Tag Archives: bullies

November 18, 2023 · 1:47 pm

THE NARCISSIST

photo by History in HD on Unsplash

IN LOVE

what goes around 

comes around

in never-ending

ripples of affection

and deep attention 

one to the other.

Love is communion,

the gasping union

of recognizing self 

in one another.

Love is only love

when it is both

given and accepted.

Love that goes one way

is not love at all;

but  manipulation

and destruction

of any chance for union.

Love that goes one way

inevitably rings false,

a masterful deception

which destroys communion.

Narcissism gives nothing,

but takes all it can get

and more, of those who 

cannot accept love

in all its forms and favor.

Accepting love is too hard

for those who are its stranger.

Accepting love warns them

of the past disappointments

when their hearts were in danger.

The narcissist breeds more fear,

and warns them to resist

the call for love both given and received.

In this way, he deceives.

He alone is worthy of love and safe,

so in his arms they place

every dream of being loved.

Love must go both ways.

Always.

One-way love is not love at all.

It only brings destruction and our fall.

Alone, and unloved, we remain after all.

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

November 5, 2022 · 1:38 pm

TALL TALES

TALL TALES

Conspiracy theories are nothing new. I remember the first one told to me. I was 5 years old and riding my new bicycle up and down the sidewalk in front of my house, allowed to go on my own only from the corner to the first alley and back again. There had been a flurry of children’s voices for the past few days talking about a monster who had moved into the neighborhood. It sounded so creepy to my five year old mind. I tried to avoid those conversations.

We lived on the Southside, surrounded by former German/Irish and new Italian immigrants. The Southside of any factory town always means the latest to arrive, or the poorest unable to move on, live there. The Southside of any town is where the river flows, and train tracks are laid out. The downwind side where the smog of factories collects in the air and flows down from their smoke towers, while the effluent chemicals left over from production drain into the river. In our neighborhood the Tectum factory dump lay near the river surrounded by an earthen bank hiding most of it from the street. But, the rejected sheets of shredded wood fiber held together by cementitious binder had piled so high it was visible. The air was filled with grey dust throughout the neighborhood. Playing on the dusty, unstable pile was forbidden. A true incentive to explore was unleashed by Mom’s warnings. That forbidden dump was a mystery to solve. Bored children, not yet solely rational thinkers, were drawn there like flies to…a word a five year old girl was not allowed to say.

The day I first found myself captured by a conspiracy theory is one I have never forgotten. The children noticed I had no interest in their gleeful one-ups-manship stories of the monster. The latest version was that he stole into homes at night. I asked why no one ever actually saw this monster. They responded “because it was night and everyone was asleep!” The monster was stealing jewels, candlesticks, and silverware. I raised an eyebrow at that comment! No one in my neighborhood had jewels or silver and gold anything. There was little worth stealing in our homes. With each disbelieving question I asked the children became more incensed by my disbelief. They considered how to “get me,” as bullies are eager to do. The only thing to be done was to issue a challenge and defeat me somehow.

The challenge was this: Ride to the end of this street, turn left and ride to the river. Climb the embankment into the Tectum Dump. Climb the pile. That is where the monster sleeps during the day. If you do not think he is real, you will do this. Uh oh. There were so many things wrong with this I shook my head “no” at first. If the monster did not kill me and eat me as the children avowed he would, my mother would kill me when she found out. But, proving that  there was no monster, and stopping lies which were scaring innocent children like me, seemed worth the risk.

The children followed me all the way up the street. I pedaled as fast as I could, which was so slow they easily kept up with me, chanting scary threats all the way. I stopped at the corner, reassessing the plan. The river seemed so far away, the longest block I would ever traverse alone.

My delay simply fueled the bullying chants. So I turned left and started up the street, pedaling faster than I ever had before. My feet were flying, my hands sweating. So wet, it made it hard to hold onto the handlebars. None of the children left the corner. They remained silent and watched. There could be no retreat.

I made it to the embankment by the river, praying Hail Mary’s all the way. I dropped my bike and ran up the embankment with my eyes closed, saying the Guardian Angel prayer. My knees shook. I felt nauseous. I stood at the top, opened my eyes and looked down into the dump. It looked threatening but I saw no monster. I heard shouting and turned to see children gathered still on the corner saying I had to go in to the dump. So, I did. I climbed that pile and smiled a smile as wide as my smile had ever been, or will ever be. There was not monster. It was all a lie.

I stayed awhile and picked some wild flowers. Long enough so that the children might think I had been eaten alive and was never coming  out. I waded in the river awhile. Finally, I gathered my flowers and climbed back out and onto the street, climbed onto my bike and pedaled slowly back to the corner offering the flowers to the children silently riding home.

I had no supper that night. Penance for disobeying my Mother, and for allowing tall tales told by idiot children who cared nothing for my safety to lead me into danger. Mom warned me that I would be told a lot of tall tales (1950s description of conspiracy theories) in my life; and, I would be a fool to believe any of them. She was right. 

Leave a comment

Filed under FAMILY STORIES

Tagged as , , , ,

June 23, 2022 · 5:12 pm

LADY RUBY

Credit: AP Photo/ Jacquelyn Martin

Lady Ruby walks with the Ancestors

on paths treacherous and costly;

on paths where the honorable and heroic

stay focused and resolute.

Truth  lights her path amidst the darkness

of hate and fear, and the lies and threats

of political bullies and white supremacists.

Her faithfulness is a shield.

Her resoluteness is a sword

which pierces the veil of dangerous actors

in conspiracies of hot, decaying  breath

constricting her strength but never defeating it.

Lady Ruby walks with the Ancestors.

They lift her up and show us the story long hidden, 

and now threatened to be forbidden,

lest we learn what we need to know 

to perfect our union and ring the freedom bell

for all Americans. This is the story Lady Ruby tells.

Lady Ruby walks with the Ancestors.

Let us walk beside her.

2 Comments

Filed under POETRY

Tagged as , , , , , ,

May 20, 2022 · 12:25 pm

PROTECT MARIUPOL’S HEROES

I cannot forget Mariuopl’s  brave defenders.

Now, thrown into play by their surrender

to Putin and Russian offenders

of all that is sacred in Mary’s city.

Now, left to evildoers without pity.

Media seems to ignore this ignominy

replacing the glory of the sexier story 

of fighting to the death, which has more cachet

as breaking news than a prisoner switch, any day.

Misplaced attention and failure to attend details

endangers Ukrainian defenders on the rails.

Instead of an exchange, they face trials,

and more victimization mile after mile

by the butchers who claim those who fought back

are war criminals, to cover their own tracks.

Mariupol’s men, women and children were blown off the map.

Ukraine’s borders scattered by Russia’s attempt to overlap

its peaceful neighbors, no longer members of the USSR.

Now seeking a new democratic order, looking afar

to The West whose history mirrors their own more fully.

Putin’s Russia determined to remain a USSR bully.

Now, Ukrainian heroes are more in need of our protection

and our media looking for its own glory screens off in defection.

Shine the light on heroes’ lives Russia bends to their destruction.

Use your news power to defend each hour of their lives and protect them.

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

February 25, 2022 · 12:59 am

Fearful little men

I cannot capitalize the word “ men” in the title. I do not refer to honorable and secure men; but only to insecure little men who must bully others and prey on the weak to prove they are bigger than they are. What they fear is our seeing the truth of who they are, our recognizing their cowardice. At heart they are frauds, con men. It does not matter, in the end, what condition led them to conclude they must cover up fear. Brave men act honorably despite fear. That is called courage: admitting fear, facing it, overcoming it. Refusing to admit fear, conning others to believe they fear nothing, succumbing to fear is called cowardice.

What we see happening on every front around the world is a fraud by cowardly and fearful bullies, supported by dishonorable men who have found fraud a cover for hanging onto great wealth. Dishonorable men hide behind bullies. Honorable men call them out.

Much of the fear of bullies is fear of being seen. White men( and women) know to fear the knowledge held by people of color who have been denied access to wealth and power by dishonorable white people. People who face the threat of harm pay more attention to those threatening their well-being. abused children and women, for example, have a heightened sense and are poised for defense in a way those privileged to have led safe lives need not.

The world has been awakening to past threats which denied human rights to too many since the Declaration of Human Rights, the creation of the United Nations,; and, the example of human rights leaders such as Ghandi, Mandela, and Rev. Martin Luther King, jr.. the feminist and gay rights movements have also posed a threat to white male bullies and misogynists. The Holocaust awakened western democracies to the dangers of anti-semitism. These waves of awakening threaten the hold of the wealthy and empowered, who may not themselves be bullies. But, those among this group who are dishonorable support the bullies without acknowledging their responsibility to those threatened with harm.

The first group of bullies includes persons such as Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, “ strongmen” on every continent. They are weak and fearful men who cannot accept responsibility for their self-perceived weakness which they hide through braggadocio, fraud and deception. The second group includes persons who push bullies to the front as “ leaders” to hide their own weaknesses and fears, and maintain their hold on wealth and power.

What we are watching in Ukraine is an example of a bully without honor committing a fraud, rewriting history, pretending to be a strong man by preying on others he can subjugate for his and others’ benefit. He is allowed to do this because of that second group, the dishonorable holders of wealth and power: banks, financial institutions, Swift, nations run by strongmen, Right wing media talking heads, heads of state, legislators.

It takes honor and courage to be a democratic republic, the strength to believe in yourself and fellow citizens despite your fears and theirs. Cowards prefer autocracies, undemocratic institutions, and oppressive denial of human rights. It takes honor and courage to speak truth to power as a member of a political party or legislative body. It takes honor and courage to follow and enforce the rule of law. Too often, dishonorable cowards use police forces and judges to guard bullies from legal consequences, and to enforce subjugation of those they fear. We refer to these acts as “ abuse of power.” Those abused by the justice system see more clearly the truth behind the dishonorable seeking only power and wealth.

The same principles driving Putin to subjugate Ukraine are those which drive the Republican Party. This is not new. But, it has been in place for so many years that we who are privileged to avoid the bullies( no one can entirely)for most of our lives have been all too willing to ignore the abuse of others. Racism and sexism are not new. The honorable and courageous among us recognize and admit this despite our fear that we are complicit in the fraud of white supremacy.

I think the reason the invasion of Ukraine is so troubling is not only that Trump,Manafort, Flynn, the Devos family and other American oligarchs, the Republican Party, and FOX TV ( it is not a news station) supported, and continue to support Putin’s agenda in Ukraine. It is far worse. This is a world-wide agenda to undermine democratic institutions and human rights in every city in every country.

Those of us who value honor must oppose this fraud against humanity with courage and persistence. President Biden is right that this will not be easy, that it will take time. My heart aches for the pain, suffering and death being aggressively visited upon Ukraine which will occur in the meantime, the number of African-Americans and other persons of color who will be abused in the meantime, the number of young people who will feed the coffers of oligarchs by the sale of guns and drugs as they die from school shootings and overdoses.

Follow the money. Connect the dots. And for all of us, for every democracy stand together and speak out. Register and vote. Challenge every con and lie. Protect the electoral process. Do not stand silent before the bullies. Have courage! Hold honor dear.

Leave a comment

Filed under COMMENTARY

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

February 15, 2022 · 1:44 pm

UKRAINE

Past the gate

beyond red lines

above the fray

drones prey

on those within

borders

which no longer matter

nor protect.

Armies march

across cyber space

crowded by failing 

satellites and diplomats

eager to avoid collision.

War begins before

anyone sees

its trajectory. 

While media muses

cyber missile cruise

among the threads

of the internet connection

breaching protection

of what each nation

needs to survive.

War? Stop war?

silencing guns is no longer 

enough

to stop the destruction.

What alliances are strong

enough

to deflect the greed

of autocrats and bullies

bent on profit at all costs,

minding only their loss

of power and profits

at the expense of lives lost?

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY

Tagged as , , , , ,

October 8, 2012 · 1:50 pm

WE NEED LAWYERS TO MODERATE DEBATES,By Louise Annarino, October 8,2012

WE NEED LAWYERS TO MODERATE DEBATES, By Louise Annarino,October 8,2012

 

Yesterday, I discussed the need to identify and challenge bullying behavior in the workplace,at school, and on debate stages. While it may be impossible for human beings to refrain from aggression and dominance, such behavior can be restrained and redirected in positive ways. This is called the process of civilization. While some Americans made treaties and sought peaceful sharing of mother earth with Native Americans as they moved across new frontiers and ancient tribal grounds, others on both sides bullied their way, breaking treaties and attacking each other. When rules are allowed to be easily broken, when little is done to enforce them, when rule-breakers win without censure, nations and civilizations are destroyed.

 

The core restraints against bullies are rules. Rules must be established and enforced to restrain aggression and dominance. Every mother knows this. Every mother tames her children with rules, redirects their innate desire to dominate their world with rules. As a child matures into civility, she hopes empathy will take over her role as matron of rules. A mother can relax a bit once her child has learned good manners; but only if the child also has developed empathy. Some are incapable of empathy; some so privileged they do not believe rules apply to them. These persons must be compelled to follow rules even more closely in order not to abuse their innate drive to dominate and overpower others. Such persons abuse such power if their aggression is not contained within the rules, nor redirected by their own empathy.

 

When I was 18 I developed and directed a playground in small town inner-city neighborhood. The neighborhood’s poverty level was similar to my own. While it was predominately African-American, my own was predominately new immigrant. Neither viewed positively by the larger populace of the town. Each difficult to escape. Immigrants could eventually escape with education and very hard work; African-Americans could not escape even with education and very hard work due to red-lining real-estate transactions and discrimination. Each neighborhood had their share of bullies, as I am certain the wealthier white neighborhoods did as well. They must have because I met those bullies in college, in law school, and in the workplace.

 

It was easy to identify the bullies by their easy but tight smiles, chest-leading swagger and rapid fire delivery of directives and demands. When I questioned them they lied for the joy of misleading me. When I challenged them, they accelerated their verbal barrage against me, for the joy of dominating the conversation. When I held them to the rules, they became louder and more animated, for the joy of undermining my authority. And, they never stopped smiling those tight smiles. To diminish my personal or positional power, they demeaned me in front of others, passed false rumors regarding my character, and claimed my accomplishments as their own. I know bullies intimately.

 

To keep the other children and myself safe from the bullies, the neighborhood gang stayed nearby and moved in when the bullies became too aggressive. I did two things to address this situation. First, I organized a neighborhood election (parents and neighbors could also vote) for a Playground Congress to make rules, which selected a Playground Supreme Court to decide when rules had been broken and ordered punishment for rule-breakers, which selected a Playground Chief of Police to enforce the rules and punishment, and who selected his Playground Police Patrol. Congress made rules such as no knives, no guns, no matches, no drugs, no fighting, no cursing, no stealing. The Supreme Court selected the lead bully as Chief of Police. The Chief of police picked his adherents as police officers. The bully was now commissioned to abide by and enforce the rules, with assurance the Court would mete out justice. The aggression and need to  dominate of our bully was contained within rules and his energies redirected. He was incapable of empathy, but we had a means of civilizing his need to dominate and control others.

 

Fights were handled following my suggestion. Those whose arguments became either verbally or physically violent were sentenced to “the ring”. While I laced up miscreants’ boxing gloves, the leader of our local gang who agreed to manage the fight (who better able?) read the Queensbury Rules to the combatants. It was his job to keep the fight within the rules and assure no blows caused harm to either combatant. To say this was a novel approach for him is a gross understatement. However, he handled his role with the strong leadership qualities he displayed as a well-respected gang leader. He, like all good leaders, was not a bully. He was calm, reserved, soft-spoken, and saved his smiles for those surprising moments of utter hilarity which frequently erupt in the presence of young children. Watching these kids try to connect a punch wearing boxing gloves they could barely hold up created such fun that their arguments and need to fight quickly dissipated, while we all laughed together.

 

Looking back, I think I became a lawyer not because I like rules, but because I hate them. I hate the need for them. But I respect what rules,what the RULE OF LAW, can accomplish. It can civilize a nation. It can contain a bully. This is what The 10 Commandments are for Jews, their early rule of law. When Jesus was asked, “Rabbi, what is the greatest commandment?” He answered that there is but ONE commandment, “That you love one another, even as God loves you.” This requires empathy. When empathy fails, when one person just doesn’t “get” the other, only rules can replace empathy and create civility. Maybe we need lawyers to moderate debates.

 

Leave a comment

Filed under POLITICS

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

May 10, 2012 · 8:03 am

ABUSERS AND ENABLERS CAMPAIGN TOGETHER

ABUSERS AND ENABLERS CAMPAIGN TOGETHER

Louise Annarino

May 10, 2012

 

I received the following e-mail tonight: “Louise: Thank you for all the e-mails with information on the campaign you have sent us and others over the past 4 years. You kept us well informed. Unfortunately, Pres. Obama publicly admitted today his preference for same-sex marriages, (emphasis mine) which prevents us now to vote for him. So, please take us from your distribution list.” I must not have understood President Obama. I did not hear him say he preferred same-sex marriage. I am certain Mrs. Obama would have been surprised to learn of her husband’s preference, from these former Obama supporters. http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/09/politics/obama-same-sex-marriage/index.html

 

The President, like many others, has struggled with his own perceptions, misconceptions, and stereotypes of those who are gay,lesbian,bi-sexual or transgender (LGBT), His past reluctance is even more poignant given his racial heritage. There are those who say he should have known better, having experienced prejudice himself. Others are grateful he was willing to openly engage in the struggle to face down his own prejudices. His journey is one we can all learn from.

 

It is 2:34 a.m. I could not sleep and decided to write. I found the above note as I first sat down at my computer. I had not intended to write about the president’s announcement. I had been thinking I would write about the similarities between the way we treat President Barack Obama and how an abuser treats his victim. The above e-mail fits right in to the puzzle that is abuse.

 

Few of us are strangers to abuse and bullying. If we have not personally been abused, we are close to someone who has been. It is never easy to be the victim, nor to be close to a victim. An abused person seeks to escape the abuse in many ways: denial, deflection, perfection-seeking, appeasement, depression, hostility, violence against self and against others, even suicide. To get close to a victim and stay close is a struggle indeed. It is hard to watch someone be slapped mentally, physically, emotionally – often all three. It is harder to the one slapped.

 

So many have told me over the past few months that they can no longer watch television news programs, nor read the newspaper, nor read on-line missives which contain one demeaning slap against President Obama after another. Even liberal commentators on MSNBC spend much of their programming discussing the attacks. There is no escaping the hateful distortions of his record, personal beliefs, character and leadership. There is no escaping the outright lies meant to undermine the country’s confidence in him. The bullies cannot even credit him with the death of Osama Bin Laden, the resurrection of the auto industry, the steady creation of jobs, the lower cost of health care, the investment in green energy, the increased production and glut of oil and gas since he took office. These abusers credit him with nothing, not even his humanity. They hide their racism behind their abuse. No wonder it is hard to watch. No wonder we cringe in distaste.

 

Obama supporters know the attacks are meant to not only act as cover for those who oppose the president, and seek to destroy his presidency and his historical record; but, are also meant to turn his supporters away from him, to make any close contact with him so unbearably hard to stomach that even his supporters cannot approach him or his campaign. This is classic abuser behavior: Separate then attack,repeat,repeat,repeat. We see it. We know it. We hate it. We avoid it; and, in so doing doing we fail our president, our country and our selves.

 

An abuser is charming. He disarms any potential supporters of his victim with a story-line upon which he acknowledges a commonality with the victim’s friends and family. His remarks appear innocent; hidden behind his smile and slight chuckles is a comment assuming shared agreement with the victim’s poor behavior. He assures friends and family he does not blame them for the victim’s shortcomings. At the beginning of the abusive relationship, both the victim and supporters strive to please the abuser, catering to his whims, reaching “across the aisles” to make everyone feel better about what is fast becoming a “situation”, a falsity created by the abuser to separate the victim from his support group. By the time the supporters get suspicious, and uncomfortable enough to express their doubts about the abuser’s veracity, supporters have already ostracized the victim. Media personalities awoke too late to the abuse game being played out in public view.

 

African-Americans, Native-Americans, and others are not so easily duped. After all, they have been victimized by abusers for over 200 years. They understand the methodology of abuse and oppression. When I voice my outrage to white supporters they too often express a desire to avoid the election entirely. When I express my outrage to African-Americans they often tell me “shoot, this is nothing new; if my people got this upset every time, they would have committed mass suicide! You got to be tough.” They offer this wisdom, “Only white people can afford to get upset; we got to survive!” Those who think African-American voters will avoid voting for President Obama because of today’s announcement, do not understand the strength and wisdom of African-Americans to face down abusers. White supporters need to “get tough” and face them down, too.

 

We are right to feel uncomfortable. We are correct when we acknowledge the abusive behavior. We are justified in saying, “I can’t stand anymore of this!” but, we are wrong to abandon the victim so we can feel comfortable again. None of us should feel comfortable so long as any of us is being abused. That is why President Obama changed his position regarding same-sex marriage. Knowing members of the LGBT community continue to be abused made him more uncomfortable than his own discomfort with same-sex marriages, and his concern of potential political fall-out. He put aside his discomfort and chose to take the courageous path. It is time we all do so.

 

It is time we all acknowledge the abuse of others sanctioned by law, the ongoing victimization occurring daily in our local communities, and the abuse being heaped upon a president who continues to “do the right thing” while abusers attempt to undermine and destroy his every effort on our behalf, his personal integrity, even his personal safety. If you have ever suffered abuse or bullying you can see it as clearly as I can. It can keep us up at night, but it cannot stop us from supporting the LGBT community and President Obama.

 

 

Leave a comment

Filed under POLITICS

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

January 21, 2012 · 3:25 pm

FALSE PREMISES AND BULLIES

FALSE PREMISES and BULLIES

Louise Annarino

January 21, 2012

Begin with a false premise and one must reach a false conclusion. That is logic; not partisan thinking. Below is a list of false premises currently being used unchallenged:

  1. People prefer unemployment benefits over wages.
  2. People prefer being unemployed over wage earning.
  3. People prefer using food stamps and food pantries to over paying cash for groceries.
  4. People enjoy being “on the dole”.
  5. People on public benefits are lazy.
  6. African-Americans prefer #1-5 more than white Americans.
  7. Latinos prefer  #1-5 more than white Americans.
  8. Immigrants prefer #1-5 more that white Americans.
  9. Poor white Americans prefer #1-5 more than wealthy white Americans.
  10. Wealth earned from investments is of higher quality and more productive than wealth earned from labor.
  11. Those using English as a second language are dumber, and less educated, than those speaking English as a native language.
  12. Women are selfish; and, cannot make decisions regarding the health and well-being of others entrusted to their care.
  13. Women are stupid and cannot know their own minds, nor trust their own decisions.
  14. Emergency workers and first responders, and teachers have an easy life and are overpaid.

15.A White president is always better than an African-american president, who is doomed to failure        (one way or another,wink-wink)

16.Going green means losing jobs.

17.Going green means higher costs.

18.Going green means a lower standard of living.

19.There are companies willing to hire and then train workers in the new technology

they employ.

20.Obamacare means higher health care costs and poorer outcomes for patients.

These are the latent premises, hidden within suggested policy positions, and talked about in the code of ethnocentrism, sexism and racism. They are not factually based, but attitude based. They seem difficult to challenge as a result; since, we Americans like to pretend every man is entitled to his opinion.  However, If one examines the facts underlying each assumption, it becomes clear the assumptions are simply biased. How can we challenge this bias? Isn’t everyone entitled to their own prejudices? No, not if such biased assumptions affect the good of the country, and the safety and security of its citizens. We who have siblings have each heard in our childhood “keep your hands to yourself!” We were allowed to have hands, and use them as we liked so long as we did not use them to disturb the peace of the family, nor hurt another member of the family. The same boundaries of behavior apply here. One is entitled to an opinion so long as it does not harm a fellow citizen, nor threaten the safety and survival of our country. Keep that opinion to yourself, or we will challenge it. It is our right as fellow citizens. Reporters who challenge candidates on their biases, false premises, hypocrisies and outright lies are speaking for all of us. they must be bold, direct and persistent. They must not allow themselves to be bullied .

How do we challenge the many false premises? By showing the facts which underly, or more appropriately underlie, them.  The attacks, we must realize, are not just against President Obama, but against anyone who supports him: workers, women, people of color, immigrants, the poor and the middle class, even the wealthy Warren Buffet. The labels are flying: socialist (applied to capitalist money-makers), job-stealers (applied to immigrants, paperless or not), murderers (applied to women who want control over their sexuality and health care); and, most dangerous given our past history, dangerous buffoon (applied to President Obama and his supporters). This is not new. The only way a bully can succeed is by discouraging those who would rush to assist the prime victim of their bullying. At the South Carolina debate, for example, attack the reporter who asks the challenging question.

The reason it seems new to us, is because we have turned away for centuries from the issue of slavery. We turn our heads and thoughts away from the issue of racism. we hate ourselves for what we have allowed, telling ourselves we are not to be blamed  because we did not do it ourselves. We reluctantly acknowledge the bully on the playground hurt a few kids, but we did not hurt them. No, but did we stop them? Or were we afraid to try, thus drawing the bully’s attention to ourselves? We are, after all, simply human. No one likes to get hurt.

We have an African-American president supported by rich and poor, Black and white, workers and investors, insurance companies and bankers, health care workers, the middle class, independents, Democrats and Republicans. So, what is a bully to do when it seems everyone on the playground is moving beyond his control? Make everyone afraid to support President Obama. Tell them he has failed them. Don’t let him succeed in any way. Impede every program and policy he attempts to enact. And, while you try to destroy him, make an example of his supporters. Attack labor unions, public and private workers, women, immigrants, the middle class, the rich and the poor…anyone who supported the president and his efforts to turn America purple. A bully prefers a red and blue America where he can pit one side against the other.

The Tea Party Republicans are correct that a bully candidacy is the best way to beat President Obama. It is not an enthusiasm gap that could sink the Obama-Biden campaign; it is fear. If we allow the bullies to control the playground of the campaign and go unchallenged, we assist the bully’s spread of fear; fear of our Black president, fear of one another. For all our bluster we are a sorrowfully fearful lot. Is that why we think we all need to be armed and dangerous? Is that why we seem to admire bullies in our literature and cinema? Is that why we accept the dominance of bullies in our boardrooms? We are so afraid. So, if you want to win an election, make people afraid..very afraid. Lies work when we are afraid to challenge the liars. It is much easier to simply believe the lie.

I am not afraid. Hold hands, Obama supporters. Together, we can challenge any bully.President Obama is not the only candidate who can secure our country’s future. There are Independents, Democrats and Republicans in every race from school board on up the line who have much to offer. But, Republican candidates are not free to act with bullies dominating the political scene. We must join hands with everyone willing to challenge the bullies. Unfortunately, The Republican Party is now controlled by the bullies.

Leave a comment

Filed under POLITICS

Tagged as , , ,