We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Micah Johnson is the making of America’s own racist creation

Click here to access article by Shaun King from New York Daily News.

Iconic moment in Baton Rouge. Photo by Jonathan Bachman.
King explains how the shooting of police in Dallas was already baked by the recipe of America's history of racist exploitation. 

Making a cake is easy... as long as you follow the recipe and instructions. Messing it all up and creating a disgusting, inedible mess is just as easy — particularly if you get distracted or fail to take your time with everything.

Somehow, the United States of America wants to have all of the ingredients for murder and mayhem, cook it at 500 degrees for a few years, and be shocked when what comes out on the other end isn't sweet peace and colorful rainbows. That's not how recipes work.