Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Eric French's avatar

Thanks, Elizabeth. Unfortunately, we all manipulate and are susceptible to manipulation. Personally, it is what drives me bonkers. Growing up as an Army Brat I wasn't exposed to very much television and so escaped a lot of programming in my formative years. After all what kid wants to watch Cowboys and Indians speaking German? WTF? Anyway, series programming always bored me but I did and still watch movies with violence. They always had an easily identified hero and bad guy, however. Now, try to find a movie where it's clear that the plot is good vs evil. Good and evil are blended further pitting folks against each other. Let me ride with the John Waynes, Charles Bronsons, Clint Eastwoods and yes even Keanu Reeves restoring justice and fair play. I saw a T-shirt a while back and wish I had bought it. It said “Don't mess with me. At my age, a life sentence ain’t much!” Be well girl, I'll ride with you.

Expand full comment
D Burlin's avatar

Thank you for this. I think we're truly past the breaking point. Mass mental illness. The naked woman in a super market pulling all the frosted cakes out of the bakery section, rubbing them on her breasts, genitals and butt while customers and store employees walk past, not even looking at her. The saddest footage I've seen in a long time. The normalization of human destruction.

I am shaken. And I recognize myself in everyone who appears there.

Ending that now. Today. This essay is supplying the perspective. They don't want us to realize: we are NOT powerless. We can choose not to participate. Starting right now.

Expand full comment
49 more comments...

No posts