Sunday, July 21, 2019

FEAR -- FLIGHT -- FALLACIOUS LANGUAGE


I brought up the topic of courage in my previous post which prompted some interesting reader comments.   The topic evolved into some other thoughts for me as I consider what’s happening with bald eaglet Simba becoming fly-worthy, also daily life issues we each encounter plus the challenges presented in our nation and the world today.

Rain who writes at Rainy Day Thoughts observed discerning between what might be considered a courageous act and, in fact, is actually foolish can be a challenge.  I suppose if the action is judged successful we consider it courageous, but failure might be viewed as our having been foolish to ever having undertaken it in the first place. 

Terra who writes at Terra Garden contrasts overcoming the fear some experience of even leaving their house versus those we view as courageously circling the earth in a space shuttle.     
Jean at Misadventures of Widowhood writes of the courage we exhibit whenever we act outside our comfort zone.

Raman’s Musings from India included his report of the courage he needed to leave a long-established career in his late forties to start a new career.

Goldendaze Ginnie reports living in the midst of a geographical area where we could surmise it might take courage to express less than popular views from those of the predominant group's religious beliefs.  She cites the Serenity Prayer’s sentiments as guidance which I concur can be pertinent in life.

Courage and fear seem to be intrinsically linked as Arkansas Patti who writes at  TheNew Sixty notes – the latter stimulating or needing to be overcome for action we often describe as being courageous. 

Nick in Northern Ireland who writes at Nick Here and Now introduced being “...impressed by the courage of Labour Party whistle-blowers who've spoken up about virulent antisemitism in the party and incurred the wrath of the party leadership.”  
Perhaps we could use a few more such courageous types in our President’s political party.
Seems to me we’re seeing some interesting displays of fear, courage, or lack thereof.....

..... as I also wonder what eaglet Simba is experiencing? 

Perhaps there are skills Simba needs yet to acquire before he initiates flight.    Maybe he is not afraid to fly, is not lacking in courage.  Maybe his parents, Shadow and Jackie,  know this and have been directing he must develop these skills or acquire more strength and stamina before launching into the air.  

All we know is Simba is well into the timeline when eaglets begin making their beginning flights and we humans are impatient for him to do so.  We’re still waiting for his maiden flight as I write this Saturday night, July 20th. 

Earlier today when I did a more lengthy check on Simba than the occasional brief visits I make during the week, I observed his continued activities were limited to hopping about the nest, short flights from a branch into the nest, picking up and moving small branches in the nest, positioning himself on various larger branches from which he could launch into the air, lots of wings extension with flapping, lengthy time periods perching quietly with eagle-eye surveying of his surroundings. 

Before dusk there was considerable bird talk with a larger variety of communication soumds than I’ve heard before,  presumably with his parents.   Then, his father, Shadow, flew into the nest with a fish Simba ate.  Simba produced lots of whining sounds, seemed agitated with his father in one instance, was finally fed a few bites before Shadow ultimately left the nest.   

Later when Simba perched on a launching branch there was lots more parental bird talk conversation, wing strengthening flapping but without his talons releasing their grip on the branch to actually fly.  Darkness came and Simba appears to be spending the night alone, perched on the launching branch as his mother, Jackie, never flew in with a fish as she often has in the past. 

Political view alert....
On a human note I’ve long been concerned that so few leaders in our government have had the courage to contradict or denounce our President’s words, actions that are counter to what I’ve believed represent the basic values of our nation.  This has become increasingly true ever since the current leadership has been in power driving and bullying our country toward becoming an autocracy with efforts to subvert the other branches of government and attempts to nullify the Fourth Estate, the press.  

Government departments have been weakened with ineffectual or unqualified leadership, often with only acting department heads.  Criteria for appointments is blind absolute loyalty to a President whose actions suggest a disloyalty to the very nation's values he serves.  

Setting an example that fosters violence, then offering meaningless disclaimers are hallmarks of this leader’s techniques that breed dissension, not unification.   One could conclude deliberate tactics are being utilized to create unrest or worse throughout our country.  Token actions are occasionally taken to garner press attention, then ballyhooed as demonstrating the magnanimous nature of this individual. 

Even citizens supporting our President seem to have set aside their professed values as they make some of the most bizarre interpretations excusing his worse-than-offensive words and deeds.   Fear seems to be a factor for many of those in our government who give him cover with such defensive distorted views as do those who remain silent, a betrayal to the electorate.   Might this be a demonstration of lack of courage? 

We are long past a time when individuals, especially those in our Congress, need to stand up for our nation’s values, even if it means challenging and contradicting their political party’s leader.  This is not a time for political partisanship.  This is a time for dedication to preservation of our constitutional democratic republic and values with the individual freedoms we so cherish. 

I expect readers have been exposed multiple times to the most recent as well as past profound pronouncements from our nation’s leader which prompts my commentary here.  I choose to not repeat any of them which would only further the distraction they were likely intended to be when uttered. 

I wonder if less attention was assigned to the asinine outrageous verbiage our President so often espouses would be better?  What if such deliberate attention-seeking words of his were just ignored?  
What is the best way to deal with such a public figure?  

Should other public figures as part of their professional obligations to their constituents courageously speak out against such language and/or actions they find offensive?  If they remain silent should we assume they agree or merely that they’re cowards -- which should be of note to voters come next election?   

Oh, and what is the likelihood Bald Eaglet Simba will fly this week?  

14 comments:

  1. Interesting post today with lots of food for thought. I'm not sure what the right way to response to our outrageous president is but silence on the part of those who disagree isn't an option in my opinion. Silence to his lies so they become "facts" in the minds of his supporters isn't going to produce anything productive. But on the other hand, he's wearing people down and that's scary.

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  2. Thought it funny. I accessed the eagle nest last time and thought "Wow,' I am seeing his first flight." Actually all I saw was him hopping to the branch. Didn't know he did that as a tease.
    I agree we give his comments too much attention. It only aids him in stirring up his base. Besides he will either deny he ever said them though we have visual proof or it will cause him to double down. I think with his ego mania, the best offence might be ignoring him.

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  3. I find it really diffcult to understand that there are so few voices of dissent with your president. Are people afraid or in his pockets or just disinterested?
    I have been reading about the nazi power games in my country during the 1930s and their simple, repetitive methods of numbing people's empathy and sense of morals. It didn't take much ingenuity, it wasn't any thing to do with brain washing nor theratening, just repetition and blame games.

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    1. Coincidentally, I read a blogger-historian-recommended book as he took office: because it described the social and cultural conditions prevailing in European countries when the Nazi leader rose to power. I was struck then by the parallels existing in our own country so many decades later. I had often wondered through the years how so many intelligent good people could have allowed their country to be taken over by such a despot. Documented descriptions provided the step-by-step manner in which this occurred. Seeing this happen in similar fashion here when I thought it never could in the U.S. or other allied nations has been incredible to me. I could now see what happened in Europe, recognized what was occurring and continues in the U.S. today. Only a few, but more in the past year or so, have been outspoken about this threat within to our democracy. You describe well the simplistic manner which is used for a leader to assume an authoritarian position which is also occurring in several select European countries. What is happening politically in the U.S. is far more than a simple philosophical disagreement between the two major political parties as some well-meaning citizens like to frame it.. In fact, one of the parties has been hijacked, their values undermined with even religious groups hoodwinked much as occurred so many years ago that many came to regret only after much tragedy.

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  4. I'm hoping that the silent ones will use the ballot box as their commentary in 2020. Right now the republicans are quiet because despite his disgusting presence and rhetoric, he is allowing their agenda to become law. He is getting rid of lots of big business regulation and consumer/environmental protections. He is changing America's judiciary to a right-wing, conservative bench in the district and Supreme courts. He is allowing the majority of the wealth to stay in the upper tiers of society. Most republicans in the Congress are happy to suck up and let 45* pillage the reputation of the country to gain these perks.

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  5. It's baffling that there isn't more frequent and more vociferous condemnation of the President's words and actions, given as you say that they so often run counter to basic democratic values and principles. Given his relentless attacks on the four congresswomen, I can only assume that people are too afraid of being singled out and insulted in the same way if they openly criticise him. Good for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, retaliating against his open racism and xenophobia.

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  6. Because I have liberal and conservative friends, it's interestingly how differently they see what's happening. And before anyone assumes the conservatives must be racists, etc., my friends are all good people but their life experiences have led them to see what should happen in the country differently. Both sides tend to overlook the bad stuff on their own side, which is logical I guess. I just hope that whoever wins next time, we as a nation will stop so much anger and bitterness. I am not sure it can happen though as it didn't begin with Trump.

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  7. We have our share of public figures making outrageous statements often and I personally ignore them for being exactly what you say, attention getting devices. The media however goes overboard with such statements and provides a lot of entertainment including in our parliament.

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  8. We can't catch a break with ourselves and the media: we can't shut up about Trump. Just for 24 hours I'd like a president-free news/blog day.

    For the past few years I, too, have noted the similarity between what's going on here and what happened in Germany that installed the 3rd Reich. Scary!
    Cop Car

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    1. Now, the Supremes have ruled to give the Executive Branch the right which belongs to Congress to spend defense monies on the boondoggle wall.

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  9. I wonder what would happen if the media would give Trump less coverage?
    Thank you for your lovely note yesterday.

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    1. We need to know what he does in his dictatorial actions, but there’s an inordinate amount of coverage he receives otherwise. Even the well-meaning comics with their sarcasm are giving him undue attention. He long ago described capitalizing on what he considered negative press. Uncanny how he describes faults that apply to himself but he attributes them to his critics.

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  10. So glad to have found another Blog with substance that I now want to follow and read! As for 45, I almost have no Words, never thought a Sociopath Demagogue would be our President! I do think he thrives on Media attention and being noticed, and doing whatever it takes to be the center of attention, like a Child, not caring whether that attention is negative or positive.

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    1. Thanks for visiting and your comments. Who would have thought so many of our citizens would seem to embrace such a person, though less than a majority of voters.

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