RE: EXTRA! EXTRA! Get it here FIRST!

Adam,

Sorry, but I don't understand what you meant in your first paragraph.  I
wasn't talking about people with power that exceeds their ability to
vote (e.g., Bush, Cheney, Ashcroft, O'Reilly).

You are quite correct that the scales tipped in favor of the Bushits as
a result of 9-11.  What amazes me is that they squandered it so
blatantly and completely.   Americans, whether they voted for Bush or
not, were scared shitless by 9-11 and desperately wanted to have faith
in the government.  I sense they are really pissed that their faith was
misplaced and abused.  I think Bush is toast.  

You say that you "wonder how many of these people are left" (on the
fence).   The beauty of it is . . . enough to rid ourselves of the
menace who stole the White House.   People who did not vote for Bush in
2000 are extremely unlikely to vote for him in 2004, although it seemed
many would until recently.  Also, I've read numerous quotes by people
who did vote him now avow that they'll never make that mistake again . .
. and this from states that he actually won.  It's quite a thing for
people to admit they were wrong (especially Americans).

You ask, "At what point do we have to accept that we're bound to repeat
the mistakes of the past?"   I already have.   That being said, I'm
increasingly optimistic about November.  Frankly, I'm elated of late.
Don't know how in heck President Kerry will repair the damage the
Bushits have caused, but it's too frightening to imagine what it will be
like if Kerry doesn't prevail.   No telling what the Bushits have up
their sleeves to hang onto power, but I know it's despicable.  They've
got no morals and are a truly dangerous lot.

I didn't suggest that we attempt diplomatic niceties with our enemies.
They must be challenged and shown no quarter for what they've done and
would do.  I did say that it is counterproductive to attempt to sway the
immovable, and anybody who takes O'Reilly's word as gospel clearly fits
that category.  Focus on people who aren't hopeless in their ignorance.
But don't assume that the majority are hopeless.  Give them more credit
than that.  It's good for your spirit . . . and theirs.  When you sense
that someone is hopeless, save your breath and move on.  If it helps
your sanity, pity them silently (and the silent part is critical).

However, it's a good thing to debate publicly with the immovable.  The
point is not to attempt to change them, but to influence people in the
audience.  If you're a good debater, you can expose the ignoramus.  It's
a very powerful skill to have, especially because so few people have it.
I think it's much more powerful than the printed word.  Most are
terrified of the idea of public speaking (about 97%), and the remainder
are usually not very skilled at it.   Understanding the fundamentals of
public speaking and interpersonal communications helps, as well as grace
(wish I had some).  Also, it takes a great deal of practice to do it
well.   When you fall on your face, learn from the experience and don't
beat yourself up over it.
 
Above all, keep hope alive!

Vicki
(a big Jessie fan, obviously)

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Adam Miller
Sent: February 13, 2004 8:47 AM
To: [email protected]; list for the ballistic helmet heads
Subject: RE: [ballistichelmet] EXTRA! EXTRA! Get it here FIRST!


Thanks, Vicki, you're exactly correlation between having power and being
(as you correctly put it) immovable is pretty much direct. It's like the
more you have, the more you have to lie to yourself about how it's
validly yours. Extend this far enough, and nationalism leading to
violence not only makes sense, but becomes the only option. 

I wonder if we make the mistake of attempting diplomatic niceties with
an enemy that really would take no quarter with us, in one sense. Bill
O'Reilly has no morals, obviously, but people not only listen to him,
but take his word as gospel. These people are the immovable ones, and
concentrating on the folks on the fence, you're right, is the only way
to get a point across without burnout. I just wonder how many of these
people are left - eventually, people just sink too deep into their
lifestyle to ever willingly come out of it, even for truth. I feel like
so many people bought in so whole-heartedly following 9/11 that maybe
the scales have tipped in their favor, and maybe it's a losing cause
here and now. Not to say we should give up, but I'm just really sad that
people are finally getting worried now that things have already gone way
too far, just like a million times before. At what point do we have to
accept that we're bound to repeat the mistakes of the past?


From: "Vicki Mercer" <[email protected]>

>I learned (the hard way) that it isn't worth it try to change people's 
>minds if they are obviously immovable.  Since then, I've focused all my

>activism efforts on helping to inform and empower people who are 
>fundamentally empathetic, but uninformed, undecided, and/or inactive.
>
>Remember, we need a majority, not a plurality.  It really doesn't 
>matter if my father and sister remain loyal Republicans and 
>anti-environmentalists.  The same is true for your parents.  And people

>who care need to avoid burnout, which is a sure thing when you attempt 
>to do the impossible (i.e., try to change people's minds when they are 
>obviously immovable).
>
>The most difficult thing is to try to change people.  It's much easier,

>and indeed more effective, to change how you respond to people who 
>should change (if they knew what was best for them and all living 
>things).  No response, or a brief "I disagree" is an acceptable 
>response.  For family and friends who should change but never will, I 
>suggest you talk about other things entirely, unless perchance they ask

>for your opinion.  And then, provide it calmly without attempting to 
>change their beliefs.



____________________________________________________________
Find what you are looking for with the Lycos Yellow Pages
http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default
.asp?SRC=lycos10
_______________________________________________
heads mailing list
[email protected]
http://ballistichelmet.org/mailman/listinfo/heads/
http://ballistichelmet.org/donate/

_______________________________________________
heads mailing list
[email protected]
http://ballistichelmet.org/mailman/listinfo/heads/
http://ballistichelmet.org/donate/