America

[H2O Man]

Last edited Sun Aug 16, 2020, 03:12 PM - Edit history (1)

There was a Black Lives Matter rally in Bainbridge, N.Y. yesterday afternoon. Bainbridge is a village with a population of about 1,300, located in rural Chenango County, not far from where I live. Like many communities in the area, it used to have industries that employed its residents, but those closed decades ago and Bainbridge is now experiencing "urban decay." It can no longer sustain the grocery store that served the community, which has been largely replaced by a "dollar store."

My cousin called me early in the morning. He live otside a town near Bainbridge, and had told me earlier in the week that he had heard there might be a BLM rally on Saturday. However, on his early morning walk, he was confronted by a man down the road, who was hyper about what he believed was a planned attack by a caravan of non-white "outsiders." Word among the quasi-semi-para-militia group he belongs to was that patriots with guns needed to gather in Bainbridge to prevent the upcoming riot.

Not being prone to the delusional thinking common within the Trump cult, my cousin said that he supported the local youth who were planning the BLM rally. He noted that it was their constitutional right, and that he hoped to be there to protect them against any aggression by those opposed to the Constitution.

"We will all have guns," the person said. "Yes, I know," my cousin answered. "You'd give your life to protect a black person?" the person asked. "Yes," my cousin answered, as he walked away from the person, "even though I am looking forward to having a black woman as vice president, I would." When he got home, and called e, we were under the impression that the rally was scheduled for the morning. I said that I'd drive to Bainbridge to see what was happening, and get back to him.

As I entered Bainbridge, I passed by the spot where in October of 2014, a drunk, off-duty law enforcement person had shot my cousin and his son in a "road rage" incident. My cousin has not been the same since his son died in his arms that day. Then I passed the spot where in May of 1998, a racist hate gang attacked my nephew, because they resented a black high school scholar-athlete getting positive media attention.

The vast majority of people in the community were horrified by these violent crimes, and were supportive of my family. A number of my relatives -- including my brother who was a professional boxer at the time, and my uncle, a Senior Investigator with the NYS Police BCI -- had lived there. The State Police and the Sheriff's Office had done solid investigations of the crimes. The county's DA and court had done a fine job that sent the thug that shot my cousin and his son to prison for life.

Yet, it only takes a few to poison any community. My nephew had asked a village police officer for assistance when the hate gang had been dogging him earlier in the evening. But that officer refused to assist him -- and it came as no surprise to learn later that he was friends with the gang. The DA at the time opted not to charge the gang members with attempted murder, as advocated by the assistant DA. And, during the trial of the gang leader, the Bainbridge justice of the peace said in open court that he did not think that the gang members calling my nephew a "dumb nig_er" indicated that race was an issue in the assault, before sentencing the thug to a $50 fine for having an open beer when the assault took place.

I circled the park in the village several times, but it was empty. As it turned out, the rally was held in the mid-afternoon. Most of the participants were young adults from the area, who behaved well while exercising their Amendment 1 rights.However, there was a "counter rally," complete with confederate flags and Trump signs, across the street from the park. Twice, people from their side ran across the street to push and punch those in the BLM crowd. The police did a good job of removing them.

My cousin called me again this morning. He had just returned from his morning walk. Another neighbor had stopped him on the road, and said the militia person was apparently under great stress. The person had spent yesterday evening firing his guns, and setting off small explosions. This morning, the neighbor heard him screaming at his wife to get back into their house, because it wasn't safe to be outside. What the fuck is wrong with him, my cousin asked?

This is a group reacting to shared delusions, I said. It is common within cults, and is most dangerous when they are under pressure from thinking their enemies are out to get them.

Peace,
H2O Man

[Kid Berwyn]

1. Monster Think

The Monsters believe the Others will treat them the way they have treated the Others.

Human Beings — the world over, no matter the religion, philosophy, creed or culture — follow the Golden Rule and treat one another with the respect they would want for themselves.

Thank you for sharing, H2O Man. People whoo read your words are changed, too — for the better.

[H2O Man]

6. Thanks!

I spoke on the phone to one of the young men who helped put the BLM rally together. I wanted to tell him how proud I am of him. He told me that the group on the other side had village board members and some local merchants. I think this is a great -- though ugly -- example of why we have to not only focus on voting Trump out of office, but on the local and state level, too. We need to assist these fools into crawling back under their rocks.

[qwlauren35]

2. This seems to be going on in other pockets too.

Some people waking up, others resisting violently despite the clarity with which they are being called out for being racist.

Why would anyone want to be racist?

[H2O Man]

7. Absolutely.

It's the same thing that has taken place in other local communities in this four county region, as I've detailed in other essays this year. And it's the same dynamics found in every village, town and city across America.

You ask an interesting question. I'll note that one female human from the other side, who was screaming racial slurs, telling the non-white youth from the community to "go home," and who ran across the street to push someone, has been explaining to the local media that she's not racist. I'm confident that in her mind, she believes she knows more about the life experiences of the non-white people in the community than they do. Thus, we are talking about unconscious human beings.

[coeur_de_lion]

3. The lunatics who believe trump

will still be there once he's gone. But it sure will feel better not to have his malign influence on the country.

[H2O Man]

8. They should read

Nancy Isenberg's 2016 book, "White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America." It documents how Trump and his ilk have viewed their type throughout our country's history, and are easily able to capitalize off their ignorance.

[coeur_de_lion]

25. Oh c'mon you know they don't read

Off topic -- what is stopping Pelosi from compelling testimony from the new postmaster? Subpoena and arrest if he doesn't comply?

[H2O Man]

39. The House has to

give at least a week's notice before a committee could meet to decide on this. DUer StarFishSaver posted a good OP on this earlier today:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213916788

I think that response #17 provides interesting details on why this is important. It wouldn't surprise me to see some action on this in the next couple of days.

[coeur_de_lion]

46. Well he's coming voluntarily on 8/24

so she doesn't have to have him arrested. But I'm not sure why she sent everybody home while this was going on.

We'll see. I normally can't fault Pelosi for anything but I was unhappy about this one.

[Martin Eden]

4. A house divided against itself cannot stand

Abraham Lincoln was speaking of the institution of slavery, saying that our country must become all one thing or all the other.

The institution of slavery was abolished but its foundation of racism, ignorance, and hatred was not. 400 years of slavery cannot be erased in 4 years of war. Hearts and minds take much longer to change. That battle, clearly, still goes on.

November 3rd 2020 might be a resounding victory for light over darkness, human decency over racism and hate.

But America will not become all one thing. Deep bitter divisions will remain. I don't know how long or what it will take to slay the Monster of Trumpism in all its manifestations. Will John Brown's prophetic last words come to pass again -- will "the crimes of this guilty land ... never be purged away but with blood"?

Martin Luther King said "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

The Monster will survive and thrive until Americans learn to love each other for what we have in common more than we hate each other for our differences. I'm agnostic when it comes to religion, but perhaps we should ask What would Jesus have us do?

[H2O Man]

9. Thank you!

I've recently been thinking about that Lincoln quote.

In my response to the post above, I mentioned the book "White Trash" .....not in an attempt to insult the Trumpites, but because it explains, among other things, how Lincoln was attempting to prevent new territories from becoming slave states. In large part, Lincoln was doing this to create employment options for the people that the rich called "white trash." The plantation owners, of course, were outraged by the thought of having to pay for labor.

"White trash" is from the British society's concepts of class. It's why much of the early British population re-located to the "New World" were the poor and criminals -- European boat people, in modern terms. Very few of today's white trash have a clue to history, including the colonial experience being read, white, and black, with only the white group having internal class divisions.

In response to your last comment -- which is interesting, indeed -- the ironic thing is that these people fancy themselves as good christians.

[Martin Eden]

19. The descendants of European "white trash" are being manipulated by an American aristocracy of wealth

Ironies abound, which was the intent of my last comment. They have abandoned the actual teachings of Jesus for tribalism and what amounts to a cult.

The vast majority of Trump voters are getting screwed along with the rest of us. At some point they have to turn around and see who's doing the screwing.

[H2O Man]

26. I try to find

the good in people, but I do not think that many of those cult members have the capacity to recognize who is playing them.How in the hell can any person living in Bainbridge believe that Donald Trump cares any more about them, than he does me?

In my opinion, based solely on my understanding of what the prophet Jesus taught, he was there in the park yesterday ....in the form of the young people protesting for justice. Those screaming at them are the same ones who screamed for Jesus to be crucified.

[Tesha]

5. His choice of media drives his delusion

They are refined day after day by the propaganda drilled into them.

How can we expect sanity from these folks when this is all they know?

[H2O Man]

10. Great question.

I've been asked that several times in the last 48 hours. I think that, at very best, it will take some of them years. It requires a process similar to de-programming cult members -- as they are nothing if not cult members. Others will go to their graves bitter, afraid, and delusional.

I've been preparing to do a third interview with Dr. Bandy Lee. Your question will serve as the foundation for the others. Thank you!

[oasis]

11. Unfortunately, America will be plagued with "werewolves" long after Trump

leaves office. We need to be aware that the presence of these fanatics will poison our society for many months into the new year.

[H2O Man]

16. Absolutley!

I agree 100%, oasis! In fact, I'd go further -- democracy is, in its truest nature, constant struggle. It will take at least the next year to regain some stability in our country. But we will have to be on guard for the lowest of human natures to rise from the muck and mire.

[malaise]

12. Sad indeed

Last edited Sun Aug 16, 2020, 03:20 PM - Edit history (1)

I'll never understand hate

By the way I remember when your cousin and his son were shot. Can't believe it's six years ago.

[H2O Man]

17. Thanks!

I'm glad you caught that -- I edited it, as my family members were shot in 2014 .....six years ago in October. It's like it was both long ago and yesterday. The freak that was bugging my cousin brought all that up again.

[malaise]

18. Let me edit mine

That's even longer than I thought

[H2O Man]

27. Yeah.

It really doesn't seem it. But my cousin and our whole family remember and appreciate that the DU community contacted the DA and judge in record-setting numbers, demanding the thug not get bail.

[LymphocyteLover]

13. Wow... truly a story for our sad and crazy times

[H2O Man]

21. It's curious that

the people in the "counter-protest" were yelling that Bainbridge has no problems with racism. They are unconscious of the fact that their behaviors prove the exact opposite. It reminded me of when I was young, and heard southern politicians complaining that Martin Luther King, Jr. was coming to their city, saying, "We don't have any race issues here."

[LymphocyteLover]

35. don't you love it when white people say they don't think racism is a problem?

[H2O Man]

36. They are experts.

Just ask them!!!! It is unreal.

[LymphocyteLover]

41. LOL yes

[lambchopp59]

14. "You'd give your life to protect a black person?" the person asked.

Holy freaking racist tropes, Batman.
WTF sort of pinheaded, outdated, totally un-christian crap have you revived, Donald??

[H2O Man]

22. Right.

That freak was also insisting he is not racist. It's as if he is a character that escaped from a Woody Allen horror movie.

[Illumination]

15. H20 Man-What a story! Sorry to hear what you've been through. The world can be a scary

place! Hate never made a nation GREAT!...

[H2O Man]

23. Thank you!

Having a group of people cluster to scream at a group of young adults exercising their constitutional rights is pure hatred in action. They lack the self-awareness needed to recognize that they are the problem.

[Illumination]

28. Totally agree with you! Hope we still have a constitution left after we oust Trump!

Hoping for better days. We know we can have better leadership because we have no true leadership right now! Keep yourself safe H20 Man!

[H2O Man]

30. It's interesting .....

I had a phone call from my normal brother last week. He said that if Trump somehow steals the election, we will begin to see the crumbling of the empire. I disagreed: we are already seeing it, though many do not fully recognize the decay involved. We need a huge, long-term effort to restore Constitutional rule. And the most immediate threat is Trump and his enablers in DC.

And thank you for saying to stay safe, although at my age, that really only applies to the virus. (grin) I am not concerned with the ilk who have threatened me over the years. Those who don't talk pose the real threat. My son told me not to go yesterday, since some of those anti-protesters have a deep dislike for who they imagine me to be. My son said one of them might shoot me. I said no, because if they killed me, I'd be a living legend. He said he had an afternoon appointment for a new tatoo, and didn't want me messing it up.

[Illumination]

33. Just watching TYT & they were discussing the ways Trump could win. Makes my stomach turn!

Said that Gore lost in 2000 because not all the votes were counted, etc. You're right, our nation is falling apart! Unbelievable what Trump's gotten away with! Frightening really! Please be careful there's lots of crazies out there. Like QAnon! In Colorado, keep hearing about hate crimes in Ft. Collins, Longmont, etc. I'm elderly also but will still proudly wear my TRUMP FOR PRISON mask tomorrow! Enjoyed chatting with you H20 Man!

[H2O Man]

40. The pleasure has been mine!

[erronis]

20. I've traveled that area frequently - up and down NY 7 and I-88. Beautiful but trapped in old ways

There's as much of a hilly-billy attitude in the north-east as there is in the south and the mid-west.

We've got ours so the rest of you stay out.

There's not a lot of room for educational or economic or cultural improvement.

The internet is a great way to get people into new fields but there has to be a spark of 'wanting to know', rather than living in bubbles of fb, etc.

[H2O Man]

24. It's a curious region.

The land is as beautiful as any place on earth. And there are a lot of good and decent people. But many appear to be caught up in a time warp, and exist in a 1930s-'50s world that only exists between their ears.

[onetexan]

29. I can empathize. We're in deep red 45-worshipping territory too. This morning @grocery store

picking up some things the hubby & i passed an old, scraggly man with a "Hillary for Prision" tshirt. Needless to say i just wanted to yell at him "what's the matter with you?" but i did not. I let my Biden accessories do the talking. On my head clipped to my sun visor was a 'BIDEN 2020' button.
The MAGAt glared at me while i walked by. Little did he know i had another 2 buttons clipped to the backpack on my back:
"Science is not a liberal conspiracy" & another Biden button right next to it.

He stood for a minute reading my buttons as i walked away with a pissed off look on his face. Hubby & i were chuckling all the way home .

[H2O Man]

31. I prefer old,

scraggly men who support Biden. After all, I am one!

It is strange attempting to explain to cult members that science is a method, and that there actually are true things that combine with our understanding of science that help define reality. The mere thought seems to make them anxious.

I'm glad that you had the Biden accessories on!

[Hekate]

32. Stay safe, H2O Man

Yes, I remember when your cousin’s son was shot.

Thank you for all you do.

[H2O Man]

37. Thank you!

One of the nice things is that I shared the link to my essay to a couple of the young people who organized the rally, and they liked it enough to share it with a large number of others. I called one guy to tell him how proud I am of him, and he said that meant a lot to him, because I always supported him since he was in junior high school, right through college and beyond.

He had traveled up from NYC for the rally. We discussed yhow some community politicians -- board members -- participated in the counter-rally. He is planning on moving back to Bainbridge soon. We've talked before about him running for office. One thing, as the song goes, leads to another.

[Chili]

34. I'm sorry about the horrible loss of your cousin's son

That was heartbreaking for your family. God, I hope someday Justice will take some different route and make them pay for what they did.

Love and support to you and your brave family.

[H2O Man]

38. Thank you!

The thug that shot my cousin and his son is now in state prison, with no chance of getting out before he dies. Those who attacked my nephew faced very mild legal "consequences." I served as our family's spokesperson with the media, and said the results woul lead to more violence. I was correct. The hate gang continued their attacks. A rifle was shot into the house of a white female student, when a black male student was visiting. And then the vicious assaults on Asian-American students at Binghamton University took place. These and other crimes were commited by this gang.

My friend Robert Kennedy, Jt., had sent a letter to the NYS Attorney General at the time, requesting serious consequences for the thugs that had left my nephew for dead in a dark field. The AG, a republican, ignored Robert. When a family friend worked for the next AG (a Democrat), she found the last one had simply tossed Robert's letter out.

[Chili]

42. so glad he is in prison for LIFE

A karmic conclusion - bet he's in fear every day of his life, in prison with all those he hates.

RFK Jr is your friend? How awesome is that! But it sucks, about the letter. Why would your political party influence how you react to a gang committing hate crimes? Incredible.

The best to you for your involvement.

[H2O Man]

45. Right.

I suspect that his personality and background will make prison life less than pleasant for him.

I've known Robert for 30 years now. He has assisted me on Native American burial protection and environmental issues over the decades. If you get a chance to read his (fairly) recently release autobiography, it's a great read.

That republican AG was a shithead.

[Chili]

47. maybe I will read his biography

Admire your work with Native Americans. I'm currently making masks that I want to send to the Zuni - I'm thinking the Sioux and Navajo don't need them any more, do they? It's not a quick process, so I'm slow, but I'm working on it.

I've loved the Kennedy family all my life - since that awful day in Nov 1963. I was 4 years old. My Mom worked for the DoD, so she was sent home. She picked me up from nursery school, and when we got home, she fell to her knees and cried. I'll never forget it. Our crappy black/white tv was broken, so we were downstairs in our neighbor's apartment most of the weekend, watching the news whenever it came on - and on Sunday too. So I was watching when Jack Ruby came outta nowhere and shot Oswald. I will never forget that, either.

And at 8, I was with my Mom while she watched the California primary, 1968. It was late - we lived in Cleveland - and at the time, still poor (she would have a very successful DoD career, but not yet). So we had a small 3-room apartment, & I had to sleep with her in her beat up king size bed, only 1 bedroom (those 3 rooms were biiiig rooms, though - windows everywhere - they don't build apartments like that any more!). The tv was on. There was your friend's father, giving his short speech, celebrating the primary victory. And then... I will never forget that either.

Since that day, I haven't missed voting in a mid-term or presidential election once I turned 18. And I haven't missed a convention since 1968. Will be watching tonight.

[spanone]

43. K&R

We have a rabble-rousing president who's emboldened every asshole in the country

[H2O Man]

44. Thank you!