Author: notyetjedi

The Biden Presidency and a slight step to the Left must be measured against history and broken concrete in the foundation of America.

“Build and do not Destroy”

So some in America breath a sigh of relief as the “reality show” presidency comes to end 4 years after it started. We could talk about the man and his deep-seated narcissism, or the part of the country that felt free to hate in the open once more in an effort to “Make America Great Again”. But it is certain that this presidency represented fearful themes of division, hateful policies that targeted those seen as different, and callous disregard for the rule of law. This presidency saw the most loyal sycophants promoted to the highest levels of influence in government, and anyone with even the smallest amount of courage to ask questions cast out. This post -truth era removed the expectation that public discourse actually be based on facts, and the greatest public health crisis of the last 100 years was made possible by direct lies from these so-called “leaders”. Make no mistake – many people who saw the country get on the onramp to Fascism (and maybe even drove a couple miles) will sleep better tonight knowing that this era and this administration are in the rear view mirror.

But it would deeply irresponsible of us not seize this moment to try and understand. We have heard many times over the last 4 years from those in opposition to the administration, ” This is not who we are as a country.” But is that actually true? Those who voted for the out-going president heard him call Mexicans “criminals”, know he has abused women, saw him coddle up to authoritarian leaders, believed him when he called justice a “witch-hunt”. And they came when he called upon them to disrupt Democracy. We must not minimize that even these people see themselves as good “Americans”, more than 60 Million of which voted for this administration – TWICE – because they saw him as speaking up for their values. The true peril of the post-Trump era is that we will NOT LEARN that he only revealed what was already there. America, while still full of possibility, has deep cracks which have been there from the beginning and will bring the house down if left unrepaired. The last 4 years have proven it.

The “division” that everyone tried to wish out of existence in their comments at the inauguration on day one of the Biden Administration is more obvious than anyone knows, and also less obvious than anyone can feel. We are still fighting to define even now what it means to be “American” because that definition shows who should be heard, who should be seen, who should be respected, who should be rewarded, and ultimately who should be FOLLOWED.

For nearly two centuries, being “American” meant accepting and defending the genocide and enslavement at its founding, the ones that secured the wealth that still sustains this country. It meant accepting and defending privilege based on race, class, gender as the only means of assuring order. Being “American” meant accepting and defending an economic order designed to produce “winners” and “losers” because the “loser” would be someone who didn’t work hard enough. Being “American” meant the ends always justify the means. Being “American” always meant being “right”. No American alive today came over on the Mayflower, owned slaves in old Virginia, fired their guns at Wounded Knee, beat protesting workers for Carnegie Steel, or marched with the KKK in Washington DC. But there are Americans who have always accepted these realities as unfortunate but necessary steps towards the an America that is powerful and free – which is itself an illusion. The Civil Rights Movement didn’t suddenly erase this “America” even as it fought against its most visible structures in the South and in the halls of power throughout the country. This vision lives on today in many different people – republicans, independents, store owners, environmentalists, Uber drivers, men, women, people of color, LGTBQ, youth, elders – it has not gone away. To them being “American” is more important than any of these labels because “Americans” built the world they see around them. And they saw this out-going presidency at truly “American”. Let’s ask the rhetorical question – are they wrong?

All along that history, the definition of another “America” was always seeking a way to become. That “America” has taken itself seriously when it has considered the boundaries of “equality” to mean everyone. That “America” fought against slavery, as an institution and a crime against humanity, both with their advocacy and a rifle. That “America” cried “shame” to the murder of First Nations peoples, the pillaging of their land, the lies written in their treaties, and building of a nation across their graves. That “America” found a way to welcome those who are different from themselves, saw the story of every immigrant as their story, opened their doors and hearts to all men and women. That “America” fought for the rights of workers, against the aggression of Robber Barons, against Fascism, against Jim Crow, and for universal suffrage. That “America” found the moral courage to fight segregation, to demand Civil Rights for EVERYONE, to oppose unjust war. That “America” sees itself as inclusive, diverse, progressive, and “right”. The truth is that this “America” found its voice only recently. It has asked everyone to never go back to “the good old days” while simultaneous shielding its eyes to the fact that the other “America” has been right in front of them all along.

All it took was outrage over the election of just one black president to bring it to the surface again.

This struggle goes beyond Democrat or Republican, East Coast or West Coast, Red State or Blue State, Liberal or Conservative. These two definitions of “America” stand side by side in the grocery store, at school, on the train , in the waiting room – or in the voting booth. Some people know how to say the right things to avoid a fuss at work or the dinner table. These two “Americas” have grudgingly co-existed for longer that you might think. But it is clear that after “45”, this is more than a polite disagreement about politics, or a difference of opinion about history. This is now low-intensity conflict and that might not stay low for long.

While I hope the current administration will do what it can to push in the good direction, it would tough to suppose that “good” will mean the same for everyone. Within days, it is certain that the stonewalling , excuses, and finger pointing will begin anew.

So the key question for the world beyond Trump is not which of these “Americas” represents its people the most. The key question now is “What kind of “America” can bring them together to prevent disaster?” Now that’s a rhetorical question. With a foundation this fractured, one has to wonder when its time to start over.

Build and do not destroy , Construir and no destruir

In the age of “Call Out” culture, the real- time communication of ordinary folks through the internet has the power to weaponize social media to respond in ways and with speed that traditional media cannot match. The days when information travelled only as fast as the daily paper and the nightly news ended when social media replaced it as the most common way people find out what’s happening in the world. The “message”, whatever it is, can spread quickly to everyone in one’s social circle and beyond in real time. This information is unfiltered, unspun by the powerful to protect the privledeged, and accessible to the many through their phone. Many of the things that traditional media could hide or simply minimize can be exposed by the people and become “viral” overnight.

And for what its worth, this has been an amazing thing to witness. In the past, we could hear stories of harrassment and murder by cops against people of color. Now, these shameful crimes are revealed on cell phone video and they are impossible to deny. Everyday acts of discrimination are brought to light, and long buried acts of abuse surface for the first time. Testimonies about many events that would only reach a small audience before are amplified, edited into bite size chunks that feed the long unfulfilled desire for instant “justice”, if only in the court of public opinon. The “democracy” of little-screen news published by common folks for common folks has an appeal, a power to shape ideas.

But there are dangers in this “movement” if we are honest with ourselves. Much of the street activisim of the civil rights movement has become the “social” activitism of “social media” : no risk, no accountability for work, no research, no grassroots organizing- just “like” and “share”. The ideas of the “right” are no less appealing to any particular small crowd as those of the “left”. In the 2016 election, it was proven that a whole national candidacy in one of the most advanced democracies in the world could be driven not by hacking the machine or storming the polls, but by simply manufacturing a narrative that vulnerable people wanted. That’s it. Confirm that others share their fear, their hatred. Make monsters of anyone who is different. Tell a few key lies about the opposition. Stay on message and make that message acceptable. Done.

Right, Left, Center are all equally vulnerable to create an “echo chamber” where the FACTS bend around the narrative, not the NARRATIVE around the facts. Following the lead of an egomanic leader, we have normalized talking in “hyperbole” and then immediately posting our unvetted thoughts to the wind. Surely, the number of “likes” defines the level of “truth” to our statements? There is some evidence, against common sense, that people believe this…

So let’s just admit that social media is a medium – a way to spread a message. It is NOT a message unto itself. The sender and the user still need to make their case based in truth. The truth may have an angle, may be positioned to make a point, but it still has to be based in real experiences – not percieved ones. While there is space to tell stories in social media that never fit in big media, there is space to also tell lies that can have power for someone looking for an answer – ANY answer that validates their pain. The common cliche is that “With great power comes great responsability”. Never has this been more true than with social media. To ignore this is to welcome the post-truth era and the war that comes with it. Words must never lose their power to build – not destroy.

“This, then, is the great humanistic and historical task for the oppressed: to liberate themselves and their oppressors as well”

Paulo Freire

CONVENCER y no VENCER; Convince and do not defeat

Throughout the county, many cities and other larger civic areas are re-naming Coloumbus Day as Indigenous People’s Day. For the generations of First Nations people who continue to struggle within the framework of “America”, this change is recognition that the machine-washed narrative of the US as a human rights leader and defender can be challenged. While many in the country continue to support it as the “greatest democracy in the world” it is unescapable that for so much of the history of the US, oppression and abuse of non-European peoples was routine (as was the subjugation of women, poor people, union organizers, gays and lesbians – but that is another part of this story.) That elements of this oppression continue shows that it is structural, not simply policy or practice. So while readiness to re-write the narrative is an important step, the road to true equality is long and littered with mines along the way.

Let’s not forget another piece of historical re-write that has occured in our generation. It is within our historical memory that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made the transition from polarizing figure in life to canonized saint in death. His legacy in peaceful, direct action is now extolled by many liberals and conservatives alike as the “right” way to bring about change. He is now memorialized in streets, buildings, in popular art and is so revered that a holiday been observed in his honor for more than 2 decades. But if we can be honest, has this re-write of history produced lasting change? Did the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement prevent the rise of Trumpism? Did it stamp out judgement due to color or creed, or political “tribalism” set in regional politics? It opened some doors, changed some minds, asked some important questions – but it did NOT unmake the foundations of a country built in Colonialism. It is unclear that any amount of re-writing or re-tasking traditional holidays or mistaken narratives will do.

Should the message be to simply permit continued reverence for “Columbus Day”, allow Confederate monuments to stand, let telescopes to the stars be built in disrespect to the people on the ground? Of course not. But we cannot lull ourselves into the delusion that accomplishing those tasks is suffcient evidence that things are changing for the better. They are, but ever so slowly and ever so superficially, and not without opposition. This post begins with a quote from the Brazialian educator Paulo Friere. And certainly there are those who bristle at its implications. They might say there is simply no obligation – or any time or energy – to liberate everyone including those who started as oppressors. But until we create a new way to relate that recognizes the terrible history of this country but commits to building a new, inclusive world for all – we can hope to change holidays but not much more.

So Happy Indigenous People’s Day. We are here despite so many barriers. There are others who are with us, and they are welcomed members of the struggle. Let’s start down this road together, dangerous as it is and hope there are those who will follow and finish.

Hello. This is a project launched for one year beginning April 10, 2019 to attempt to influence the discourse of leadership and service as it relates to how we all work together. It seeks simply to use a traditional model for accountability in the Seven Tasks to ask these questions – How do we expect our leaders to interact towards the needs of all? What responsibilities do each of have towards creating the kind of society we value? How can we influence the kind of personal and group accountability that can create a space where everyone is not only heard but respected? How can our discussion of our collective ethics lead to responsible action instead of more talk and less inclusion? Is there a space where we can each be ourselves but part of larger identity that leads by obeying? I am not sure that we can answer these questions, but the world in which we live now is frozen by inaction and deeply irresponsible political dialogue that further divides a country that has become openly warring tribes. In the spirit of “convince and do not defeat”, we only seek to start a discussion that starts from “below”.