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Robin Reardon's avatar

I heard a discussion the other day about how our society has taught women how to be strong, but it has not taught men how to be men in light of that. So what we see too often is confused men resorting to chest-beating and anti-feminism. (And before anyone says it, I’ll preempt: NOT ALL MEN. True. Got it.)

One outcrop of this, IMHO, is the movement toward nazi-ism. As a strong-arm, yelling, violent, simplistic approach to problem-solving, it has all the moves.

Humans (both men and women) are not known for our ability to consider consequences as we look for solutions, especially in truly dire situations. So a ready-made package like nazi-ism is, apparently, very appealing to some.

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Joyce Wycoff's avatar

Interesting point ... maybe that's why we hear more from AOC and Jasmine Crockett and Elizabeth Warren more than the guys. Of course, we also hear way too much from MTG and Boebert, etc.

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Robin Reardon's avatar

Yes, there are those peculiar women. But as far as I know, they aren't aligning themselves with anything more pernicious than idiocy.

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Aussie Jo's avatar

I like you don't get why anyone would want to be a Nazi but those who feel that way are racist and stupid and want to live in some weird fantasy world obtained by violence

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Jim Sanders's avatar

“Yes, I understand that things were bad there. With the depression of the 1930s, about one-third of Germany’s work force was unemployed. Germans were desperate and they poured themselves into the arms of a dictator and gladly donned their swastikas and marched off to war … where over 5 MILLION German military personnel died.”

Let me see. After WWI the French and British elite kept a heavy boot on the throat of Germany birthing the German nationalism. Yet, they are the good guys?

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Joyce Wycoff's avatar

Jim, I don't believe I said that.

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Jim Sanders's avatar

Not attacking you. Just suffering FROM PTES (post traumatic election syndrome). Frustrated with all the talking without action.

What’s the line: everybody is always talking about the weather but no one does anything about it.

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Jim Sanders's avatar

Where are the Praetorian Guards when needed? Oh, they exist but they love our modern day Caligula.

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Joyce Wycoff's avatar

I understand the syndrome, Jim. I'm starting to see tiny movements but compared to the thunderous wreckage going on, it's not enough, not soon enough. We are going to putting the pieces back together for a LONG time.

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Jim Sanders's avatar

As the parade of fools marches down the streets with the bands led by drum leader Trump, the magpies of the left sit on telephone lines cawing out their jeers and insults but remain on the telephone lines.

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Robin Reardon's avatar

I hear you. It's frustrating. But....

The weather is one thing. But there are lots of folks doing what they can besides jeering from the sidelines.

There are economic blackouts that are not expected to damage corporations, but that do implore people who feel helpless to do take some action (even though it's actually inaction)—and to do it together. And this makes them more likely to take more, and different, action together. Helplessness feels less helpless when you take any action. (See my recent post, Action in a time of helplessness, https://robinreardonwrites.substack.com/p/action-in-a-time-of-helplessness).

And I'm in the process of writing a post about the Dems' recent strategy in the Senate debate about the budget. Then there are the marches in cities across the country, which is one of the few things individual citizens CAN do. So it's true that there's a lot of complaining. But more action is taking place every day.

We must not—we can not—despair.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Hate to say it but I think that they're basically racist. (but pretend they're not).

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Joyce Wycoff's avatar

Indeed, I’m sure they are … but does that also mean they’re stupid? Ahhhhh … asked and answered.

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