I so value your full-hearted, open-hearted, whole heart. Segmented but not separated. With space to carry the horrors that live right next door to the exquisite. And every shade in between. Space that’s born from feeling our feelings all the way through and recognizing that they’re simply visiting. I’ve long believed that if we can’t open to our pain or to the wholeness of our experience, we’ll never find room for the beauty that is always present. I’m daily, passionately, persistently grateful that you and Tim are on the planet. Roaring or soothing, your voices resonate deeply. Thank you for all that you do.
Seems I held on too tightly to that youthful rebelliousness of which you speak so eloquently. And it's gotten me into a whole lotta shit over my lifetime.
They say the crane will bite out pieces of it's stomach, to feed it's young. There was a Bodhisattva who used his skin as paper , and his blood as ink to transmit the Lotus Sutra. Keep your head up!
That’s exactly what RWNJs want you to believe; boycotting the vote will somehow help. Suppressing the vote helps them. So perhaps explain in more detail how your theory works.
For the idiots who think not voting is revolutionary, I quote Marx in a speech he gave in 1872:
"In our midst there has been formed a group advocating the workers' abstention from political action. We have considered it our duty to declare how dangerous and fatal for our cause such principles appear to be.
Someday the worker must seize political power in order to build up the new organization of labor; he must overthrow the old politics which sustain the old institutions, if he is not to lose Heaven on Earth, like the old Christians who neglected and despised politics.
But we have not asserted that the ways to achieve that goal are everywhere the same.
You know that the institutions, mores, and traditions of various countries must be taken into consideration, and we do not deny that there are countries -- such as America, England, and if I were more familiar with your institutions, I would perhaps also add Holland -- where the workers can attain their goal by peaceful means."
Not participating is "dangerous and fatal " to the revolution, he asserts, and so unless o want to argue Marx was controlled opposition those rejecting "participating" and trying to seize power peacefully are DANGEROUS AND FATAL FOR OUR CAUSE.
I've seen this quoted before, in service of saying we can vote our way out of our situation. I don't think you're quoting Marx for that purpose, but just in case anyone else is confused about it, this was in response to syndicalism, which held that socialists should abstain from political action and trying to take control of the state.
That said, I advocate for voting for the sane, non-fascist corporate party these days because lesser evil is better than greater evil. But the lesser evil's evils help and helped build support for the greater evil. I don't understand why @RafaelGarcia thinks not voting will hasten the system's collapse. But I also believe we need a massive, nonviolent revolutionary movement and should never encourage people to vote in terms that promote the illusion that we can vote the billionaire imperialists' minions out of power.
For almost the first time, Americans have the option not to vote for the lesser evil to prevent the greater evil but to vote for real change, as the radical progressives and democratic socialists are fighting for control over the establishment Democrats (the lesser evil). We actually, in many states , have the oppoortunity to elect people who genuinely are attempting to create a party, and perhaps a government, that is the voice of the working class. I would advice not voing for anyone taking corporate money but supporting those running on progressive values and grass roots support. I am 85 and have never seen this option in my entire life.
I jumped into this debate in another comment and don't regret doing so. But I'm struck how easy it is for some of us to move away from the vulnerability of Caitlin's poetry into debates about strategy.
Strategy is where the rubber hits the road. All the dreams and values in the world are worthless unless pushed by sound strategy. Caitlin's strategy is to inspire us, to encourage us, so we go forth and find ways to change the world. To do that, nothing less than good strategy will work.
The MAGA fascists applaud you for aiding their cause. The system won't collapse but it will reward the far right which gains power when voter participation is low. Apathy which is the result of cynicism is the foundation of their power for if the consent of the governed is robust, the right will not win. Perhaps you think letting the fascists win will hasten the collapse?
Not voting, i.e refusing to participate in the pseudo-democracy, is a legitimate response. However the system will not collapse simply because large numbers of people (currently in the range of 20%-40% of those eligible to vote in western states) cease to vote. The real change will only take place when people set up their own authentically democratic institutions based on self-determined non-uniform constituencies, continuous election and the open ballot.
Well done, Caitlin. People need this kind of encouragement right now.
I hope we can all muster the courage to feel it all, stay kind and make this a mission in our lives.
I so value your full-hearted, open-hearted, whole heart. Segmented but not separated. With space to carry the horrors that live right next door to the exquisite. And every shade in between. Space that’s born from feeling our feelings all the way through and recognizing that they’re simply visiting. I’ve long believed that if we can’t open to our pain or to the wholeness of our experience, we’ll never find room for the beauty that is always present. I’m daily, passionately, persistently grateful that you and Tim are on the planet. Roaring or soothing, your voices resonate deeply. Thank you for all that you do.
"You are not like the others.
The dollar-drilled and Pentagon-pilled."
I love that description!
May we all remain unsedated, undeterred, unbribed, and un-touched by the military industrial complex forever.
When your head is up you can say something. Thank you.
Seems I held on too tightly to that youthful rebelliousness of which you speak so eloquently. And it's gotten me into a whole lotta shit over my lifetime.
Okay, this was the one that finally made me a paid subscriber. And brought a lump to my throat. Thanks, Caitlin!
Beautiful, Caitlin. You are a treasure! Big gratitude!
Thank you Caitlin. My humanist upbringing is hitting hard right now. Thank you for reinforcing it.
They say the crane will bite out pieces of it's stomach, to feed it's young. There was a Bodhisattva who used his skin as paper , and his blood as ink to transmit the Lotus Sutra. Keep your head up!
Unfortunately, the caveman response is probably the only thing that will stop the genocidal arseholes, cogent argument does not work.
Thank you, Caitlin. You came to our rescue once again. You are letting us know that we are not alone. We are together in our hearts and minds.
🙏❤️🤗
Yes, I will.
Thank you dear lady and spouse!
💐💐💐💐
What more is sorrow? but the withered blossom of
My hope, decayed, ashen brown,
A little whit of smouldering dust,
Aloes to me; to thee a haunting scent,
Which brings a thousand recollections, mayhap.
.
~pw
Solution: dont vote. Let the system collapse
That’s exactly what RWNJs want you to believe; boycotting the vote will somehow help. Suppressing the vote helps them. So perhaps explain in more detail how your theory works.
For the idiots who think not voting is revolutionary, I quote Marx in a speech he gave in 1872:
"In our midst there has been formed a group advocating the workers' abstention from political action. We have considered it our duty to declare how dangerous and fatal for our cause such principles appear to be.
Someday the worker must seize political power in order to build up the new organization of labor; he must overthrow the old politics which sustain the old institutions, if he is not to lose Heaven on Earth, like the old Christians who neglected and despised politics.
But we have not asserted that the ways to achieve that goal are everywhere the same.
You know that the institutions, mores, and traditions of various countries must be taken into consideration, and we do not deny that there are countries -- such as America, England, and if I were more familiar with your institutions, I would perhaps also add Holland -- where the workers can attain their goal by peaceful means."
Not participating is "dangerous and fatal " to the revolution, he asserts, and so unless o want to argue Marx was controlled opposition those rejecting "participating" and trying to seize power peacefully are DANGEROUS AND FATAL FOR OUR CAUSE.
I've seen this quoted before, in service of saying we can vote our way out of our situation. I don't think you're quoting Marx for that purpose, but just in case anyone else is confused about it, this was in response to syndicalism, which held that socialists should abstain from political action and trying to take control of the state.
That said, I advocate for voting for the sane, non-fascist corporate party these days because lesser evil is better than greater evil. But the lesser evil's evils help and helped build support for the greater evil. I don't understand why @RafaelGarcia thinks not voting will hasten the system's collapse. But I also believe we need a massive, nonviolent revolutionary movement and should never encourage people to vote in terms that promote the illusion that we can vote the billionaire imperialists' minions out of power.
For almost the first time, Americans have the option not to vote for the lesser evil to prevent the greater evil but to vote for real change, as the radical progressives and democratic socialists are fighting for control over the establishment Democrats (the lesser evil). We actually, in many states , have the oppoortunity to elect people who genuinely are attempting to create a party, and perhaps a government, that is the voice of the working class. I would advice not voing for anyone taking corporate money but supporting those running on progressive values and grass roots support. I am 85 and have never seen this option in my entire life.
I jumped into this debate in another comment and don't regret doing so. But I'm struck how easy it is for some of us to move away from the vulnerability of Caitlin's poetry into debates about strategy.
Strategy is where the rubber hits the road. All the dreams and values in the world are worthless unless pushed by sound strategy. Caitlin's strategy is to inspire us, to encourage us, so we go forth and find ways to change the world. To do that, nothing less than good strategy will work.
The MAGA fascists applaud you for aiding their cause. The system won't collapse but it will reward the far right which gains power when voter participation is low. Apathy which is the result of cynicism is the foundation of their power for if the consent of the governed is robust, the right will not win. Perhaps you think letting the fascists win will hasten the collapse?
You don't deserve to complain if you don't voice your heart. Open your eyes and real eyes this reality exists with our permission.
That's exactly what the fascists want. How would it make the system collapse?
Not voting, i.e refusing to participate in the pseudo-democracy, is a legitimate response. However the system will not collapse simply because large numbers of people (currently in the range of 20%-40% of those eligible to vote in western states) cease to vote. The real change will only take place when people set up their own authentically democratic institutions based on self-determined non-uniform constituencies, continuous election and the open ballot.