Authoritarian Ron DeSantis has taken a page right out of George Orwell, who said "Those who control the present, control the past and those who control the past control the future.” Was that book in his school library when he attended school? Maybe but these kids will never know their country's true racist past because the politics of white grievance is so strong.
Wokeism has become an easy and necessary target to shoot at if you're playing in Republican party politics any where you look. Ron DeSantis has really zeroed in and his practice as an anti woke governor has not only helped make him very popular in Florida but has made him the number one air apparent to the Republican nomination for President in 2024 barring a Trump resurgence.
There should be campaign to make the concept of woke-ism fashionable. They are trying to make un-fashionable, collectively the concept should be elevated in thoughtful society. What would that look like?
Right, they have succeeded in turning the word wokeism into almost a slur. We should be proud to stand up and fight for racial injustice. We should be proud to teach the history of slavery and how we have struggled to overcome it to become a more just society. We should be proud to stand up for LBGTQ rights. But the demagogues in the Republican party know how to exploit fear and the politics of white grievance for political gain very effectively.
Agree, you said that so condensed by calling it a 'slur'. The term woke-ism either needs to be extinguished or you take control of the narrative of the term wokeism. We need a counter-move.
Currently the GOP is writing the narrative on this collective word. They seem to own that slur. What is our word for it? Human rights? Seems the pro-democracy crowd needs to make that word unfashionable and come up with some other term --- and then drive the narrative home while elevated the gains & visions of Biden. Semantics and counter-moves are everything.
The anti-woke movement can easily be traced to fascist thinking. Fascsim was infamous for its anti-diversity/anti-ethnic stance. This whole mindset is called social Darwinism and is rampant in the Repub Party. We need to tout the virtues of democracy, because the Repubs are touting fascism.
That 2018 campaign ad is really something. I sure hope Democrats shove this in everyone’s face should DeSantis win the GOP nomination for President
I’m really scared for the possibility of Biden-DeSantis 2024 President choice. A whole lot of seemingly smart, decent and respectable people from the ‘Never Trump’ crowd seem to be backing DeSantis as a way to turn the page past Trump. It is my experience that this set (which includes many business executives and powerful people) while intelligent is focused on functionality over morality and as such is very much prone to denial and ‘memory holing’ unpleasant realities.
We cannot let people forget who DeSantis is, how he came to power, and his abuses of that power.
We need to hammer it home. Because the propagandists backing DeSantis are consistently blasting out supposed economic accomplishments and culture war wins.
So hard to break through and actually get people to listen. But I like to mention this reality - oligarchs and all want to hide their money in the West because property rights are among those that are not guaranteed when rule-of-law fails. Think your stack is safe in Putin's Russia or Orban's Hungary? Not unless you fall in line, and even then, you'd better hope times don't get too tough.
Thanks Liz for the Dante reminders but I just had to attend a meeting first.....
Anyway, there have been both communist (Marx and Engels) and fascist (Mussolini) appropriations from the poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) who was “both the last poet of the Middle Ages and the first poet of modern times” as well as the “most Italian of Italians” according to Stefano Jossa, Royal Holloway University of London Jan 25, 2023 recently……but, but, but,
“Hands off Dante!”
“Giu le mani da Dante”
Jossa says, “What we need to learn from him in our time of enduring conflicts and ideological divides is his curiosity about human nature, nurtured with intellectual challenge and moral questions, rather than making him fit within any political system.”……curiosity, nurtured, intellectual challenge and moral questions certainly do not fit well into authoritarianism. I don't see a place for Ron DeSantis and his world view that is sustainable in the long run for our country...............
[Note: my brother was telling me at our last holiday gathering about my haunting and disturbing retelling of Dante’s Inferno years ago when I was reading it in school – that has been unforgettable to him to this day! ...LOL]
Diane…. Yes, thank you for the wonderful reply! In my profession as a historical theologian I use Dante a lot in my teaching and preaching. I find his writings to plumb the depth of the human condition as no other figure past or present!
I believe he’s more relevant to where our world is heading if only we would listen and heed the inherent warnings found in his works. Again, thank you!
''The strongman’s actions line up with the sins described in the Inferno: lust, greed, wrath, violence, fraud, betrayal of kin and country, and more. Dante’s words from the early 1300s, “O blind cupidity and insane anger/which goad us on so much in our short life/then steep us in such grief eternally!” sum up the character of these autocrats and the destinies of the societies they governed so cruelly". RBGhiat
Gary. Thank you for this! As a fellow historian I can read and sense Dante’s influence in Ruth’s writings which is expected since she is a noted historian on Italian fascism. But to have an actual quote was a marvelous gift. Of course, Dante drew on the writings of St Augustine for his Divine Comedy as it relates to the depths of the human soul( condition). By doing so he could stymie the vitriolic response of the authoritarian Church of Rome. Smart guy I would venture to say!!!
Revd Dr. Liz Gomes may I query you on something I often think about relating to Dante? What is your response to the following; The abiding moral lesson of the inferno is that evil is always punished, okay.
So as an historian and someone who studies the soul if you will, do you think that it is an accurate statement? Are authoritarians, autocrats, despots etc. or even ordinary people for that matter ultimately punished for doing evil? Or do most of them 'get away with' their crimes unpunished? Do you think Dante was maybe a little naive? Or did he have it about right? Your thoughts...
I left Arkansas 44 years ago after my first exposure to politics working on Clinton’s campaign. He had raised the standards in the education system to a very high level and it didn’t sit well with “the establishment”. It has saddened (maddened) me to no end watching the GOP machine gut education spending everywhere they get elected. They’re mantra has always been that a poor and functionally illiterate population will vote against their own self-interest. The move now towards putting your own children up as sacrificial lambs is absolutely galling. Literally wiping women, biopoc, and 2slgbtq+ people off the map in subservience to their cult leader and his policies is beyond anything I can imagine. There are no words.
Thanks again for expressing the truth about DeSantis. We should all distribute your wise words so DeSantis NEVER gets any closer to the presidency. We should encourage everyone to not only read ALL your books, but also take a close look at Craig Unger's books on Trump and his obvious collusion with Putin ever since the Russians set him up as the "Manchurian Candidate" years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if Putin finds a way to "Kompromise" DeSantis in some way - with Trump's help through a McGonigal cut out, of course.
Our country may hobble many of our youngest students with an unfair primary education system financed primarily by an assessment based local property value, but our republican democratic system has landed us here and now with a secondary education system- college, post-grad, private and public - with truly world class institutions that consistently attract foreign students and scholars knocking at our door asking to come in. And dunderhead fascist DeSantis want to piss in the gas tank of this great republican asset?
My own answer: Since Reconstruction the prospect of white people paying taxes to educate black children is anathema to them and ever since Brown v. Board of Ed continued resistance this tectonic plate of resistance has not budged. And hence the southern segregation academies and voucher programs.
DeSantis is a propaganda machine just like Trump and so many other fascists in history. He plays the victimhood card well. He creates menaces that are not real, for people to fear and hate. He glorifies the worst aspects of human nature, while criticizing human virtues. He's a deceitful, cold blooded, callous individual, lacking empathy, remorse and consideration for others. Most importantly, he seems to lack a conscience. This is not the kind of person to be in a leadership position, nor be a role model for any society.
LOL...........I love Steve's descriptions especially the Machiavellian descriptions which have brought new meaning for me from when I first learned about Niccolo Machiavelli and more
Indeed! The Dark Tetrad personality consists of Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy and sadism. These are common traits in those who embrace fascism. Trump surely fits into this and probably DeSantis as well.
We can understand the impulse to "dis" the state of Florida. However, it's heartbreaking to see it in this group. We and many more like-minded progressive and open people live and work here (we're in mid-east coast Indian River County).
Instead, perhaps consider coming here in body, mind, or spirit — and help us fight. You are needed. There are a lot of us networking, spreading the word, writing newspaper Letters to the Editor, educating ourselves, working hard calling out fascism, and making ourselves heard right now. We all have to fight together to win.
I admire your clarity and truth for Florida, a beautiful state. I have worked in other states' elections through organizations like Demcast and GrassRoots Dems. Are there organizations coordinating out-of-state help for pro-democracy Floridians? Just a thought. I agree, we're in this together.
I have to date the beginning of developing a mature mind and adult emotions from when I first learned about slavery in primary school. The horror of the reality cracked open my little egg of isolation and self involvement.
Thanks for sharing that, Diane! Education is everything and I've had so many educational experiences such as what you have described that have also changed me so much........I like your "crack open my little egg of isolation and self involvement."
Thanks Diane you so vividly describe that as a youngster. The psychological distress created the spark for empathy to grow. Impactful then and now with you sharing.
As obvious -- and as dark -- as presaged on Sunday’s call. Thanks for writing it SO succinctly, Ruth.
Correction: 4 paragraph from the bottom, third line, change is to it.
Florida is where a lot of things go to die. I grew up in Florida, the unofficial motto was "Welcome to Florida, where the sewer meets the sea".
Indoctrination- goal is an ignorant, mis-educated populace. A key strongman tool. Will being educated in FL harm college acceptance rates? It should.
My sig line is an MLK quote “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”
Filmed in Florida for your enjoyment:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoX0JTljdeH/?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk=
I am not on FB or iGram. I’d love to see the video without supporting Zuckerberg.
Authoritarian Ron DeSantis has taken a page right out of George Orwell, who said "Those who control the present, control the past and those who control the past control the future.” Was that book in his school library when he attended school? Maybe but these kids will never know their country's true racist past because the politics of white grievance is so strong.
Wokeism has become an easy and necessary target to shoot at if you're playing in Republican party politics any where you look. Ron DeSantis has really zeroed in and his practice as an anti woke governor has not only helped make him very popular in Florida but has made him the number one air apparent to the Republican nomination for President in 2024 barring a Trump resurgence.
The Republican Party seems to be run by secondary psychopaths. Those whom have recognized the monster, have bailed out of the party.
Great point on the secondary psychopaths -- very true!
They really cater to the dark side of human nature to get votes.
It’s the politics of White Supremacy cloaked in grievance.
There should be campaign to make the concept of woke-ism fashionable. They are trying to make un-fashionable, collectively the concept should be elevated in thoughtful society. What would that look like?
Right, they have succeeded in turning the word wokeism into almost a slur. We should be proud to stand up and fight for racial injustice. We should be proud to teach the history of slavery and how we have struggled to overcome it to become a more just society. We should be proud to stand up for LBGTQ rights. But the demagogues in the Republican party know how to exploit fear and the politics of white grievance for political gain very effectively.
Agree, you said that so condensed by calling it a 'slur'. The term woke-ism either needs to be extinguished or you take control of the narrative of the term wokeism. We need a counter-move.
Currently the GOP is writing the narrative on this collective word. They seem to own that slur. What is our word for it? Human rights? Seems the pro-democracy crowd needs to make that word unfashionable and come up with some other term --- and then drive the narrative home while elevated the gains & visions of Biden. Semantics and counter-moves are everything.
The anti-woke movement can easily be traced to fascist thinking. Fascsim was infamous for its anti-diversity/anti-ethnic stance. This whole mindset is called social Darwinism and is rampant in the Repub Party. We need to tout the virtues of democracy, because the Repubs are touting fascism.
That 2018 campaign ad is really something. I sure hope Democrats shove this in everyone’s face should DeSantis win the GOP nomination for President
I’m really scared for the possibility of Biden-DeSantis 2024 President choice. A whole lot of seemingly smart, decent and respectable people from the ‘Never Trump’ crowd seem to be backing DeSantis as a way to turn the page past Trump. It is my experience that this set (which includes many business executives and powerful people) while intelligent is focused on functionality over morality and as such is very much prone to denial and ‘memory holing’ unpleasant realities.
We cannot let people forget who DeSantis is, how he came to power, and his abuses of that power.
We need to hammer it home. Because the propagandists backing DeSantis are consistently blasting out supposed economic accomplishments and culture war wins.
Thank you for doing so!
Agree, I'm sensing people with money are strictly focused on that only. First priority is protecting their pile. How do we budge them?
So hard to break through and actually get people to listen. But I like to mention this reality - oligarchs and all want to hide their money in the West because property rights are among those that are not guaranteed when rule-of-law fails. Think your stack is safe in Putin's Russia or Orban's Hungary? Not unless you fall in line, and even then, you'd better hope times don't get too tough.
Ignorance and arrogance are Ed mates.
Dante
That should read “ bed mates” liz
Yes, we need to bring in Dante for some clarity!!!!!!
Thanks Liz for the Dante reminders but I just had to attend a meeting first.....
Anyway, there have been both communist (Marx and Engels) and fascist (Mussolini) appropriations from the poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) who was “both the last poet of the Middle Ages and the first poet of modern times” as well as the “most Italian of Italians” according to Stefano Jossa, Royal Holloway University of London Jan 25, 2023 recently……but, but, but,
“Hands off Dante!”
“Giu le mani da Dante”
Jossa says, “What we need to learn from him in our time of enduring conflicts and ideological divides is his curiosity about human nature, nurtured with intellectual challenge and moral questions, rather than making him fit within any political system.”……curiosity, nurtured, intellectual challenge and moral questions certainly do not fit well into authoritarianism. I don't see a place for Ron DeSantis and his world view that is sustainable in the long run for our country...............
[Note: my brother was telling me at our last holiday gathering about my haunting and disturbing retelling of Dante’s Inferno years ago when I was reading it in school – that has been unforgettable to him to this day! ...LOL]
Diane…. Yes, thank you for the wonderful reply! In my profession as a historical theologian I use Dante a lot in my teaching and preaching. I find his writings to plumb the depth of the human condition as no other figure past or present!
I believe he’s more relevant to where our world is heading if only we would listen and heed the inherent warnings found in his works. Again, thank you!
And thank you and thank you for recounting the depth of the human condition encompassed within the writings of Dante.....so absolutely great!!!
Speaking of Dante, who is a favorite of mine.
In Dante’s Divine Comedy.
''The strongman’s actions line up with the sins described in the Inferno: lust, greed, wrath, violence, fraud, betrayal of kin and country, and more. Dante’s words from the early 1300s, “O blind cupidity and insane anger/which goad us on so much in our short life/then steep us in such grief eternally!” sum up the character of these autocrats and the destinies of the societies they governed so cruelly". RBGhiat
Gary. Thank you for this! As a fellow historian I can read and sense Dante’s influence in Ruth’s writings which is expected since she is a noted historian on Italian fascism. But to have an actual quote was a marvelous gift. Of course, Dante drew on the writings of St Augustine for his Divine Comedy as it relates to the depths of the human soul( condition). By doing so he could stymie the vitriolic response of the authoritarian Church of Rome. Smart guy I would venture to say!!!
Revd Dr. Liz Gomes may I query you on something I often think about relating to Dante? What is your response to the following; The abiding moral lesson of the inferno is that evil is always punished, okay.
So as an historian and someone who studies the soul if you will, do you think that it is an accurate statement? Are authoritarians, autocrats, despots etc. or even ordinary people for that matter ultimately punished for doing evil? Or do most of them 'get away with' their crimes unpunished? Do you think Dante was maybe a little naive? Or did he have it about right? Your thoughts...
Thank you.
My email address is :gkloner@gmail.com
🤣🤣🤣🤣 love it. You did catch it tho.
That should read “bed mates” liz
I left Arkansas 44 years ago after my first exposure to politics working on Clinton’s campaign. He had raised the standards in the education system to a very high level and it didn’t sit well with “the establishment”. It has saddened (maddened) me to no end watching the GOP machine gut education spending everywhere they get elected. They’re mantra has always been that a poor and functionally illiterate population will vote against their own self-interest. The move now towards putting your own children up as sacrificial lambs is absolutely galling. Literally wiping women, biopoc, and 2slgbtq+ people off the map in subservience to their cult leader and his policies is beyond anything I can imagine. There are no words.
It's kind of like when the psychopaths take over the asylum.
It's very effective too! Really scary stuff.
Dear Dr. Ruth:
Thanks again for expressing the truth about DeSantis. We should all distribute your wise words so DeSantis NEVER gets any closer to the presidency. We should encourage everyone to not only read ALL your books, but also take a close look at Craig Unger's books on Trump and his obvious collusion with Putin ever since the Russians set him up as the "Manchurian Candidate" years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if Putin finds a way to "Kompromise" DeSantis in some way - with Trump's help through a McGonigal cut out, of course.
What don't these silly dunderheads understand?
Our country may hobble many of our youngest students with an unfair primary education system financed primarily by an assessment based local property value, but our republican democratic system has landed us here and now with a secondary education system- college, post-grad, private and public - with truly world class institutions that consistently attract foreign students and scholars knocking at our door asking to come in. And dunderhead fascist DeSantis want to piss in the gas tank of this great republican asset?
My own answer: Since Reconstruction the prospect of white people paying taxes to educate black children is anathema to them and ever since Brown v. Board of Ed continued resistance this tectonic plate of resistance has not budged. And hence the southern segregation academies and voucher programs.
These facts just make me want to cry; then when I’m done crying, scream in anger.
I get frustrated at the gamesmanship. It's befuddling. So much energy being exploited with no outputs for the midde-class citizen/voter.
I feel Biden is doing volumes for the middle-class. The obsessive gamesmanship is displayed by the GOP.
DeSantis is a propaganda machine just like Trump and so many other fascists in history. He plays the victimhood card well. He creates menaces that are not real, for people to fear and hate. He glorifies the worst aspects of human nature, while criticizing human virtues. He's a deceitful, cold blooded, callous individual, lacking empathy, remorse and consideration for others. Most importantly, he seems to lack a conscience. This is not the kind of person to be in a leadership position, nor be a role model for any society.
Ahhh, come on Steve, don’t hold back. How do you really feel. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
LOL...........I love Steve's descriptions especially the Machiavellian descriptions which have brought new meaning for me from when I first learned about Niccolo Machiavelli and more
"Man are ungrateful, fickle deceitful, cowardly and avaricious." Therefore it's better to be feared than loved. Machiavelli...
Indeed! The Dark Tetrad personality consists of Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy and sadism. These are common traits in those who embrace fascism. Trump surely fits into this and probably DeSantis as well.
We can understand the impulse to "dis" the state of Florida. However, it's heartbreaking to see it in this group. We and many more like-minded progressive and open people live and work here (we're in mid-east coast Indian River County).
Instead, perhaps consider coming here in body, mind, or spirit — and help us fight. You are needed. There are a lot of us networking, spreading the word, writing newspaper Letters to the Editor, educating ourselves, working hard calling out fascism, and making ourselves heard right now. We all have to fight together to win.
I admire your clarity and truth for Florida, a beautiful state. I have worked in other states' elections through organizations like Demcast and GrassRoots Dems. Are there organizations coordinating out-of-state help for pro-democracy Floridians? Just a thought. I agree, we're in this together.
I have to date the beginning of developing a mature mind and adult emotions from when I first learned about slavery in primary school. The horror of the reality cracked open my little egg of isolation and self involvement.
Thanks for sharing that, Diane! Education is everything and I've had so many educational experiences such as what you have described that have also changed me so much........I like your "crack open my little egg of isolation and self involvement."
Thanks Diane you so vividly describe that as a youngster. The psychological distress created the spark for empathy to grow. Impactful then and now with you sharing.