Authoritarians also hate courageous people because authoritarians are almost always cowards at heart and feel inferior to those who are willing to overcome fear in order to act appropriately. Only a fool does not experience fear, but strong people overcome that fear to do what is right, thereby displaying courage.
Thank you Asha. You have a way of going to the heart of a matter in your observations. I think one advantage of being older is that you end up seeing so many examples of bad behavior over the years, some things look familiar. I worked for the US Government through six presidential administrations, it seems that the behaviors of late are much more cruel and relentless and designed to induce fear and chaos. We need truth tellers like Mr. Scotten and Ms. Sassoon. I am so proud of their moral courage. So, as we go through this period of self reflection about truth telling, for some reason, I am reminded of the late Lee Atwater, a Republican strategist and former chair of the RNC. Google him. After he developed brain cancer he spent a lot of time in self reflection, resulting in repentance and apologies to the many people he hurt with his cruel win at all cost strategies. He is an example of an enabler who became a truth teller.
I needed this today, thank you!! As someone who is almost always in danger because I refuse to stay silent on the issues that matter, reading this has bolstered my knowledge that the risk is always worth it to do the right thing, morally and ethically speaking.
..<><>.. a most enjoyable read Ms. Asha .. somewhy took me back to Western World Civilization classes in my freshman Year with Jesuits.... it has been another attack on the SDNY in Trump 2.0 I believe in Donny 1.0 it was attacked first replacing Preet Bharara then Berman who wrote a book describing (thee corruption) Mr Preet being old school" smartly started "The Cafe" as You know reports and speaks " truth" on a daily basis Ms.Asha ..wAc
Thanks, Asha. We need to highlight how important it is to speak truth to power. Not only is it necessary to prevent the kind of soul shrinkage seen in people like Trump's flunkies, including, for the moment, Republican elected officials (all of them!), but to breathe life into our own souls. A soul is has heart (the word courage means 'heart'), a soul is capable of love, a soul is a spark of light. Without those things, what are we? In some Outer Darkness. Many thanks, too, for highlighting the role of lawyers and judges in leading our fight. (I really meant it when I apologized to you before for all the lawyer jokes I ever laughed at!)
I'm not a court watcher, but is it possible Justices are influenced by the actions of their former clerks? I always understood the Justice-clerk relationship to be a lifelong one.
I understand the high moral, but at the end - who will be there to fight all the crazy ideas, conspiracy theories, corruption and folly from the inside?
Or someone who really gets this about swamps and conspiracy.
So much of this movie is filmed in and around this muddy, swamp-like lake, and I actually had to rewind a couple times because I kept thinking how brutal the shoot must have been. Were the conditions as rough as they seem?
Yes.
Best thing was getting to see the Black Suburban Limousine drive down a dirt road that is an actual county road that rides like a crouching tiger hidden buggy straight into a Ketu-Rahu portal after passing a deaden Pecan Orchard lush with Spanish Moss.
We must speak out constantly and show our support for the rule of law and preservation of our Constitution. We have to do this every moment we are in public, which is why we must wear ribbons to show our support to those who feel isolated and powerless.
🇺🇸♾️
Stars and Stripes Forever! Patriotism is fulfilling our oath to the Constitution, and amending it when necessary.
“First kill the lawyers”. The attack on the Judges and lawyers will soon be here. (As well as journalists). Why do I say that? I’ve seen it done in other dictatorships. These people are not original.
“And as the one retired Emergency Management man said of that day, Houston took over.” Yes, he was at Rice University at that time, that time he was called in for the Gulf.
Authoritarians also hate courageous people because authoritarians are almost always cowards at heart and feel inferior to those who are willing to overcome fear in order to act appropriately. Only a fool does not experience fear, but strong people overcome that fear to do what is right, thereby displaying courage.
Thank you Asha. You have a way of going to the heart of a matter in your observations. I think one advantage of being older is that you end up seeing so many examples of bad behavior over the years, some things look familiar. I worked for the US Government through six presidential administrations, it seems that the behaviors of late are much more cruel and relentless and designed to induce fear and chaos. We need truth tellers like Mr. Scotten and Ms. Sassoon. I am so proud of their moral courage. So, as we go through this period of self reflection about truth telling, for some reason, I am reminded of the late Lee Atwater, a Republican strategist and former chair of the RNC. Google him. After he developed brain cancer he spent a lot of time in self reflection, resulting in repentance and apologies to the many people he hurt with his cruel win at all cost strategies. He is an example of an enabler who became a truth teller.
I wish every Senator and Representative in the US Congress would read this essay and learn from it. Thank you for writing about courage!
Thank you for this excellent post.
I needed this today, thank you!! As someone who is almost always in danger because I refuse to stay silent on the issues that matter, reading this has bolstered my knowledge that the risk is always worth it to do the right thing, morally and ethically speaking.
You said exactly what I wanted to say. I feel as if she was personally speaking to me. I also refuse to be silent .... I'm in the fight!
..<><>.. a most enjoyable read Ms. Asha .. somewhy took me back to Western World Civilization classes in my freshman Year with Jesuits.... it has been another attack on the SDNY in Trump 2.0 I believe in Donny 1.0 it was attacked first replacing Preet Bharara then Berman who wrote a book describing (thee corruption) Mr Preet being old school" smartly started "The Cafe" as You know reports and speaks " truth" on a daily basis Ms.Asha ..wAc
CrowBwell9@blsky.com
Thanks, Asha. We need to highlight how important it is to speak truth to power. Not only is it necessary to prevent the kind of soul shrinkage seen in people like Trump's flunkies, including, for the moment, Republican elected officials (all of them!), but to breathe life into our own souls. A soul is has heart (the word courage means 'heart'), a soul is capable of love, a soul is a spark of light. Without those things, what are we? In some Outer Darkness. Many thanks, too, for highlighting the role of lawyers and judges in leading our fight. (I really meant it when I apologized to you before for all the lawyer jokes I ever laughed at!)
Each of us has agency. Hopefully more and more will speak out recognizing what they lose by being silent. Thank you for the inspiration!
Thank you for your writing.
Dear Asha,
You move me so strongly with this!!
My parents raised us with the same values.
Your fingertips in my soul.
I'm not a court watcher, but is it possible Justices are influenced by the actions of their former clerks? I always understood the Justice-clerk relationship to be a lifelong one.
I've been thinking of this. I hope so.
Problem is Usha Vance is also one of Roberts' former clerks.
I understand the high moral, but at the end - who will be there to fight all the crazy ideas, conspiracy theories, corruption and folly from the inside?
Or someone who really gets this about swamps and conspiracy.
So much of this movie is filmed in and around this muddy, swamp-like lake, and I actually had to rewind a couple times because I kept thinking how brutal the shoot must have been. Were the conditions as rough as they seem?
Yes.
Best thing was getting to see the Black Suburban Limousine drive down a dirt road that is an actual county road that rides like a crouching tiger hidden buggy straight into a Ketu-Rahu portal after passing a deaden Pecan Orchard lush with Spanish Moss.
While singing the song Hotel California.
Someone MMPI tested enough to take on the nickname Muse when gifted by another on the other side of the inside.
We must speak out constantly and show our support for the rule of law and preservation of our Constitution. We have to do this every moment we are in public, which is why we must wear ribbons to show our support to those who feel isolated and powerless.
🇺🇸♾️
Stars and Stripes Forever! Patriotism is fulfilling our oath to the Constitution, and amending it when necessary.
What scares me is that Shakespeare quote.
“First kill the lawyers”. The attack on the Judges and lawyers will soon be here. (As well as journalists). Why do I say that? I’ve seen it done in other dictatorships. These people are not original.
Where is the Margaret Chase Smith of the Republican Senators??
I already said my peace about the most recent dichotomy, a couple days ago. Bless you, Asha, for your sustained skill and virtue.
https://substack.com/@lanitajones/note/c-94252855?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=ttmjq
And my peace a couple days ago for about a decade or so before.
https://substack.com/@lanitajones/note/c-93839682?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=ttmjq
And my peace a couple days ago for about a decade or so before that.
https://substack.com/@lanitajones/note/c-93820393?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=ttmjq
Civilian Defense Corp was a wonderful program and skilled and virtuous career.
My generation also wrote our History and Sociology testing in the “Blue Book”.
“And as the one retired Emergency Management man said of that day, Houston took over.” Yes, he was at Rice University at that time, that time he was called in for the Gulf.