As an immigrant to this country when I was a baby, I grew up, thinking that America was the ideal and now seeing what’s going on like yourself is just totally embarrassing and sad because they are regressing instead of going forward and there is no progress. It is hard to process all of this craziness that is going on and this election is just multiplying it. Let’s hope once we get over this things can, finally try to improve. Thank you for your thoughts.
Damn Rohn, I’ve missed your messages, but you more than made up for it with this podcast. I’m certain there are stupid and ignorant people who are a danger to our country but intellectual morons who spent more than an hour listening to two presidential candidates’ debate what they considered issues and then their main report was about a colored person who may have eaten a dog. Or, from all the incredible truth that you speak, rant about your preference for dresses on woman.
I like dresses as well. My wife wears pants and dresses. She wears whatever she damn well pleases. Neither of those choices has a damn thing to do with her femininity. How can we possibly have an intelligent conversation about racism and other critical issues while eating dogs and wearing dresses top our lists?
I appreciate you and when you present your best in the days ahead, I will read and listen. I’ve spent my life learning, and it hasn’t always been pleasant. The most important lessons are seldom easy to learn. That is the case when I listen to you. Some things, even when you already know them as truth, hurt deeply, but it’s critical to accept and own them. Thank you.
"Democracy is at stake"... such utter horseshit... the status quo of their "greatest nation on earth" is at stake, and while they pretend to be progressively minded, their underlying supremacist ideology shows through to those not corrupted by the slavery nation of propaganda. Love the narration! It really adds to the impact to hear your inflection!
lots of women in dresses comments. kind of apropo to the conversation, though isn't i? I like women in dresses too. I like men in suits. I used to wear suits on sunday to work, cause as a peon laborer just to declare I could have pride.
everyone needs pride, Mr. Kenyatta. And not to offend you, the offense of the European is he has negated everyone european's pride (lower case intended) because his leaders were a bunch of incestuous malformations of humanity who couldn't possibly have any pride other than denying all pride to others.
And if they have no pride in themselves then they have no pride in themselves of course they took away from the proud Natives---but they threw them all onto the dungpiles to die. But the proud from Alkebulan hey forced into becoming their dungpiles and attempted to take them down even more claiming as Jefferson did, "they smelled of labor'. I don't know what liberty really meant to Jefferson or Henry but it certainly didn't mean anyone could be proud.er than they thought they were mired in their own illegitimate 'pride' that held contempt for anyone who didn't polish their boots.
I don't know anything about voting to 'save democracy' when the constitution was not written to be a democracy but a republic in the manner that Rome was. A republic attempts to deny pride to everyone and carry daggers to stab any amongst themselves who might display with a knife in the back. can anyone tell me Samuel Alito is a proud man? I see him as whimpering little toady.
I don't know what you think is 'something different' , but something different to me would be a leader who saw himself as particle with the group rather than someone who had so little pride he had to command others by taking away their pride.
Pride is seeing value in oneself not needing to take value from others to claim a piece of the pride one thinks one has stolen from others. Pride is an independence of self that allows one to value others because he values himself. And so you start by giving value to Thom Hartman and then denying Obama telling 'black men' that have no value if they vote for Trump. Of course women can look attractive in a dress---dress is after all a way to become more appealing, however anyone may dress; and wearing a dress can be attractive and can lead to valuing the women wearing the dress which was the intent of the woman when she put on the dress; on the other hand, it does not mean the woman loses her value when she removes the dress. How is it misogynistic? It could be, I suppose to say women can only wear dresses; but then they wouldn't be nearly as appealing when they sometimes wear a dress.
It is of course the contrast that gives pride and value to everything and if there is no contrast then the impotence of self-emasculation demeans oneself into demeaning others.
You give a powerful 'speech' presenting me with even more emotional reflection as do your writings, but the voice can touch deeper, ofttimes. And as always you wound my smugness, as should be. thank you.
You wind me like a watch, yes. In so doing you also wound my smugness in the same sense; you help me realize much of how we “white liberals” think being white liberals is enough in itself. That is a smugness and that is what you enable me to shake out of the tree of my own self. And that is why I find your words so incredibly ‘soul-stirring” in the sense that I am forced to intense inner reflection.
Unfortunately those that cannot listen to your words are the ones who cannot (or will not) reflect on themselves or see that there might be any fault in themselves. And therein perpetuates exactly what you are speaking about, the mindlessness absurdity of centuries of Platonic inspired Churchism that turned the European mind into a disastrous muddled inferiority complex.
I join you in hoping for "something different" to vote for. Only my first vote for President was FOR the candidate (Jimmy Carter) and not against the other guy. Yes, last month I voted against Trump for the third time. I agree with TH that a vote for anyone other than Harris is a vote for Trump, but DAMN I hated voting for a supporter of the genocide by the IDF and Netanyahu. Yes, I am "playing their game" as someone said to me the other day; but it's the only game in town. For now. I hope.
As I commented to you a couple months ago, we are well and truly fucked. My vote is the only thing I can do from 8000 miles away to hopefully slow the process.
When the lesser of two party's evils is the only choice, what is the alternative? Trump has already said that if he wins, this is the last time the US gets to vote, so he must be stopped. Not voting won't do that.
Thank you for your comment, JayDee. As usual, it is thoughtful and intelligent. However, be mindful that you and I live in disparate worlds in terms of existence. And, as I mentioned, when it comes to the only two things I truly "own" as a Black Man in the United States, my manhood and my mind, that is a goddamned "no fly zone." I am keeping ownership of those paltry possessions.
Black Men in the United States have been subjected to 500 years of misandry and abject brutality. For 500 years told "now is not the time." Subject to "buck breaking." Subject to the deployment of chemical weapons. Subject to humiliation unparalleled in modern history. Subject to genocide through mass incarceration (after all, one cannot reproduce when locked up for life at age 19 or 20).
If you are not a part and parcel to these atrocities (and that is what they are) you have neither standing nor frame of reference. The European pontificates and espouses "democracy" but the most democratic thing in the world seems to be that which he despises: the truth. Truth be told.
Black men are not enamored with Trump (fools, madmen and idiots notwithstanding). Black men are threatened by a Democrat party that takes them for granted, lies to them and, most importantly, espouses a platform and philosophy that wishes to rob them of the only two things they own. That denigrates Black Manhood and masculinity. That tells us how to think (taking the mind). That ostracizes us for being heterosexual and WE realize THIS is part of the genocide.
Now, you white folks can paternalize as you have and wish to continue as in "who's yo daddy" all you want. Nonetheless, be mindful that the mere fact that you think you can dictate to a Black Man, arguably the most disrespected male in this apartheid society, how to think is a perilous road to perdition. This is an "awakening" happening all over the planet Earth. The global majority has become immune to intimidation, paternalism, colonialism, violence and fear. Y'all better get a clue while you can.
I am always haunted by Donald Trump saying in 2016 to BPITUS (Black People in the United States) "why not vote for me, what have you got to lose?" You see, what you European-Americans have failed, and refused, to realize is that you can't fall off of the ground.
THAT is our reality and THAT, for many, is our calculus.
Thank you for another very thoughtful and enlightening reply. It was never my intent to dictate or paternalize to anyone, especially you. I'm sorry that's how it was received.
Am I looking for an alternative that doesn't exist?
If so, overturning the table may be the only answer.
I absolutely took no offense to your comment, JayDee. As I I stated your comments are always thoughtful, intelligent and looked forward to. I did not find it in any way dictatorial nor paternalistic. I was speaking in a rhetorical sense to the aggregate and, perhaps, should have executed better syntax and semantics.
Pertinent to turning over tables, I have always found that breaking things can be therapeutic:)
As an immigrant to this country when I was a baby, I grew up, thinking that America was the ideal and now seeing what’s going on like yourself is just totally embarrassing and sad because they are regressing instead of going forward and there is no progress. It is hard to process all of this craziness that is going on and this election is just multiplying it. Let’s hope once we get over this things can, finally try to improve. Thank you for your thoughts.
Judith...thank you for yours.
Damn Rohn, I’ve missed your messages, but you more than made up for it with this podcast. I’m certain there are stupid and ignorant people who are a danger to our country but intellectual morons who spent more than an hour listening to two presidential candidates’ debate what they considered issues and then their main report was about a colored person who may have eaten a dog. Or, from all the incredible truth that you speak, rant about your preference for dresses on woman.
I like dresses as well. My wife wears pants and dresses. She wears whatever she damn well pleases. Neither of those choices has a damn thing to do with her femininity. How can we possibly have an intelligent conversation about racism and other critical issues while eating dogs and wearing dresses top our lists?
I appreciate you and when you present your best in the days ahead, I will read and listen. I’ve spent my life learning, and it hasn’t always been pleasant. The most important lessons are seldom easy to learn. That is the case when I listen to you. Some things, even when you already know them as truth, hurt deeply, but it’s critical to accept and own them. Thank you.
BeeBee, I've not much to say other than your support, your knowledge and your presence validates me in ways you could not possibly fathom.
"Democracy is at stake"... such utter horseshit... the status quo of their "greatest nation on earth" is at stake, and while they pretend to be progressively minded, their underlying supremacist ideology shows through to those not corrupted by the slavery nation of propaganda. Love the narration! It really adds to the impact to hear your inflection!
Bravo!
lots of women in dresses comments. kind of apropo to the conversation, though isn't i? I like women in dresses too. I like men in suits. I used to wear suits on sunday to work, cause as a peon laborer just to declare I could have pride.
everyone needs pride, Mr. Kenyatta. And not to offend you, the offense of the European is he has negated everyone european's pride (lower case intended) because his leaders were a bunch of incestuous malformations of humanity who couldn't possibly have any pride other than denying all pride to others.
And if they have no pride in themselves then they have no pride in themselves of course they took away from the proud Natives---but they threw them all onto the dungpiles to die. But the proud from Alkebulan hey forced into becoming their dungpiles and attempted to take them down even more claiming as Jefferson did, "they smelled of labor'. I don't know what liberty really meant to Jefferson or Henry but it certainly didn't mean anyone could be proud.er than they thought they were mired in their own illegitimate 'pride' that held contempt for anyone who didn't polish their boots.
I don't know anything about voting to 'save democracy' when the constitution was not written to be a democracy but a republic in the manner that Rome was. A republic attempts to deny pride to everyone and carry daggers to stab any amongst themselves who might display with a knife in the back. can anyone tell me Samuel Alito is a proud man? I see him as whimpering little toady.
I don't know what you think is 'something different' , but something different to me would be a leader who saw himself as particle with the group rather than someone who had so little pride he had to command others by taking away their pride.
Pride is seeing value in oneself not needing to take value from others to claim a piece of the pride one thinks one has stolen from others. Pride is an independence of self that allows one to value others because he values himself. And so you start by giving value to Thom Hartman and then denying Obama telling 'black men' that have no value if they vote for Trump. Of course women can look attractive in a dress---dress is after all a way to become more appealing, however anyone may dress; and wearing a dress can be attractive and can lead to valuing the women wearing the dress which was the intent of the woman when she put on the dress; on the other hand, it does not mean the woman loses her value when she removes the dress. How is it misogynistic? It could be, I suppose to say women can only wear dresses; but then they wouldn't be nearly as appealing when they sometimes wear a dress.
It is of course the contrast that gives pride and value to everything and if there is no contrast then the impotence of self-emasculation demeans oneself into demeaning others.
You give a powerful 'speech' presenting me with even more emotional reflection as do your writings, but the voice can touch deeper, ofttimes. And as always you wound my smugness, as should be. thank you.
"you wound my smugness..."
Since, TUO, I find it inconceivable to associate the word "smug" with you or to you, I have to surmise that I did not "wound" you.
However, it does appear you were "wound"...like a wristwatch, perhaps?
I mean, after all, you are always timely in your observations and commentary.
You wind me like a watch, yes. In so doing you also wound my smugness in the same sense; you help me realize much of how we “white liberals” think being white liberals is enough in itself. That is a smugness and that is what you enable me to shake out of the tree of my own self. And that is why I find your words so incredibly ‘soul-stirring” in the sense that I am forced to intense inner reflection.
Unfortunately those that cannot listen to your words are the ones who cannot (or will not) reflect on themselves or see that there might be any fault in themselves. And therein perpetuates exactly what you are speaking about, the mindlessness absurdity of centuries of Platonic inspired Churchism that turned the European mind into a disastrous muddled inferiority complex.
“I love seeing women in dresses too”. Thanks for your intellect.
I join you in hoping for "something different" to vote for. Only my first vote for President was FOR the candidate (Jimmy Carter) and not against the other guy. Yes, last month I voted against Trump for the third time. I agree with TH that a vote for anyone other than Harris is a vote for Trump, but DAMN I hated voting for a supporter of the genocide by the IDF and Netanyahu. Yes, I am "playing their game" as someone said to me the other day; but it's the only game in town. For now. I hope.
As I commented to you a couple months ago, we are well and truly fucked. My vote is the only thing I can do from 8000 miles away to hopefully slow the process.
When the lesser of two party's evils is the only choice, what is the alternative? Trump has already said that if he wins, this is the last time the US gets to vote, so he must be stopped. Not voting won't do that.
Thank you for your comment, JayDee. As usual, it is thoughtful and intelligent. However, be mindful that you and I live in disparate worlds in terms of existence. And, as I mentioned, when it comes to the only two things I truly "own" as a Black Man in the United States, my manhood and my mind, that is a goddamned "no fly zone." I am keeping ownership of those paltry possessions.
Black Men in the United States have been subjected to 500 years of misandry and abject brutality. For 500 years told "now is not the time." Subject to "buck breaking." Subject to the deployment of chemical weapons. Subject to humiliation unparalleled in modern history. Subject to genocide through mass incarceration (after all, one cannot reproduce when locked up for life at age 19 or 20).
If you are not a part and parcel to these atrocities (and that is what they are) you have neither standing nor frame of reference. The European pontificates and espouses "democracy" but the most democratic thing in the world seems to be that which he despises: the truth. Truth be told.
Black men are not enamored with Trump (fools, madmen and idiots notwithstanding). Black men are threatened by a Democrat party that takes them for granted, lies to them and, most importantly, espouses a platform and philosophy that wishes to rob them of the only two things they own. That denigrates Black Manhood and masculinity. That tells us how to think (taking the mind). That ostracizes us for being heterosexual and WE realize THIS is part of the genocide.
Now, you white folks can paternalize as you have and wish to continue as in "who's yo daddy" all you want. Nonetheless, be mindful that the mere fact that you think you can dictate to a Black Man, arguably the most disrespected male in this apartheid society, how to think is a perilous road to perdition. This is an "awakening" happening all over the planet Earth. The global majority has become immune to intimidation, paternalism, colonialism, violence and fear. Y'all better get a clue while you can.
I am always haunted by Donald Trump saying in 2016 to BPITUS (Black People in the United States) "why not vote for me, what have you got to lose?" You see, what you European-Americans have failed, and refused, to realize is that you can't fall off of the ground.
THAT is our reality and THAT, for many, is our calculus.
Thank you for another very thoughtful and enlightening reply. It was never my intent to dictate or paternalize to anyone, especially you. I'm sorry that's how it was received.
Am I looking for an alternative that doesn't exist?
If so, overturning the table may be the only answer.
I absolutely took no offense to your comment, JayDee. As I I stated your comments are always thoughtful, intelligent and looked forward to. I did not find it in any way dictatorial nor paternalistic. I was speaking in a rhetorical sense to the aggregate and, perhaps, should have executed better syntax and semantics.
Pertinent to turning over tables, I have always found that breaking things can be therapeutic:)
The Royal You. Got it. Cheers.