Miriam,
No argument with what you point out. But it is exactly the way these
differences are used against us that causes me to focus on our
"sameness".
Someone more articulate than I am needs to convince the majority of
Americans that we are being brain washed by the Ruling Class. Donald
Trump is now leading the way in driving wedges and trash talking
different groups. In part however,it goes beyond just focusing on our
differences and playing them against one another. This administration
is creating alternative news(lies) and then using them as straw men to
make certain the pot is stirred. And so we have a hall filled with
sneering,smug Working Class/Middle Class men and women kissing the
Emperor's ring and trotting after the Empires Pied Pipers, just
singing and dancing along that yellow brick road.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/25/17, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Granted, if you are not super wealthy, you are in jeopardy. But if you lump
together, the homeless, the people working for minimum wage for fast food
restaurants, the people working for Uber or Lift as contract workers, the
people working for law firms as paralegals, the people working for law firms
as well paid attorneys but, nevertheless, workers with no power in those
firms, the people working as home health aides, the people working as
nurses, the people working as physicians' assistants, the people working for
Google or Microsoft as cafeteria workers or high paid tech workers, the
people working as teachers employed by school systems, the people working as
pilots for airlines, doctors, professors, bank employees, and so on, what
you are doing is hiding the distinctions in terms of life style, education,
degrees of economic ssecurity, degrees of opportunity for pleasureable
activity, degrees of access to medical care, degrees of respect given to
them as people, etc. Actually, after I tried to express this to Roger in a
private conversation that we recently had, I saw it written by someone, much
smarter and more politically sophisticated than I am, in an article. I'm
certainly not trying to deny the power relationship between the elites and
the rest of us. But there are vast differences among the rest of us. Yes,
you are insecure because your life is shaped by those who are in power. But
you have a beautiful home on 10 acres where you've been living for quite
some time. If you truly comprehend what it means to live as a black person
in, say Baltimore, where they celebrated last weekend because with
tremendous community effort they had only two murders during that weekend,
then you can't equate your situation to that black Baltimore resident. In
other words, there are degrees of powerlessness, and degrees of misery. Our
world is composed of differences and subtleties. Generalizations help, but
sometimes, they obscure reality. NFB has done this same thing regarding
blindness. They insist that someone who has very good useable partial vision
but fits within the definition of legal blindness, is the same as someone
who has been totally blind since birth. That's the philosophical framework
to which members are, or perhaps, were, required to adhere. The divergence
from reality of this point of view should be obvious to anyone, but it is an
article of faith. Take any philosophical framework and require rigid
adherence to it, whether that be Marxist theory or Capitalism, and you end
up with distortion.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2017 11:13 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Americanisation Fragile
You are exactly right, Miriam. Except that we'll most likely never agree on
this Working Class/Middle Class thing.
But just to beat the dead horse one more time, trying a different club, I do
understand that part of the working class fancy themselves as "Middle
Class". I know that people around me would tell you that the Jarvis' are
middle class folk. Middle of what? Certainly not midway between the
poverty level and the billionaires. Not even close. We are not
independently wealthy, which, if we were, could make us part of the
American Oligarchy, the White, Male over 21 Land Holder. We live on
Promises. Promises that once said, "Your retirement is secure. You will
never be in poverty". Those once firm promises are now in jeopardy because
our Ruling Class desires to declare eternal war on the world. Our small
rehabilitation business could not support us if our retirement and social
security were cut, or worse. We clear less than ten dollars an hour, each.
If worse came to worse and our retirement funds were taken away, what we
earn in our business would cover the rent on a shack. And even that money
is on shaky ground. We have funding through next June, but no idea if there
will be an Older Blind Program after that. We could well be sucked down
with all those being "drained from the swamp".
So regardless of our color, or our education, or our ability to have saved
enough to buy, cash in hand, a 2017 Toyota Tacoma, or the fact that
currently we are Land Owners with our ten acres of gorgeous,
forest/farmland. It all depends upon the whims of the Oligarchy, the Ruling
Class, the Masters of the Corporate American Empire. And whether we are a
handyman or a real estate broker, a small business person or a clerk at
Safeway, working or standing on the corner with a "help me!" sign, we are
all of us seen as a "natural resource" to the Empire. Everything we have
can be taken legally, because we have no laws that truly protect the Working
Class. Our sons and daughters can be taken from us and put in harms way,
with a gun in their hands, ordered to kill other nation's fathers, mothers
and little children, in order to survive. And all in the Lie of "keeping
America Free".
So no, I refuse in these times to agree to the Middle Class distinction that
has been sold to so many Working Class Americans. It is merely one more,
"Divide and Conquer" tactic of our Masters.
I have no control over Black Americans viewing my White skin as part of
their problem, their never ending oppression. I can't deny my maleness,
which does give me an advantage, privileges denied Women, even after so many
years of efforts and tears, seeing their small victories being sneered at
and dismissed by the Oligarchy. I could go on, but I am simply saying that
we are so caught up in the spider web of Corporate Capitalism and the Greed
that drives it, that we allow ourselves to be manipulated, to believe that
somehow if we are in this group or that group we will be just a little
safer. Can't Americans see that just as in Europe during the 30's and 40's,
that there is no safe place, unless you are a member of the Ruling Class.
I understand the desire of folks to be safe, but I still become angry when I
see a hall filled with mostly White people who don't have a pot to pee in
between them, all yucking and cheering, snorting and shouting their approval
over the words of a man who holds them in abject contempt. A man who
believes he is so clever that he can manipulate us to allow him to have his
way. But even the Master manipulator is not so safe as he might believe.
While he is busy turning the People against the government, and the people
against the press, and the people against the other people, behind him stand
his collection of Generals. Generals who are now advising the Emperor and
his Lackeys, the Billionaire Cabinet, how to conduct their eternal war. 54
cents of every tax dollar now goes to the Pentagon. In my book, when you
have 54% of the control, you are in the driver's seat.
And as I've said before, this 54 cents of every tax dollar is only the tip
of that financial iceberg. One of the benefits about being the Ruling Class
is that you get to name the game and write the rules and enforce it all.
And when the game goes badly, or when you move onto a new game, the People,
Lower Class, Working Class, Middle Class, Upper Middle Class will all join
together to pay for the cleanup. Clear cut the forests and pocket the
profits and when the rains come and the mud slides over the roads and blocks
the creeks and shoves homes off their foundations, tell the People that you
have no responsibility to pay for an act of Nature. Over and over we see
examples of the Ruling Class giving us the finger. And we take it, even
crowding into some hall in Phoenix so we can pretend that we have touched
the hem of His Royal Robes.
The Ship of Fools has an insane captain at the wheel. The waves are driving
us toward the rocks, and our captain is too busy Twittering to notice that
the generals are already in the life boats and plan to leave the captain
behind.
Sorry about such a long rant. But hey, I do feel better!
Carl Jarvis
PS. Did anyone reach the end before hitting "delete"?
CJ
On 8/25/17, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl,
All of those old folks who moved to Arizona, they are members of our
middle class whose existence you deny. They moved there to have a
retirement in a warm climate, devoid of problems, problems like the
ones they had to deal with where they lived previously. Of course,
they didn't reckon with all of those Mexican Americans and
undocumented Mexicans who happened to be living there. The white
middle class and some really wealthy people, have had the political
power in Arizona. John McCain is pretty right wing. Even that
Democratic congresswoman who was shot several years ago, was centrist.
So no, they're not the traditional white racist southerners, but one
can certainly understand why someone who doesn't live in the US and is
unfamiliar with the subtleties of our society, might confuse the folks
in Arizona, the people who tried to outlaw Chicano Studies, from our
typical white racists. That's why people are confusing Washington with
Lee.
Washington was involved with starting our country. Lee was involved
with committing treason against it. But from the outside, looking in,
both of them were white slave holders and that fact seems most
important if you're the ancestor of a slave.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2017 1:18 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Americanisation Fragile
Actually Bob, Phoenix is made up from people around the entire Nation.
Many older folks retire there because of the dry heat. Around 2001 my
wife and I began visiting my sister and her husband. They lived in
Sun City, which is in the same large valley as is Phoenix. At that
time we learned that when folks first began settling in the Valley of
the Sun, the water table was about four feet down. By 2000, the water
table had been sucked down to 112 feet. When the water table drops so
radically, it may never return to its former level, and the land will
become a fully engaged desert.
But this population you mistakenly call Southerners, are not your
typical long time residents. Still, the state votes very
conservatively. I personally find that odd. People voting against
their own interests. But whether conservative or liberal, the working
class has no say in the affairs of this American Corporate Empire(ACE)
Donald Trump will either be the last president or the first American
Emperor...or both. And with the federal government spending 54 cents
of every tax dollar to support the Pentagon, the infrastructure is
collapsing. The nation will soon be a dried up hollow shell.
Personally, I believe that we have undergone a quiet military coup.
Donald Trump has gathered about him several Generals, along with his
billionaire cabinet. Since Ronald Reagan, the Middle Class has been
in decline, and Donald Trump will leave no trace of it behind, as he
and his Privateers rape and plunder the Land.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/24/17, Bob <ebob824@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello, this is my post to you succeeding Trump’s ultraconservative
rally in Phoenix Arizona. I do not destine to ridicule with the
subsequent segment. I just have to comment on Trump’s explosive and
fiery remarks.
Trump is petulant, megalomanic, misanthrope, prurient, poltroon and a
direly warmonger. He constantly talks about retaining pride. This
hellion in oval office resembles American fascism and bigotry. White
supremacists endorse this dissembler because he acts according to
their own agenda. It has commenced with the controversial forbiddance
of Muslims entering the United States. Lastly, it has been clearer
than ever before with Trump's rhetoric of explicitly declaring
farther transgression on Afghanistan & south Asia.
His conciliatory message contrasts sharply with his raucous rally the
night before. His turbulent disposal in Phoenix proves exactly what I
have constantly been warning against. What is Phoenix? It is The
state capital of Arizona. It is the largest city located in south
central Arizona, situated in a former desert that has become a
prosperous agricultural region, thanks to irrigation. So, he mainly
addressed southerners. I do not intend to prejudicially extrapolate,
but it seems that southerners are easy to fool with cheap and
counterfeit sentiments of alleged patriotism. Mister Trump
fallaciously claims that hatred, bigotry and violence have no place
in America. It is easy to say I love people despite their religious,
ethnic, gender or political orientation. However, actions speak
louder than words. I will not bait you with how terrible Americans
are. I am just expressing my genuine concern. As for Trump’s recently
announced new strategy in Afghanistan & south Asia, the United States
has been fighting a counterfeit war on terror for approximately seventeen
years.
Nothing has been produced but disruption, uproar, sectarianism,
domestic conflict and fringe elements.
Therefore, it is a vital necessity to unitedly confront American
transgressive military force and flawlessly defeat it. Vengeance
against American military must persistently be enacted. I urge the
global declaration of obligatory combative Jihad against unwished
transgressors.
America doesn’t transgress to win, but rather to miserably lose.
Neither their motive nor their fraudulent pride will protect them.
They will desperately be chased in each and evry corner across the
globe to decisively be shot dead. This call is not intended toward
innocents and noncombatants.
I will never threaten people like Jacob, Alison, Pia, Carl, Kane,
Frank, Jessica, or Charlie. They are my friends or at least, truly
harmless acquaintances. I won’t address them with such uncongenial
manner unless they engage in transgression. They won’t do so for
certain. Therefore, they surely aren’t addressed with this strident
rhetoric. I urge you to hasten in advising your military chiefs, that
withdrawing from Muslim countries will save American people.
Otherwise, it is nothing but extremely predictable and unwanted
consequences of grief, misery and grave loss of American people. I
urge you not to heighten hate toward you. It is already there. So,
attempt
to eliminate it. No one will tolerate transgression even if he
happened
to be the faintest. He will find a way to resist, and will resist
sharply.
This is how courageous Egyptian obstructors ousted Great Britain.
Despite
their incomparableness with British invaders, they withdrew them. I
talk for the sake of your safety and security. I myself have got
nothing to lose. Martyrdom is gracious in Islamic faith. It is either
Martyrdom or triumph for us. As for you, you have got nothing but
this temporal life to live. Do not open hell on yourselves. Trust me,
you won’t ever win with enacting belligerence. You will only win with
implementing peaceful initiatives. Instead of just talking about
peace, please, show us any sign that you really want peace. Our
reaction will precisely match with your inception. Thus far, it is
all up to you. The way you will greet, you will be greeted back. I
wish you plainly fathom the unbearable consequences of obstinately
enacting transgression. Thank you for carefully pondering, please,
take this absolutely serious. Bob Evans.
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