On Revolutions, and civil wars, and some food for thought

[nadinbrzezinski]

Well in recent days, while going about my daily live, and going to meetings such as DFA... I have heard the word Revolution. I have also heard it in coffee shops, as well as supermarket lines... I have also heard the words strike, as in economic strike, or labor strike. The word Resistance is also starting to crop up.

Now those of us who are students of history know that you only start to hear this in the parlance of a people when they feel desperate enough. We also know that when you start hearing this langauge, something fundamental is starting to percolate in the culture.

Now some people believe something major will happen in DC on the 20th, apart of the inaguration that is. Given the security aparatus about to be deployed we may, best case, see a Concord moment, not that the stenography Corp will cover it, so if you are there... take a compact camera, a notebook and take photos and notes. Remember you are the media and you may very well document a historic moment (and no I am not talking about the Coronation either)

So what is going on?

Here are some working theories from history...

1.- I am hearing what I want to hear, I will take this as a real possibility

2.- Some of us are starting to use language such as "destruction of social security," "cheap labor conservative," "Credit Card Party," "Clean election" "Every vote counts." This is starting to finally percolate into the consciousness, ever so slowly, and yes I did use that language at the election for my District. Hence some people are staring to connect some dots, and starting to wake up. Well I think this is, if present, a minor effect. We have not been at this for long enough nor do we have many mainstream outlets beyond AAR and Shultz, (ray tal and ward are also there)

3.- The Misery Index is rising even faster than most of us have been able to tabulate. When the gov'ment does not hide the numbers it is easy, hell they used to do it... thesse days, it is hard to track. If this is the case we may be getting close to the perfect storm.

[toymachines]

1. your definetly on the right track

i have heard quite a lot of talk about resistance and revolution. many people are getting fed up and are at the point where they will fight for what they are losing. this is only apparent in the people who have heard the truth, can step outside of the popular media, and take the time to become informed. those who have done that rarely stay idle and apathetic. this is especially noticeable in my peer group, late teens/early twenties. this is in southern california by the way.

[hangemhigh]

2. You're on it....

It's also all over the internets. I think the frustration and anger may erupt on the 20th yet I cannot visualize how it may happen. I also wonder how rational, non-violent people can respond effectively. Frankly, I wonder how an illegal regime is removed from office by the population when we are so tightly under the thumbs of a "red terra alert" etc. I would love to see this thread go on with DU's feedback. I have posted twice in 2 days about the worldwide day of protest of the war on January 20th. (This is a well organized event). The response has been tepid at best. That both surprises and disappoints me. I hope your post grows some legs about the entire event.

[Bouncy Ball]

3. Funny you should say that

in recent conversations with other Dems, I've been hearing that word pop up more and more, too.

And it's not a mild word, either. It's a really powerful word and a powerful concept. Revolution.

I think it's a combo of 2 and 3.

[mattclearing]

4. What an awful thought.

I'm all for civil disobedience and protest, but I hope this is not the logical conclusion.

I'm perfectly aware of the possibility that the Inauguration will result in an ugly confrontation.

That doesn't mean that it would be a desirable outcome.

Chances are it will just be used to discredit us again...they will say, "Look, it's the anti-war Kerry voters fighting the troops on the Mall!"

However, the failure of our Constitution to withstand the assault of the Right will likely leave us with no proper recourse within the next few years.

Honestly, it's all so depressing.

[PATRICK]

5. The Idea Index

has NOT been effectively suppressed by the ungifted thinkers of the RW. Rousseau and the Philosophes planted the simple ideas of social government accountability and change at a time when education and education did not exactly
Ideas and truth act differently and with different sped and endurance than bold strategic lies. WE are having an influence of unmasking, altering and changing opinions and opinion making itself in America. There are few others and we are a new different voice than a contrarian pundit in the media competition.

Global consciousness is part of our Enlightenment roots. Most people world wide in every culture faith and region are coming to communal basic awareness and shared needs above venal and shortsighted goals, popular prejudices and old nostrums.

Of course peace, truth and democracy did not universally break out with THE Revolution two hundred years ago. We even have some monarchs and their miserable bourgeois equivalent still in denial of obsolescence.

The other side exhibits all the lack of creative positive influence, competence, culture, science and far-sightedness one would expect of senile decadence or childish use of arrogant privilege by spoiled heirs of unjust systems. it is is seen, hated and our ideas take hold. They only have the provenance of the brutalized and the criminal. They produce nothing. Things will change. It is only a matter of pain and imperfection warping our hopes.