I’m interested in those with the courage to look behind the curtain, so to speak.  One way to do so is to research history; and in particular history pertaining to people rather than institutions.

https://mronline.org/2022/12/09/staughton-lynd-thinking-history-doing-politics-from-below/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=staughton-lynd-thinking-history-doing-politics-from-below&mc_cid=a4f81d3122&mc_eid=2833cdb99b    —

While teaching at Spelman College, his family and Howard Zinn’s developed a lifelong friendship. Zinn said of Lynd, “He is an exemplar of strength and gentleness in the quest for a better world.”

Among Lynd’s many books is Doing History from the Bottom Up, in which he described three key perspectives that are guides for any teacher or student of history.

1. History from below is not, or should not be, mere description of hitherto invisible poor and oppressed people: it should challenge mainstream versions of the past.

2. The United States was founded on crimes against humanity directed at Native Americans and enslaved African Americans.

3. Participants in making history should be regarded not only as sources of facts but as colleagues in interpreting what happened.

After Freedom Summer, Lynd got involved in anti-Vietnam War organizing.–end of mronline info–

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hua5Xm-GehM   —

INDIGENOUS CHRISTMAS – Natives React #12

—-end of indigenous Christmas info–

Must be the season…….Seasonal greetings are coming fast and furious……

Who couldn’t love the Solstice……especially Winter……….when the sun begins to return………

C-Span offers political discussion on current topics.  This morning was no different, and the diversity of opinion is growing, one is happy to see.  An expanding skepticism about the Democratic/Republican duopoly, which is a political-Party corporation that is in charge of the US government, with little Representation from We The People, but is significantly funded byway of Citizens United, by big-money interests.

A number of calls came in about religion.

Religion and government have been avoided as to mixing in the US political process byway of lip service more than procedure.  

C-Span—7:20AM–caller—paraphrase—Jesus said this world is not of my fathers house.

Several thoughts on this opinion broadcast on a political call-in show—-

*I know little to nothing about the Christian religion, but interest in history has raised several relevant questions

*Jesus seems to have spoke Aramaic and seems to have been a Jew

*After the death of Jesus, or might I say resurrection in order not to stir pots, the teachings of Jesus were introduced widely to the Gentile world

*In so doing, the words and concepts were translated into language understandable to Gentiles, the better to broadcast

*Aramaic was translated into Greek which seems the basis for the Greek Orthodox view

*Rome wished a “cut of the pie” (as has been expressed by modern-day MSM/evangeical characters on their own ambitions), and so Roman Catholicism grew, with continued political influence and translation

After the comment on C-Span at 7:20AM as mentioned above, the guest cut off the call “because this is a political-conversation show”.

C-Span—9:00AM–caller—-paraphrase—-(possibly in response to the host cutting off the 7:20AM call)–“as much as you want to deny Jesus…….”

Several thoughts on these presumptions—

*The 7:20AM caller had all ready pointed out the distinction between religion and politics as being different

*This seems to be support for honoring the distinction by keeping religion out of politics and governing

*This seems to have been perverted in the USA as influence has grown from institutionalized religion in politics that respects neither

*For history buffs who have researched the progress of teachings of Jesus through the filters of institutionalization, one wonders at the temerity of those who haven’t so researched, presuming to interpret concepts of Jesus and expecting others to follow said interpretation

After the statement from the 9:00AM caller, the host curtly said those weren’t her words…..(paraphrase)…..

The 9:00AM caller was, however, an example of putting words into the mouths of others.  Considering the interpretation over the ages from Aramaic to Greek to whatever other languages and concepts were handy, the host would not be the first so abused.

Once again, on the topic of Christianity, one admits to being a total ignoramus.  One is however sufficiently curious to read the actual words of the pre-interpreted stories of the characters in this play.  

If he US government is to be run by an institutionalized religious right, one suggests they also do so.

Better yet, and since the “Fathers house” isn’t of this world, perhaps the government can try democracy rather than theocracy.  To insinuate concepts into the mouths of institutionalized religion and than selling it off as good governance should be discussed.

****As one who would be perfectly contented to retain the Senate if they adhered to Oaths of Office more than to Citizens United campaign donations, one is interested in a topic raised as to the reason we maintain the US Senate—-

 This is a reminder of how much we don’t know.  This brings one around to Howie Hawkins, who continues to impress with original thought.  We also could acknowledge Hawkins often speaks to censored information.
One such topic about which one would never have even considered, is whether the USA needs The Senate.  Apparently The Senate is little other than expensive window dressing, promoting hierarchical interests, and too often placed in positions of power by big-money via Citizens United.  But the public gets to fund this curiosity of pompous supremacy.  Who knew?
The Democratic Branch of the Republican/Democratic Duopoly are especially functional in voter suppression—–https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNbdkuU1edw          —#GreenSocialist Notes #76
Howie Hawkins brings up the concept of whether the USA needs the Senate.  Apparently according to some people, the Senate isn’t necessary.  This brings up the blockage from the Senate of many bills that would benefit We The People.  Combined with Citizens United that promotes big-money interest choice of Senators, in which laws are passed that benefit big-money interest rather than We The People, and that We The People support economically, the members of the Senate, this seems a good topic for discussion.
The US Constitution doesn’t seem to sanction elections run by political Parties, and to permit control of political debates by political Parties seems equally corrupt.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ7kn2-GEmM       —

Ross Perot in 1992 on NAFTA and the “Giant Sucking Sound”

Centralization is the lifeblood of the R&D duopoly.  It’s the way to enforce capitalism onto workers in 2022.———————–We can do better———-

That “we are a 2-Party system” is a fabrication of the Republican/Democratic duopoly and spread by MSM.  In FACT the majority of voters aren’t either registered Democratic or Republican.  The censorship about this info must be envied by bureaucrats of the Former USSR and their simplistic style of 1-Party elections.  

Regardless of which character sits in the Oval Office, We The People have work to do to maintain principles of our democratic (small d) Constitutional republic.  Several items to challenge—*We need the integrity of ranked-choice voting so voters won’t feel compelled to “hold your nose and vote”*Censored debates must be stopped.  The Democratic/Republican duopoly pretends to legitimate debates in what is nothing other than another campaign show.  Independent debates run by uninterested sponsors such as The League of Women Voters, must be restored.  (Access www.debates.org to understand the extent of duopoly control).  The so-called Debate Commission is a corporation to promote the Democratic corporation and Republican corporation, not to inform We The People*Challenge and stop gerrymandering that is a trick especially of the Republican branch of the duopoly.*Stop voter suppression by political Parties, and especially confront and stop Party suppression, which is the over-arching approach to voter suppression.  Party suppression seems to have been the responsibility of the Democratic corporation*Promote by law ranked-choice voting, so we won’t be told again, by D&R duopoly, to “hold your nose and vote”
If these issues are handled, our next elections can be honorable. 
*******************************************************************https://news.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx—-Political Party affiliation of voters.
    https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-refuses-help-perpetrate-fraud–LEAGUE REFUSES TO “HELP PERPETRATE A FRAUD”

WITHDRAWS SUPPORT FROM FINAL PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE–end of lwv info–Murray Bookchin, who founded social ecology, a theory that strongly influenced early Green Socialist thought, strongly advocated the discussion and study group as the first step of any revolutionary movement. A group of individuals meets to expand their knowledge of radical thought and form a radical intellectual community; through the give and take of discussion, can eventually form ideas for next steps in organizing and political activity. According to Bookchin, study groups help create solidarity and a shared language — with a shared coherent vision — for building a mass, organizing, political movement!