29/10/2024
Thanks Guru-ji. The diatribes were eerily similar. A Closing Carnival of Grievances, Misogyny (Misogyny refers specifically to a hatred of women. The word is formed from the Greek roots misein (“to hate”) and gynē (“woman”), and Racism aimed at a hungry angry mob. No doubt many folks share feelings of being sidelined, disenfranchised, or simply pi**ed that others appear to be doing better or having more opportunities than they themselves enjoy. According to psychology, envy and anger towards others who appear to be doing better is a natural human emotion often rooted in feelings of inadequacy, comparison, and a perceived lack of personal value, which can manifest as resentment and hostility. I personally only know 15 or 20 friends who are adamant in their unwavering support for Trump and Trump supporters. Choosing to support 'personalities' dictated by one's emotions for highly consequential power positions seems to be a fools errand. I come from a republican family where for decades, the 'red boxes were automatically checked with no regard to issues that I was aware of. My dad, for over 20 years starting with Nixon, Goldwater and their ilk, not only supported the republican party, but was often a senior organizer especially for Barry Goldwater's bid for the presidency, My dad and much of his generation had seen and suffered to the national divide stoked by McCarthy and his attempts to 'out' anyone he thought was an agent for or sympathizer with 'The Reds'. McCarthyism, also known as the Second Red Scare, was the political repression and persecution of left-wing individuals and a campaign spreading fear of communist and Soviet influence on American institutions and of Soviet espionage in the United States during the late 1940s through the 1950s. If one attempts to delve into a more accurate recounting of our past 100-year history as it resonates with our current political narratives, I believe the rote, knee-jerk tendency to feel that 'our man' or indeed 'our woman' can do no wrong, might be re-examined with a more sober awareness. Will it change the choices made? I doubt it, at least in the numbers that might swing any political outcome. Human nature seems rather re****ed 90% of the time. Human bi-peds, all at first glance, seem to belong to the same progeny of highly evolved apes. We are not. We have lost much body hair and have learned to walk upright, but little seems to have changed from our past attempts to survive in the jungle. I hope you all vote based on your higher values of love, inclusivity, community for ALL OF US, forgiveness and the fortitude to make your decisions with facts and not rumors or here-say. No matter what the outcome after November 5th, the next days, weeks and months after the election will find most of us looking to see that we are still the same people. There may be (will be) resentments, disappointment, finger-pointing, exhilaration, celebrations and attempts to disprove outcomes. Stay centered, hug your friends, invite buddies over for dinner and try not to demonize others who have made different choices. Freedom to choose your own unique lifestyle & the freedom to pursue YOUR TYPE of happiness is where we all should be focused... I wish you all a joyous and adventurous next few weeks... -I'll be in INDIA !