It may take a few generations to thank 45. ? Maybe speaking the words will acknowledge his service so he can go.
Agree on all you've said. Fox will go down in history as a propaganda network, but I wonder if some of the others played along for ratings and cash thinking they could control it. I'm really old, but seem to recall waaaay back to the 1960s that the FCC was responsible for stopping the spread of misinformation. I even remember that celebrities could only endorse products they actually used. Or am I hallucinating?
@theungamer
Very interesting comment you have made! I have often thought that DT was JUST the POTUS we needed to be the required catalyst for future change/growth/evolution in this country. ...
Looking back, I believe that we will one day THANK 45 for the role he has played in forcing us to evolve -- although very painfully & messily.
I appreciate your benevolent outlook and desire to have compassion for even dark souls. However, here's a bit of perspective on this thought. Hitler was also a catalyst for change. Are we to thank him too?
I think it's more about thanking whatever higher power you believe in, if any, and trusting in that whatever happens is always for the best in the grand scheme of things, even in the wicked choices of wicked souls. Also, recognizing that these wicked people do have free will and with every choice they make, they create their own karma. Trump does have a choice in the way he acts, and he has to be held accountable for his choices. That said, there are many potential paths to the same potential outcome, some being much more pleasant and others being more painful and full of sorrow. The "grand scheme of things" will still happen one way or another if it is meant to be.
I also have to say in response to other recent posts here, I find it hard to believe that psychopathy is inherited, although it might be spontaneously innate in some people. What might seem like a pattern across generations may simply be a result of the previous generation raising the next generation in a way that promotes and glorifies psychopathic mindset and behavior. Family culture rather than genetics.
@yofisofi I worked with a Shaman for a couple of years. Hitler came up during a topic of forgiveness and Karma, and she said that he was indeed here to teach. She believed that thanking those that wrong us doesn't justify their actions it merely acknowledges the pain of their soul's journey and clears Karma for us both. It took 20 years for my head and heart to figure it out.
I'm no where near advanced spirituality where 45, the GOP and 75 million voters are concerned, but with time anything is possible.
Oh man. I just got the Mary Trump book. My husband brought it home from the town book drop, i.e, someone discarded it. So I am eager to jump in. Thank you for all these interesting observations. It is like we have a book club.
@Isabelle, you wrote "Made me realize that DT is essentially the exact same kid he was at 2 or 3 years old...ZERO personal growth or insight. An extremely limited man. Would put his IQ at below 100 and his inner life and reflective capabilities at zero..."
In my most compassionate visions of DT, especially one I saw in meditation back in 2017 when attending a weeklong loving kindness retreat with Sharon Saltzberg, I saw DT and his closest enablers, running around in circles and measuring about two feet high. They were arrested development at toddler age. Except that I've known many toddlers who were altruistic and caring.
Yes, that is what I meant in the sense that dysfunctional behavioral and family dynamics can potentially continue across generations if not acknowledged and a conscious choice made to alter that pattern... For example, how many pedophiles have admitted (once taken into custody and in therapy) that, they too, had been preyed upon sexually as children? Or generations of family violence ? It takes a level of evolved awareness to break those patterns. That said, some scientists do believe that a tendency toward psychopathy/sociopathy may have some complex (and as yet, not totally definable/understood) biological component -- although generally this needs to be "activated" by a harsh emotional environment. Please see articles below. Despite this, though, I in no way believe that DT (and his cronies) do not 100% belong behind bars and deserve to be held fully accountable for their crimes. They all had choices every step of the way and consistently chose treason, cruelty, lies, deliberate misrepresentation and self-enrichment at the expense of the country. They are all detestable. May their karma lay heavy upon them.
Understanding Genetics (thetech.org)
Psychopath gene - Business Insider
In terms of us potentially "thanking" DT in the future (as in us "thanking" Hitler for the liberal changes we see today in Germany with Angela Merkel), you are taking my words far too literally. Yes, I would agree with you that we can thank a Higher Power that good will come of this in the "Grand Scheme of Things" if we are believers. That said, I am certainly not minimizing DT's exorbitant damage, the many Covid victims, the disrespected BLM movement, the women he has raped & assaulted, the nations he has extorted, the fraying of our social fabric and our ideals of democracy, etc. Rather, his ugliness of the soul has forced us to peer into the mirror and see our own remaining remnants of ugliness and darkness. After all, nearly 50% of our population voted for him in 2020 and ugly groups like The Proud Boys exist. But I am far from minimizing his casualties and damage nor am I implying he not be held accountable. I detest the man. I am simply stating that, on some level, perhaps this is what it had to take for us to face down our own demons and be shocked and appalled enough to be truly committed to take major steps to finally heal our country's soul.
How interesting! Yes, DT, Stephen Miller, McConnell and his other cronies are all clearly developmentally arrested: morally, intellectually, emotionally. They are a bunch of substantially disabled individuals who have unfortunately learned how to play the levers of power ... Makes one wonder why an extensive psychological evaluation is not required to run for office?
I am simply stating that, on some level, perhaps this is what it had to take for us to face down our own demons and be shocked and appalled enough to be truly committed to take major steps to finally heal our country's soul.
I think of it in terms of a test; I think we passed, albeit barely. Now perhaps we can begin to move on with our education.
Psychopathology in and of itself is not inherited, however there are genetic predispositions which can be activated by a traumatic upbringing. This does not mean that the opposite is true, though. It is possible to become a psychopath without any genetic predisposition depending on one's environment and is not necessarily the only possible outcome of a traumatic childhood.
I do not subscribe to thoughts of empathy or sympathy for Hitler or Twitler or their many enablers. I also don't believe that souls come to Earth just for the purpose of being victimized in some way in order to teach humanity a lesson. In fact I find that that particular sentiment helps fuel anti-Holocaust theories. Which means I also don't believe souls agree to come here to become evil to teach lessons, either.
Of course, none of this is based in fact, and everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, but I think you give too much credit to these evil-doers by subscribing to this.
As for any test-by-Twitler - this was just the pop quiz. The real test lies ahead of us. In the next 10 years the evangelical christian right will do their best to create an autocratic theocracy here. As of today, they are finally disavowing Twitler. To me that signals that they have begun the search for their next savior, and trust me, the next person they pick will be way smarter and much more evil at their core. Biden is going to be blocked at every juncture (even if we win both GA senate seats), and I doubt Harris will win in 2024 - I think there will be a backlash. Four years is not enough time to change the constitution and eliminate the electoral college, so count on more minority rule in future.
To give you an example - Gov Newsom is most likely facing recall here in CA. Those of us on the left are not thrilled with how he has handled things, but those on the right are absolutely infuriated and want to bring him down. Even if he's not recalled, he will not win re-election in 2022, so most likely we'll end up with a very conservative governor next time around.
As usual I hope I'm wrong on all fronts...
In the meantime remember: the Founders and Framers despised cities and set this whole thing up to be rule by land (and slave) owners. The system is actually working as it was designed to.
Namastè
Thanks Laura. I know you are unusually realistic/pessimistic in outlook and there is value in that. Just for the record, btw, I have zero empathy for DT and his enablers and, God knows, none whatsoever for Hitler. I am not endowing them with supernatural/spiritual powers. But mankind can and does, from time to time, undergo moral/psychological growth & greater awareness/tolerance. Think of our country's significantly greater embrace/acceptance today of the LGBT Community, the BLM movement and diversity in general... Some of this would be unthinkable 50-100 years ago. Plus our general national trend seems to be moving away from formal religious affiliation. That said, there does seem to be a frightening need (seen primarily from Trump supporters and the Far Right) for an autocrat/dictator and certainly I can see the Evangelicals rushing in to try to fill that demand with their hypocritical, self-serving religious window dressing.
America's Changing Religious Landscape | Pew Research Center (pewforum.org)
In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace | Pew Research Center (pewforum.org)
In terms of believing/not believing whether events which occur happen for a greater spiritual reason (presumably to better mankind in the long run), the truth is: No one really knows 100%. But we have plenty of gifted empaths/intuitives on this site (I, sadly, am not among them) who might see/feel a deeper pattern that simple logic or rational thinking misses entirely. In any case, we need to find hope and to believe that much of mankind possesses fundamentally good instincts and is capable of learning and growth. That said we certainly need to remain vigilant.