Hi Randolph. My anger keeps me involved. That works for me until I find hope again, if I can. Finding hope again will depend on what happens in the next two years and if our DOJ, FBI, Congress (Democrats & Independents) & the WH ever decide to face reality and take on all the corruption and the upcoming Republican Fascist Party takeover. Time will tell. I am wishing you well.
Sometimes hope is literally about putting one foot in front of the other. It is about engaging in our own personal right actions one at a time, even though we can't yet see whether our actions impact the future in the ways we believe are best for us, our communities, our country, and/or our planet.
It is estimated that in the 2016 presidential election that 100 million Americans who could have voted did not vote. Yes, the Democratic Party is not perfect, but neither is it a party that advocates for the replacement of Democracy with Theocracy, not the party that wants to control women's bodies and impose outright fascism on all of us. If the non-voters do not get their act together and vote for the party of Democracy in the fall of 2022 there will come a day very soon when they will wish they had done so. The same goes for those who think of themselves as "Independents" and "moderate Republicans". If we do not deliver a stinging rebuke to the fascists at the polls in this upcoming mid-term election it will likely be recorded that the forces of race hatred and religious bigotry that now run the Republican party succeeded in instituting permanent minority rule
I struggle a little with the "simple slogans" idea. We don't want to veer into the territory of techniques fascists use. OTOH, highly educated people need to learn to bring their messaging to a level that is quickly and easily comprehended by the average citizen. Speak to people in short, key statements that truthfully highlight the negative impact of anti-democratic actions that Republicans are taking.
Agree, heartbroken. What kind of culture have we created when an 18 y.o. , in high school equates buying guns on his 18th birthday to bolster himself into adulthood and be finally noticed and acknowledged? We will lift those 21 precious names to a banner on high and in their names we will cherish and act.
I'm posting this Wednesday morning. Hope is something I don't have right now and neither does 21 dead in Texas. Hope won't stop the carnage, neither will thoughts and prayers. We reap what we sow. We are a country of insanity, being held together by failing glue.
Thanks, Ruth. Perhaps a little clarity: "Hope" is achieved in the process of struggle... and with others. That was also the message of the American Civil Rights Movement that you cited. Beyond that, pessimism is not a program... ~ PJB
Thank you Ruth. We have to believe that we have the wind beneath our wings. We have to believe that we are the team that is about to break thru and win. Everyone wants associate with the winning team. That is the cloth we must don every day. That is the movement and energy we have to cultivate. We are in the home-stretch until November and we have outreach and talk everyday.
"Do we stay within the comfort zone that we've grown-up in, --- or --- do we venture out and make new friendships and build new links with people who come from different communities?"
(not my quote, and forgive me I cannot find the source-info). This may be Emboo Patel, Interfaith America.
We just yesterday returned home to the left coast from NYC New School granddaughter’s graduation from Eugene Lang College of
Liberal Arts. Inspiring speakers ( school and students), joyful enthusiasm (as expected), hope unleashed. My personal reflections included hopeful promise of youth. Put up against abundant negativity of all things Republican, authoritarianism stages of human development may overwhelm. Adolescence/ young adultrebellion is hopeful reflection. For all the “don’t say gay”, history book banning, “new iron current” of thought. Personal maturity, development often wins out. Not always perfect. Often rocky. Still it demands notice. The moments for change are now and urgent. Let us allow a (some) deep breath’s. Take heart in maturity of youth over taking immaturity of set in their ways fragile short minds/mindedness. I’ll take time to acknowledge determined optimism, joy to which I was exposed. Perhaps my blood pressure will subside.🙏
So how do we cultivate hope in ourselves and others? In my teaching experience, I found that success breeds confidence and hope. The students who already had experienced much success were the most hopeful and motivated. It thus became my self-assigned task to engineer success, especially for those unfamiliar with it.
As you point out, defining success as showing up is a great start. Almost everyone can be a success in that. What else?
Frank, I appreciate these thoughts. As an educational therapist in private practice, I work with students who have lost confidence in their ability to learn. They no longer hope that they can learn to read, write, or do math as their peers do. It is my job to engineer success and help them get back on the path.
In this job of preserving democracy, one step toward creating success and restoring hope is connecting personally with others who can serve as guides for those who are new to this work. Those who have been on the journey for a while can look for those who have just begun and help them with the process of learning.
I agree with this. Figuratively I think of it as a shoulder tap to each other, or holding out one's hand. Hands across America. Guiding each other to the light of truth.
Thanks for the kind words. My 1974 (yikes!) dissertation was on self-concept of cognitive ability. The primary finding was that self-concept is not a monolithic thing. Thus, a person can evince a generally positive self image while at the same time laboring under the usually false impression that they are unable to learn certain kinds of things. Sometimes the dichotomy can be quite gross as in school learning versus street learning whereas at other times it is something as specific as math anxiety. I did this work over a five year period that was concurrent with teaching at the high school level in schools populated primarily with so-called "disadvantaged" students. Engineering success in these environments is very challenging but also very rewarding work. Unfortunately, too many of our colleagues are working in the opposite direction. I wish you the best in fighting the good fight.
In the wisdom of listening we can learn. We stand in the precipice and sea of change, we have the power to knit a quilt across this nation of connection of good. May, June, July, August, September & October. Our time.
Thank you for this post on the importance of "Hope".
One thing that gives me hope is knowing that when Frank Luntz opens his mouth EVERY THING else is SPIN. And his Spin is where Hope goes to die. "Resigned Rejecters"? Take a hike, Mr Luntz.
"‘The Lowest Point in My Lifetime’: How 14 Independent Voters Feel About America" January 2022
Thank you for sharing! I needed this today. Below is a poem, Hope is a form of resistance, to encourage you. https://substack.com/@poetpastor/note/p-163242554?r=5gejob&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Thank you Ruth, and Gloria, and all others who trudge, dance, and simply put one foot in front of the other toward a better future.
"The thing with feathers," hope, that is, according to Emily Dickinson.
Hope: the secret weapon of DEMOCRACY PROTECTION-love it.
Thank you for this. So opportune.
"Hope is the thing with feathers," is it not?
Needed that reminder. Thanks Ruth! You’re a gem.
I no longer have hope. Not even a sliver.
I am, however, pissed off and that works for me.
Hi Randolph. My anger keeps me involved. That works for me until I find hope again, if I can. Finding hope again will depend on what happens in the next two years and if our DOJ, FBI, Congress (Democrats & Independents) & the WH ever decide to face reality and take on all the corruption and the upcoming Republican Fascist Party takeover. Time will tell. I am wishing you well.
Sometimes hope is literally about putting one foot in front of the other. It is about engaging in our own personal right actions one at a time, even though we can't yet see whether our actions impact the future in the ways we believe are best for us, our communities, our country, and/or our planet.
It is estimated that in the 2016 presidential election that 100 million Americans who could have voted did not vote. Yes, the Democratic Party is not perfect, but neither is it a party that advocates for the replacement of Democracy with Theocracy, not the party that wants to control women's bodies and impose outright fascism on all of us. If the non-voters do not get their act together and vote for the party of Democracy in the fall of 2022 there will come a day very soon when they will wish they had done so. The same goes for those who think of themselves as "Independents" and "moderate Republicans". If we do not deliver a stinging rebuke to the fascists at the polls in this upcoming mid-term election it will likely be recorded that the forces of race hatred and religious bigotry that now run the Republican party succeeded in instituting permanent minority rule
Voting is MANDATORY!!! Hello to all those with the power to change where we are at this MOMENT.
VOTE 2026
I struggle a little with the "simple slogans" idea. We don't want to veer into the territory of techniques fascists use. OTOH, highly educated people need to learn to bring their messaging to a level that is quickly and easily comprehended by the average citizen. Speak to people in short, key statements that truthfully highlight the negative impact of anti-democratic actions that Republicans are taking.
Agree, heartbroken. What kind of culture have we created when an 18 y.o. , in high school equates buying guns on his 18th birthday to bolster himself into adulthood and be finally noticed and acknowledged? We will lift those 21 precious names to a banner on high and in their names we will cherish and act.
I'm posting this Wednesday morning. Hope is something I don't have right now and neither does 21 dead in Texas. Hope won't stop the carnage, neither will thoughts and prayers. We reap what we sow. We are a country of insanity, being held together by failing glue.
Thank you!
Thanks, Ruth. Perhaps a little clarity: "Hope" is achieved in the process of struggle... and with others. That was also the message of the American Civil Rights Movement that you cited. Beyond that, pessimism is not a program... ~ PJB
Thank you Ruth. We have to believe that we have the wind beneath our wings. We have to believe that we are the team that is about to break thru and win. Everyone wants associate with the winning team. That is the cloth we must don every day. That is the movement and energy we have to cultivate. We are in the home-stretch until November and we have outreach and talk everyday.
"Do we stay within the comfort zone that we've grown-up in, --- or --- do we venture out and make new friendships and build new links with people who come from different communities?"
(not my quote, and forgive me I cannot find the source-info). This may be Emboo Patel, Interfaith America.
We just yesterday returned home to the left coast from NYC New School granddaughter’s graduation from Eugene Lang College of
Liberal Arts. Inspiring speakers ( school and students), joyful enthusiasm (as expected), hope unleashed. My personal reflections included hopeful promise of youth. Put up against abundant negativity of all things Republican, authoritarianism stages of human development may overwhelm. Adolescence/ young adultrebellion is hopeful reflection. For all the “don’t say gay”, history book banning, “new iron current” of thought. Personal maturity, development often wins out. Not always perfect. Often rocky. Still it demands notice. The moments for change are now and urgent. Let us allow a (some) deep breath’s. Take heart in maturity of youth over taking immaturity of set in their ways fragile short minds/mindedness. I’ll take time to acknowledge determined optimism, joy to which I was exposed. Perhaps my blood pressure will subside.🙏
May we be the wind (and work) beneath their wings.
So how do we cultivate hope in ourselves and others? In my teaching experience, I found that success breeds confidence and hope. The students who already had experienced much success were the most hopeful and motivated. It thus became my self-assigned task to engineer success, especially for those unfamiliar with it.
As you point out, defining success as showing up is a great start. Almost everyone can be a success in that. What else?
Frank, I appreciate these thoughts. As an educational therapist in private practice, I work with students who have lost confidence in their ability to learn. They no longer hope that they can learn to read, write, or do math as their peers do. It is my job to engineer success and help them get back on the path.
In this job of preserving democracy, one step toward creating success and restoring hope is connecting personally with others who can serve as guides for those who are new to this work. Those who have been on the journey for a while can look for those who have just begun and help them with the process of learning.
I agree with this. Figuratively I think of it as a shoulder tap to each other, or holding out one's hand. Hands across America. Guiding each other to the light of truth.
Thanks for the kind words. My 1974 (yikes!) dissertation was on self-concept of cognitive ability. The primary finding was that self-concept is not a monolithic thing. Thus, a person can evince a generally positive self image while at the same time laboring under the usually false impression that they are unable to learn certain kinds of things. Sometimes the dichotomy can be quite gross as in school learning versus street learning whereas at other times it is something as specific as math anxiety. I did this work over a five year period that was concurrent with teaching at the high school level in schools populated primarily with so-called "disadvantaged" students. Engineering success in these environments is very challenging but also very rewarding work. Unfortunately, too many of our colleagues are working in the opposite direction. I wish you the best in fighting the good fight.
Thank you Frank. I appreciate your mention of showing up to be a great start, it truly often is the hallmark of something good to follow.
In the wisdom of listening we can learn. We stand in the precipice and sea of change, we have the power to knit a quilt across this nation of connection of good. May, June, July, August, September & October. Our time.
Thank you for this post on the importance of "Hope".
One thing that gives me hope is knowing that when Frank Luntz opens his mouth EVERY THING else is SPIN. And his Spin is where Hope goes to die. "Resigned Rejecters"? Take a hike, Mr Luntz.
"‘The Lowest Point in My Lifetime’: How 14 Independent Voters Feel About America" January 2022
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/opinion/biden-independent-voters.html