Oh Professor Ben-Ghiat, your essay is perfection. It is deeply true, deeply moving, deeply powerful and empowering. I believe you are exactly right. Contrary to what the oligarchs say, empathy is our strength, not our weakness. Justice, equality, care for others including everyone, and empathy are all features of true democracy. It’s clear from their policies that the regime is against all that and against democracy. And you are right; one midterm victory will not change the twisted course this country is on. But it’s a good start. You are a beacon of light in these times. We are very grateful for you.
A clinical feature of malignant narcissists is hatred of people and a corollary to that trait is sadism
Miles Taylor who spent 4y in the first Cheeto regime recounts in an article about his observations about Cheeto that he loved to induce unspeakable violence against people(https://bit.ly/4sPUVLT)
This disturbing fact points to our understanding how Cheeto likes to inflict pain on people by withdrawing benefits for those who need a helping hand or why he delights with his buddy Netanyahu on bombing Iranian civilian facilities or why he has no empathy for American civilians killed by ICE or why he gets off bombing boats in the Caribbean on the pretense that they are narcoterrorists
Dr Bandy X Lee, Dr John Gartner, & numerous others tried to warn us when he was running for office the first time. Many of us listened & believed them.
If God = love, is Hegseth's, Vance's and Trump's hateful stance then -- in real not just figurative terms -- demonic? Was Christ wrong in viewing demons as living forces which may possess human beings, and by proper authority be cast out from them, so that their souls may be recovered from such demonic complicity? It seems in our theological perspectives today while many embrace the truth of love, it's only those who are themselves demon-possessed who dare to speak of the reality of demons -- invariably projecting them psychologically onto those of us of truer religion. Consider Vance's recent assertion that UFOs are the chariots of demons.
The clarity is astonishing. I have felt the undertow of this in your podcasts and writings - and now it’s right in the surface in condensed form. Thank you.
Yes, the mafiosos in the White House are the ones that better be careful. On the other hand, maybe it's the complete and total moral collapse of this administration that's needed for people to finally start paying attention.
You have struck the most profound of notes. While I will continue to refer to your "strongman" as Hollowman, this conference struck deeper chords than we're accustomed, and I can only hope that enough of us have the depth to not only appreciate it but to join the march forward with the compassion, humility, and determination required to forge a path through this briarpatch. It is no small ask.
As for Whit's question about evil demons, I believe this is the neurological consequence of failing kids through neglect and abuse: the denial of their budding humanity, which strangely they nebulously understand but cannot possibly overcome without serious intervention. Such people know something's wrong, but have been denied their full genetic inheritance by parental badgering, neglect, and abuse -- children are born helpless and ignorant, and need to be guided to emotional self-regulation, the source of true intelligence; they cannot do it on their own. They are in hell, and make our lives hell. Such parenting must end -- they are reawakening the pre-sapiens common ancestor -- the monster in our bones.
I ran some calculations today. In 2024 - 109 million ppl did not vote. 78 million voted for Trump. There are roughly 90 million minor kids. There are roughly 342 million ppl in the U.S.
That suggests 74% of Americans of voting age are fine with who is in the Oval Office.
It’s unclear to me how more love is going to change that number in the next 6 months - assuming there is a midterm election. Maybe the good Reverend could add some comments.
Your calculations & then the assumption you arrive at are incorrect. Many people counted in the U.S. total population cannot vote. We have incarcerated more humans than any other country in the world, so the entire prison & jail populations must be subtracted. Then you have to subtract the millions of convicted felons who are no longer incarcerated, but still not eligible to vote. Then subtract all of the undocumented persons who are counted in the census, but who cannot vote. Now subtract all of the people who are legally registered to vote, but who get purged from the voter rolls for often nefarious reasons; in TX alone, that number is as high as 2 million. Then account for organizations like True The Vote, who teach random Republican voters how to do voter challenges; one person challenging as many as 30K voters in each precinct, heavily concentrating in the 7 swing states, & heavily targeting black & brown voters. Also, in the 2024 election particularly, many thousands of voters were so disgusted by the Biden/Harris admin’s handling of the genocide occurring in Gaza, that they just couldn’t bring themselves to vote for Harris at all. Now account for the fact that due to the Electoral College count determining who wins, millions of people who are eligible to vote, never bother to register because they logically feel like their vote doesn’t really matter. None of the items I’ve listed in any way means that all of those millions & millions are “fine” with what is happening now.
Your last four or five sentences prove my point. Voter apathy is a big problem. Every person who is pissed off and doesn’t vote effectively votes for Trump. Every person who is pissed off and doesn’t vote misses the only point that matters and it’s not support for Israel. It’s autocracy.
If you revisit my presentation you might realize it’s high level. Not sure where you are getting millions and millions of felons from. A million here or there will change my conclusion. My source is federal govt data that specifically calculated ppl eligible to vote.
Let’s say the 109 million who didn’t vote is off by 10 million or even 20 million. It’s not but let’s say it is. There are then 89 million who didn’t vote. That number is a serious problem because not voting is a vote for Trump. Trump knows that.
The overall conclusion and message are still the same.
For those seeking to restore a remembered era that season has passed. For those seeking change this is a time of opportunity. Cultural and social change takes time and sacrifice if it is truly worthwhile. Many who start the work of change will probably not see its completion, but such is the nature of great changes, and such is the history of our country.
If there was ever a time to stay strong while realizing we are building the future every day while we put hope into action. This means putting muscle into our actions whether that means participating in actions to get out the vote, write editorials, learn how to maintain healthy conversations with members of the ‘other side’, donate to good causes, work on behalf of morally sound candidates, or are actively involved in community oriented church work. Every thing we say or do makes a difference. The important thing is to ask ourselves, are we making the right kind of difference?
The break room television was mounted too high for anyone to adjust, and the volume had been set by someone who no longer worked there. Miguel watched it standing up because his feet hurt worse sitting down. Nine hours in, his lower back had settled into the particular ache that would not leave until Thursday. Ernesto sat on the overturned milk crate by the ice machine, unwrapping the ham sandwich his wife had made him at four.
Oh Professor Ben-Ghiat, your essay is perfection. It is deeply true, deeply moving, deeply powerful and empowering. I believe you are exactly right. Contrary to what the oligarchs say, empathy is our strength, not our weakness. Justice, equality, care for others including everyone, and empathy are all features of true democracy. It’s clear from their policies that the regime is against all that and against democracy. And you are right; one midterm victory will not change the twisted course this country is on. But it’s a good start. You are a beacon of light in these times. We are very grateful for you.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Beautiful, truthful and a timely call to action. Thanks 🙏🏽
Cheeto's Sadism
A clinical feature of malignant narcissists is hatred of people and a corollary to that trait is sadism
Miles Taylor who spent 4y in the first Cheeto regime recounts in an article about his observations about Cheeto that he loved to induce unspeakable violence against people(https://bit.ly/4sPUVLT)
This disturbing fact points to our understanding how Cheeto likes to inflict pain on people by withdrawing benefits for those who need a helping hand or why he delights with his buddy Netanyahu on bombing Iranian civilian facilities or why he has no empathy for American civilians killed by ICE or why he gets off bombing boats in the Caribbean on the pretense that they are narcoterrorists
WE have a sick sick psychopath in the Oval Office
I've known sociopaths but have never seen one as dangerously sick as Cheeto. His grandiosity, sadism and Machiavellianism are off the charts.
I would bet that in the future, Abnormal Psychology texts will feature Cheeto as examples for DSM-5, Cluster B disorders.
you bet
Dr Bandy X Lee, Dr John Gartner, & numerous others tried to warn us when he was running for office the first time. Many of us listened & believed them.
If God = love, is Hegseth's, Vance's and Trump's hateful stance then -- in real not just figurative terms -- demonic? Was Christ wrong in viewing demons as living forces which may possess human beings, and by proper authority be cast out from them, so that their souls may be recovered from such demonic complicity? It seems in our theological perspectives today while many embrace the truth of love, it's only those who are themselves demon-possessed who dare to speak of the reality of demons -- invariably projecting them psychologically onto those of us of truer religion. Consider Vance's recent assertion that UFOs are the chariots of demons.
Please see subsequent response to original essay
Heart-centered action, loving forward, moral renewal…it feels good to see those words. It feels right. It feels possible!
Are we sick enough of this?
Where’d we go?
Then you really might know what it’s like
To sing the blues
Taught blind kids.
They are my best friends.
Then you maybe know what it’s like
To sing the blues.
And I can sing the blues.
This is breaking my heart
In two
The clarity is astonishing. I have felt the undertow of this in your podcasts and writings - and now it’s right in the surface in condensed form. Thank you.
These are words I needed to hear. Thank you. “Moral renewal…equality, justice and love….” I would add HOPE!
Yes, the mafiosos in the White House are the ones that better be careful. On the other hand, maybe it's the complete and total moral collapse of this administration that's needed for people to finally start paying attention.
Agree, we will have to hit the moral "rock bottom" before it will wake people up from their slumber and turn the tide.
You have struck the most profound of notes. While I will continue to refer to your "strongman" as Hollowman, this conference struck deeper chords than we're accustomed, and I can only hope that enough of us have the depth to not only appreciate it but to join the march forward with the compassion, humility, and determination required to forge a path through this briarpatch. It is no small ask.
As for Whit's question about evil demons, I believe this is the neurological consequence of failing kids through neglect and abuse: the denial of their budding humanity, which strangely they nebulously understand but cannot possibly overcome without serious intervention. Such people know something's wrong, but have been denied their full genetic inheritance by parental badgering, neglect, and abuse -- children are born helpless and ignorant, and need to be guided to emotional self-regulation, the source of true intelligence; they cannot do it on their own. They are in hell, and make our lives hell. Such parenting must end -- they are reawakening the pre-sapiens common ancestor -- the monster in our bones.
I ran some calculations today. In 2024 - 109 million ppl did not vote. 78 million voted for Trump. There are roughly 90 million minor kids. There are roughly 342 million ppl in the U.S.
That suggests 74% of Americans of voting age are fine with who is in the Oval Office.
It’s unclear to me how more love is going to change that number in the next 6 months - assuming there is a midterm election. Maybe the good Reverend could add some comments.
Your calculations & then the assumption you arrive at are incorrect. Many people counted in the U.S. total population cannot vote. We have incarcerated more humans than any other country in the world, so the entire prison & jail populations must be subtracted. Then you have to subtract the millions of convicted felons who are no longer incarcerated, but still not eligible to vote. Then subtract all of the undocumented persons who are counted in the census, but who cannot vote. Now subtract all of the people who are legally registered to vote, but who get purged from the voter rolls for often nefarious reasons; in TX alone, that number is as high as 2 million. Then account for organizations like True The Vote, who teach random Republican voters how to do voter challenges; one person challenging as many as 30K voters in each precinct, heavily concentrating in the 7 swing states, & heavily targeting black & brown voters. Also, in the 2024 election particularly, many thousands of voters were so disgusted by the Biden/Harris admin’s handling of the genocide occurring in Gaza, that they just couldn’t bring themselves to vote for Harris at all. Now account for the fact that due to the Electoral College count determining who wins, millions of people who are eligible to vote, never bother to register because they logically feel like their vote doesn’t really matter. None of the items I’ve listed in any way means that all of those millions & millions are “fine” with what is happening now.
Your last four or five sentences prove my point. Voter apathy is a big problem. Every person who is pissed off and doesn’t vote effectively votes for Trump. Every person who is pissed off and doesn’t vote misses the only point that matters and it’s not support for Israel. It’s autocracy.
If you revisit my presentation you might realize it’s high level. Not sure where you are getting millions and millions of felons from. A million here or there will change my conclusion. My source is federal govt data that specifically calculated ppl eligible to vote.
Let’s say the 109 million who didn’t vote is off by 10 million or even 20 million. It’s not but let’s say it is. There are then 89 million who didn’t vote. That number is a serious problem because not voting is a vote for Trump. Trump knows that.
The overall conclusion and message are still the same.
For those seeking to restore a remembered era that season has passed. For those seeking change this is a time of opportunity. Cultural and social change takes time and sacrifice if it is truly worthwhile. Many who start the work of change will probably not see its completion, but such is the nature of great changes, and such is the history of our country.
If there was ever a time to stay strong while realizing we are building the future every day while we put hope into action. This means putting muscle into our actions whether that means participating in actions to get out the vote, write editorials, learn how to maintain healthy conversations with members of the ‘other side’, donate to good causes, work on behalf of morally sound candidates, or are actively involved in community oriented church work. Every thing we say or do makes a difference. The important thing is to ask ourselves, are we making the right kind of difference?
Ruth Ben ghiat standing up with the truth to renew our democratic values, thanks
The break room television was mounted too high for anyone to adjust, and the volume had been set by someone who no longer worked there. Miguel watched it standing up because his feet hurt worse sitting down. Nine hours in, his lower back had settled into the particular ache that would not leave until Thursday. Ernesto sat on the overturned milk crate by the ice machine, unwrapping the ham sandwich his wife had made him at four.
Read the rest of the story:
https://rossboulton1.substack.com/p/the-celebration?r=2leuaj