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Above in this comment thread:
The Obama Phenomenon
Avoid the charge of America-bashing
Posted by
Anonymous User
at
February 29, 2008 13:18
This is an insightful and compelling explanation of the Obama phenomenon. I agree with your main points, Michael Lerner. I have just one small point to make and suggestion to give. It's this: why make it easier for conservative stay-the-course Bushites and others to brush you off by appearing to attack "our country," the proud USA? You wrote: "But today, most Americans remain in a state of zombie-like denial of what this country continues to do." This framing of your point is a mistake--tactically and conceptually. By saying "this country" you risk sounding like a self-righteous, aloof America-basher. And you adopt a simplistic concept of what a country is. I submit to you that it's tactically smart and intellectually rigorous to distinguish between our nation, our country, our flag, our Constitution, etc. and what has happened to these things in the hands of Bush and his cronies. Why not lament what Bush has done to our country, as well as to the people of Iraq, instead of decrying what "this country continues to do"? Okay, a minor point, and I've rambled on for too long. But I hope you'll think about it.
Paul
Paul
avoid ANYbashing -- and a paradigm that may help with that
Posted by
Anonymous User
at
March 06, 2008 18:39
Your point is well taken and in my opinon relevant. That was one place where the author got caught subtly in the paradigm of "us vs them" that he rightly sees as obsolete. Seeing where you're coming from, I suspect that if you haven't already checked it out you'd find some affinity for the Nonviolent Communication that's briefly mentioned in this article.
Checkout www.cnvc.org or email me at temp2@fastmail.fm if interested.
Regards,
Alex
Checkout www.cnvc.org or email me at temp2@fastmail.fm if interested.
Regards,
Alex
Freedom and Democracy
Posted by
Anonymous User
at
April 24, 2008 19:58
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Freedom and Democracy
Regarding new elections in Florida and Michigan, Senator Obama said we should play by the rules, I contend. In other words, we should not change the rules in the middle of the game.
Senator Bradley and Senator Daschle--both Obamanites--said the same thing as Obama. Play by the rules.
Play by the rules even though the voters of Florida and Michigan have been disenfranchised.
Ok.
Well, the rules also say that superdelegates can vote for Hillary even though most pledged delegates are for Obama.
Those are the rules. And we should not change the rules in the middle of the game, says Senator Obama, Senator Bradley and Senator Daschle.
I wonder if the corporate media will remind them that they are sticklers for the rules and for not changing the rules in the middle of the game.
I would imagine if the senators forget their rulesmanship it will look to the public as if they will say whatever they have to say in order to win. In other words, it will look as if they are practicing that old style politics they say they are so adamantly against.
For example, you might hear them say that superdelegates should be punished by the voters if they choose the rules over freedom and democracy.
Hmmmmm?
Then I suppose Obama, Bradley and Daschle should also be punished by the voters because they defended the rules against freedom and democracy for Florida and Michigan voters.
Freedom and Democracy
Regarding new elections in Florida and Michigan, Senator Obama said we should play by the rules, I contend. In other words, we should not change the rules in the middle of the game.
Senator Bradley and Senator Daschle--both Obamanites--said the same thing as Obama. Play by the rules.
Play by the rules even though the voters of Florida and Michigan have been disenfranchised.
Ok.
Well, the rules also say that superdelegates can vote for Hillary even though most pledged delegates are for Obama.
Those are the rules. And we should not change the rules in the middle of the game, says Senator Obama, Senator Bradley and Senator Daschle.
I wonder if the corporate media will remind them that they are sticklers for the rules and for not changing the rules in the middle of the game.
I would imagine if the senators forget their rulesmanship it will look to the public as if they will say whatever they have to say in order to win. In other words, it will look as if they are practicing that old style politics they say they are so adamantly against.
For example, you might hear them say that superdelegates should be punished by the voters if they choose the rules over freedom and democracy.
Hmmmmm?
Then I suppose Obama, Bradley and Daschle should also be punished by the voters because they defended the rules against freedom and democracy for Florida and Michigan voters.
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