IDK. Some days I think the wussification has saturated too deeply in American culture for us to fight our way back out of the mess we are sinking into. When leaders in Congress think writing a strongly worded letter to the advocates of autocracy counts as fighting back, when only 45% of our armed service members bother to vote, and when not one member of the entire media is able and willing to go find out if a senior politician is even still alive, I'm not sure how we reignite personal courage and get it to spread. Unlike the founding fathers, who pledged their fortunes and their sacred honor to the cause, people have lost sight of the idea of sacred honor and the ones with fortunes that could make a difference are just hoping to ride out the chaos behind their moats of money. I'm not sure the strength is invisible because it's under the surface.
Even the few people or organizations that talk a big game about resisting and pushing back, when you show up and say, "Great! I'm in. Sign me up and let's turn this into action," have no real response. They seem to think people can be speeched and sparked into action instead of actually being lead. They hope people will rebel when they are given rhetoric Instead of being given roles and role models.
Won't stop me from fighting, or others like me, but doesn't make me optimistic about our chances, either.
Spot-on --- the part that resonated the most with this morning's headlines, pointed to the importance of maintaining America's alliances. I served with the US Air Force in South Korea during two particularly intense years of threats from the communist north, in 1968 and '69. This isn't the space to explain the importance of history that Donald Trump --- to America's shame --- neither understands nor has the moral sense to appreciate. But the fact that a president of the United States has the nerve to praise the communist north and denigrate South Korea --- a democracy! --- is an insult to those of us who put our lives on the line, for a free South Korea.
Hi Erik. We are in the process of reworking that button! It should lead to somewhere other than where you "are already" for both subscribers and non-subscribers!
Institutions suffer little before bending.
Thanks for all your research and essays. Truth matters. #HoldFast
Agree..#HOLDFAST
Read The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon
IDK. Some days I think the wussification has saturated too deeply in American culture for us to fight our way back out of the mess we are sinking into. When leaders in Congress think writing a strongly worded letter to the advocates of autocracy counts as fighting back, when only 45% of our armed service members bother to vote, and when not one member of the entire media is able and willing to go find out if a senior politician is even still alive, I'm not sure how we reignite personal courage and get it to spread. Unlike the founding fathers, who pledged their fortunes and their sacred honor to the cause, people have lost sight of the idea of sacred honor and the ones with fortunes that could make a difference are just hoping to ride out the chaos behind their moats of money. I'm not sure the strength is invisible because it's under the surface.
Even the few people or organizations that talk a big game about resisting and pushing back, when you show up and say, "Great! I'm in. Sign me up and let's turn this into action," have no real response. They seem to think people can be speeched and sparked into action instead of actually being lead. They hope people will rebel when they are given rhetoric Instead of being given roles and role models.
Won't stop me from fighting, or others like me, but doesn't make me optimistic about our chances, either.
Spot-on --- the part that resonated the most with this morning's headlines, pointed to the importance of maintaining America's alliances. I served with the US Air Force in South Korea during two particularly intense years of threats from the communist north, in 1968 and '69. This isn't the space to explain the importance of history that Donald Trump --- to America's shame --- neither understands nor has the moral sense to appreciate. But the fact that a president of the United States has the nerve to praise the communist north and denigrate South Korea --- a democracy! --- is an insult to those of us who put our lives on the line, for a free South Korea.
I'm subscribed. Why does the "Read More" button not open the rest of the substack post?
Hi Erik. We are in the process of reworking that button! It should lead to somewhere other than where you "are already" for both subscribers and non-subscribers!