Political Theatre category archive
By the Book, One More Time 0
In a letter to the editor of the Las Vegas Sun, yet another person feels as if we are living in a book by George Orwell.
This time, it’s again 1984.
Aside:
That’s Animal Farm one, 1984 two.
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
Courtesy of Rick Strom, here’s a rhyme.
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*Mark Twain.
The Rule of Lawless 0
The Trump maladministration to federal prosecutors: Forget the law. If you don’t do it our way, we’ll find someone who will.
Dis Coarse Discourse 0
Pamela B. Rutledge, writing at the Psychology Today website, argues that dis coarse discourse and “social” media are teaching chilren that being rude and nasty pays. A snippet:
This is not about policy. This is about the fundamental ways people relate to one another, how they deal with differences of opinion, talk and listen to each other, and their willingness to problem-solve, compromise, and seek solutions. The conflict-resolution strategies children learn early are the ones they carry into friendships, workplaces, and romantic relationships.
I would quibble with her about her phrase, “across the spectrum.” To an extent, perhaps, but my observation is that one end of the spectrum is more given to hate-full speech than the other. Nevertheless, methinks she makes some excellent points.
Suffer the Children 0
As we know, that’s a Republican family value. Along those lines, Farron discusses Donald Trump’s decision to retaliate against the Pope for having the unmitigated gall to (indirectly) criticize him by yanking money from a Catholic charity for children.
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
Vua the Charlotte Observer, Georgia Institute of Technology professor Dina Khapaeva hears a rhyme. Here’s a bit from the parsing of the poesy:
Indeed, President Vladimir Putin’s government is actively prioritizing initiatives that use medieval Russia as a model for the country’s future.
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*Mark Twain.
A Tune for the Times 0
Afterthought:
The truly sad thing about this is that we have a political party willing to allow Donald Trump to appoint incompetent boobs; kidnap, imprison, and deport innocent persons; loot the federal treasury; immerse himself and his favorites in emoluments; and start wars, so long as it means that that political party remains in power.
By the Book, Reprise 0
Colin Marshall, writing at Open Culture, argues that we may be nearing the point of bringing to life a book by George Orwell. Unlike Mark Hermann, though, he doesn’t point to Animal Farm.
He argues that AI may help lead us into the world envisioned in 1984.
Republican Thought Police 0
Farron explains how the Trump maladministration is starting to come after persons who say things it doesn’t like, even when said things said are well within the bounds of legal free speech.
Read the news report that Farron discusses.
Reconcilable Differences? 0
At the Psychology Today website, Pamela B. Rutledge argues that dis coarse discourse is starting resemble the dynamics of a failing marriage. She notes that
- Character attacks, not policy debates, are now the primary mode of political communication.
- Contempt in public discourse trains people to see opponents as “others” who are less worthy and less human.
Methinks her article is well worth a read.