Self-preservation is a pretty strong motivator ... also, some may think they can change the "system" from the inside. Right, good luck with that. Anyway, all sorts of bells are ringing in my head after reading this post, Susan. As a former high-ranking cult follower, I "get" this situation in more ways than one. Frightening, confusing and sad. But isn't all this fairly predictable behavior given we're homo sapiens?
In the United States we seem to have a set of communities focused on purity, on being kept from possible infection by points of view not held by their insiders and by facts not supportive of community principles. While there are some verbal pigeons of those not deemed sufficiently left, on the left, it doesn't seem to be so much a purity thing as a valve for excess energies that recognize a hard time getting a fingernail under the edge of societal problems.
Purity cultures worry me a lot. I don't like the pastoral epistles, but where's the Titus 1:15?
Chris Hedges is Pulitzer Prize journalist He worked as bureau chief for the New York Times when he spoke out against the U.S. invasion of Iraq He was let.go by the NYT. He therefore had recourse only to RT (Russian Television) on YouTube. One month ago RT was no longer available and therefore no more Chris Hedges. This past week all 6 years of his Emmie nominated "On Contact" shows on RT were made unavailable. This media censorship is alive and well in the USA and western countries. You also are aware of Edward Snowden, and Julianne Assange? Not even to mention Chelsea Manning. So sad.
Stalin killed millions of Russians so maybe they put ‘surviving’ totalitarianism over protesting it?
Self-preservation is a pretty strong motivator ... also, some may think they can change the "system" from the inside. Right, good luck with that. Anyway, all sorts of bells are ringing in my head after reading this post, Susan. As a former high-ranking cult follower, I "get" this situation in more ways than one. Frightening, confusing and sad. But isn't all this fairly predictable behavior given we're homo sapiens?
I find myself angry that Russians can't just SEE what's going on, and then I remind myself that we are all homo sapiens, so...
In addition:
In the United States we seem to have a set of communities focused on purity, on being kept from possible infection by points of view not held by their insiders and by facts not supportive of community principles. While there are some verbal pigeons of those not deemed sufficiently left, on the left, it doesn't seem to be so much a purity thing as a valve for excess energies that recognize a hard time getting a fingernail under the edge of societal problems.
Purity cultures worry me a lot. I don't like the pastoral epistles, but where's the Titus 1:15?
Lemme be helpful here:
Titus 1:15
English Standard Version
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
Chris Hedges is Pulitzer Prize journalist He worked as bureau chief for the New York Times when he spoke out against the U.S. invasion of Iraq He was let.go by the NYT. He therefore had recourse only to RT (Russian Television) on YouTube. One month ago RT was no longer available and therefore no more Chris Hedges. This past week all 6 years of his Emmie nominated "On Contact" shows on RT were made unavailable. This media censorship is alive and well in the USA and western countries. You also are aware of Edward Snowden, and Julianne Assange? Not even to mention Chelsea Manning. So sad.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V1LU-nV11dg&t=159s
That's the thing. I look at them, as well, and wonder, "How?"