking others, specifically peer-class members, actually is very common. So much so that psychologists and sociologists have a name for this behavior. Additionally, schadenfreude also plays some role. Another current divisive issue achieved through fear and control is the regular occurrence of coal mining deaths in West Virginia. Given the dubious safety record of many companies, this seems apparent to be putting personal profit over the safety of society. This is symptomatic of a greater divisive dynamic portraying "free markets" (rigged markets) as for the betterment of humanity and fundamental to democracy.
Fears and divisiveness also manifest themselves in every single violent conflict throughout history. Sometimes societies are on the right side of that issue. Sometimes not. Conflict in the last one hundred years alone has killed over one hundred millions people. How much have we lost as human beings because of these atrocities? All perpetuated because of divisiveness, fear mongering and ultimate control by the status quo rather than reasoned and legitimate exchange of differences or grievances. It seems to me that war and tyranny has so desensitized many that hearing that tens, hundreds or thousands of innocent people may die in a day some place in the world, or that tens of millions of people may suffer near starvation, has no meaning. It is simply accepted as part of life or, sadly, even necessary.
As I have written on here before, one of the greatest joys for me being an American is that I have this incredible opportunity to experience the diversity of this country. I'm not proud of the way some of this diversity came to be, but I am proud of where it is going. What other nation can claim to embrace the culture, tradition and people from every country on earth? And that many of these cultures and traditions are often embraced and assimilated into all of society. For everyone to enjoy and lead better lives because of it. The melting pot is a wonderful thing. To accept all people effectively raises our level of consciousness as human beings. The cumulative consciousness of our country continues to develop regardless of what many hate and fear mongers would have us believe. In fact, this development of society's awareness and heightened state of consciousness is a source of great concern for the status quo and they know it. Which is the very reason why we see hate and fear mongering on the rise - often fueled by special interests attempting to interject divisiveness to maintain control.
I simply do not understand this perspective of glorifying the confederacy. Whether that is raising the confederate flag over a state house or naming this confederate history month as the new governor of Virginia recently did. Especially when it is such a sensitive subject for so many Americans of every culture, race and creed. I appreciate history and there are surely positive aspects of southern culture we all celebrate. Learning about and perpetuating southern tradition is one thing. That is a multicultural statement that most people are surely proud of. But confederacy? This brings up images of human beings treated worse than cattle. Human beings who were owned and sold as property. A time when people were raped, beaten and murdered as owners saw fit without any retribution or rule of law. Can you literally imagine being chained and beaten just for breathing? Of having your spirit beaten down so low that it literally has all but vanquished? Can you really imagine? How does anyone glorify confederate history representing the most heinous crimes against humanity imaginable? Are these deeds any less heinous than those of Adolph Hitler? Or Joseph Stalin? Or Pol Pot? They are indistinguishable.
In fact, American and European capitalism is strewn with labor as slavery. This is part of humanity's endless struggle against the status quo. Almost all of it perpetuated by fear and divisiveness with an intent to control. Whether it was European indentured servants, slaves from Africa or China, child labor before labor regulations were introduced, company towns forcing workers to spend their wages and live under tyranny, corporations hiding toxicity to environment and community, today where we effectively see predominantly Mexican slavery through unlivable wages paid to undocumented workers, the impact this dynamic has on underprivileged Americans, the slave factories predominantly of South Asia and then we have the tens of millions of working poor in the United States. Ranks that are growing extremely rapidly. How does any of this rationalize with democracy? With freedom? Of We the People? With a rule of law of a nation built on laws which are meant to grant opportunity to everyone democratically? How does it square with our conscience as a society? How does is square with your conscience? Is your awareness changing?
We've probably all compromised our principles at some time or another. It's part of the human condition. With media invading everyone's lives, we clearly see no one is perfect. Such is life. But this recent pronouncement of confederate history month by the governor of Virginia is deeply disturbing to me. It's not so much a compromise of principles but lack of principles.
I believe we should have an intent to learn and share our diversity in a free society. Education, sharing and communication helps us realize as human beings that our differences are generally small while our bonds and desires are most often the same. People around the world seek fulfillment of the same basic needs. To belong, to love and be loved, to achieve, to feel safe, to exercise their self-determination. To achieve some level of basic human dignity. Throughout history, the status quo has often preyed on humanity by perpetuating fears through created and artificial differences. These fears still manifest themselves today as stereotypes and through lies perpetuated to keep people divided rather than united by our shared desires, compassion and connection as spiritual beings.
Divisiveness based on fear and lies allows the status quo to perpetuate their fraud and tyranny over humanity. There are countless examples throughout world history where artificial differences and outright lies were used as a wedge to dominate and control people. I could name many today including ones many aren't even conscious of. That includes blaming "lazy" government workers and the pay and benefits they receive. This disparity is a symptom of the sickness of our economy and the delta must be adjusted, but rather than blaming people for desiring jobs that pay a living wage which allows some semblance of dignity, wouldn't it be more productive for society to focus on everyone receiving a living wage and achieving some level of dignity? To use our energies on behalf of bettering society instead of jealous and often hateful vitriol directed at our fellow citizens? People should be careful what they wish for. Draining more money out of the economy will only perpetuate an environment of worsening fundamentals. This type of divisiveness of attacking others, specifically peer-class members, actually is very common. So much so that psychologists and sociologists have a name for this behavior. Additionally, schadenfreude also plays some role. Another current divisive issue achieved through fear and control is the regular occurrence of coal mining deaths in West Virginia. Given the dubious safety record of many companies, this seems apparent to be putting personal profit over the safety of society. This is symptomatic of a greater divisive dynamic portraying "free markets" (rigged markets) as for the betterment of humanity and fundamental to democracy.
Fears and divisiveness also manifest themselves in every single violent conflict throughout history. Sometimes societies are on the right side of that issue. Sometimes not. Conflict in the last one hundred years alone has killed over one hundred millions people. How much have we lost as human beings because of these atrocities? All perpetuated because of divisiveness, fear mongering and ultimate control by the status quo rather than reasoned and legitimate exchange of differences or grievances. It seems to me that war and tyranny has so desensitized many that hearing that tens, hundreds or thousands of innocent people may die in a day some place in the world, or that tens of millions of people may suffer near starvation, has no meaning. It is simply accepted as part of life or, sadly, even necessary.
As I have written on here before, one of the greatest joys for me being an American is that I have this incredible opportunity to experience the diversity of this country. I'm not proud of the way some of this diversity came to be, but I am proud of where it is going. What other nation can claim to embrace the culture, tradition and people from every country on earth? And that many of these cultures and traditions are often embraced and assimilated into all of society. For everyone to enjoy and lead better lives because of it. The melting pot is a wonderful thing. To accept all people effectively raises our level of consciousness as human beings. The cumulative consciousness of our country continues to develop regardless of what many hate and fear mongers would have us believe. In fact, this development of society's awareness and heightened state of consciousness is a source of great concern for the status quo and they know it. Which is the very reason why we see hate and fear mongering on the rise - often fueled by special interests attempting to interject divisiveness to maintain control.
I simply do not understand this perspective of glorifying the confederacy. Whether that is raising the confederate flag over a state house or naming this confederate history month as the new governor of Virginia recently did. Especially when it is such a sensitive subject for so many Americans of every culture, race and creed. I appreciate history and there are surely positive aspects of southern culture we all celebrate. Learning about and perpetuating southern tradition is one thing. That is a multicultural statement that most people are surely proud of. But confederacy? This brings up images of human beings treated worse than cattle. Human beings who were owned and sold as property. A time when people were raped, beaten and murdered as owners saw fit without any retribution or rule of law. Can you literally imagine being chained and beaten just for breathing? Of having your spirit beaten down so low that it literally has all but vanquished? Can you really imagine? How does anyone glorify confederate history representing the most heinous crimes against humanity imaginable? Are these deeds any less heinous than those of Adolph Hitler? Or Joseph Stalin? Or Pol Pot? They are indistinguishable.
In fact, American and European capitalism is strewn with labor as slavery. This is part of humanity's endless struggle against the status quo. Almost all of it perpetuated by fear and divisiveness with an intent to control. Whether it was European indentured servants, slaves from Africa or China, child labor before labor regulations were introduced, company towns forcing workers to spend their wages and live under tyranny, corporations hiding toxicity to environment and community, today where we effectively see predominantly Mexican slavery through unlivable wages paid to undocumented workers, the impact this dynamic has on underprivileged Americans, the slave factories predominantly of South Asia and then we have the tens of millions of working poor in the United States. Ranks that are growing extremely rapidly. How does any of this rationalize with democracy? With freedom? Of We the People? With a rule of law of a nation built on laws which are meant to grant opportunity to everyone democratically? How does it square with our conscience as a society? How does is square with your conscience? Is your awareness changing?
Life isn't always about the self. If we are to continue to progress as a species and as a society, looking within and asking the difficult questions and asking to make difficult decisions of ourselves is absolutely necessary. Do we embrace hate, fear and divisiveness as an attempt to control? Do we allow a handful of people, often goons, to dictate the status quo? Or, as people do we rise above and become a people who will not tolerate such despicable behavior? To require reason, logic and an intent to learn as a basis for society, for our laws and for our progress?
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