Is There a Crisis of Sanity in Much of Today's Black America?

[james wilson]

One can observe it all too often, African Americans defending their own abuse. For example, applauding insults against themselves (2011 CBC conference) or attacking with abusive ad hominem tirades those who speak out on their behalf (Smiley is "jealous" about a conference attendance slight, and Dr. West is being "personal" due to an inaugural invitation slight), they make these allegations with such conviction that one would think they had proof of them somewhere. It is behavior indicative of folks gone insane. While most, if not all, of these ad hominem distractions are being orchestrated by hired agents seeking personal rewards; hosting television shows (for which they are not qualified), money and basement party invites to the Big House, the relentless socioeconomic destruction of the Black middle class and the ever deepening crisis of the poor continue unabated. These facts are ignored (expendable) simply because the people whose lives they impact are expendable. This post will briefly discuss how, saddest of all, too many of these expendable ones have inadvertently joined forces against themselves, while mistakenly believing that their actions are in defense of themselves.

When this post speaks of insanity (a legal term for the clinical designation psychosis -- lost of contact with reality), the intent is not to question orientation to the three spheres of person, place and time. The intent is to discuss psycho political responses to perhaps the gravest social/economic/political crisis facing African Americans ever in our history, chattel slavery, Old Crow, not withstanding. Why would I make such a statement?

Throughout the history of African Americans, the focus on the cause of social / economic/ political injustices was always clear. This clear focus facilitated a strategy of moving forward, challenging these injustices without having to fight each other. Naturally, there were disagreements about tactics, strategies, and even philosophical directions. As Harold Cruse discussed in his book Crisis of the Negro Intellectual, there were, and still are, at least two streams of political philosophies in Black America. Generally speaking, these were described as assimilation and self-determination. But in both cases, the focus on the etiology of the problem was always clear-- White supremacy (racism).

Now things have changed.

The cause of the change in focus is grounded in several factors, culminating with the 2008 presidental election. Before 2008, in fact, beginning some 40 + years ago after the Civil Rights Movement more Blacks than ever were allowed to enter the middle class to achieve what Sam Yette calls pacificaction in his book The Choice: The Issue of Black survival in America. At the same time that more Blacks were being propelled forward economically on the wings of what was by that time a waning Civil Rights Movement, more Blacks were simultaneously being stuck in poverty by the same socioeconomic policies that were propelling the new Black middle class. It was a complex operation, almost contracdictory in a real sense. One way to conceptulize it is to consider Einstein's Big Bang theory of an expanding universe--everything expands in all directions at the same time (the Black poor and middle class economic demographics). 

This increase in the Black middle class allowed for right wing charletons (white and BlacK) of the Republican Party to advance a nonsensical theory called colorblind society. The theory held that American society was free of racism (colorblind) and that any Black who couldn't make it was simply inferior (lacked personal responsibility). A handful of successful Blacks were paraded about as evidence of how far Blacks could go if they "unclenched" their fists. Sociologists were already advancing a so-called deficit model that pretty much said the same thing. The model held that poor Blacks had a deficit of culture; the way they talked, dressed, and ate fried chicken for breakfast kept them poor; socioeconomic policies had nothing to do with it. So it went.

But serious social scientists inform us that, due to socioeconomic policies, the Black middle class began experiencing declines in real standard of living measures of income, fair access to credit, and net household worth during the Nixon administration of the 1970s. A process that continues to this day according to recent studies by Brandeis University, The PEW Institute, and US Census Bureau.  The PEW study found that median househould wealth disparities between Blacks and Whites have increased 20 fold over the past several years. Michelle Alexander, in her book --The New Crow: Mass Incarceration in the age of Colorblindness, informs the reader that while many were celebrating the end of Old Jim Crow, a New Jim Crow was operating that has resulted in the mass incarceration of millions of African Americans via the unfair application of drug laws that focus primarily on African Americans. Moreover, the criminalization of these Blacks leaves them shackled for life, being denied even the most fundamental of opportunities such as employment, food assistance, and housing. Not for a moment, but for a lifetime.

For decades, the right wingers put before Black America their stooges. But the charlatans' cry of victim blaming colorblindness was rejected by more than 90% of Blacks. Such nonsense was simply inconsistent with Blacks' everyday life experiences. Besides, about 90% of Blacks were Democrats electorally.

But most Blacks were unaware of changes occurring in the Democratic Party. Accustomed to voting out of habit, rather than policy analysis, they voted for Democrats upwards of 89% as they had voted mainly for Democrats since FDR's 1930s New Deal programs.  What was occurring that Blacks were unaware of was a right wing takeover of the Democratic Party led by Al From in the mid 1980s. From's Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) brought right wing ideology into the party, causing a rift between progressives and so-called Blue Dogs DLC conservatives. By all indication, the conservative wing gained the upper hand beginning with the Clinton administration in the 1990s. So indistinguishable are they from Republicans, Howard Dean once called them the "Republican wing of the Democratic Party." It is from them that we got "welfare reform" and "three strikes and you're out" laws during the Clinton 90s. Few Blacks noticed because the economy was better for Blacks and the president had a Black golfing partner, played the saxophone, and regularly invited Blacks to The Big House.

In was during the 2008 presidential election that the right wingers in the new Democratic Party and their colleagues in the Republican party finally achieved what they had been unable to achieve with Republican Blacks for decades-- got Blacks to accept the cultural deficit and colorblind confidence game. In fact, there is evidence that more Republican conservatives supported the Democratic Party's nominee than supported the nominee of their own party in the 2008 presidential election. And they did it for the expressed purpose (in their own words) of "ending Black identity politics" and rendering Blacks psychologically incapable of addressing Black grievances. (See the Atlantic Archives- "Ten reasons why Republicans supported [the Democratic nominee]). How many Blacks are aware of this fact?

Of course, the con game to neutralize African Americans' sanity and end their protest of injustices was no longer called "colorblind," that was too outdated and patiently Republican. The new term became post racial. Yes, post racial and the election's outcome speciously proved it. Thus, personality cult worship, gestating for months was now born and nurtured by television and all other venues of mass influence. The old Republican mountebank pushers of colorblindness had won at last. African Americans for the first time in history would no longer make demands for redress of wrongs. Indeed, they would now, and hopefully in perpetuity, support their own abuse. Everything wrong was now their own fault. They attacked each other for "speaking in Negro dialect," being like "Aunt Jemima," etc. They had no idea that they had participated not in a group advancement cause, as they believed (uninformed, most still believe it) but in a Pyrrhic victory, brought about by Pavlovian stimulus pairing (classical conditioning) wherein their aspirations were stimulus-paired with their detriment and therefore they could not choose their aspirations, their dreams and hopes, without choosing their detriment.

A few days after the election, a CNN poll found that 94% of Blacks felt that centuries of racism had been cured (in three months) and that Dr. King's "dream" had been realized (although before then, it was considered disrespectful to refer to Dr. King's legacy as a mere "dream"). That left only 6% of Blacks, representing all socioeconomic strata, with their mental faculties in tack. According to the poll, that 6% said nothing had changed, nor would anything change any time soon.

Since then, as the data have begun to come in regarding the worsening condition of Blacks (with no public policy initiatives to address Black concerns other than "shut up and stop complaining"), an increasing number of Blacks have begun to regain their sanity. To prevent this from happening in a mass way, a cadre of self-serving Blacks have accepted their dictatorially assigned roles of keeping Blacks confused and in denial of the hardships of their lives. They encourage them to support their own abuse by alacritously embracing the same benign neglect policies in play since the Nixon administration. Only this time, unlike then, there is no effort on the part of Blacks to have their grievances addressed.

In fact, the cadre of "permed pimps," and other opportunists either ad hominem Blacks who speak out (including duly elected officials), or behest their probably well meaning but uninformed sycophants to attack such Blacks as "Uncle Toms," etc. 

Some of these characters are thrust into Blacks' faces everyday, speaking in tongues, claiming to have "access" and assigning value to trivia. But what access do they have? Foreign policy is formulated at John Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), a Neocon haven, as it was during the previous administration.  What roles do the likes of Sharpton and Melissa Harris Perry play in that process (since they have access and all)? Even domestic policy is obviously beyond their influence. For example, they, along with a handful of zealous followers, have bemoaned for months now about states changing their voting laws. But that battle was won in 1965 with the signing into law of the federal Voting Rights Act. Consequently, no state can change its voting laws without first getting approval from the Justice Department. What access do they have if they can't influence the enforcement of laws already enacted?

Racism, according to its post racial version, is no longer the institutional denial of social /economic / political fairness, or a level playing field. It is now the words of fifth-rate politicians like former House Speaker, Newt Gingrich, who when not hanging out at the White House (or with his buddy Al Sharpton) seems to make such idiotic statements as freely as a forest bird chirps.

However, so naive and incompetent are some who purport Black leadership, they have begun to agree with the racists, rather than challenge them in a way that represents the truth about the Black condition and how it got that way. For example, when Gingrich made the recent comments about Blacks and welfare, the response of much of Black leadership was to agree with his intended implications that Blacks receive welfare due to being lazy. "There are more whites on welfare than Blacks," they mumbled. In other words, there are more lazy whites than lazy Blacks. But that paradoxical signification does nothing to explain that Blacks' economic condition is due to institutional racism, despite a myriad of studies that detail this fact. Moreover, the response was paradoxical. While whites may out number Blacks on welfare roles due to their larger share of the general population, the data are clear that Blacks are proportionally the most economically destitute group in the country.

But there is a ray of hope. Many younger Blacks seem to have caught on to the distraction games. For example, a few years ago, a successful young Black actress stated in response to an interviewer's asking her views on the so-called "N" word: "I'd much rather for someone to call me the 'N' word, than to leave me stranded on a flooded roof for a week in the hot sun with no food, water, or sanitation." She said, referring to Hurricane Katrina.

In that regard, it is not difficult to imagine what a person who is unemployed and homeless would prefer-- a focus on Gingrich's, or Beck's, mouth or food and shelter.

In the distractions, ad hominem, and other madness, there is virtual silence about the $200 billion that Blacks have lost in home foreclosures over the last few years. Nothing is said about the 50% + (in some census tracks) African American unemployment rate (with no end in sight other than the monthly release of false data), the growing wealth gap; the systematic firing of Black teachers and other government employees; the failure to enforce civil rights laws (that Ricardo Jones explains), and the increased preying on Blacks for incarceration, etc., One could go on and on citing data, from the recent Census Bureau report on increased poverty to environmental observations of suffering many of us see daily. Whenever there are comments regarding these realities by the hired enforcers of Black acquiescence, they are circular, evasively non focused, and downright incoherent.

Indeed, despite these realities, some say that everything is fine. That any Black person who is hungry and homeless is just inferior (uneducated, lacks personal responsibility). They pretend that what they believe is real--that Dr. King's work for a just society has been achieved, just as the Republican conservatives (Black and White) argued deceptively for decades as they sought to undue Civil Rights gains made by previous generations of African Americans on the false premise that they were no longer needed. Supporting the Republicans' arguments, while believing themselves to be in opposition to those arguments, some Blacks even consider the abolishing of affirmative action initiatives (such as the recent ending of Defense Department contracts for Blacks) as an "accomplishment" of which Blacks can be proud, even though it will lead to the lost of millions of African American jobs according to experts. Again, any dissent from this cult-worship is met with hostile ad hominem bashing. 

The dissenter is "jealous," or "carrying a personal grudge," "lying," etc. No emphasis is given to the content of the dissenting critiques, and no research is conducted to determine the truth. The mad dash to drown out the validity of the critique is simply an indirect way of expressing a profound lack of caring; a schizoid-like emotional detachment from the suffering of those whose needs the critiques address.  

To continue on in this way can only be interpreted realistically as a crisis of sanity. And no good can come of it.

 

 

[Christine R. Rickett]

I like your post. We are not living in a colorblind society. While not all, and probalbly most whites are not prejudice or racist, but certainly quite a few in positions of authority are. We should also remember the many whites who have lost their lives because they believed in equality for all people. With that said, one can look at the jails in this country and who fills it to know something is still terribly wrong in America.

[Bennetta]

Wow! Enough said.... Thanks for brilliantly schooling and slapping the SH_T out of us with this very CREDIBLE TRUTH.  Now may WE all find the strength and courage to conquer these lies and ultimately triumph in a cultural resurrection from this debilitating, psychological and socio-economic falsehood that has managed to continuously stump our growth in class, wealth and social well being.  It’s really sad that so many of our fellow African American brothers and sisters struggle so deeply with accepting the TRUTH about themselves and others, their psyche, their stagnant socio-economic positioning in America as well as THEIR BELOVED PRESIDENT’s true intentions based solely on HIS policies and record to date.

This is definitely one of the most intelligent and thought-provoking posts I’ve yet to read on S&W....BOLD HEART-BREAKING TRUTH and today I’m glad as hell I’m NOW a member of that 6% ‘sane’ Black folk you so eloquently described along with their anti-counterparts.  In fair defense of the 94%, SOME may have just been on that HOPE and PRIDE trip, as I too were, back in 2008.  However, based on the policies and actions that have been imposed since then, I've sadly had to snap out of that that zone in the name of logic and common sense.

[james wilson]

Thanks Christine, and Bennetta, for responding to my post and sharing your valuable feedback.

I think this topic is not being discussed nearly enough. The fact that it is a legitimate topic of discussion cannot be successfully disputed.

I plan to continue discussing the matter, not as an electoral partisan because a significant point of the discussion is that there are no policy distinctions between the two dominant political parties.  They are both now right wing led.

The main point of the discussion is that African Americans have been manipulated into accepting right wing ideology and policies without even being aware of it. This conditioning was achieved by associating the right wing ideologies and policies with the legitimate aspirations of African Americans. Scientifically, the procedure is called classical conditioning.  Anyone who's studied psych 101 should have some fundamental understanding of how that model operates.

Some are under the impression that it only works with "animals," given the nature of Pavlov's early experiments. But it works with humans just as effectively. One example is branding. When consumers are convinced (branded/conditioned), for example, by advertisers that one product brand is superior to the next, after that association, they will pay a far higher price for the brand product which costs more than the non-brand (generic) product. They do so even if the two products have the same active ingredients; which means one could not possibly be more effective, or useful, than the other.

However, once the consumer takes the time to read the active ingredients, and learns that they are the same in all the products of interest, they have to decide whether they want to continue paying the higher price, or change their behavior. But in order to even arrive at that point, they must first pay attention and not be deceived by the product's flashy label, or whatever false things they have been told about it in advertisements. Because of being conditioned by an association to a brand, reading active ingredient labels is highly improbable, and advertisers know it.

Politically, failure to pay attention is proving costly to African Americans, in terms of their psycho/social/economic/political well being. Too much attention is being paid to labels, and not enough to the active ingredients. This has implications not only for present generations, but future ones as well.

That's what I'm attempting to communicate.

 

[james wilson]

While some African Americans (even intellectuals) are in total denial of the fact that the current administration's policies are Republican both in nature and in intent, others rationalize that the obvious Republican partnership is not a partnership at all. For example, cutting programs for the poor (LIHEAP--energy assistance for the poor); cutting hundreds of billions from Medicaid and Medicare; appointing commissions to cut Social Security (and undermining its solvency with deceptive payroll tax deduction cuts); Ending Affirmative Action set-aside programs for Blacks; Refusing to enforce Civil Rights Laws, by claiming society is post-racial and the programs are no longer needed; facilitating Wall Street profits between January 2009 and the summer of 2011 (2.5 years) of $85.52 billion, which, by the way, was greater than those of the Bush II administration's full 8 years ($77.17 billion).  All the while, the public was told that we were in a reccession as folks lost ( and are still losing) their jobs, homes, and pensions. But if that were true, then why did the rich increase their profits so much? The greatest in history? In that regard, history was made, but not in the interest of Blacks.

Then we were told that there is a budget deficit, and we had to give up our pittance (social Security and other safety nets) in "shared sacrifice" to solve the deficit. But how is it shared sacrifice when the super rich had gained so much over the last 3 years (including a continuation of not paying taxes, a primary cause of the deficit) and the public has lost so much? I won't even get into the fact that most serious economists say that the so-called deficit should be ignored and the focus put on putting people back to work and getting them out of homeless shelters (whose budgets have been cut), instead of cutting what little they have left.

One could go on and on citing these Republican governing policies as they relate to Blacks in particular, and the public in general. Still some Blacks are yet to catch on to the master con game.

They (especially some  intellectuals)pretend that it is "poor negotiation skills," "capitulation," and other such nonsense. Most of them may not even know that they are rationalizing and denying reality in order to avoid cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is mental anguish people experience when they learn that what they believe is inconsistent with the reality of a given situation. To avoid such anguish (cognitive dissonance), some resort to fantasy worlds, and believe that it is true anyway, despite abundant evidence that it is not true, simply because they wish it to be true.

They are blissfully pleased in their fantasy and or misinformed mental worlds: "If there's a cure for this, I don't want it," so goes a lyrical line from a popular song several years ago.  

 

[james wilson]

Please stay tuned for my follow-up discussion to "Is there a Crisis of Sanity in Much of Today's Black America?" My follow-up title will be: "Is There a Remedy for the Obvious Crisis of Sanity in Much of Today's Black America?"

While I have engaged in lengthy debates with colleagues and friends as to whether the condition being observed is a question of a lack of sanity, or simply a lack of information, I contend that the refusal to analyze information when provided, regardless the tenor, or method of presentation is indicative of a condition other than ignorance. While ignorance is significant in effecting the outcome, the condition being observed cannot be explained by mere ignorance alone.

In the follow-up, I will recommend a remedy. The remedy is based on the fact that no amount of reasoning will motivate people to see what needs to be seen when their concept of Self-worth (and humanity) is based on contrary beliefs and vicarious affirmation.

The remedy then, must take into account the experiences of those who have awakened. What made them wake up, while others remain stupefied? Why have many African Americans realized that they have been played and betrayed and reject further abuse, while others shout both consciously and unconsciously--"play me more! If there is a cure for this, I don't want it"?

Behavioral science models must be applied to explained these issues. Indeed, it was / is the application of behavior science models that effected the condition in the first place.

The follow-up will explore those vital questions, after expanding on the narrative of how the Right- Wingers quietly celebrated their 2008 presidential victory over dinner with their winning candidate. A candidate so Right-Winged in his core political values that he questioned the Right-Wing credentials of others at the dinner.

Stay tuned.

[Bennetta]

Brother James - I really admire your tenaciousness and determined will at trying to effectively convince, advocate for and communicate TRUTH to these insane, delusional and ardent admirers of Obama aka FOOLISH FAN BASE.  Unfortunately, I am someone who has neither the time nor the patience to continuously engage and try to convince these Obama groopies of common sense truth and some are just so darn irrational that I’ve decided NOT to even bother esp when they exhibit unwillingness to even engage in an objective assessment of the administration’s actual policies (I think they really hate that word...POLICIES).  For example the other day, I asked a Black Obama groopie “What’s Obama’s connection to the revolutionary struggle?  What would Fred Hampton, MLK, Malcom & Marcus Garvey think of him?”  And this Obama groopie replied, “Obama’s the actual PROPHESY of revolutionary struggle.”  Now imagine that!?!  Even after he signed to extend the evil-ass Patriot Act (after promising he NEVER would!) which clearly illegally reinstated Cointelpro - they still think he’s some kind of PROPHET....wow!

Regarding your plans to reveal a REMEDY, well I can’t wait to hear it as  I’ve actually started contemplating NOT EVEN VOTING this time (and I KNOW how irrational that too would be!) given that I and so many other historical DEMOCRATIC voters really have NO CHOICE IN 2012.  Unless a real Democrat or Independent miraculously emerges, I really just can’t even imagine a remedy to solve this crazy ass dilemma of having NO CHOICE IN 2012.  But honestly, on principle alone as well as any speck of integrity I might possess, I cannot imagine AGAIN voting for Obama and I’m really sad to admit that fact too.  And of course you can’t even rationally discuss this around most Black folks.....my own mother just LOVES Obama....he could commit murder and rape right on TV before her very eyes and she would still try and defend and protect him...I love my mama and understand her and her senior citizen girls’ views b/c most of them were born in the 30’s so they’ve experienced historical racism like I can NEVER imagine so I usually just sit there and listen and when I try and sneak in any FACT about Obama's actual policies, boy the whole damn family just gangs up on me.....you should here them!!!  So again, I can’t wait to hear yours or anyone else’s remedy on this seemingly “no-win” situation given that I too am no longer able to even decipher the difference between the Left and Right parties any more and Obama definitely scares me just as much as those damn militant Republicans do! 

[james wilson]

Sister Bennetta,

It seems you are growing weary. Please don't! You must remember that you are dealing with people afflicted with zealotry delirium. It is a condition wherein those afflicted are otherwise as intelligent, erudite, and rational, etc., as anyone else except when it comes to their "sore spot" issue. In this case, the sore spot issue is the president.  That's when they become as irrational as a bat in a flaring sun storm.

I have always understood what I was / am dealing with. It doesn't bother me at all. Were it not so seriously sad, it would sometimes be fun. We simply have to understand the degree of psychological manipulation Black people have undergone that effected the current condition we are faced with.

Take, for example, my discussion with Sheila Hall who posted a discussion on this site: "Leave My Great President Alone." I immediately engaged her. I wanted every one reading these discussions to see what type of mind-set these extremely delirious ones have. She tried to escape reason by running from page to page, rather than stay in place and defend her ideas. She only had two delusional positions: (1) "The president doesn't owe Black people anything, and Black people owe him everything." This, she still believes, despite the fact that Black people have done every thing for him already (elected him president), while he has done nothing for Black people in return, except treated us like he's ashamed of us. (2) Tavis is a very bad person. Simply because he is (along with Dr. West and many others) advocating for Black and poor people. In her zealotry delirium, she is unable to conceptualize the fact that those who speak out against injustice have not only the right, but also the responsibility, to do so. She would probably speak out herself and support Tavis but for her sore spot -- disagreeing with the president.

She is a typical case of zealotry delirium. If you have not read her post, please do so. It is so sad.

I will submit my remedy post as soon as time permits. Most likely within the next two weeks. In it, I hope to take some of the pressure off people like you. I developed the theory as a result of talking to many people who have come back to their senses. As they explained why they came back to their senses, I immediately hypothesized a general remedy.  I'll give you a hint of what it is (and it's exactly what the zealots want, are craving for): The best antidote to venom poisoning is made from venom itself, and the best antibiotic against bacterial infection (penicillin) is itself made from bacteria. And, finally, the old adage, "experience is the best teacher." The only problem with the latter is zealots (in order to avoid cognitive dissonance) are incapable of appreciating their own experiences when the experiences involve their sore spots. In such instances, they tend to displace blame, e.g., it's Tavis's fault that the president made these unneccessary budget cuts that have reduced us to beggary. If Tavis hadn't been picking at the prersident, etc. Or, they uphold and support their own abuse, e.g., "the president had no choice but to make us suffer like this." Much of this type of reasoning we hear already.

Stay tuned, and stay strong.

 

[Tim Caffery]

@James Wilson
Have you heard of Prof. Will Hart from U of Greensboro N. Carolina? I heard a very intense lecture of his from a series on iTunes U outta a U in Arizona:  Human Sacrafice and Statecraft. Anyways, in it he briefly reviews the UN definition of genocide, and though he in no way implies anything specific, or in general, about genocide (as it was not the subject matter), the definition struck me as vividly familiar somehow. I am not black in the US but the definition of genocide seems to describe the black experience in the US from my initial analysis. If I am completely off, I don't want to play with such ideas, but you seem way more informed than myself (WAY MORE in the best of ways). So, rather than ask a direct question (though, I guess I already have sorta) would you be willing to research the legal definition of genocide versus the plethora of stats and policies you are familiar with? I know it comes off as extreme, but if it is real, it can only come from truly independent humans with genuine concern. Groups like the NAACP or the ACLU, can't pursue such an investigation because if true the critiques naturally arises, "where have they been?" Or, maybe you can direct me to resources that can contribute reason to my unfounded concern? Thank you for what you are providing now, and for any response you can provide.  Tim Caffery

james wilson said:

Sister Bennetta,

It seems you are growing weary. Please don't! You must remember that you are dealing with people afflicted with zealotry delirium. It is a condition wherein those afflicted are otherwise as intelligent, erudite, and rational, etc., as anyone else except when it comes to their "sore spot" issue. In this case, the sore spot issue is the president.  That's when they become as irrational as a bat in a flaring sun storm.

I have always understood what I was / am dealing with. It doesn't bother me at all. Were it not so seriously sad, it would sometimes be fun. We simply have to understand the degree of psychological manipulation Black people have undergone that effected the current condition we are faced with.

Take, for example, my discussion with Sheila Hall who posted a discussion on this site: "Leave My Great President Alone." I immediately engaged her. I wanted every one reading these discussions to see what type of mind-set these extremely delirious ones have. She tried to escape reason by running from page to page, rather than stay in place and defend her ideas. She only had two delusional positions: (1) "The president doesn't owe Black people anything, and Black people owe him everything." This, she still believes, despite the fact that Black people have done every thing for him already (elected him president), while he has done nothing for Black people in return, except treated us like he's ashamed of us. (2) Tavis is a very bad person. Simply because he is (along with Dr. West and many others) advocating for Black and poor people. In her zealotry delirium, she is unable to conceptualize the fact that those who speak out against injustice have not only the right, but also the responsibility, to do so. She would probably speak out herself and support Tavis but for her sore spot -- disagreeing with the president.

She is a typical case of zealotry delirium. If you have not read her post, please do so. It is so sad.

I will submit my remedy post as soon as time permits. Most likely within the next two weeks. In it, I hope to take some of the pressure off people like you. I developed the theory as a result of talking to many people who have come back to their senses. As they explained why they came back to their senses, I immediately hypothesized a general remedy.  I'll give you a hint of what it is (and it's exactly what the zealots want, are craving for): The best antidote to venom poisoning is made from venom itself, and the best antibiotic against bacterial infection (penicillin) is itself made from bacteria. And, finally, the old adage, "experience is the best teacher." The only problem with the latter is zealots (in order to avoid cognitive dissonance) are incapable of appreciating their own experiences when the experiences involve their sore spots. In such instances, they tend to displace blame, e.g., it's Tavis's fault that the president made these unneccessary budget cuts that have reduced us to beggary. If Tavis hadn't been picking at the prersident, etc. Or, they uphold and support their own abuse, e.g., "the president had no choice but to make us suffer like this." Much of this type of reasoning we hear already.

Stay tuned, and stay strong.

 

[Bennetta]

Thanks for encouragement!  Yeah no doubt I'm quite sick of listening to these delerious Obama fan bases and a bit discouraged by our country's obvious current lack of CHOICE IN 2012, but rest assured I'm firm in what I know to be true.  And yes I did read that tragically sad discussion between yourself and that Sheila groopie.....wow is all I can say about that exchange though you "handled" her delusional claims quite beautifully.  So I guess I'll await your next REMEDY share.

james wilson said:

Sister Bennetta,

It seems you are growing weary. Please don't! You must remember that you are dealing with people afflicted with zealotry delirium. It is a condition wherein those afflicted are otherwise as intelligent, erudite, and rational, etc., as anyone else except when it comes to their "sore spot" issue. In this case, the sore spot issue is the president.  That's when they become as irrational as a bat in a flaring sun storm.

I have always understood what I was / am dealing with. It doesn't bother me at all. Were it not so seriously sad, it would sometimes be fun. We simply have to understand the degree of psychological manipulation Black people have undergone that effected the current condition we are faced with.

Take, for example, my discussion with Sheila Hall who posted a discussion on this site: "Leave My Great President Alone." I immediately engaged her. I wanted every one reading these discussions to see what type of mind-set these extremely delirious ones have. She tried to escape reason by running from page to page, rather than stay in place and defend her ideas. She only had two delusional positions: (1) "The president doesn't owe Black people anything, and Black people owe him everything." This, she still believes, despite the fact that Black people have done every thing for him already (elected him president), while he has done nothing for Black people in return, except treated us like he's ashamed of us. (2) Tavis is a very bad person. Simply because he is (along with Dr. West and many others) advocating for Black and poor people. In her zealotry delirium, she is unable to conceptualize the fact that those who speak out against injustice have not only the right, but also the responsibility, to do so. She would probably speak out herself and support Tavis but for her sore spot -- disagreeing with the president.

She is a typical case of zealotry delirium. If you have not read her post, please do so. It is so sad.

I will submit my remedy post as soon as time permits. Most likely within the next two weeks. In it, I hope to take some of the pressure off people like you. I developed the theory as a result of talking to many people who have come back to their senses. As they explained why they came back to their senses, I immediately hypothesized a general remedy.  I'll give you a hint of what it is (and it's exactly what the zealots want, are craving for): The best antidote to venom poisoning is made from venom itself, and the best antibiotic against bacterial infection (penicillin) is itself made from bacteria. And, finally, the old adage, "experience is the best teacher." The only problem with the latter is zealots (in order to avoid cognitive dissonance) are incapable of appreciating their own experiences when the experiences involve their sore spots. In such instances, they tend to displace blame, e.g., it's Tavis's fault that the president made these unneccessary budget cuts that have reduced us to beggary. If Tavis hadn't been picking at the prersident, etc. Or, they uphold and support their own abuse, e.g., "the president had no choice but to make us suffer like this." Much of this type of reasoning we hear already.

Stay tuned, and stay strong.

 

[james wilson]

Tim Cafferty,

Thanks for the kind things you said about me. But I do not consider myself "all that" (or, "all of that," for the grammar folks). No, I'm not familiar with the professor you named.  However, it is very easy to learn the definition of genocide. It is a relatively general topic in literature and political discussions. Wikipedia has some very good introductory discussions on the topic specific to definition and histro/political context.

I try to keep my discussions focused on what could be called "psychocide." Which is the precursor to genocide.

Again, thank you for your response.

[james wilson]

Bennetta,

Young are a strong and intelligent person. In terms of being intelligent enough to know that it is absolutely necessary to be objectively informed politically, you are obviously to the exceptional right on the bell curve in the African American community. I share your disappointment  in not having a choice in 2012.

The irony is this is supposed to be the year of the Third-party. Indeed, the climate is ripe specific to public opinion: http://online.WSJ.com/article/SB/100/42405311/9034.  But, you're correct, the mechanism (media exposure) and the resources (campaign war-chest) for such a party's success is not viable.

Besides, there are so-called third-party efforts not worth the time of day, e.g., Americans Elect, a Right-Wing, Wall Street backed, set-up. Others, would be very much worth supporting, such as Rocky Anderson (former mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah): http://counterpunch.org/2012/02/rocky-an.

Of course, as you know, there are several other alternative parties that would be great if they could get the required resources to complete. That is unlikely.

So you are right, we have only the choices that the media have been instructed to give us. In this case, two Republicans will face off in November. It will be the president (a Reagan Republican) vs. Romney ( a Bush I Republican), or Santorrum, or whatever, (a Tea -Party Republican). If one doesn't want a Republican, one has no choice at all; since everybody running is a Republican.

Since over 90% of Black voters have been/are being conditioned by hired con artists, sinecurist, and other opportunists, to hold onto the obsolete Democrat-Republican paradigm, it would make very little difference were a genuine people-first candidate to become adequately resourced and emerges as viable. The "leaders" would urge Blacks to stay with the "Black president" and continue suffering Reagan's policies. Although most of the "leaders," themselves being media created, have very little influence over Blacks beyond circles of sycophancy, such influencing would not be neccessary. The media have already taken care of that with the classical conditioning of many Blacks via the stimlus-pairing (associating) of their hopes, dreams, and even humanity with their detriment to the extent that they cannot think of, or choose, one without choosing the other. That's what I'm trying to have understood.

You are so right, there is no choice.

[james wilson]

Bennetta,

I don't know how the word "young" got pass my editing. I'd hate to think that someone is playing games.

At any rate, I meant to write "You," and the word "young" is a typo.

My apology to you, and all readers for the error.