Higher Ground

[H2O Man]

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
George Bernard Shaw

“Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

This weekend, our nation reached “lower ground.” Everyone agrees that the 22-year old gunman is responsible for pulling the trigger of his gun – although it will be up to a court of law to determine if he is legally responsible. Likewise, rational people recognize that the vicious political discourse of the past few years created an atmosphere that gives license to the unstable in society.

People can compare and contrast an individual's delusional beliefs about grammar with the group delusions about President Obama's birth certificate. What is beyond debate is that each one appeals to the darker impulses of those who prescribe to them. The virus of hatred infects the nation, and lowers the quality of life in the United States.

The paranoid, hateful unreasonable and maladjusted citizens – be they are loner, a journalist, or a politician – bring society to that lower ground. It's not just the lone gunman. When a Tea Party member can post on the internet that it was okay that a 9-year old girl was murdered, because she would have grown to become a liberal, it echoes the pathology of the past: “the only 'good' Indian is a dead Indian,” and the murder of four little girls in a Birmingham church, for example.

How do we confront this?

Some very reasonable people suggest that both “sides” – or major political parties – need to “cool it.” That is neither entirely right or wrong. Both sides need to carefully examine both their goals and tactics. Yet it is essential for all people of good will to step up and deal with this situation. Now.

The moderate-to-conservative democrats, including many on this forum, suggest that we need to get along with republicans, and advocate a policy of compromise. I respectfully and strongly disagree. When we look, for example, to the example of Martin Luther King, Jr., we see a creatively maladjusted advocate for non-violence and social justice. Our moderate-to-conservative democratic friends mistakenly believe that King was all about compromise, because he took individual steps towards progress.

Were our friends correct, King would have been okay with the immoral war in Vietnam, because he had won some victories at lunch counters, and some Civil Rights bills were passed. These are the same folks who think it is improper to criticize President Obama's policy in Afghanistan, because he passed a semi-moderate health care/insurance reform bill. That sounds reasonable to them, and so they adjust to this world. Yet compromising what is right with that which is wrong only make the journey to lower ground a bit longer.

But the unreasonable democratic left is unwilling to accept the unacceptable. Now is the time for the creatively maladjusted democratic left in America to step up. We need to take the steps that King took, and planned to take, in order to confront the rot in our culture. That is the only way to change the direction we are headed in. There is no other path to higher ground.

[Solly Mack]

1. k/r

[H2O Man]

17. thanks

[Desertrose]

2. Higher ground is definitely what we need now...

and some deep breaths too while we are at it.

Reacting is never a solution....we have to decide how best we can act to change the way things are going. Creating the future in the best and highest way possible and not continuing to react to & repeat the past.

Thanks, H20Man.

[myrna minx]

3. K&R n/t

[seabeyond]

4. part of that higher ground is owning your part in it. higher ground doesnt go very far

when dismissing reality or burying head in sand, it just simply continues and we will forever being doing this over and over.

yes i want to take the higher ground, but in taking that higher ground is stying true to reality. truth.

[spanone]

5. yes. k&r

[phantom power]

6. See, we're already doing it.

"That is neither entirely right or wrong. Both sides need to carefully examine both their goals and tactics."

No. It's all wrong. And "our side" doesn't need to examine its goals and tactics. See, we're already doing it. We're going into self-examination mode, and I guarantee you that absolutely none of the right-wing eliminationists are examining anything except how to update their target list.

[antigone382]

24. Then that's their problem.

Self-examination should not be conceived as a "mode" one steps into and out of. It is a constant process. Constantly questioning one's true motivations, one's true effectiveness, one's ignorance or susceptibility to external influences inconsistent with one's professed ethics, is the only way to legitimately play a wise and positive role in the world. Committing onesself to continual self examination in the quest for social justice may be a slower, less flashy, less ego-satisfying path, but it is the only path that gets to the desired destination.

[Vattel]

27. awesome

[alsame]

7. Yes. I was a very young child during the ugliness of the

60s...now I'm an adult and I will not stand idly by while this country gets consumed with rot again.

K&R.

[seabeyond]

9. then the rot has got to be acknowledge in order to clean it up. nt

[H2O Man]

43. Exactly right.

[dave29]

8. self delete

not helping.

[mmonk]

10. Thanks.

I now know my problem is being maladjusted and I will step up to start the path to higher ground. The rot must go.

[Octafish]

11. Call me 'unreasonable' or 'creatively maladjusted,' I don't care which.

Because I will Kick and Rec this message. It is that important.

H20 Man = Mouth Peace

[Swamp Rat]

18. "H20 Man = Mouth Peace"

Love it! :D

:hi: ¡Órale, carnal! :hippie:

[rosesaylavee]

45. +1

:rofl:

love it!

[OneGrassRoot]

12. K&R! n/t

[GeorgeGist]

13. DemocraticHigherground.com

Never heard of it.

[lunatica]

14. I'm right there with you H2O Man

I totally agree and promise to renew my promise to be more inclusive in my tone and yet to never give up on the ultimate goals.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. Peace to you H2O man

"Keep on trying till we reach the higher ground, 'cause it won't be too long." Stevie Wonder

[rosesaylavee]

dupe delete

dupe delete

[rosesaylavee]

16. Agreed. What are the next steps in your estimation?

What would Dr. King do here?

[H2O Man]

39. Good question.

While there is no individual with Martin's stature and reputation in America today, I think that we can learn from his example, and apply those lessons today. Bear with me while I think "out loud" .... or at least as I'm writing.

First, of course, is how each of us approaches things at the grass roots level. An example that I'll use here is my current effort in Sidney, NY. That's the upstate New York community where the Town Supervisor and two councilmen -- all radical Tea Partiers -- made national news last fall, when they attempted to force a Sufi settlement to remove two "Musim" bodies from a legal cemetery.

A group of Sidney citizens approached me for help in organizing the community effort to confront this nativist attack on the tiny Islamic settlement. More, as I've documented on other DU OP/threads, these three have done more damage to that small town. And so I have been active in trying to create a structure for the people of good will, not only to contest the three thugs, but to make some positive changes in their community.

That's a lot of work. Surprisingly, even with a group that includes many intelligent and capable people, none of them really have experience in this type of activity. So there is more for me to do, than I had anticipated.

I've never considered myself as a "leader" (for lack of better term), but I'm in that position. And so, for the sake of this discussing, I'll focus on what that role, uncomfortable as it might be, requires .... and not the "organizational" end of it, but the internal process.

Now, let me start with an example to illustrate a point I want to make: last Thursday, at the Town Board Meeting, there were about twenty people in the audience. The board was not pleased. They did their business quickly, then attempted to close the meeting. Nineteen people in the audience were unhappy, but willing to let it end. I wasn't. Although two members on the Board -- the supervisor and his step-son -- stood up and were starting to leave, I said, "Nope. This meeting is not over. We're going to listen to what everyone wants to say. Now, sit down."

Both sat back down.

I did not like that. It's better than them leaving, but it wasn't proper. I'm not so foolish as to think it was any huge display of power on my part, but it happened. We were there 45 minutes more. When we left, I found myself giving serious thought to what it meant -- not only to the group of people, but in terms of myself. If I'm going to do something like that, I have to be clear. I need to be sure that I'm not acting on my ego, or for my needs. I need to be focused on what is actually in the best interests of everyone. See? It would be easy for me, even fun, to simply make that supervisor look stupid (he does that on his own). I could be angry, hostile, and punative. Oh, I could! But I have to look inside myself, and be sure of what I do.

Does that make sense?

Second: in terms of Beck, Rush, and their ilk, it would be easy to be angry, hostile, and engage in a tit-for-tat struggle with them. They lack the capacity to make a conscious choice to stop behaving in dangerously anti-social ways. Again, I look inside myself. I think of Martin's teachings. And I conclude that the best avenue right now, is for the grass roots to organize pressure on their sponsors, their source of income, to behave responsibly. We need to strike while the iron is hot. That means making phone calls and writing letters to inform those sponsors that we will boycott any and all products associated with Fox et al. Letter-to-the-editor, and spreading the word on the internet.

In doing so, we will find young leaders stepping foreward. Stepping up to the plate. Bringing things to a higher level.

I have some other thoughts. Your's is a good question, one worthy of an OP/thread, or series of OP/threads. I think it is an idea that's time has come.

[rosesaylavee]

41. this is what I have been struggling with...

I appreciate your time in writing about how you are personally 'walking the walk'. I agree that the time is ripe for right action. Not sure where or how I am personally going to fit into the larger picture...yet. I am doing it in small ways but nothing at the community level at the moment.

I would disagree with you in your assessment as 'leader'. I bet I'm not the only here either. :) You lead every time you write an essay and your words reach further than you may think. There are very few essays that you write that don't challenge me in my thinking or move me to review how my actions are in line or not with the ideas you present.

Glad you are here for all that. Looking forward to more in a future OP. Read this this morning and thought this may be at the crux of what 'could' come out of all this violence in Tucson: http://saje3d.blogspot.com/2011/01/of-tragedy-in-tucson.html?zx=41d41a3e6443f4c8 I like this line the best - "We are not alone in this, and one of the greatest moral crimes of the right wing is to suggest we are. The health of our neighbors--be it physical or mental--does effect each and every one of us."

on edit - and yes, what you said makes perfect sense. I struggle with keeping my ego at a dull roar esp when I am feeling righteous and/or indignant about something that is hurting some one or a group. While it's good to have the ability to command people to listen, if used too often, it fortunately loses it's power.

[H2O Man]

42. You are kind.

I appreciate that there are people on this forum who, like you, find what I have to see to be of interest .... even when they (or you) might disagree with some of my opinions. That's one of the things that I like the best about this forum: there are a variety of good, smart people with a wide range of backgrounds and opinions. Even within the larger group, with the frequent stresses and conflicts, there is a solid sense of community. I am pleased to be part of that, as it allows me the opportunity to know and converse with people like you.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

19. K&R. Thank you.

[Me.]

20. Shaw Makes The Point Succinctly

The progressive 'agenda' makes many feel uncomfortable and is often deemed inconvenient especially as they keep trying to move this country out of 'Leave It To Beaver Land', the one that never was and only lived on television and in fantasy land. (Did they ever have a black person on that show) Wouldn't the better fantasy be one where people are housed, fed and cared for medically? Where the air is clean and the water pure? Where a bank won't charge you for checking your balance and try to steal your home right out from under you? Where we don't spy on everyone and keep fighting failed wars that never should've been in the first place? Where is the benefit in the compromise that asks us to accept less?

I heard that more people were killed in Tuscon than at the gun fight at the OK Corral. That was in 1881...shouldn't we be farther along than we are?

[Catherina]

21. Thank you. Rec'd. n/t

[ProSense]

22. Yes

Some very reasonable people suggest that both “sides” – or major political parties – need to “cool it.” That is neither entirely right or wrong. Both sides need to carefully examine both their goals and tactics. Yet it is essential for all people of good will to step up and deal with this situation. Now.

It's time for a higher level of discourse, but it's not going to happen if someone on the other side doesn't step up. No one has.

There is still room for debate, disagreement and protest, but it can happen sans violent rhetoric and actions.

[northamericancitizen]

23. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and pointing the way...nt

[GrannyK]

25. Thanks

Higher ground is always preferable to slogging in the mud and muck.

[scarletwoman]

26. Thank you for this timely message. Well said as always.

The Right revels in its "darker impulses", they are intoxicated - in all senses of the word - with hate.

What has worried me these past two days is watching so many DUers also getting intoxicated with hate. That can't be the right way to "confront the rot in our culture", to give in to our reactionary and raw emotional impulses, can it?

How do we confront this task creatively? Surely not with snarling anger and hatred, but with hearts afire with purpose and determination, and a fierce unwavering devotion to truth and justice.

sw

[Vattel]

28. well-said

[scarletwoman]

31. Thank you.

And I'll take this opportunity to kick this thread in the hope that more folks will read H2O Man's wonderful OP.

[Little Star]

29. I especially like where you said....

"Both sides need to carefully examine both their goals and tactics. Yet it is essential for all people of good will to step up and deal with this situation. Now."

The question now is, how will we on the left, step up & what are our goals? Is this just another political battle or is there a more important issue at stake in this instance?

Tactics matter very much. I think (that just for this one time) we need to find a way to stop the language of hate. We need to find a way to stop this kind of language to try and avoid another instance like this. If that means accepting some responsibility that our side has not always been careful with their language, then so be it. Our politicians and our main-stream media have been mild and sporadic with their hateful language. The other side's media and politicians are out of control and in your face 24/7 with theirs. What is wrong with taking our true and fair share of the responsibility (which is very small)? Just maybe, we would catch more flies with honey. Honesty is always the best policy. jmho

[steve2470]

30. Agreed and always great to read you nt

[kgnu_fan]

32. .

[watercolors]

33. You said it all! Thanks for the Higher Ground

nt

[KoKo]

34. "...time for the creatively maladjusted democratic left in America to step up."

Well said... Hope we aren't waiting in vain.

:thumbsup:

[JonLP24]

35. k*r

:kick:

[spanone]

36. ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wZ3ZG_Wams

[H2O Man]

37. Great song!

[spanone]

38. an american treasure....

[hfojvt]

40. "the steps that King took and planned to take"

we seemed to be mired in a different view and a different path. King was an advocate of non-violence and also of non-hate. We seemed to be adamantly against non-hate. When you are a Jet you are supposed to hate those evil old Sharks.

[H2O Man]

44. Interesting point.

I'd like to believe that I do not "hate" those I identify as my opposition. I wrote (up-thread), for example, about the on-going conflict that I am involved in, in the community of Sidney, NY. It is a conflict where the Tea Party Town Supervisor, and two Tea Party councilmen (his step-son & best friend) have been attacking a tiny Sufi settlement, as reported on Countdown and the Huffington Post, etc.

While I am among the "leaders" the the community-based opposition group (which has support across the country), I've never advocated anything close to "hate" of the three Tea Partiers. I am, of course, attempting to expose some of their actions, to put them in check to keep them from doing further damage, and to have at least one removed from office (and run candidates to defeat the other two in the next election).

I do, at times, make jokes about them. Even express a degree of contempt for some of the things they do. But I tend to do this in some non-public meetings, or even on this forum. I note that anyone familiar with Martin Luther King, Jr., is aware that he did much the same when discussing Eugene "Bull" Connor and others. King even made an off-color joke about JFK shortly after Dallas, which Hoover was sure to play for RFK.

I think that Connor and Hoover were hateful men. It's hard for me to think that King was the same, because he made a few harsh jokes.

[hfojvt]

46. well that is you and your actions

I am speaking more to the words and the general tone of DU. There's a lot of hate and justifications of hate here, as I remember one of my favorite songs "go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend. Do it in the name of heaven, justify it in the end ..." Feels more like August Spies than Martin Luther King.

[sabrina 1]

47. Too late to rec

But :kick: for more viewing.

Excellent as always.

I wish I knew how to deal with the 'rot'. We certainly cannot reason with them. Setting an example by rising about them, that doesn't work either.

And appeasing them, as the MSM and even some of the leadership of the Democratic Party does by blaming 'both sides' which I expect the president will do in his speech to the nation, is like giving a spoiled, temper-throwing child what s/he is demanding, thus encouraging the behavior.

So, how can we deal with them? They are well funded, we are not, and have media access, we do not. So, I am at a loss.

[kgnu_fan]

48. Need to see this post again today to protect my sanity...