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Now What?
Author: Raine    Date: 12/08/2016 14:20:49

Tina Dupuy has written an amazing and worrisome essay that is important.
As I write this I’m in South Africa on vacation. Just to make this painfully obvious: The whole world is clear on what we’ve done. They know Trump is a dictator. There’s no debate. (He’s actually a pretty stereotypical dictator; we’ve just always thought of America as exceptional.) When I speak with those who’ve lived both under apartheid and now under President Jacob Zuma, they know Trump is bad news. He’ll enrich himself, destroy institutions and hurt countless people both physically and financially with glee. Because South Africans (and arguably most Africans) know bad government when they see it, they use one word to describe Trump: Corrupt. It’s always offered with a knowing shrug, like to them it’s the most obvious thing since the sun rising in the east.

OK, so now what do we do?!

In the wake of the election, activist and filmmaker Michael Moore said he wants to be the leader of the #resistance and build a movement that would “dwarf Occupy.”

As a journalist, I covered Occupy for The Atlantic. I went to eight different Occupy Camps in two countries (one was Canada). So I can say without reservations, Mr. Moore, please don’t.

Occupy as a movement was doomed from the beginning. They decided to go with an anarchist model: No leaders; everyone has a vote; everyone has a veto. They were perpetually bogged down in marathon meetings, with no clear path. This tedium wore down well-meaning activists very quickly. It also made it nearly impossible to build a coalition and grow the movement.
It goes on, (and please take time to read all of it) but as soon as I got to the part I quoted, I was reminded of something I wrote five years ago about Occupy Wall St.
This movement needs People or an organization who can address the very people who can help to make the change that they want, but even before that, they must have a clear vision of what their goal is. Then they must make sure Americans VOTE -- including themselves. Protesting in this day and age is not enough. Organization is critical. It makes the message much more serious. The media has been around these protests, but I don't think they know what exactly the message is, and thus -- it's hard to report about. If the end game is to only show what is perceived to be police brutality (as it appears at the website,) then I honestly have to say -- is this what they want? I would present that this might make people less inclined to join the movement.

It is because of these questions I have, I won't be joining in the protests when they come to DC.If I am going to stand up for something, I want to know specifically what it is we are trying to change; the movement hasn't specified that. I don't stand behind anonymous faces in a crowd. I don't wear masks. I don't wear bandanas.

No leader of a social change movement in this country ever hid in anonymity. Not the civil rights movement, not the equality movement, not abolitionists or suffragettes. Even the founding of our nation had names and faces to the social change -- and ultimately the revolution. They had faces and names and a goal.

I still believe what I wrote, with one change; we are in a moment of urgency to get organized.
“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity. The 'tide in the affairs of men' does not remain at the flood; it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residue of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: 'Too late.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

Make no mistake, what we are witnessing with the incoming administration is not a peaceful transition. The world sees what has happened in our country; it is time for all of us to recognize it as well. This is not a peaceful transition - if it were, these incidents would not be happening.

We need leaders, not chaos. Resistance is not what we need, we need to flatly reject what is going to rain down upon us.

Peace & Love,
Raine
 

59 comments (Latest Comment: 12/09/2016 04:31:02 by Will in Chicago)
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Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 14:34:15
good morning, Tovarishchs.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/08/2016 14:37:59
Morning


Honestly, I'm having problems focusing on which is the most important thing to organize for - feel very much like this lately -
http://www.angelascottauthor.com/uploads/3/3/5/2/3352045/2492391_orig.jpg


Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 14:41:33
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning


Honestly, I'm having problems focusing on which is the most important thing to organize for - feel very much like this lately -
http://www.angelascottauthor.com/uploads/3/3/5/2/3352045/2492391_orig.jpg
I totally understand, it was why I said the other day that I feel like I would rather be a part of triage.

Comment by Scoopster on 12/08/2016 14:42:45
Mornin' all

Comment by trojanrabbit on 12/08/2016 14:44:57
Seig Heil, y'all

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 14:44:58
Did you guys see this ish yesterday?

The Park Service has granted Trump’s Inaugural Committee the right to reserve all of Constitution Avenue, all of Independence Avenue, Lafayette Park, the White House sidewalk, and the Ellipse at the base of Capitol Hill — from January 6 to January 30.

The Park Service confirmed to Fox 5 DC that they will not make the public spaces available to activist groups until Trump’s Inaugural Committee decides whether or not they will use them.



Comment by trojanrabbit on 12/08/2016 14:46:09
Actually, I'm pulling for a massive blizzard on Inauguration Day.

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 14:47:41
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Actually, I'm pulling for a massive blizzard on Inauguration Day.

I would like that.

I'm really scared of the crazies coming into the area for the weekend.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/08/2016 14:51:48
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Actually, I'm pulling for a massive blizzard on Inauguration Day.



I'm not, I have to drive in it

Cold yes, snow no.

Comment by Scoopster on 12/08/2016 14:55:18
Quote by Raine:
Did you guys see this ish yesterday?

The Park Service has granted Trump’s Inaugural Committee the right to reserve all of Constitution Avenue, all of Independence Avenue, Lafayette Park, the White House sidewalk, and the Ellipse at the base of Capitol Hill — from January 6 to January 30.

The Park Service confirmed to Fox 5 DC that they will not make the public spaces available to activist groups until Trump’s Inaugural Committee decides whether or not they will use them.


In other words, we won't be allowed in any of these places for the planned protests that have already been approved.

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 14:55:45
RIP Greg Lake.

Comment by trojanrabbit on 12/08/2016 14:56:41
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Actually, I'm pulling for a massive blizzard on Inauguration Day.



I'm not, I have to drive in it

Cold yes, snow no.


OK, whatever weather event that will ground the 'copter Cheetolini is going to use for his grand arrival.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/08/2016 14:58:53
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning


Honestly, I'm having problems focusing on which is the most important thing to organize for - feel very much like this lately -
http://www.angelascottauthor.com/uploads/3/3/5/2/3352045/2492391_orig.jpg
I totally understand, it was why I said the other day that I feel like I would rather be a part of triage.



Ya, but the unwonky people have stopped listening only seem to believe in the 1 "news" provider that openly lies to them. How does a person triage when no one is dealing in facts?

ER Doc: Who's next?
ER Nurse: We have a massive head trauma bleeding all over the floor or we have a giant orange troll screaming about a paper cut.
ER Doc: Send in the paper cut, since he's screaming it must be more urgent.

Comment by wickedpam on 12/08/2016 15:00:14
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Actually, I'm pulling for a massive blizzard on Inauguration Day.



I'm not, I have to drive in it

Cold yes, snow no.


OK, whatever weather event that will ground the 'copter Cheetolini is going to use for his grand arrival.


Heavy wind, icy arctic cold.

Comment by BobR on 12/08/2016 15:12:45
Quote by Raine:
RIP Greg Lake.



Comment by BobR on 12/08/2016 15:13:46
Quote by wickedpam:
Ya, but the unwonky people have stopped listening only seem to believe in the 1 "news" provider that openly lies to them. How does a person triage when no one is dealing in facts?

ER Doc: Who's next?
ER Nurse: We have a massive head trauma bleeding all over the floor or we have a giant orange troll screaming about a paper cut.
ER Doc: Send in the paper cut, since he's screaming it must be more urgent.

Brilliant

Comment by wickedpam on 12/08/2016 15:23:24
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Ya, but the unwonky people have stopped listening only seem to believe in the 1 "news" provider that openly lies to them. How does a person triage when no one is dealing in facts?

ER Doc: Who's next?
ER Nurse: We have a massive head trauma bleeding all over the floor or we have a giant orange troll screaming about a paper cut.
ER Doc: Send in the paper cut, since he's screaming it must be more urgent.

Brilliant



Danke

Comment by Scoopster on 12/08/2016 15:24:22
Sounds like a decent quake just happened off the northern California coast.

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/08/2016 15:27:46
Comment by Scoopster on 12/08/2016 15:31:05

Damnit.. wasn't he just released from the hospital after having been really sick & getting evacuated from Antarctica?

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 15:36:00
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Ya, but the unwonky people have stopped listening only seem to believe in the 1 "news" provider that openly lies to them. How does a person triage when no one is dealing in facts?

ER Doc: Who's next?
ER Nurse: We have a massive head trauma bleeding all over the floor or we have a giant orange troll screaming about a paper cut.
ER Doc: Send in the paper cut, since he's screaming it must be more urgent.

Brilliant
Indeed.




Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 15:43:10
Quote by Scoopster:

Damnit.. wasn't he just released from the hospital after having been really sick & getting evacuated from Antarctica?

YEs, He's back in the hospital.


Comment by Mondobubba on 12/08/2016 15:53:36
Quote by Scoopster:

Damnit.. wasn't he just released from the hospital after having been really sick & getting evacuated from Antarctica?


No, that was Buzz Aldren.

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 16:03:33
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Scoopster:

Damnit.. wasn't he just released from the hospital after having been really sick & getting evacuated from Antarctica?


No, that was Buzz Aldren.
Oh Damn! Sorry.


Comment by Scoopster on 12/08/2016 16:07:57
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Scoopster:

Damnit.. wasn't he just released from the hospital after having been really sick & getting evacuated from Antarctica?

No, that was Buzz Aldren.
Oh Damn! Sorry.

Heh.. It's difficult to keep track of the reaper this year.

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 16:08:47
You know this is gonna be a shit show -- Now it's gonna be malignant.

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 16:13:59
Quote by Raine:
You know this is gonna be a shit show -- Now it's gonna be malignant.

“I’ve just been hearing all’s quiet on the Western Front, that sort of thing,” said Bill Valdez, who as president of the Senior Executives Association represents the high-level career employees assigned to help introduce the Trump teams to their agencies. “One of my colleagues worked at Department of Labor, and they’ve seen one person there – very low-level staffer – who has basically just come in and said, ‘Where are the keys to the men’s room?’ And then the rumor was that somebody at a higher level was going to come this week, but so far nobody’s shown up.”

The radio silence at the agencies is causing consternation among Obama administration officials – both the political aides who will resign as of Jan. 20 and the career public servants whose employment spans presidencies – tasked with helping facilitate a smooth transition. In some cases – like at USAID – they haven’t heard from anyone in Trumpworld.

Frustration started spilling out into public view earlier this week when Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy told reporters on Monday that the agency is ready and willing to help, but doesn’t have anyone to hand off information to.

"We’re most anxious to have the transition team around,” McCarthy said. “We have had one individual who came the day before Thanksgiving and we have not heard from anybody since.”


Comment by wickedpam on 12/08/2016 16:14:51
Quote by Raine:
You know this is gonna be a shit show -- Now it's gonna be malignant.



Lower level staffers don't make news.

Comment by Scoopster on 12/08/2016 16:22:09
Quote by Raine:
You know this is gonna be a shit show -- Now it's gonna be malignant.

AMAGAD GIVE IT A CHANCE GAIZ

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 16:26:19
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
You know this is gonna be a shit show -- Now it's gonna be malignant.



Lower level staffers don't make news.

and yet they do the heavy lifting.

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 16:26:40
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
You know this is gonna be a shit show -- Now it's gonna be malignant.

AMAGAD GIVE IT A CHANCE GAIZ

Yeah, I dunno 'bout dat.

Comment by livingonli on 12/08/2016 16:40:49
I actually got up early enough to catch more than the last hour of Momma. Still working on the going to bed part.

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 16:58:04
Quote by livingonli:
I actually got up early enough to catch more than the last hour of Momma. Still working on the going to bed part.

baby steps are still steps!

How are things going n your wold, Liv?

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 17:01:45
From that same article -- and this is a BIG tell:
There are major exceptions. One senior administration official said there were no complaints coming out of the Commerce Department, where aides were “pleasantly surprised” by Trump’s landing team. It includes about half a dozen people, some with prior Commerce experience.

Trump’s team is taking “solemn and serious stock” of Commerce’s different agencies, said the senior Obama official. But that’s only offering so much reassurance to career staff: Trump has named investor Wilbur Ross to run the department, and his strident calls to untangle NAFTA seem in contrast to the more measured perspective of the veteran Commerce officials on Trump’s transition team.


Comment by TriSec on 12/08/2016 17:21:23
Greetings, comrades.

So it is done - we picked up Mum's mortal remains this morning.

For all our life's struggle, we end up a couple of pounds of ashes in a cardboard box.

Metaphor for today.



Comment by Mondobubba on 12/08/2016 17:46:36
Quote by TriSec:
Greetings, comrades.

So it is done - we picked up Mum's mortal remains this morning.

For all our life's struggle, we end up a couple of pounds of ashes in a cardboard box.

Metaphor for today.



:sigh: Yeah.

Comment by Scoopster on 12/08/2016 17:51:27
Wait wut.. a cardboard box?

Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 17:52:19



Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 17:52:43



Comment by Raine on 12/08/2016 18:08:34


Comment by TriSec on 12/08/2016 18:45:10
Quote by Scoopster:
Wait wut.. a cardboard box?



Mmm, yes. Mum is wrapped in plastic and in a box from the crematory. Were we planning on keeping her, a series of memorial urns are available at cost from our funeral parlour.

We're not - she is slated to be scattered at sea off Piers Park in East Boston sometime around her birthday next year (Hey, we're Sicilian - dumping bodies in the harbor is what we do.) so we did not see a need for more permanent storage.

We'll keep a bit in a smaller keepsake urn, though.

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/08/2016 18:54:52
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Scoopster:
Wait wut.. a cardboard box?



Mmm, yes. Mum is wrapped in plastic and in a box from the crematory. Were we planning on keeping her, a series of memorial urns are available at cost from our funeral parlour.

We're not - she is slated to be scattered at sea off Piers Park in East Boston sometime around her birthday next year (Hey, we're Sicilian - dumping bodies in the harbor is what we do.) so we did not see a need for more permanent storage.

We'll keep a bit in a smaller keepsake urn, though.



Urns are unbeliveably expensive. Why do you think Walter and the Dude got Folger's can for Donnie's remains?

So, yeah the place that did Meghan's cremation, they actually provided a nice box, I think it was wood. It has been awhile, I didn't keep it. Her ashes came in the box packed in a thick plastic bag. The funeral home asked me if I wanted an urn, I declined. I knew I was going to scatter her ashes at some point.

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/08/2016 18:56:42
Comment by Mondobubba on 12/08/2016 18:57:41
Tri, my morbid sense of humor is being kept in check by my sense of decorum. Unless you say I can, I will hold my thought.

Comment by BobR on 12/08/2016 19:15:45
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Scoopster:
Wait wut.. a cardboard box?



Mmm, yes. Mum is wrapped in plastic and in a box from the crematory. Were we planning on keeping her, a series of memorial urns are available at cost from our funeral parlour.

We're not - she is slated to be scattered at sea off Piers Park in East Boston sometime around her birthday next year (Hey, we're Sicilian - dumping bodies in the harbor is what we do.) so we did not see a need for more permanent storage.

We'll keep a bit in a smaller keepsake urn, though.



Urns are unbeliveably expensive. Why do you think Walter and the Dude got Folger's can for Donnie's remains?

So, yeah the place that did Meghan's cremation, they actually provided a nice box, I think it was wood. It has been awhile, I didn't keep it. Her ashes came in the box packed in a thick plastic bag. The funeral home asked me if I wanted an urn, I declined. I knew I was going to scatter her ashes at some point.

Same here for my Mom... plastic bag / cardboard box. We also opted out of the ridiculously overpriced urn. My brother Ed was going to build a fancy wooden box since he's all into woodworking - pretty sure he hasn't even started on it.

Comment by livingonli on 12/08/2016 19:42:03
Quote by Raine:
Quote by livingonli:
I actually got up early enough to catch more than the last hour of Momma. Still working on the going to bed part.

baby steps are still steps!

How are things going n your wold, Liv?

All right. Got my severance today, but it looks like the tax man already took a good chunk of it. Still have to get stuff together and a new laptop since my room is very much a mess. With my roommate away, I have pretty much been living in the living room (which does have the bigger TV).

Comment by Scoopster on 12/08/2016 19:54:42
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Scoopster:
Wait wut.. a cardboard box?


Mmm, yes. Mum is wrapped in plastic and in a box from the crematory. Were we planning on keeping her, a series of memorial urns are available at cost from our funeral parlour.

We're not - she is slated to be scattered at sea off Piers Park in East Boston sometime around her birthday next year (Hey, we're Sicilian - dumping bodies in the harbor is what we do.) so we did not see a need for more permanent storage.

We'll keep a bit in a smaller keepsake urn, though.



Urns are unbeliveably expensive. Why do you think Walter and the Dude got Folger's can for Donnie's remains?

So, yeah the place that did Meghan's cremation, they actually provided a nice box, I think it was wood. It has been awhile, I didn't keep it. Her ashes came in the box packed in a thick plastic bag. The funeral home asked me if I wanted an urn, I declined. I knew I was going to scatter her ashes at some point.

Oh yeah I know about the urns being ridiculously expensive. I'm just inexperienced on these matters, so I got this image of them using whatever random re-purposed container was lying around. Now that I actually took a moment to think about it, it's probably a respectable-looking reinforced paperboard box?

Comment by BobR on 12/08/2016 20:17:11
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by livingonli:
I actually got up early enough to catch more than the last hour of Momma. Still working on the going to bed part.

baby steps are still steps!

How are things going n your wold, Liv?

All right. Got my severance today, but it looks like the tax man already took a good chunk of it. Still have to get stuff together and a new laptop since my room is very much a mess. With my roommate away, I have pretty much been living in the living room (which does have the bigger TV).

Just don't waste time looking for a new job, and look beyond NYC. The sooner you get a new job, the more money you'll have from your severance to stash in the bank for something fun.

Comment by Mondobubba on 12/08/2016 20:24:10
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Scoopster:
Wait wut.. a cardboard box?


Mmm, yes. Mum is wrapped in plastic and in a box from the crematory. Were we planning on keeping her, a series of memorial urns are available at cost from our funeral parlour.

We're not - she is slated to be scattered at sea off Piers Park in East Boston sometime around her birthday next year (Hey, we're Sicilian - dumping bodies in the harbor is what we do.) so we did not see a need for more permanent storage.

We'll keep a bit in a smaller keepsake urn, though.



Urns are unbeliveably expensive. Why do you think Walter and the Dude got Folger's can for Donnie's remains?

So, yeah the place that did Meghan's cremation, they actually provided a nice box, I think it was wood. It has been awhile, I didn't keep it. Her ashes came in the box packed in a thick plastic bag. The funeral home asked me if I wanted an urn, I declined. I knew I was going to scatter her ashes at some point.

Oh yeah I know about the urns being ridiculously expensive. I'm just inexperienced on these matters, so I got this image of them using whatever random re-purposed container was lying around. Now that I actually took a moment to think about it, it's probably a respectable-looking reinforced paperboard box?


Yeah, pretty much. I wouldn't have minded a coffee can.

Comment by Scoopster on 12/08/2016 20:41:34



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