Something that made me feel really hopeful was actually something you posted to notes this past week: the analysis of the military parade. I tend to think of the cultural idea of rugged American individualism as a bad thing, something that makes it harder for us to work together for the common good, but thinking about our cultural ideas in the context of making fascism such an uphill battle (like good luck trying to make Americans fall in line like good little fascists in all our conditioning to just do whatever the fuck we want). It spun some ideas I have on their head in a very good way. Thank you for that, and this.
Looking forward to watching the Jon Stewart/Trevor Noah video!
Wasn't that analysis just so thought-provoking? I've always thought that one of the things these fascists find so enraging about America is that it's so messy and anarchic at its core. How could it not be? It's HUGE and diverse and built (albeit often not living up to this ideal) on individual freedom, which, as you say, can have a very shadowy side. But it also makes us resistant to being herded if we don't want to be.
As we wake up to being plunged into a new war, I just hope we can find that core resistance and use it.
"But, sure, men are confronted by particular challenges due to patriarchy and capitalism. First among them being a stunning lack of training on how to be humble and self-reflective, thoughtful about systems of power, and, most especially, how to build deep friendships over the long haul."
Something that made me feel really hopeful was actually something you posted to notes this past week: the analysis of the military parade. I tend to think of the cultural idea of rugged American individualism as a bad thing, something that makes it harder for us to work together for the common good, but thinking about our cultural ideas in the context of making fascism such an uphill battle (like good luck trying to make Americans fall in line like good little fascists in all our conditioning to just do whatever the fuck we want). It spun some ideas I have on their head in a very good way. Thank you for that, and this.
Looking forward to watching the Jon Stewart/Trevor Noah video!
Wasn't that analysis just so thought-provoking? I've always thought that one of the things these fascists find so enraging about America is that it's so messy and anarchic at its core. How could it not be? It's HUGE and diverse and built (albeit often not living up to this ideal) on individual freedom, which, as you say, can have a very shadowy side. But it also makes us resistant to being herded if we don't want to be.
As we wake up to being plunged into a new war, I just hope we can find that core resistance and use it.
Just finished the Trevor Noah-Jon Stewart episode! Imagine a world where all of our news and data had primary sources behind them...
It would be a different, better world, for sure.
"But, sure, men are confronted by particular challenges due to patriarchy and capitalism. First among them being a stunning lack of training on how to be humble and self-reflective, thoughtful about systems of power, and, most especially, how to build deep friendships over the long haul."
Truth!!