[Closed] The Great Unraveling and the Great Turning - Rebuilding a Progressive America in the Future

@vestralux

Thank you for that very intelligent summary! 

Posted by: @laura-f

Here's something I came across today that dovetails with what you've laid out:

Haaretz.com: Attacks on Antifa are Anti-Jew

BOOM! Yes. So important for us to examine. Thanks so much for sharing this, Laura.

Posted by: @stargazer

There was a 2005 movie with Nic Cage : "The War Lord" .....reminiscent?

You know what, I occasionally poke fun at Cage (he's wayyy over-dramatic) but Raising Arizona and Lord of War are two of my favorites—for obviously different reasons. 

I haven't thought about it in a while, but Lord of War blew me away. Horrified me and blew me away. I talk about the evil that is arms traffickers on this site a lot, and that movie is a huge reason why because it inspired me to read everything I could on the subject. So, thank you for reminding me, stargazer!

It's also deeply disturbing, though not at all surprising, that Rumsfeld just got invited to the (mob) party at the White House. Next, we'll learn that all of this was the brain child of one Dick Cheney and that he's been running the whole show since before he pretended to leave office. 

*SUPER SARCASTIC face*

Lord of War was really something.

I would like to know, is anybody getting anything on Bolton's book, due to be released June 23? 

Here's a Part II to my spies/mobsters/traitors/arms traffickers/authoritarian enemies post above:

First, a reminder that Mitch McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, is an heiress to an international shipping company based in China. As I said in my earlier post, mobsters are masters at logistics: import and export. And organized crime syndicates come in all kinds/all nationalities. If you wanna be mega-rich-and-powerful, become a shipping magnate. Make yourself the tycoon of trucks, boats, planes. If you do that, both legitimate and illegitimate traders will require your services, and the latter will be willing to pay mightily and forever.

And what do you know? Elaine Chao is currently serving as Secretary of Transportation. Can't even make this stuff up.

Additionally, China's Road and Belt Initiative (BRI) has been underway since 2013. This is described generically as a "global development strategy adopted by the Chinese government ...involving infrastructure development and investments in nearly 70 countries and international organizations." Aka "the New Silk Road." And there are some very fishy problems with it. Without getting into this too deeply, suffice it to say that a legitimate claim is being made that the purpose of this initiative is for China to gain total control of critical port cities in those 70 countries and beyond.

Port cities and harbors have notoriously been under the control of various mafia, because logistics. Import and export. So watch what happens with BRI. It's troubling to say the least.

Second, we've all been waiting with bated breath for DJT's taxes and many of us expect that when/if we ever see them (in truth and in entirety), we'll see proof that he's indebted up to his nose hairs to Russia, specifically to Russian oligarchs (mob). A lot of people believe that when DJT needed funding for those dumb casinos (and his countless other failed business enterprises), the only ones willing to lend to him were the Russians. We also expect that there may be evidence of financial crimes, namely laundering.

What's critical to realize is this: it wasn't simply that no one else would lend to Don so he had to go crying to Russia and now they own him. I mean, we know that's true. But it misses the essential point.

Those casinos, like most of DJT's real estate holdings, were always intended to be laundering operations for the Russians. Before that, he laundered for the Italians. Fred's real estate business was a front for the Genovese crime family; he cleaned their cash. That's the business DJT was born into and which he inherited. Later, the Russians came on the scene and with the help of one Rudy Giuliani, they took New York from the Italians. It was an ugly, bloody mobster coup. One boss was traded for another but little Donny just kept doing what he'd been trained to do: wash dirty laundry for the big guys. 

That's how he entered into this whole scenario (described in above post). He's a proxy mobster; they own him, yes. But they have always owned him. And sure, they have all his dirtiest deeds and sickest secrets on tape and in duplicate (with the help of alleged agents like Epstein)—and I imagine there are mountains of it. (Yeesh.) That's just considered best practices in their line of work, and DJT practices it too (he supposedly keeps incriminating evidence even on his own friends and family members). But I doubt the Russia/Saudi/[insert nation] axis had to use that leverage to force him to play president. All they had to do was play to his psychological weaknesses, which is to say: his basic personality.

And once in, the leverage they have did the rest. 

However you cut it, that would make this the most nefarious, egregious, outsized attack on a democracy in recorded history. One orchestrated by authoritarian state enemies, a dark international syndicate, and carried out with the help of Americans: our own trained intelligence agents, State Department officials, and the head of the American Department of J U S T I C E.

We considered ourselves great victors of the Cold War. "Pride goeth before the fall."

@laura-f that’s one of my favorite.  I truly adore Thich Nhat Hanh.

@vestralux

Sorry, (on the road)... should have edited : " The LORD OF WAR " 

Cage at his finest ... ?

And some good 'light' entertainment for tonight w/ ? 

(I'm turning into the YouTube poster child, save me.)

@vestralux occasionally there is a blurb in the paper here about a freighter stopped in US waters belonging to Chao’s family and stopped for transporting drugs.  Mainly Fentynal.  I don’t know if I spelled that right but you get the idea.  Elaine and Mitch are rumored to have a marriage similar to the orange turds.  She is never in Louisville.  He is here with his friend who is identified as an assistant.  He is male.  Not saying anything but she is never here.  I ve also heard from a friend that worked for MM that his daughters don’t like her and vis versa.  MM is not exactly a family man.  His first wife served him with divorce papers while she was in the hospital after giving birth.  My friend also said this is what he has been working for his whole career, POWER!

@jeanne-mayell, I've heard wonderful things about Henri Nouwen but have never read anything by him.  I think I would enjoy his writings.  What would you recommend as an introduction?      

@seeker4, interesting that you mentioned Richard Rohr.  Just last night I was reading a couple of chapters from his book, "Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life."  His writings really resonate with me.                                                                                                                           

@deetoo @seeker4

I second the reference to Richard Rohr. I saw a quote just the other day online attributed to him that really resonated and I was intrigued to find he is a Jesuit priest. I want to read more, so I will make note of the book reference! I am Catholic, but have had my share of questions/problems with the church in recent years, including being not so into the "requirements" of the Church these days.... Rohr, Thich Nhat Hahn, and others really resonate with me. 

@stargazer

Sorry. No one can save you once YouTube has you. ;)

@yogagirl

Are you in PNW? I didn't know this about Chao family freighters being stopped for possible drug shipments. Guess they don't yet own our port authority and law enforcement entirely. Hallelujah!  

Mitch's early story is unbelievably weird. In high school, he was considered just as unlikable as we find him today—and just as clever and conniving. He reportedly manipulated his way to the class president position using false promises, outright lies, and a few brazen threats. It's said he had no friends and didn't seem to want any, just power. 

I also didn't know this story about his assistant or the claims about his marriage to Chao, but it's the most obvious "political arrangement" scenario in all of politics. Even more than DJT and Melania (who at least was seen pretending to be attracted to him in the early days). Hate imagining what McConnell's first wife must have gone through; the man has no soul. 

@deetoo @seeker4 I very much love the writing of Richard Rohr. 

Posted by: @vestralux

Additionally, China's Road and Belt Initiative (BRI) has been underway since 2013. This is described generically as a "global development strategy adopted by the Chinese government ...involving infrastructure development and investments in nearly 70 countries and international organizations." Aka "the New Silk Road." And there are some very fishy problems with it. Without getting into this too deeply, suffice it to say that a legitimate claim is being made that the purpose of this initiative is for China to gain total control of critical port cities in those 70 countries and beyond.

I felt that China is trying to destroy democracies and install dictators. However, I feel that China will eventually change leaders, yet not sure if a female takes over.

@cc21, I was also raised Catholic but no longer practice.  My sister, on the other hand, doesn't agree with some of the dogma of Catholicism but finds spiritual comfort and peace being part of that community.  If you'd find it helpful, I'd be happy to share with you my experiences.  In my view it's important to question all of it, no matter what you ultimately decide in the end.

Sorry for digressing from "The Great Unraveling..." topic!    

@deetoo

I've avoided this conversation. Attended Catholic church and school for 12 years in the Midwest. 

Sexually abused by priests. Have very few positive things to say about the experience. 

@vestralux

If you watch the Netflix series on Epstein you will learn that on his plane he had hidden recording. If I recall, he lend his plane out to his rich and powerful friends. He must of had a lot of blackmail info. This is a good documentary because you hear his victims speak.  He was a very sick and disgusting man who stole and plundered his way to riches. 

Re: China's Beltway & Road Initiative -

Remember, China is very good at something the US is not: very long term planning.

They are not only looking to control as many shipping ports as possible, they also leverage the development of infrastructure in developing countries (see Africa and S. America for several examples). By leverage, they do a combo of putting the government of such countries in debt to them, and the way it gets paid back is that most of the countries agree to let the Chinese gather all the resources - whether mineral, petroleum, or natural. They also create a sociological debt - "Look what good were doing for your country" - while downplaying the racism, colonialization, and eco-harm they are engaging in.

I am very sorry to hear that, @lawrence.  It hurts the core of my being.  And it enrages me.  That church has created so much physical and psychological trauma, and to this day still hasn't fully acknowledged it.  

I am grateful you survived that trauma to become the wise, creative and loving man you are today.  Thank you for sharing your many gifts with us, my friend.   

@jessi1978

I watched it, along with the recent Investigation Discovery series on him. Both have things to recommend them (and many of the same people being interviewed in each), but Netflix's doc was more focused on his victims and their lives.

What I found frustrating was how much both of them left out. This story shouldn't be made snackable and bite-sized so that it's more likely to be consumed; it should be told with a view to its full scope. It matters so very much.

@lawrence

I know you didn't tell us that because you need our sympathy (you seem quite resilient) but my heart goes out to you and I want you to know it. ?

As a child, I was regularly and repeatedly abused by Southern Baptist clergy. It isn't the same—no one else possesses the power or the longstanding hierarchical structure designed to protect abusers that the Catholic Church does. But Baptist preachers might as well have been popes in my small Mississippi community; no one (from there) ever believed me. And they never will.

When we experience that kind of betrayal by our spiritual leaders, it strips us of much more than our innocence; it eviscerates our faith. Mine was stolen from me at a young age, when I needed it most (clergy weren't my only abusers).

It took me decades, but I found it again—or remade it from new substance. Of course, what I call faith isn't rooted in organized religion but I was able to make peace with some of the things one finds there. And I'm grateful for any sort of peace, wherever I can find it.

@laura-f 

Yep. All true—and more. Thanks, Laura.

@vestralux @deetoo

Yes, not looking for sympathy but thank you for the compassion. 

I wasn't able to speak about it to my family at the time. They probably wouldn't have believed it. 

The students all knew about the priests and the nuns in school. The pretense was stunning. As a sensitive child, it was overwhelming at the time. 

My partner's family are Catholic, Republican and think of themselves as very morally superior. Their ignorance and fear is stunning. It is so infuriating to deal with them. I avoid them as much as possible. 

Thankfully, my family are much more sophisticated, traveled and loving.

@lawrence  Sending my love to you, Lawrence. We are lucky you come here.  I feel your strength and now I know more of what you have been through. I always feel stronger after reading your posts.