Homo Sapiens Inequality

 

 

I imagine by now that everyone knows that all men are created equal? However, in elementary school, it was widely known who was the prettiest; who was the ugliest; who was the smartest; who was the dumbest; who was the class clown; who was the best athlete etc. Then follows secondary school. In that setting, the most popular; the star quarterback; and the brains became crystal clear. This essay demonstrates that all men are not created equal.

Lebron, Magic, Steph and Michael are on a first name basis. Who wants to challenge them to a game of hoops?  Who wants to tackle Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Ezekiel Elliott or OJ? Ask Brian Bosworth about tackling Bo Jackson? Who wants to get into the ring with Floyd Meriwether, Mohammed Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard? Who wants to bat against Bob Gibson? Who wants to challenge Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph or Usain Bolt to a running race?  Who wants to be on the receiving end of a serve by Serena or Venus? What would be the outcome of Bobby Riggs versus Serena? Who wants to carry Tiger’s clubs?  What about the artistry and creativity of Spike Lee, Eli Whitney, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, or Elijah McCoy?  Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, and Harry Belafonte have made their mark. Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Stevie Wonder, Oprah, and Beyoncé have mastered their craft. Who wants to match wits with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Cornel West, Angela Davis, W.E.B. DuBois, Kenneth Clark, or Barack Obama?  Do not forget about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  John Lewis and Pele as well. All men are not created equal.  Simone Biles is special too. There is nothing average or ordinary about these black skinned male and female individuals.

More examples of exceptionalism are found in “Bo’s Warriors.” Bo Schembechler was hired by athletic director Don Canham. Don Canham knew that black athletes were required to enhance Michigan’s track team.  Bo became a perfect fit as Canham was aware that Bo understood the necessity of having black athletes.

Thom Darden was an All-American and first round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns. This All Pro still holds their interception record and is ranked as one of their top players. Darden made a super game saving interception against Ohio State in 1971. In fact, Woody Hayes went crazy and was given not one but two 15 yard penalties for unsportsmanlike behavior.

Jim Betts was an outstanding athlete. His chapter is titled “The Best Athlete.” He played as a wide receiver, a running back and a quarterback. Not only that, in his senior year he was a defense of back. He was nicknamed “Rope Man,” and received the Meyer Morton Trophy. He was selected to play on defense in the annual Blue-Gray All-Star game in Birmingham Alabama. Jim was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.

 When baseball coach Moby Benedict did not allow outstanding high school baseball players Jim, Tom Darden and Bo Rather to try out for the baseball team, Jim got his revenge at this coach. Years later, as an athletic advisor, Jim approached Benedict and told him that he had to, according to NCAA rules, have open baseball tryouts. Although this was not true, Jim recruited every black kid on the campus he could find. He wound up with about 30 black kids for the try out. He wanted to get back at coach Moby Benedict and screw up his day. Jim got his revenge.

Even though all men are not created equal, I have a story told to me by Reggie McKenzie who I called “The Enforcer” in my book.” Reggie was an All-American and a first round draft choice by the Buffalo Bills. He also earned All Pro honors. While with the Bills, Reggie and his friend Joe DeLamiellure were offensive guards that enabled the Juice {OJ} to break the NFL rushing record. Reggie was known as the leader of the teams “Electric Company” because they turned on the “Juice.”

Reggie told me that McKenzie was his father’s slave name. Reggie’s great, great grandmother was named Clarissa and was bought by a Caucasian slave owner by the name of McKenzie in Savanna, Georgia.

We a know that man is motivated to seek pleasure and happiness even though it’s short-lived and that man also often attempts to avoid pain, discomfort and anxiety. The pleasure principle and survival are in full force. It’s also in man’s nature to be aggressive toward others and to turn that aggression inward toward self as well. Let’s take black individuals residing in the hazardous urban areas. They are treated unequally and are subjected to crime, poverty, inadequate housing, poor educational opportunity, lack of good employment, separated families as a result of incarceration, police oppression as opposed to police protection, limited political support, systemic racism, a white culture of hatred, and inability to eat nutritiously. This is certainly a bleak and sad statement. Research findings suggest a positive correlation with greater the poverty that results in greater the violence regardless of skin color. The black man is not less of an American. What has happened to the conscience of white skinned people that enables this discrimination to continue? There is right, wrong, good and bad. An ethics of conscience is required to make our country different.

One has many ways to escape the reality of the present in the search of pleasure, happiness and comfort. One can sadistically exploit, harm and even kill another; consume high carb, fat, sugar and salt substances; and even intoxicate one senses by ingesting alcohol and drugs. Of course these are only short-term fixes, and result in long-term deleterious effects of dependency, chemical addiction, incarceration, obesity and even death. It’s not surprising that these impoverished individuals are poor, frustrated, and unhappy and have a medically high death rate due to hypertension, obesity and Covid- 19.

This year, in spite of Covid-19, police brutality and the disastrous hit on the economy, there was good news. The history of blacks being killed by the police and the George Floyd killing resulted in peaceful protests in our communities across our country. There are people of black, brown, yellow and white skin; all sexual genders; young, middle-age and old Americans marching in protest of “Black Lives Matter.” There is a tremendous amount of individuals taking part in peaceful demonstrations.

The current administration sent its unmarked armed militia with its teargas, rubber bullets and clubs to confront the peaceful protesters. The aggressiveness of these unwanted individuals was apparent. They had the weapons and their mission was to provoke. Even, right-wing individuals in Oakland, Washington, Oregon and Wisconsin made their presence with their guns and even with killings. This reminded me of the recent move of the “Trial of the Chicago 7.” In 1968, John Mitchell , Nixon’s Atty. Gen. arrested and indicted seven individuals falsely for inciting disturbance even though, according to Ramsey Clark the previous Atty. Gen. with investigations by the  FBI , stated the police started the riots. An appeal was made and that ended this farce as John Mitchell succumbed.

It’s obvious that all men are not created equal. It’s also obvious that some have exceptional athletic, intellectual and artistic abilities and some are able to overcome their horrible environmental conditions. Sen. Cory Booker stated that a white attorney brought his parents first home because his parents would’ve been rejected because of their skin color. Hopefully, the “Black Lives Matter” protests, this year, will bring about more change with less discrimination for the people of our nation.

Let’s learn a few things about skin color from Bo Schembechler. According to Jim Brandstatter, coach said “We are one race-Michigan football. You guys are not about race. No one from the outside is going to get between us. Race is not an issue.” Mike Keller remembered coach saying “Son of a bitch, you’re not red, you’re not white, and you’re not blue.  You’re Michigan.” Coach   Schembechler also supported the Mellow Men’s (comprised of seven African-American football players) stand on boycotting the economic building during a campus demonstration.

Homo Sapiens Inequality

 

 

I imagine by now that everyone knows that all men are created equal? However, in elementary school, it was widely known who was the prettiest; who was the ugliest; who was the smartest; who was the dumbest; who was the class clown; who was the best athlete etc. Then follows secondary school. In that setting, the most popular; the star quarterback; and the brains became crystal clear. This essay demonstrates that all men are not created equal.

Lebron, Magic, Steph and Michael are on a first name basis. Who wants to challenge them to a game of hoops?  Who wants to tackle Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Ezekiel Elliott or OJ? Ask Brian Bosworth about tackling Bo Jackson? Who wants to get into the ring with Floyd Meriwether, Mohammed Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard? Who wants to bat against Bob Gibson? Who wants to challenge Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph or Usain Bolt to a running race?  Who wants to be on the receiving end of a serve by Serena or Venus? What would be the outcome of Bobby Riggs versus Serena? Who wants to carry Tiger’s clubs?  What about the artistry and creativity of Spike Lee, Eli Whitney, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, or Elijah McCoy?  Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, and Harry Belafonte have made their mark. Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Stevie Wonder, Oprah, and Beyoncé have mastered their craft. Who wants to match wits with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Cornel West, Angela Davis, W.E.B. DuBois, Kenneth Clark, or Barack Obama?  Do not forget about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  John Lewis and Pele as well. All men are not created equal.  Simone Biles is special too. There is nothing average or ordinary about these black skinned male and female individuals.

More examples of exceptionalism are found in “Bo’s Warriors.” Bo Schembechler was hired by athletic director Don Canham. Don Canham knew that black athletes were required to enhance Michigan’s track team.  Bo became a perfect fit as Canham was aware that Bo understood the necessity of having black athletes.

Thom Darden was an All-American and first round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns. This All Pro still holds their interception record and is ranked as one of their top players. Darden made a super game saving interception against Ohio State in 1971. In fact, Woody Hayes went crazy and was given not one but two 15 yard penalties for unsportsmanlike behavior.

Jim Betts was an outstanding athlete. His chapter is titled “The Best Athlete.” He played as a wide receiver, a running back and a quarterback. Not only that, in his senior year he was a defense of back. He was nicknamed “Rope Man,” and received the Meyer Morton Trophy. He was selected to play on defense in the annual Blue-Gray All-Star game in Birmingham Alabama. Jim was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.

 When baseball coach Moby Benedict did not allow outstanding high school baseball players Jim, Tom Darden and Bo Rather to try out for the baseball team, Jim got his revenge at this coach. Years later, as an athletic advisor, Jim approached Benedict and told him that he had to, according to NCAA rules, have open baseball tryouts. Although this was not true, Jim recruited every black kid on the campus he could find. He wound up with about 30 black kids for the try out. He wanted to get back at coach Moby Benedict and screw up his day. Jim got his revenge.

Even though all men are not created equal, I have a story told to me by Reggie McKenzie who I called “The Enforcer” in my book.” Reggie was an All-American and a first round draft choice by the Buffalo Bills. He also earned All Pro honors. While with the Bills, Reggie and his friend Joe DeLamiellure were offensive guards that enabled the Juice {OJ} to break the NFL rushing record. Reggie was known as the leader of the teams “Electric Company” because they turned on the “Juice.”

Reggie told me that McKenzie was his father’s slave name. Reggie’s great, great grandmother was named Clarissa and was bought by a Caucasian slave owner by the name of McKenzie in Savanna, Georgia.

We a know that man is motivated to seek pleasure and happiness even though it’s short-lived and that man also often attempts to avoid pain, discomfort and anxiety. The pleasure principle and survival are in full force. It’s also in man’s nature to be aggressive toward others and to turn that aggression inward toward self as well. Let’s take black individuals residing in the hazardous urban areas. They are treated unequally and are subjected to crime, poverty, inadequate housing, poor educational opportunity, lack of good employment, separated families as a result of incarceration, police oppression as opposed to police protection, limited political support, systemic racism, a white culture of hatred, and inability to eat nutritiously. This is certainly a bleak and sad statement. Research findings suggest a positive correlation with greater the poverty that results in greater the violence regardless of skin color. The black man is not less of an American. What has happened to the conscience of white skinned people that enables this discrimination to continue? There is right, wrong, good and bad. An ethics of conscience is required to make our country different.

One has many ways to escape the reality of the present in the search of pleasure, happiness and comfort. One can sadistically exploit, harm and even kill another; consume high carb, fat, sugar and salt substances; and even intoxicate one senses by ingesting alcohol and drugs. Of course these are only short-term fixes, and result in long-term deleterious effects of dependency, chemical addiction, incarceration, obesity and even death. It’s not surprising that these impoverished individuals are poor, frustrated, and unhappy and have a medically high death rate due to hypertension, obesity and Covid- 19.

This year, in spite of Covid-19, police brutality and the disastrous hit on the economy, there was good news. The history of blacks being killed by the police and the George Floyd killing resulted in peaceful protests in our communities across our country. There are people of black, brown, yellow and white skin; all sexual genders; young, middle-age and old Americans marching in protest of “Black Lives Matter.” There is a tremendous amount of individuals taking part in peaceful demonstrations.

The current administration sent its unmarked armed militia with its teargas, rubber bullets and clubs to confront the peaceful protesters. The aggressiveness of these unwanted individuals was apparent. They had the weapons and their mission was to provoke. Even, right-wing individuals in Oakland, Washington, Oregon and Wisconsin made their presence with their guns and even with killings. This reminded me of the recent move of the “Trial of the Chicago 7.” In 1968, John Mitchell , Nixon’s Atty. Gen. arrested and indicted seven individuals falsely for inciting disturbance even though, according to Ramsey Clark the previous Atty. Gen. with investigations by the  FBI , stated the police started the riots. An appeal was made and that ended this farce as John Mitchell succumbed.

It’s obvious that all men are not created equal. It’s also obvious that some have exceptional athletic, intellectual and artistic abilities and some are able to overcome their horrible environmental conditions. Sen. Cory Booker stated that a white attorney brought his parents first home because his parents would’ve been rejected because of their skin color. Hopefully, the “Black Lives Matter” protests, this year, will bring about more change with less discrimination for the people of our nation.

Let’s learn a few things about skin color from Bo Schembechler. According to Jim Brandstatter, coach said “We are one race-Michigan football. You guys are not about race. No one from the outside is going to get between us. Race is not an issue.” Mike Keller remembered coach saying “Son of a bitch, you’re not red, you’re not white, and you’re not blue.  You’re Michigan.” Coach   Schembechler also supported the Mellow Men’s (comprised of seven African-American football players) stand on boycotting the economic building during a campus demonstration.

The Experiment

 

Last week’s essay “Three White Women” ended with my statement “The experiment of the United States continues.” My friend Paul Klentos replied and provided numerous facts that the experiment had ended. This essay tests 6 hypothesis for our experiment

In this experiment, our research design includes variables and operational definitions of terms. Briefly, the slave trade began in the United States in 1619. As a result, we will use 1619 as a starting point for our study of the history the United States.  The Preamble of our Constitution states “We the people of the United States, in order form a more perfect Union, establish Justice ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity   ..… We the people is defined as White, Anglo-Saxon, and Protestant Men. All other groups such as women and people of color Native Americans etc. are excluded. Liberty, the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority were for the WASP men only

The Preamble of the Constitution are the variables for hypotheses. Our 6 hypotheses: 1. The United States is a perfect union 2. All  citizens receive equal justice under the law 3. The United States has a common defense 4. The citizen’s economic welfare is important 5. The citizens have liberty 6. The US government meets the needs of all the citizens.

In this next section, Paul’s findings are stated and include the following: 1. One would think that after 400 years it is no longer an experiment, it’s the norm 2. If it takes 400 years to develop a vaccine, the company that is leading the project will lose financing 3. If it takes 400 for a football coach to turn a losing team around, he’ll be fired 4. If it takes 400 years to write a newspaper article the subject will no longer be relevant 5. If it takes 400 years to train a racehorse, it will never be worth anything 6. The behavior of the extreme right wing Republicans has become the norm and very predictable. It has become more obvious now due to the media availability. The only thing missing is 10 foot of chain and auctioneer. Hyp: 2, 4, 6. 7. We have driven the majority of people to extreme poverty where they are forced to work two jobs for peanuts, in jobs with no future, no benefits and no hope Hyp: 4, 6. 8. We have enslaved them financially, driven them into crime while we have privatized incarceration facilities. Hyp: 2, 4, 6. if you make the investment you need the customers-build it and they will come 9. We suppress their voting rights and reduce their education to absolute minimum. All that while the 90% of the wealth is in the hands of 51 families Hip: 1, 2,4,5,6. 10. Dark money in politics has reached the Supreme Court. Senatorial integrity is the thing of the past. Any attempt at change has been met with extreme propaganda of anti-socialist ideas.  Hip: 1, 2, 3,4,5,6.  11. They have denied public health insurance while they and their families are taxing the public to enjoy the greatest insurance in the world 12. Hip: 2, 4, 6. Has become a calculated takeover of people’s lives while in return all they have to offer is snake oil.Hyp:1, 2,4,5,6.

Findings for our hypotheses: 1. The United States is a perfect union 2. All citizens receive equal treatment under the law 3.The citizens economic welfare is considered 4. The US government meets the needs of all citizens 5. The citizens have liberty. Paul’s comments suggest that none of these hypotheses were supported.  The Preamble are only words. There is no evidence to support any other conclusion.  The failure is clear. The other hypothesis that the United States has a common defense was not identified in Paul’s research.

In conclusion, I agree the United States Republic is not a democracy and is a failed experiment. The current two-party system does not work and neoliberalism economics has contributed with a major negative impact on the majority of its citizens. A true democracy, allows all people to vote and gives the power in its citizens, has been discouraged by the wealthy ruling class per Adam Smith.  We vote for unknown individuals who vote for President. Small populated states have the same number of Senators as the larger states. Supreme Court nominees are confirmed by party majority. There are not three equal branches of government at the moment .The November 3 election results will provide more data as to the severity of disease that currently controls our form of government. Can the United States be saved?

 

 

 

 

Best Regards,

Dr. Frank Lieberman

Please visit our blog at:

http://boswarriors.blogspot.com/

 

http://www.ithasnothingtodowithage.blogspot.com

Three White Women

 

 

A book titled “Sisters in Hate- American Women on the Front Lines of White Nationalism” in the September 6, 2020 of The New York Times received my attention. According to the article, 47% of white women voted for Trump in 2016 suggesting the influence of women. Further, it was the women of the Confederacy that organized to build the various monuments in the South. Could white women be the driving forces of white nationalist-Supremacist hatred? These white women supported the belief that the country should remain predominately white and governed by white people. This essay addresses the book review.

The author interviewed 3 women, born in 1979. Corina, from Oregon, worked as a porn star, bodybuilder and a professional embalmer. Ayla grew up in Las Vegas, was a stay-at-home mother of six. She became known online as the “Wife with the Purpose” who spewed hatred toward anyone whose life choices were different. She flirted with the feminist version of New Age culture that included pagan goddess worship and veganism. The third woman Lena, once a self-described grunge puppy from the Pacific Northwest now lives in Charleston, South Carolina where she and her Swedish husband run a popular website radio show that promotes apocalyptic racist propaganda.

The review highlighted that the following as important aspects of these 3 racist women: 1. The importance of repetition: the more you hear something repeated with conviction, the harder it is to believe that it is not true. 2. Contemporary America may be enough to incline a person towards conspiracies. 3.  Americans take for granted what Americans are lacking: universal healthcare, paid sick leave, parental leave, guaranteed vacations and other benefits. These are rights in the Scandinavian countries .In our country they are privileges to be granted or denied by an employer’s whims. The absence of these benefits or rights increases one’s anxiety, social instability, and a fleeting resentment that easily turns violent. An 18-year-old can buy an assault weapon but not a bottle of beer. 4. White nationalists however own houses, have average incomes, are employed and identify as middle-class 4. These three women were influenced by the lies ingested on right wing radio and websites. 5. These three women denied they hated black people, Jews or Latinos. If other groups can rally around their history, why not white people?

If I were interviewing these three women, I would’ve focused on their childhood history with parents. The character structure of their parents provides insight regarding their attitudes toward others different than them. Prejudice and hostile attitudes in children are learned and developed by kindergarten age. Later on their attitudes, as a result of experiences and interactions, become more crystallized and conform to the prejudice of parents. Learning is paramount for the developing prejudice. Parental verbalizations come from the direct and indirect teachings and reflect negative attitudes. In other words, children learn about hate, discrimination and prejudice through the statements made by parents. These parents often have little insight into their underlying feelings toward minority groups. They also teach discrimination by restricting social relationships and by approving or disapproving of friendships. Of course children also acquire prejudice when they identify with various adults and with their peer groups. We also know these prejudiced parents are highly authoritarian in their parenting practices and have a we or good versus them or bad conception of right and wrong mentality.

Knowing more about their childhood and their parents would provide a more detailed picture regarding their hatred beliefs. I also would’ve focused on self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, school achievement, the displacement of their anger in finding a scapegoat, and the relationship with their parents and siblings would also be examined as they are important factors that contribute to the development of prejudice.

Personality development and intellectual capacity also are clues into the development of prejudice. For instance, these three women listened to right-wing radio and frequented right-wing websites to gain information. Of course they were easily manipulated by listening to and reading information that was consonant with their beliefs that was presented over and over. Hearing the same lies over and over became their reality. Intellectually, they were rigid in approaching complex problems and did not seek out contrary information. They were looking for simple solutions and had difficulty challenging those ideas. They were unable to structure and use rational thought and wisdom in assessing the hate in which they heard and read. Their ignorance was reinforced.

 

We are not born with prejudice but quickly learn about it through our upbringing. We also don’t wake up in our 40s and then initially realize that we hate. Very early in life, because of our design, we express our aggression toward others that we love and others that we don’t love. Often when were not allowed to express our aggression, against our parents, we displace that anger or aggression towards another. Hate, prejudice, and anger are all major components. Find someone that hates and you’ll find aggression. Find someone that’s prejudiced and you’ll find aggression. Find someone that’s aggressive and look for the human targets. Moving toward somebody in a negative way as in hate, prejudice and aggression are apparent in our current state of affairs.

We must not forget that the first slaves were brought to our country over 400 years ago. We had a Civil War over the emancipation of blacks roughly 160 years ago and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln followed. With Johnson’s Great Society, the South went from Democrat to Republican. In the 1990s, the political process with Newt Gingrich became more toxic and stagnant. Historically, our country elected Barack Obama as president. The backlash happened and we now have the openly white racist in the White House. Moreover, the FBI has to deal with the overwhelming increase of domestic violence white militia hate and conspiracy groups. This is history.

There are many contributing societal factors and influences regarding racism. With the population changing from white to black and Brown, is threatening for some and increases the potential for more division in this country. We’re certainly not the United States of America but the polarized states of America when it comes to race. The separation is apparent and concrete in terms of social justice, law enforcement, economic and educational opportunity. Blacks are okay and can get ahead in the entertainment and sports milieu. We cheer for them but do not want them to move next door. Will property values go down? Athletically, blacks  become superstars as in Steph Curry, James Harden  and Lebron James in the NBA; Barry Bonds, Ricky Henderson, Dave Stewart, Marcus Semien in the MLB ; Russell Wilson  and Patrick Mahone in the NFL;  Denzel Washington ,  Morgan Freeman, Beyoncé and John legend in entertainment industry to name a few. Perhaps, Kamala Harris will become the next black superstar. That would bring a smile to John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr. The experiment of the United States continues.

The Trouble with Evangelicals

 

Sigmund Freud provided insight into the origins of religion in “The Future of an Illusion.” In his book, he stated that religious precepts were man’s illusions as well as his wish fulfillments. Moses, according to the Old Testament, brought down the 10 Commandments after his interaction with God. These 10 commandments in Exodus and Deuteronomy depicted significant moral behaviors for man.  Unfortunately, these 10 commandments are rarely followed today. This essay addresses the moral behavior of the Evangelicals.

Some of the 10 Commandments include: 1. Thou shall not murder 2. Thou shall not commit adultery 3. Thou shall not steal 4. Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor 5. Thou shall not covet-neighbor’s house, neighbor’s wife, neighbor’s slaves, animals or anything else. If one broke any these commandments, it would be a sin and they would have to answer to God. When religion and/or the church failed to control moral behavior, society enacted their own rules, laws and punishments.

Thou shall not murder is a major moral principle. For example, our society has created the largest and most dominant military murder machine in history. We train our soldiers well. They’ve been called the best military killers in the world. They are referred to as heroes and we should be proud of them? Supposedly, they protect our democracy. How do they do that in Afghanistan? Don’t they just create more aggression, a revenge motive and make people angry with us?

 We also have well-trained police that also are efficient at murdering other human beings. Don’t they shoot unarmed blacks in the back?  Why don’t these expert marksmen shoot to wound instead?  Our military provides them with their discards for a more efficient killing. Individuals in our country have more guns than anyone else including assault rifles. We are a nation of killers. These facts say a lot about our “morality.” Unfortunately, under Donald’s inept and political watch, we have had over 212,000 individuals that have died and over 7 ½ million infected from the virus and rising. His Whitehouse is now a hot spot.

Abortion, was a no-no according to early Christian “Do not murder a child. Abortion is killing a newborn infant.” St. Augustine believed that abortion of the fetus with human limbs and shape was murder.  He couldn’t deny or affirm whether such partially formed fetuses would be resurrected as full people at the time of the second coming. Earlier, the Stoics believed the fetus was natures plan with the moment of birth was when it finally breathed air. Aristotle wrote “The line between lawful and unlawful abortion will be marked by the fact of having sensation and being alive.”

Were the Greeks more knowledgeable, practical and humanistic regarding abortion than the Catholic power structure? Perhaps, the motivation to label abortion as a sin and for punishment was more about maintaining a stern, and rigid father figure exhibiting control over a woman’s sexual behavior. If a woman chooses to abort, should she be sentenced for murder? Currently, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Evangelical Protestant and some mainline Protestant churches oppose abortion in varying degrees. Other mainline Protestant churches favor, in varying degrees, practice abortion. I choose not to explain the rationalizations.

There are many reasons for abortion. A mothers and child’s health and well-being are concerns. A mother’s body and her motivation to provide care and nurturance for child should outweigh any antiquated religious idea regarding sin and/or government rule or regulation. The irrationality of attempting to harm or kill a doctor performing an abortion suggests mental sickness by their perpetrators.  Who is moral? It’s clearly a woman’s choice to abort or not to abort and she should be provided with the best medical care available. We have more than enough inept parenting that has resulted in too many mentally ill antisocial personality disorders. Our statistics on drugs, alcohol, suicide and homicide bear that out. Moreover, Freud, Moses and Christ do not equate abortion with murder.

Thou shall not bear false witness is another principle that’s not adhered to very well except with young children. Parents frequently tell their children to tell the truth with their parenting. Sometimes lying can be innocuous as in stretching the truth like a wish fulfillment. It can also be more symptomatic of some mental disturbance. Persistent lying reflects more deep rooted problems and means a more severe disturbance in conscience development and/or the capacity for distinguishing reality from fantasy. Consistent lying results in an absence of trust and credibility of the liar. Today, how much credibility does Donald have?

Thou shall not steal is another moral commandment. Stealing can be a rather thoughtless giving into an impulse at the moment or going along with the persistent behavior. Stealing also serves as a symbolic substitute for a significant lack of love and attention. Further it’s a violation of moral and cultural standards and embarrassment. Stealing and getting caught also can serve as an unconscious way to call attention to oneself. It can be a cry for help or a self-punishment for real or imagined transgressions. Donald has a history of tax evasions, not paying workers properly, operating a fraudulent University and foundation are obvious as well as a likelihood of money laundering, loans and numerous other schemes of stealing and exploiting others.  Being bankruptcy six times is just another example of his lack of moral conduct.

Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife is another 10 commandment example of morality. Donald has a history of being intimately involved with 26 other women while being single and being married. He has even paid off a number women to remain silent regarding his involvements.

Evangelicalism is the belief in the conversion of being “born again.” It’s a receiving of salvation, and the authority of the Bible .It’s God’s revelation to humanity in spreading the Christian message. Salvation is the deliverance from sin or saving the soul and its consequences that’s to be brought about by faith in Christ. It’s been said that unforgivable sins include murder, torture and abuse of any human being. Particularly the murder, torture and abuse of children and animals is sinful. Does the 14 million children in our country that are starving under Donald’s watch count? Beliefs are easier than behavior.

The Evangelicals believe that there is going to be a second coming for Christ. One of the things that Christ’s is supposed to accomplish is “cleansing the earth.” When that happens “the wicked will be destroyed. All things that are corrupt will be burned, and the earth will be cleansed by fire.” Jesus will also judge his people. “He will judge the nations and will divide the righteous from the wicked.” I liked the first Jesus better. This Jesus is too cruel.

Do Evangelicals practice what they preach? Is their behavior consistent with what they say? Clearly, Donald is not righteous. Righteous is defined as “a person or conduct that is morally right or justifiable.” Synonyms of righteous include worthy, decent, upstanding, good, law-abiding, Honorable, irreproachable, ethical, principled, moral, uncorrupted, and sinless to name a few. It’s clear how Jesus would judge Donald.

What about the Evangelicals?  By supporting Donald they are disrespecting Jesus and the 10 Commandments. Supporting Donald could be their most egregious sin. If so, how would Jesus evaluate or judge these Evangelicals who support Donald? Jesus has been described as caring about others especially the poor. He rode on a donkey, not on a horse. He even cared about his enemies. Jesus was moral as he didn’t lie, cheat, steal, chase women, or commit murder.

The hypocrisy of the Evangelicals is clear and obvious. Following Christ means behavior should be consonant with his moral teachings. Supporting Trump is not consonant with Christ’s teachings.

On the other hand, one could argue that the 10 Commandments are illusions and not applicable to current man? Are the 10 Commandments too impossible and impractical to maintain in our capitalistic society? Do we need or require additional realistic moral principles in how man treats man? So far, man has exhibited too much narcissistic, sadistic aggression, murder and prejudice toward fellow man. Religion has failed to tame man’s needs and drives.

PS

Freud, Moses Christ did not have histories of lying, stealing, murdering and coveting other women. Under no conditions, would they support this amoral narcissist. I’m with them.

The GOP Has Died

 

The Republican Party has been around since 1864. At that time, the party supported classical liberalism, opposed the expansion of slavery and supported economic reform. The 21^st century Republican Party supposedly has an ideology that’s based on American conservatism which incorporates both economic policies and social values. It’ s been stated that the GOP supports lower taxes, free market capitalism, restrictions on immigration, increased military spending, gun rights, restrictions on abortion, the regulation and restrictions on labor unions. What about their social values for WASP power, slavery, hate and racism? This essay takes a look at the so-called conservative behavior and policies of this group.

As an adjective, conservative is defined as “holding to traditional attitudes and values, cautious about change renovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.” Right away, I asked the question “When did their traditional attitudes and values begin?” Did they begin in 1864 with the start of the Republican Party; did they begin in 1619, with the start of slavery, in  1776,  or should we go back to the 10 Commandments of Moses or the birth of Christ for moral and religious value beginnings? Are slavery and prejudice traditional social values?

It’s important to consider neoliberalism policies and the presidency of Richard Nixon and his vice president Spiro Agnew. Both corrupt politicians left office in disgrace.  Neoliberalism perpetuates free market capitalism, corporate control, privatization, and curtailing the power for a diminished federal government.  President Nixon created a war on drugs which was actually a war on blacks. Blacks could be easily incarcerated and discriminated against compared to whites under the umbrella of drugs and the racist laws. They could be and were placed in the privatization prisons by the racist criminal justice system.

Ronald Reagan, their next elected President, supposedly was for anti-apartheid. However Desmond Tutu, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, said on Capitol Hill “in my view, the Reagan administration’s support and collaboration with its equally immoral, evil and totally unchristian…. You are either for or against apartheid and not by rhetoric. You are either in favor of evil or in favor of good. You are either in the side of the oppressed or on the side of the oppressor. You can’t be neutral.”

Reagan supported anti-Communist regimes in Latin America but was criticized for his support of the Contras in Nicaragua. The rebels had poor human rights record. Reagan’s support for the governments of Guatemala and El Salvador were also controversial due to the oppressive nature of those governments. It was later determined there was a genocide in Guatemala.

Two members of Reagan’s administration, national security advisor John Poindexter and Col. Oliver North worked through CIA and military channels to sell arms to the Iranian government and give profits to the Contra guerrillas in Nicaragua. Both actions were contrary to Congress. Reagan professed ignorance but admitted that he had supported  initial sale of arms to Iran  on the grounds of that sales were supposed to help secure the release of Americans being held hostage by the Iranian backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Tower Commission found the president guilty in the scandal. 10 officials in the administration were convicted and others were forced to resign. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger was indicted for perjury. Historians ranked the Iran-Contra affair as the ninth worst mistake by a US Pres.

William Rehnquist was named to the Supreme Court in 1972. It has been said that he revived the principle that the Constitution limits federal government power. He wrote a majority opinion that invalidated a federal law extending minimum wage. He also voted against the expansion of school desegregation plans and the establishment of legalized abortions dissenting in Roe versus Wade.  He joined the majority in denying a private right to sue for discrimination based on race or national origin.

Presidents Bush placed us in a war in the Middle East. We formerly armed Saddam against Iran and then we attacked him. We are still at war in the Middle East. Moreover, the younger Bush, with the Republican court became president. He was responsible for terrorists supported uprisings backed by Iran when he overthrew Saddam. He was at the helm during the greatest economic collapse in our history at the time. He also created the department of Homeland Security there by increasing the size of the federal government.

Currently, the GOP was supposed to be champions of tax cuts. Well, that’s true if you’re in the top 1%. The GOP was supposed to be for reduced government and limited spending. However, we now have an additional federal department called Homeland Security. These GOP tax and trade war policies have created the largest government deficit in our history.

The GOP is positioned to eliminate the Affordable Care Act which will affect thousands and give the privatized insurance companies control to eliminate pre-existing health issues. The GOP is positioned to eliminate Roe versus Wade which will affect the choice of so many women. Save the fetus so that later you can deny mother and child healthcare; eliminate food stamps; and keep mother and child poor. Traditionally, St. Augustine had his views regarding abortion. It can be said that the abortion view was made by ignorant, using today’s standards of knowledge, by sexually repressed male church leaders’ centuries ago. Then, it was more about keeping the male’s property under his control. It was not about the welfare of the fetus either. A conservative position should be at the center of this Roe versus Wade decision? It’s about traditional male power.

Labor unions are under attack and their viability is at issue. There were 14.6 million union members in 2019. 1983 there were 17.7 million. Over half of all unit members in United States live in just seven states-California , New York, Illinois , Pennsylvania , New Jersey, Ohio and Washington. The Global perspective for 2016 placed the US in the fifth lowest trade union density of 36 OECD member unions.

Immigration has been a travesty. Even though research suggests that immigration is beneficial to both to the receiving and sending countries; and importantly reducing barriers to labor mobility between developing countries. Research suggests that favorable immigration policies would be one of the most efficient tools of poverty reduction. But there is discrimination against foreign-born and minority populations in criminal justice, business, economy, housing, healthcare, media and politics in the United States and Europe. We have cages to separate parents from their children.

Yes, we have the biggest military in the world and we have more guns per capita than any other country. However, this doesn’t make us safer. This fact illustrates how fearful we are. When there is propaganda or lies about the government taking away guns, we have an increase in the sale of ammunition. We have political rallies and people have their guns. Some are concealed. We have peaceful protest and others bring their guns. We have more hate groups than ever before and a president that is consumed with hate.

I see nothing conservative about the WASP party. They certainly don’t espouse 10 commandment values or a democracy of voting values.   As Donald said “we want to have …get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very trans-will have a very peaceful- there won’t be a transfer, frankly there be a continuation. The ballots are out-of-control. You know it.”  This party favors the 1% of white wealthy people and Wall Street. This party moves against, discriminates and exploits people of color and the rest in every way possible-socially, economically, politically and legally. With their exploiting the earth and their denial of climate change places all of us at risk. The white GOP is about wealth and power. They don’t represent the majority of people living United States and make sure to suppress voting to keep the power. The GOP is no longer the Grand Old Party. The Republican Party has become a terrorist organization “person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against citizens in the pursuit of political aims.”    Further, a main reason for a government is that it is supposed to protect the population. With Covid-19, this white Republican government has placed us all at risk and doesn’t care how many die in the process. Bring back Abe and Ike.

Donald's Followers

 

Recently, Paul was driving in Nevada. He commented that he saw a number of trucks with guns and with designed Trump flags on their way to a rally. He also saw a Trump-Rambo type flag with Sylvester Stallone muscles and guns with a Trump head. This essay addresses the psychological characteristics of these followers.

After four years, we have a good idea of what the money driven TV star Trump projects and/or represents. 1. He’s a racist as evident by his “building the wall” to keep out the brown  murderers and rapists; he displays no empathy for the police killings of the black skinned people; he’s commented about shit- hold African countries; he’s called the  white supremacists” good people” 2. He’s sadistically hateful toward others as evidenced by putting asylum-seekers in cages while separating over 1000 of  their children; recent reports of women receiving unauthorized hysterectomies in the Georgia facility; and Mike Pence staffer reported him saying he’s glad  of the Coved -19 epidemic so he doesn’t  have to shake hands ; he’s called servicemen losers and suckers 3. He’s a pathological liar as evidenced by his 2000 lies, daily tweets and his so-called press conferences; his acknowledgment of the dangers of Covid- 19 while telling the country otherwise; his countering Dr. Redfield’s message regarding a vaccine and mask wearing 4. His cheating and exploitation of others with his phony foundation and college; his numerous lawsuits regarding not paying employees fairly 5. His antisocial personality tendencies of persistent lying. Using Russian interference for the 2016 and currently in the 2020 election. He doesn’t function as a responsible president that accepts social norms with respect to lawful behavior 6. Irritability and aggressiveness, disregard for the truth and putting down others.

 Bill Gates, with his assessment, stated that the Covid -19 pandemic was mismanaged. A recent Pew research poll ranked leaders like Merkel, Macron, Johnson, Putin and Xi for their handling of Covid -19. These presidents received the highest marks. Donald was dead last and received the highest negative for his handling of Covid 19. The ineptness of Trump is obvious to all.  Donald is not the right person for the job of president. Yet, he has number of sycophants. Let’s employ research findings to illustrate the makeup of these young people.  

How many young people, in their right mind, take a gun to a rally, sit close to one another, not wear a mask and say lock her up? As a contrast, we witnessed many young individuals protesting, a First Amendment right, in the streets and wearing face coverings as well. How can we account for the behavioral differences in aggression and taking responsibility for the two groups? Certainly these Rambo type young did not become this aggressive and violent all at once. Let’s go back to parenting styles and adolescent acting out behaviors. We know that aggression depends primarily on social experiences, including reinforcement received for such behavior, observation and imitation of aggressive models, and the degree of anxiety or guilt associated with aggressive expression. The displacement of aggression on a scapegoat is another example. Frustration often produces increased aggression.  Individuals differ widely in their ability to tolerate frustration and the intensity of the reactions. Aggressiveness is fairly consistent especially with boys.  If they are highly aggressive in preschool we can expect the same in childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

Peers are also frequent sources of reinforcement for aggressive behavior too. Not surprisingly, parental use of physical punishment for aggressive behavior may actually enhance rather than inhibit aggression because the parent serves as a model for aggression.

The following section sites research findings on parenting styles, prejudice, and juvenile delinquency. Findings by the Fells Research Institute found the children growing up in authoritarian homes tend to be punished for manifesting curiosity, spontaneity or self-assertion; they’re rewarded for obedience to parents, conformity with parental standards, and support for compliance and conformity. Therefore these traits become strong habits and are generalized to the social world outside the home. These children were the most immature, highly dependent, with less self-control and less self-reliance. There were withdrawn and tended to retreat from novel or stressful experiences. In their households, the parents were lax both in disciplining and rewarding the child. They exhibited relatively few and only weak demands for mature behavior and paid little attention to training for independence and self-reliance.  These authoritarian parents did not practice what they preach. They were more concerned with their own ideas and standards and not with the child’s interest and welfare.

 Permissive parents do not demand much of their children as far as rewarding for self-reliance, and responsible behavior. The do not discourage immature behavior, and are lacking in responsible achievement orientation. With a lack of control, the child is at loss with the knowledge and experience and unable to act in independent and self-reliance ways.

The hostile authoritarian parent with low permissiveness and excessive punishment leads to self-punishment, suicidal tendencies and accident proneness for the child. These children also have social withdrawal difficulties with the peer group, little confidence and motivation toward adult role taking responsibility. Parents that were rejecting and neglectful are likely to have their children engage in aggressive acting out behavior. Lack of parental warmth engenders hostile feelings while lax arbitrary inconsistent use of controls encourages the expression of those feelings. It appears that a consistent erratic discipline may be as harmful as too little or too much discipline.  Inconsistency may stem from parental hostility or indifference, from parental uncertainty, lack of confidence or from simple mood swings. Parenting styles and inconsistent parental discipline often leads to and contributes to maladjustment, conflict and/or aggression in the child.

We are not born with prejudice. Prejudice is learned in the family by the direct and indirect teachings of adults; the prejudices of the various identifications; and with the adults who tend to be rigid, authoritarian, highly conforming and overly moralistic. Yes the adults are prejudiced, hateful and discriminatory. Prejudice is related to personality structure. Research findings by Else Frenkel- Brunswik, Theodor W. Adorno and others found that these prejudiced have a selfish orientation toward America and are indifferent toward other countries. They agreed with generally intolerant statements such as “only people who are like myself have the right to be happy.” Other generalized attitudes of the prejudiced include rejection of all that is weaker, different; together with admiration of the strong, tough and powerful. They despise weakness in themselves, are rigidly conforming, condemn others, and exhibit feelings of helplessness in the world thought to be full of chaos and destruction. This suggests a narrow and rigid personality.

These prejudiced children complained of a lack of affection, and submission to stern harsh punishment treatment at home. Prejudice individuals have significantly poor self-concepts and less satisfaction with their mental abilities; impaired social relations with members the same sex; greater dissatisfaction with parents and teachers, and over concerned with their own personality and school subjects. Prejudice children favor their own immediate group over any larger societal group.  They do not trust and are suspicious of the integrity of others. They are distressed and lack confidence in self with feelings of guilt and uneasiness.

Research findings by John C. Conger and others found the following related to delinquent boys:  1.In kindergarten years they were more poorly adjusted, did not relate well to peers and were inconsiderate and not fair in dealing with others, less friendly, less responsible, more impulsive, and more antagonistic to authority. They were also less liked and accepted by their peers 2. By the fourth to the six grade, they were viewed as underachievers, showed poor work habits, demonstrated less leadership ability, with a narrow range of general interests, became more and more attention seeking 3. By the end of ninth grade, the boys displayed significantly less respect and consideration for the rights of others, they were less cooperative in observing school rules and regulations, and failed in meeting their responsibilities as members of the social group 4. The boys were less friendly and less pleasant. They were less likely accepted by their peers 5. These individuals were also defiant, resentful, hostile, and destructive with a low self-concept and feelings of inadequacy. They had a need for self-expression and they didn’t value others. 6. They were less well-adjusted and were lacking in self-confidence and/or respect. They were not cheerful or happy. They were incapable of establishing close personal relationships with peers or adults.

 Intellectually, their work habits demonstrated carelessness in their school work. They required much more supervision from teachers. They appeared more distractible and had less capacity for sustained attention, they daydreamed more, the tended to give up easily, they were less well-adjusted, and generally lacking in self-confidence or respect.

In essence, parents significantly contribute to the personality development of their offspring. Parenting styles and reinforcement inconsistencies have negative effects on their children. Donald’s messages correlate with his alienated, hateful, prejudiced and discriminatory crowd. Make America Great is the slogan for keeping America white. Rhetoric around Black Lives Matter, protesters, people with black and brown skin, asylum-seekers, etc. mean the white group is good and the other group is bad and evil. This populist message is detrimental to our country domestically and internationally.

Donald’s group are intolerant and condemn others calling them murderers, rapists, socialists, unpatriotic etc. That same message is repeated in so many different ways. In fact it’s okay for over 202,000 people to die from Covid-19 because that group is mostly black and brown. They don’t count. They are weak and deserve to die.

Intellectually, this group does not function well cognitively. Their lack of curiosity affects their interest in learning about others and the world. They don’t apply analysis, reason or rational thought well and are limited in their understanding of symbols or words. For example, Paul had a conversation and this individual told him that Biden was a pedophile because he touched a woman’s hair. My friend told him the derivation of pedophile and meaning of the word. The other person didn’t respond. On another occasion, my friend had a discussion and this person told him that Bernie was a socialist. Paul explained to him a little about the everyday socialism that takes place in our economy. Once again, no coherent response.  While running, I saw flag that said “Trump 2020, No More Bull Shit.” I haven’t had a conversation with that neighbor yet.

Psychologically, these insecure, hateful, prejudicial and biased white people are compromised and identify with the Trump father figure image. They buy into the propaganda of him being wealthy, withholding tax returns and being TV popular. They have low self-esteem; do not trust so “fake news” fits; are suspicious and have impaired meaningful interpersonal relationships. Being part of a sadistic and hateful fringe group, that carries guns and expresses hate fits their sadomasochistic character. They put themselves and others at risk by not wearing a mask which is sadistic and self-defeating. These insecure individuals long for power and strength and blindly follow their master.