A L O H A !
" If you see the world
in black and white,
you're missing important
grey matter. "
Jack Fyock
" Eventually you realize
that not all opposing viewpoints
come from people
who oppose you. "
Robert Brault
" What we see
depends
mainly on what
we look for. "
John Lubbock
" The reverse side
also has
a reverse side. "
Japanese Proverb
prejudice and custom,
I should not be able
to find my way
across the room. "
William Hazlitt
> < } } ( ° >
Silly SILLY me !
I made the same mistake
that economists always made
till now.
It was always assumed
that we make reasoned
decisions,
and then act
in our own
best interests.
Now we know that decisions
are made/taken
for all sorts of
non-reasoning,
subconscious
factors.
I always assumed
that political conversation
was about discovering
the best ideas
through reasoning
competition.
I really have no excuse.
With a degree in psychology
and 2/3 of a lifetime
on this planet
I should have
known better.
As Humans,
politics is all about
WHO we feel
comfortable with.
Our Tribe.
That's it!
Either you "get"
why my side is right,
or you are
"wrong"
Worse!
You are one of
THEM,
the idiots causing
ALL the problems.
If only
THEY
would listen to
US!
We listen to sources
that reinforce
the view we hold.
Our friends all agree!
We accuse other sources
of bias.
Silly me!
I SEEK out
opinions different from
my own.
Please explain to me
why I am wrong.
Explaining, discussing
is NOT:
Being loud,
angry,
dismissive,
and belittling of my
reasoned opinions;
refusing to listen
to WHY I think
like I do-
sloganeering-
sloganeering-
That only makes me lose
respect for you
as a reasonable adult.
When I try to befriend
(like on FaceBook)
those with different politics,
they usually end up
un-friending me.
"You're trying to turn me!"
One person accused.
So Up with OUR SIDE
and down
with the other.
Meanwhile,
under the rhetoric,
a very small circle
is stealing the rest of us
blind.
Have you noticed?
As long as we speechify
about Values,
and Paying our Way,
we ignore the unrelenting
strategic
erosion
of the Public Realm
Morally,
in Fair Regulation,
Financially,
Physically.
It's been going on
for decades.
So far,
'They've' done a good,
well-financed
job of confusing
many of us.
Their specialty:
turning us
against those who
really want to,
and know how to,
help restore sanity.
Yeah. Our 'Socialist'
President.
(He's black,
from Chicago,
AND a
Democrat
you know!)
Up from modest roots,
on to the best university,
effective in his community
elected by his neighbors.
How DARE HE?
How DARE HE?
Folks who were BORN
with Wealthy
Connected/Elected
Connected/Elected
Daddies
are calling
Barak
ELITE!
And who should we listen to?
Sarah
who couldn't stick
at a college
or a Gov's office,
or finish
a coherent sentence?
Now THERE's
a LEADER!
And who should we listen to?
Sarah
who couldn't stick
at a college
or a Gov's office,
or finish
a coherent sentence?
Now THERE's
a LEADER!
Ya just gotta
L A U G H
So stay angry
idiots.
(Of course I mean
THEM,
not
US!)
Meanwhile
political discourse
is chest-beating
tub-thumping
"We're # 1"
Noise.
Hey.
What's REALLY
going on?
Those clever,
well-financed interests
are already developing
today's Fox, er FOG
of confusion.
And now
(thanks Supreme Court)
Shadowy Billionaires
control 90%
of "Political Speech"
through airtime,
house pundits,
publishing,
radio.
Corporations
are persons.
You & me?
We're not persons
LIKE THAT!
I don't hate
the haters-
and their
confused, misdirected
minions-
I actually really
feel bad for them,
so disconnected,
fearful.
They're missing the chance
to be a part
of the progress
of humanity.
What will our great
grandchildren
think
from the perspective
of tomorrow?
so disconnected,
fearful.
They're missing the chance
to be a part
of the progress
of humanity.
What will our great
grandchildren
think
from the perspective
of tomorrow?
Because my God
is not all about
who I'm supposed to
hate.
And is bigger
than anything
scary out there.
And is bigger
than anything
scary out there.
We'll laugh about all this
over drinks
in Heaven;
Know what I'm sayin?
Thanks for listening
to my rant.
<>
Desiderata
" Go placidly amidst the noise and haste,
and remember what peace
there may be in silence.
As far as possible
without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit. "
Max Ehrmann
1927
Desiderata means
"desired things"
in Latin.
Thank You Wikipedia
Max is one of
US :-)
Leave a comment!!!!!
fondly, cloudia
Ah well now, politics is a good way of people getting mad at you. When I was growing up my Dad would always say to me, "A young lady does not discuss politics, religion or sports. If you do, people will just get mad at you." Dad was from the old Victorian way of thinking. He was just trying to protect his girls. Of course, that's all that people seem to want to talk about, so it took me a long time to break out of the box. Yes, I have had people get mad at me, remembering one person calling me an idiot for voting the way I did in the last Presidential election. Hey, as far as I'm concerned, that says more about them than about me :) Always love your posts Cloudia.
ReplyDeleteCloudia...I think this post is perfect! My sentiments exactly. Being political can be costly, but I would never keep my mouth shut...especially when reason is absent. The situation today is sad indeed. Reason and humility do not exist in some places. When I posted a clip of Obama singing (and all I said was "and he can sing too.") I was told that I was a fool and much more. But guess what...it would never make me change my mind.
ReplyDeleteThat elite stuff is nonsense...they must not have mirrors.
Don't let those people get you down. They have no room for another opinion and are not open to learning. Tunnel vision.
Politics seems always sad !
ReplyDeleteYou rant so beautifully. Politics is sickening, we are sick of politicians we say. But until recently I realised, when the Nevada caucus only 10% of the Republicans voted, that democracy is disappearing and the Establishment is really winning. Politics is the same everywhere and that is why I am so inspired to listen to a person who present the Constitution and We the People.
ReplyDeleteI love the there is a reverse to the reverse side.
I love my innocence about politics a long time ago.. no one can change Washington .. not insiders, not outsiders .. there are too many lobbyists .. too many party managers .. manipulators .. bottomline .. lets open to a public referendum/vote on things like healthcare, the right to marry who you will .. while I am not a fan of NJ's Christie, I applaud his putting gay marriage to a vote .. take these things out of the hands of politicians and put them into the hands of the public .. and stop believing that either party will fix what's wrong .. why? Because its them whats wrong.
ReplyDeleteI used to end American political discussions with "I don't care who you vote for as long as you vote"
ReplyDeleteIt's just not that simple anymore. The saddest part of it all is that people refuse to educate themselves from a variety of sources and if we repeat 2010 I honestly believe we have turned towards the same path as the Middle East has struggled with...theocracy dominated by economic elitists who will do all they can to return us back to pre 1919 when women were finally allowed to vote.
So yes vote your conscience but also vote and educated one. Always in my mind in ay political discussion I remember McConnell saying
"Our number one priority above everything else is to make Obama a one term president"
And in watching the right side of the senate these past 3 years they have shown that their craving for power dominates all that needs to be done for the nation right now.
I don't think Obama has done everything right but compare his 3 years coupled with the obstruction of the house, senate and Supreme Court and he still has done more for the people of the nation than 8 years of W Bush and 12 years of Reagan/Bush H.
Internationally I think we still have our differences but nationally I don't think there is to much of a gap between us sista'.
Word!
ReplyDeleteYou are so wise.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter, a sociology major, has pointed out to me a slew of "customs" we have which are accepted as fact - even by psychologists and scientists studying and interpreting data so that much is misunderstood.
Hello my dear blogger friend,
ReplyDeleteGreat posting...I have come to the conclusion, that nothing will change in Washington, ever, sadly! What happened to by the people for the people?...Term limits in Congress would be a great start, but here I go again, I am so passionate about it, but so frustrated at the same time...
Greetings to you and beautiful Hawaii!...Heidi
Politics aside, the Hawaii photos make me sigh :)
ReplyDeleteI hear you! I don't hate the haters; I fear them. They make it so hard. I do love the relative value of "elite" these days.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being so right on!
Cloudia, today you crossed the line! Good for us!
ReplyDeleteGood for conversation too.
I did the same in my other blog; couldn't resist, as a Catholic, to get my prayer thoughts around a very important topic.
The first rainbow is great.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
Politics and religion are nothing more than smoke and mirrors to confuse people into supporting someones agenda :-).
ReplyDelete" I used to end American political discussions with "I don't care who you vote for as long as you vote"
ReplyDeleteIt's just not that simple anymore."
As usual, each of these comments humbles and heals me. I did cross the line today. Your support, and smart comments make me feel lees alone and more hopeful.
What ABOUT those who feel the right to call a fellow citizen a fool? And they're ANGRY about it! Perfect example of the "idiots" I complain about today- and yrs, I anguished over using that word.
Of course, we are not seeing the spontaneous curses here of those who may never visit here again (LOL - *Sob*)
But THANK YOU. I always feel it, say it and MEAN it! Never more than today!
Impressed, once again, by your ability to feel the pulse of time, life, the world as a whole.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great quotes, espec. the Japanese one. Please have you all a good new week ahead.
daily athens photo
Belo post...Espectacular....
ReplyDeleteCumprimentos
thank you friend
ReplyDeleteA spectacular post. Thank you. The people who leave you, were never really with you.
ReplyDeleteHugs from afar.
Amazing as always. Your works make me dream. I can stay in your site all day. :)
ReplyDeletei appreciate your rant...elections are not really about the issues...or answers...just listen to them...its bad theology...ha...ugh...in the end we get to vote for who they put in front of us....even the caucus, it is who they allow on the stage...i guess i keep refering to they, but it is our aristocracy...because once the politicians get in office they will do what they want...look at SOPA...ok there were some good motives at some level but they tried to pass a very broad bill that gave them far more power...what about the new year bill that allows americans to be jailed without a trial...ok there are some good motives on some level but way too broad...our system is broke...
ReplyDeletealoha from va
Amen.
ReplyDeleteCloudia, I loved that Jack Fyock quote. It's perfect. Seems there's a lot of grey matter missing these days. It really does get tiresome, doesn't it? All this "I'm right, you're wrong." I'd say it's like listening to children bickering, but that would be disrespectful of children.
ReplyDeleteYou have more courage than I. I don't see much in black and white, and while I have my political beliefs, discussion often leads to discord. I don't do well with discord. Very thoughtful posts.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we think too much, talk too much....just enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThank you joining us today. It wouldn't have been the same without
ReplyDeleteY O U