Crisis and Cure: Writing Both Political and Personal

  Here is an interesting story from Inews, " Russia’s republics, bled dry by Putin, begin to demand independence from his rule " by Kieron Monks. It seems that the Russian Federation's "independent" republics are beginning to get a little bit unhappy with Putin and his endless war. Some of them are at least hinting at going it alone. Probably won't happen anytime soon. But, the fact that they are even just whispering about it in the police state which is now Russia is a very interesting fact indeed.  In trouble?

Very powerful piece over on Vice that everyone should read, " Christian Nationalism Drove These People Out of Their Churches " by Tess Owen. In it, Owen looks at how Christian Nationalism...an ideology which is surely a contradiction in terms...has begun to overwhelm churches across the country. The idea that Jesus, who preached against such things, should be used to support racism, nationalism, and dictatorship is, of course, grotesque. But, it is important for us to know what is happening in the world of right-wing churches. This is, in other words, what we're up against. Forewarned is forearmed... This has nothing to do with Christ.

 If you're wondering about the GOP's strategy, take a glance at this article in The Washington Post, "‘They are preparing for war’: An expert on civil wars discusses where political extremists are taking this country," by KK Ottesen. In it Ottesen talks to political scientist Barbara F. Walter.  And Walter's conclusion? That the GOP is actively weakening the institutions of the American government so that it can wage a violent war against the state, and establish some sort of authoritarian state. It is frightening, disturbing, and all too probable.  Clearly, we have one choice, #VOTEBlue. The alternative is horrible. Go here: "‘They are preparing for war’: An expert on civil wars discusses where political extremists are taking this country," by KK Ottesen. war and death

 Like it says, if you're wondering why we have a crisis in American education right now, just look at this: https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/revealed/revealed-teachers-come-from-dumbest-parts-of-dumbest-colleges-tenn-governors-education-advisor-tells-him In effect, the governor of a major American state, Bill Lee of Tenn., agreed with "Dr. Larry Arnn, president of Michigan's ultra-conservative Hillsdale College," that teachers are "dumb" and anyone ...with no training or background whatsoever... can handle the education of children. In a word, Ouch. Isn't it lovely when you hear teachers told that they are useless and incompetent, by people who can't handle a single teenager at home, much less 40 of 'em in a crowded classroom? Of course, anyone can teach...

So it seems that Republican Congresswoman Debbie Lesko said that "she would shoot her grandchildren" to defend the 2nd Amendment. She later tried to "back it up" a bit, saying she'd been misquoted, but the fact remains that she's on the record saying what's sounds like exactly that.  You know...I've got no deep philosophical reactions on this to share, but... I'm guessing the Lesko family's gonna have a really tense Thanksgiving dinner this year.   "Uh, Grammy..."

Special Note: more details on the origins of the stones have come to the fore. See below for an update. So we learn that the Georgia Guidestones have been destroyed by someone, as yet, unknown. The reality, of course, is that whoever paid for them, was a bit kooky, but clearly he/she/they were no villains. The stones carried what were simply some platitudes of the sort we see all the time on greeting cards. They didn't hurt anyone and did no wrong. Yet, somehow, the Right saw them as unspeakably evil, and used high explosives to destroy them. How on earth is this possible? How is it that the Right has grown so mad, so utterly insane, that it would vent its fury on stone? And thus achieve nothing while endangering others? But, one thing. It is a perfect metaphor for what the Right...and particularly the Christian Right...has become. And the danger it poses to us all. For the story, go here:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/07/07/georgia-guidestones-blown-up-explosion/ So