Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Jeff Lazar: When she turns on the kitchen light and you see and hear 100 cockroaches scatter, it is not time to blame THE LIGHT. Rather, it is time to engage the exterminator.
I've never found denialism of much help, only awareness, so I would thank the professor and then seek ways to bend your mindset a bit more toward optimism. There are ways for things to inflect in positive directions, but it's going to be a bumpy road, make no mistake.
Jeff, I find it helpful to let the energy that fear generates strengthen my resolve, instead.
I thank, not curse, when fear is raised by legit sources for legit reasons. *
I ask myself what the most useful thing to do with it is. **
Terror can freeze you; taking action just feels better, gets you out of ruminating and “what if….”
Takes some practice, but it’s a way to put that adrenaline (energy to fight, flee, freeze) to good use.
Try it. I bet you’ll prefer it.
*Joy Reid (sp?) put it cleverly: “Scaring is caring.”
** When calmer, write list(s) of what you can/should do when your terror or shock or a PTSD flashback captures you. Meaning, it works for general life stuff as well as fighting autocracy. Good luck.
I don't know your age; I am 78. I've been through Viet Nam and the draft. I've been through various Civil Rights movements. I've had to deal with SDS demonstrations when I was at University. I relive the Kent State shootings now in my dreams, given that Trump is turning the military (no difference between Federalized National Guard and the Marines, by the way) on civilian populations in clear violation of The Posse Comitatus Act. I have every right to be terrified, for this is like nothing I have ever experienced.
I'm Jewish. I have a son-in-law and granddaughters who have dark skin. I have a trans N/B adult offspring and two bi daughters. I am a registered Democrat, an active resister in protests and on social media, and I expect the knock on the door and the transport to detention could come at any time. You are not irrational to be terrified, nor are you alone.
Jeff, Naomi, Armand: There is no question about rights when it comes to feelings. Especially when the fear is for damn good reasons for yourselves and your families. I for sounding denigrating or condescending to those who have been through more than me,
Jeff, Naomi, Armand: There is no question about rights when it comes to feelings. Especially when the fear is for damn good reasons for yourselves and your families. I apologize for sounding denigrating or condescending. I have great respect for what you all have gone through and yet still keep going.
Jeff asked my age: pushing 70. My WWII veteran parents married late for their era and had me a decade after their war. I missed a lot of what you went through: the Kent State kids looked like young adults to me when I first saw them on tv.
I suppose what I wrote was more from what I experienced when weapons of war came home with vet parents who didn’t secure them. How I get myself moving on after a flashback.
I was the public school kid in a religious school neighborhood. Friends until the kids in the latter got the weapons. Learned how power over others turns people you thought you knew and liked into people who can demand you behave as they do when they literally have a knife at your neck.
Learned how some enjoyed that power and others “just” helped or went along to various degrees. Learned the shame of staying silent, of making the sign of a religion not mine; of being small and klutzy so made medic to stop their bleeding, bind their wounds, and not try to fix broken bones.
Now, our country is being run by adults acting like those kids did when they found knives and guns.
The outrageousness of the Trump regime continues. It will only get worse. Your voice, among others, has never been more critical for our democracy to survive. Never stop! Thank you!
Normally, I would say “We don’t have to worry, because America’s news media will make sure the public knows Trump is lying about how Los Angeles, NYC, and other Democratic Party led cities are full of gangs threatening the United States.” But I no longer trust our news organizations to do this. After all, where are the headlines demanding Trump remove the Marines from L.A. because that city is actually okay?
What Can We Do About The Failure Of American Journalism? That to me is a hugely important question!
Another way to ask the question is; How bad does it have to get? Unfortunately, 'bad' has different definitions, depending on who you ask. Answers range from, 'never too bad', to, 'we're there now.' Depends who you ask and that's the conundrum.
Leaving the major newspapers subscriber roles is not a productive protest. Bezos has plenty of money to keep his watered-down news flowing. Perhaps Tesla-type protests would be more meaningful against the print media and television networks, with protesters visible and vocal; signs pointing out the actual lack of truth in reporting.
Why haven’t numerous state AGs gone to court to challenge Homeland Security plus No lips Noem for failing to provide Due Process & forcing these thugs to show warrants, provide access to counsel etc etc…. SCOTUS has already stated folks are entitled to Due Process. These bastards are acting like the East German Starsi!
Hopefully Trump is ultimately more timid than the foreign autocrats you wrote about. I think he is a paper tiger who is only able to impose this chaos because Vought and Miller and others put together a vicious team to get it done and to prop him up. He's only really interested in money and his vanity. And that's why we need to keep showing up on the streets - beat back the bully!
In 1905, George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Dr. Ben-Ghiat's knowledge, expertise and now her excellent Substack platform will hopefully lessen the number of those lacking the knowledge, let alone the memory of history's tyrants.
I am asking these questions now because I am rarely am to attend.
How do the massive protests alter the scenario here?
What about the people/ citizens coming out to protest the removal of immigrants key to the functioning of their businesses? Farms etc. and the break up of families that are mixed American citizen.
Our military still appears to be aware that they are our sons, daughters, brothers etc.
We have a potential war in the Middle East - how does this change the plan?
Homeland Security seems to want a civil war. Putin wants a civil war.
Has this authoritarian move ever happened in a country as heavily armed as the United States.
Everyone is playing by the rules because the military are OUR family members.
The MAGA have defunded the VA.
Who is going to patch up the military if they get hurt??
I’ve lived in CA since 1969. I’ve seen no evidence of the corruption and criminality claimed by the Trump administration. Why is he not sending his paid thugs to Texas or Florida. Both those states have lots of immigrants. We Californians have to fight back. After all our taxes pay the bills for most of the red states.
It's because Trump is lying, and jealous of Gavin Newsom and of the size and strength of CA's economy. He also hates NY and has said he will be relentless in tormenting us.
Calling those with opinions about how to govern your "political enemies" illustrates the our danger. In a democracy those whose opinions on how to govern differ from your own are your "political opponents." You employ force against your enemies. You debate and convince your opponents.
Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Jeff Lazar: When she turns on the kitchen light and you see and hear 100 cockroaches scatter, it is not time to blame THE LIGHT. Rather, it is time to engage the exterminator.
I've never found denialism of much help, only awareness, so I would thank the professor and then seek ways to bend your mindset a bit more toward optimism. There are ways for things to inflect in positive directions, but it's going to be a bumpy road, make no mistake.
Jeff, I find it helpful to let the energy that fear generates strengthen my resolve, instead.
I thank, not curse, when fear is raised by legit sources for legit reasons. *
I ask myself what the most useful thing to do with it is. **
Terror can freeze you; taking action just feels better, gets you out of ruminating and “what if….”
Takes some practice, but it’s a way to put that adrenaline (energy to fight, flee, freeze) to good use.
Try it. I bet you’ll prefer it.
*Joy Reid (sp?) put it cleverly: “Scaring is caring.”
** When calmer, write list(s) of what you can/should do when your terror or shock or a PTSD flashback captures you. Meaning, it works for general life stuff as well as fighting autocracy. Good luck.
I don't know your age; I am 78. I've been through Viet Nam and the draft. I've been through various Civil Rights movements. I've had to deal with SDS demonstrations when I was at University. I relive the Kent State shootings now in my dreams, given that Trump is turning the military (no difference between Federalized National Guard and the Marines, by the way) on civilian populations in clear violation of The Posse Comitatus Act. I have every right to be terrified, for this is like nothing I have ever experienced.
I'm Jewish. I have a son-in-law and granddaughters who have dark skin. I have a trans N/B adult offspring and two bi daughters. I am a registered Democrat, an active resister in protests and on social media, and I expect the knock on the door and the transport to detention could come at any time. You are not irrational to be terrified, nor are you alone.
Jeff Lazar: I am 77 and I totally agree!
Jeff, Naomi, and At
Jeff, Naomi, Armand: There is no question about rights when it comes to feelings. Especially when the fear is for damn good reasons for yourselves and your families. I for sounding denigrating or condescending to those who have been through more than me,
Y
Jeff, Naomi, Armand: There is no question about rights when it comes to feelings. Especially when the fear is for damn good reasons for yourselves and your families. I apologize for sounding denigrating or condescending. I have great respect for what you all have gone through and yet still keep going.
Jeff asked my age: pushing 70. My WWII veteran parents married late for their era and had me a decade after their war. I missed a lot of what you went through: the Kent State kids looked like young adults to me when I first saw them on tv.
I suppose what I wrote was more from what I experienced when weapons of war came home with vet parents who didn’t secure them. How I get myself moving on after a flashback.
I was the public school kid in a religious school neighborhood. Friends until the kids in the latter got the weapons. Learned how power over others turns people you thought you knew and liked into people who can demand you behave as they do when they literally have a knife at your neck.
Learned how some enjoyed that power and others “just” helped or went along to various degrees. Learned the shame of staying silent, of making the sign of a religion not mine; of being small and klutzy so made medic to stop their bleeding, bind their wounds, and not try to fix broken bones.
Now, our country is being run by adults acting like those kids did when they found knives and guns.
When terror strikes also helps to have friends close; We all need a personal refuge or two! We’re in this together!
The outrageousness of the Trump regime continues. It will only get worse. Your voice, among others, has never been more critical for our democracy to survive. Never stop! Thank you!
Thanks. This is a sobering article.
Puppy killer needs to go!
She has serious psychological problems, just like her boss.
Normally, I would say “We don’t have to worry, because America’s news media will make sure the public knows Trump is lying about how Los Angeles, NYC, and other Democratic Party led cities are full of gangs threatening the United States.” But I no longer trust our news organizations to do this. After all, where are the headlines demanding Trump remove the Marines from L.A. because that city is actually okay?
What Can We Do About The Failure Of American Journalism? That to me is a hugely important question!
Another way to ask the question is; How bad does it have to get? Unfortunately, 'bad' has different definitions, depending on who you ask. Answers range from, 'never too bad', to, 'we're there now.' Depends who you ask and that's the conundrum.
The Guardian has reported on this incident at Dodger stadium. ICE was refused entrance by the Dodgers.
Hurrah! People are resisting and that is wonderful! Love those Dodgers for setting it up and allowing! Onward . . .
Good to see a MLB team tell them to go jump in a lake. How many other stadium parking lots have ICE raided but were NOT blocked.
What we can do about failed journalism is to support independent media such as Meidas Touch News.
https://meidasnews.com/
Leaving the major newspapers subscriber roles is not a productive protest. Bezos has plenty of money to keep his watered-down news flowing. Perhaps Tesla-type protests would be more meaningful against the print media and television networks, with protesters visible and vocal; signs pointing out the actual lack of truth in reporting.
Why haven’t numerous state AGs gone to court to challenge Homeland Security plus No lips Noem for failing to provide Due Process & forcing these thugs to show warrants, provide access to counsel etc etc…. SCOTUS has already stated folks are entitled to Due Process. These bastards are acting like the East German Starsi!
They are certainly not holding anyone in contempt as the regime continues to be lawless.
They also failed to come between the Executive and Congressional on J621.
State AGs have, because Trump admin not playing by rules; it’s testing us.
CA’s latest re troops in LA pending in 9th Circuit. Ruling expected soon, though likely to be bumped to SCOTUS.
Hopefully Trump is ultimately more timid than the foreign autocrats you wrote about. I think he is a paper tiger who is only able to impose this chaos because Vought and Miller and others put together a vicious team to get it done and to prop him up. He's only really interested in money and his vanity. And that's why we need to keep showing up on the streets - beat back the bully!
And deride him, embarrass him, publicly...
There once was a king named Chump,
Whose wife was the queen of the hump,
The people declared,
"I believe he's quear."
Now he's a thing in the rump.
we're in some deep doo-doo
googled, is civics taught in american schools? https://www.google.com/search?q=is+civics+taugh+in+american+schools%3F&rlz=1C5MACD_enUS1165US1165&oq=is+civics+taugh+in+american+schools%3F&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMggIAxAAGBYYHjINCAQQABiGAxiABBiKBTINCAUQABiGAxiABBiKBTIKCAYQABiABBiiBDIKCAcQABiABBiiBNIBCDk0MTVqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
etymology of propaganda, https://www.etymonline.com/word/propaganda and its definition, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propaganda
In 1905, George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Dr. Ben-Ghiat's knowledge, expertise and now her excellent Substack platform will hopefully lessen the number of those lacking the knowledge, let alone the memory of history's tyrants.
Those who cannot remember the past damn the present.
Thank you Professor
Ben-Ghiat. It's 8
imperative we continue
to protest. Stand up!
Persist and resist. June
17th is the next big
protest day. Mark your
calendars and join in
your community.
July 17 - “Good Trouble Lives On.”
I am asking these questions now because I am rarely am to attend.
How do the massive protests alter the scenario here?
What about the people/ citizens coming out to protest the removal of immigrants key to the functioning of their businesses? Farms etc. and the break up of families that are mixed American citizen.
Our military still appears to be aware that they are our sons, daughters, brothers etc.
We have a potential war in the Middle East - how does this change the plan?
Homeland Security seems to want a civil war. Putin wants a civil war.
Has this authoritarian move ever happened in a country as heavily armed as the United States.
Everyone is playing by the rules because the military are OUR family members.
The MAGA have defunded the VA.
Who is going to patch up the military if they get hurt??
I’ve lived in CA since 1969. I’ve seen no evidence of the corruption and criminality claimed by the Trump administration. Why is he not sending his paid thugs to Texas or Florida. Both those states have lots of immigrants. We Californians have to fight back. After all our taxes pay the bills for most of the red states.
He is targeting Democratic states currently.
It may not be out of the question to think he will declare a national emergency and cancel the midterms, to stop a Democratic takeover of congress.
Anything possible
It's because Trump is lying, and jealous of Gavin Newsom and of the size and strength of CA's economy. He also hates NY and has said he will be relentless in tormenting us.
Calling those with opinions about how to govern your "political enemies" illustrates the our danger. In a democracy those whose opinions on how to govern differ from your own are your "political opponents." You employ force against your enemies. You debate and convince your opponents.
Why language we use is important. You called out key example of why.
And why calling it out at each opportunity is important!
Have tried replying to your message Professor but it won't post. Ugh.
One more terrorizing strategy I had not even imagined. Thank you for keeping us aware
Thank you for all of your insight, Professor Ben-Ghiat
Very scary, anxiety-provoking. AND I remember your words. Telling us this regime has developed quickly and the resistance will take time. Rachel