My Story Can Be Your Story
I had a friend reach out to me last week via Facebook Messenger. I've known Ed for more than 20 years but we've never met in person. We got to know one another through an online forum dedicated to a musician we both admire: David Baerwald. David is half of the David & David duo from the late '80s. You may recall their song "Welcome to the Boomtown". The discussions on the forum revolved around music and politics but as time went on it seemed our talks became more weighted toward politics, or perhaps those were the ones I gravitated toward. This was about 7 years before Facebook was launched. Mine was one of a handful of conservative voices among a sea of progressive voices on the forum, and honestly, I think those early days on the site were my first attempts at trying to articulate my views concerning politics.
Ed was one of a few people on the forum who left a lasting impression on me and someone I like to credit with helping me see another worldview that I was blind to. There were other voices as well including David's. Another progressive voice there that was instrumental in opening my eyes was that of Jeff, aka DeWester. I will never forget a discussion I had with Jeff in the summer of 2001 where he took me to task for some ignorant views I had about corporations, our economy, media bias, and such. I had no business involving myself with only my lame Rush Limbaugh conservative talking points that left me woefully unprepared. Jeff thoroughly embarrassed me by countering my weak arguments and I deserved every word of his beatdown. His words caused me to take a long pause and question the trust I had placed in my sources for understanding the complexities of our society. Were they being honest with me and was I being a fool for placing any amount of trust in them?
It's never easy admitting to oneself and to others that you're wrong. It would take me years to fully leave my conservative leanings behind. A few friends from work were also instrumental in helping me understand how Republicans were failing us as air traffic controllers in general, say nothing of the country at large. I kept coming back to Jeff's comments to me—did I really want to continue to play the uninformed fool? I quietly began to question just about everything I was hearing from the talk radio stations I was listening to. Once I began doing that, it only became more obvious that what I had been taking in was just so much propaganda. I felt foolish for allowing myself to be used as I had been.
Ed messaged me last week to talk about how polarized the country has become while recalling our quarrels back in the day—quarrels that we didn't allow to come between our friendships.
It's different now.
There's a dark undertow of propaganda and conspiracy theories that have swept across the country and taken root—dividing families and friendships, aided by a lying former president and a propaganda-fueled conservative media, they're poised to upend our democracy if left unchecked.
That's where you and I come in.
It's up to us to involve ourselves in what's happening. We need to look beyond the smokescreen of so much culture war nonsense that conservative media uses to enrage and engage their base and to see it for what it is: a distraction from the real ills that threaten our democracy, namely, voting rights.
Please understand that in minority districts across the country, voter purges are happening alongside a reduction in polling places in highly concentrated minority areas, leaving voters to stand in long lines, discouraging many from involving themselves in the process—a process that we should be helping to promote and not discourage. Here is a link that delves deeper into ways in which votes are being suppressed.
I have to believe that if I had never stumbled onto the forum for David Baerwald and was never so fortunate to meet either Ed, David, or Jeff and learn from them, I would have found my way out of what has become an unrecognizable and hideous Republican party. I did it and so can you. I will often tell people that leaving the nonsense behind was easily the most freeing thing I have ever done.
Those of us on the left who are very worried about the viability of our democracy in the face of a Republican party intent on winning upcoming elections at any cost are pleading with you to take a step back and consider what you're supporting, whether you realize it or not. We need you to see what's happening and not look away. Face it head-on with eyes wide open. Please read Heather Cox Richardson's update from yesterday for a more clear understanding of what worries many of us.
Thanks for hearing me out.
As an aside: Ed is mostly retired now from a career in hospice care and Jeff, among other things, has recently started a podcast with a friend called The Record Player where you can find a 90-minute interview they did with David Baerwald himself earlier this month (embedded below).
That's all I've got.
Comments
So I wonder what it was like for you, your family, your close friends, your church community when you announced you were moving in a new direction? It must have been hard for some of them and it must have been very difficult for you at times.
When we communicated last week these were some of the questions I guess I was thinking about. Many people are in lock-step these days, afraid to speak up, afraid to go against the, well ... Cult Leader. I think that it's important that people hear stories like yours: to know what it's been like for someone else.
Another thing we have spoken about over the years is the role of spirituality in social change or in approaching social issues. I believe you are still a practicing Christian. I am still a (mostly) practicing Zen Buddhist and thirty years ago chose a teacher who was all about transforming meditation (or prayer) into action. I'd love to hear more about your relationship to your faith and your church and how any of it has changed for you: good or not good.
I've no doubt we will continue our decades old conversation into the future. Please just know I admire and respect your honesty and courage. I'm glad we are friends.
Ed
Interestingly enough, this change for me happened as our conservative Christian daughter left for college. Little did I know at the time that she too was going through her own changes as she saw a world beyond the one we had created for her. I admire her for being so introspective at such a relatively young age and breaking free of whatever constraints she may have felt from us. Tammy has also been going through the same transition. I like to think that neither of us influenced the other although I'm sure there was a little of that between Tammy and me, especially when it comes to matters of faith where I was questioning much about Christian doctrine before she was ready to hear about the changes I was going through. She understands my concerns now.
These days I would say I'm more agnostic than Christian. I was questioning so much of Christianity before the last 5 years unfolded but when I saw how easily people could be manipulated and used by a man, by a political party, it became clear to me that the same was likely true for the religion I had embraced and that the bible and the faith I followed were likely full of agenda-driven items not of God. So not only was I deconstructing my political beliefs and allegiances but I was also deconstructing my faith and those beliefs as well. I still believe in a higher power and I find comfort in that. I'm no longer affiliated with a church.
I don't feel I have any great insight into any of this. I'm a seeker of understanding and am willing to make adjustments when it appears necessary based on what my walk is showing me. I think for some, that's an admission that they're wrong, and for whatever reason, it's not something they want to admit or even entertain. I can't live in that sort of make-believe world. Who among us has all of the answers from the start? If a person isn't making some adjustments along the way, are they trying to be the best person they can be?
Thanks for the conversation, Ed. I too look forward to continuing our dialogue well into the future. Be well.
So many now are doing a comparison of Germany in the 30's as well as those that think a Civil War is on the horizon.
History can and does repeat itself of course and we now have an ignorant part of our population that thinks their views are fundamentally the correct ones even when those views are based on lies and propaganda and very little introspection. Maybe none.
The phrase "baked in" is often used to describe cult members of any religion or in this case political allegiance to a con artist that isn't stupid. He knows exactly what he is doing. He has played this game his entire adult life. And has also learned how to avoid getting caught or if caught who to pay off to look the other way.
When I see those white men and women that stormed the Capitol building to try and achieve the goal of doing what Trump asked of them I think of a pack of junkyard dogs that don't know the difference between right or wrong.. .just what they have been trained to do. Attack anyone that looks like the opposition.
So as you know, I've personally been a non conforming Christian in some ways. As you and I both grew up in the church and were exposed and expected to be that way throughout of lives, at some point reason and logic and basic science clashed with our so called faith. Believing in something unseen and unprovable.
For me, I can't fake God. If he exists in a way that this "supreme" being is and has created all that is, I'm not much of anything in its eyes so to speak. It only matters to me.
While church in my personal life has waxed and waned a bit, I still need a place to be with others that doubt and struggle in the same way. If any of these folks want to tie their political views to some kind of religion or religious organization, I personally shun them. People with a grasp on reality will know some kind of idolatry when they see it. And those that claim to follow Jesus' teachings while at the same time idolizing Trump are like those that Moses faced as he came down from the mountain with the ten commandments written in stone. Seeing the golden calf and with all the anger he had in his heart, threw them to the ground. Such is the case now with those that believe in the party of Trump.
At 72 years old now, I doubt I have too many years left on this planet to see the end of this conflict. I'm not at all sure that what I do or say will make a difference now. I have many like minded friends, such as you of course, that are part of a cloistered choir that sings in our own echo chamber. Who else hears us? Those that are now aligning with the bigots and white supremacists think we are annoying noise. Plug their ears and wear the mental blinders they have found via the right wing media sources.
So these are just some random thoughts I have right now.
The older I get, the more I contemplate life beyond this one and what do I really believe awaits me there. I think the best I can hope for it to somehow come to a place of peace in knowing that it can't be truly known on this side of the veil. I used to be so certain about such things. I'm far from feeling that way anymore.
Thanks for your comments.
Just to tell you my history with "Faith" - Here goes: As most Danes, I was automatically inducted/baptized into the Danish State Church, which is a pretty lax version of Lutheran Protestantism (stricter versions exists in the western countryside, but closer to larger cities it is a pretty secular version ;-) ). In other words we (my family) went to church one time at Christmas and that was pretty much it...
When time came (1981-82 I think), where I should have my confirmation (or communion if you are catholic) the local priest had the odd idea to show us the movie-version of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar at one of the earlier lectures. I think I had seen it once at Easter, but not thought much about it. This time was different as it was a concentrated experience in a cinema. Apart from the excellent music, I found the story/viewpoint from Judas very interesting/fascinating and it was clear to me that he was the hero of the story, so I looked forward to the next week where I thought the class should discuss this. Alas this was not on the agenda at all, since the priest had something else opn the agenda and most of the rest of the kids were only there to get the whole thing over with and get the party and the presents at the end...
That was the last time I attended - the whole charade felt phony to me, and even though it eventually cost me a substantial amount of money from both sets of grandparents I did not recant.
Nowadays I (as many questioning intellectuals), after a lot of reading, have come to a conclusion that my belief system falls into somewhere between Atheism, Agnosticism and Taoism and that is just fine by me.
Regards Dslacker from DBInfosource.
The Corrupt Joe Biden administration already has us panicking about important goods we need being overpriced (IF they are even available in EMPTY shelves at the stores) and he won’t even admit to that!. And we just about entered into year his second year! And the Country is in a MAJOR CRISIS, there is inflation, War is stating us in the face with our MAJOR ENEMY, The illegals are mobbing, and storming through the border,Crime is OUT of CONTROL all over the country, and getting much worse every day.
Are you Anti-Trumpers happy with the cost of Gas at the pumps? How about soaring Heating costs? What about barrels of oil going from $30.00 to $90.00 dollars, and soon tp $100.00 a barrel under brain dead Biden? And this is just the beginning.
I guess you didn't like it when Trump had Gas at 1.70 a gallon.!
Well I SURE as hell like the lowest it had been in years, until Progressive Voted for that Walking, Talking Incompetent Disaster.
But YOU Liberals were more concerned how Trump combed his hair
How do you feel about bacon at $13.00 a lb.? And other meats, and things even higher? And the IRS agents about to re-examine your bank accounts, to see if you owe them more. But they aren’t doing that to Nancy Pelosi, or Chuck Schumer
And we have the worst President, and an even worse Vice President in America’s history.
After he Shut down the great Economy that Trump created, and gave away Free Money, the Deranged Biden is telling employers to pay employees more money to get the employees back. While these Politicians are raking in the Big Bucks by writing books, or getting Tips on the Stock Market.
This Biden Depression has just begun, and we have to buckle up to endure it these next couple of years until the Republicans can take back the House and Senate, and get RID of those people who are running the country down the tubes faster than we can even imagine. Also we DESPERATELY need people in office that will enforce the law and put these HORRIFIC Criminals where they belong....BEHIND BARS! . But it also proves the point for President Trump to run again.
Bidumb is down to 36% now. And he soon may get down to the 20's. And Kamala is even lower, How long before the lot of them are just Thrown Out by whatever force is necessary, to throw them out.