{"id":59676,"date":"2024-11-11T05:31:29","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T13:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.heuermontage.com\/?p=59676"},"modified":"2024-11-11T05:31:31","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T13:31:31","slug":"a-strong-beginning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heuermontage.com\/?p=59676","title":{"rendered":"A Strong Beginning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

“We do not know what will happen. But we can know who we can commit to be in the face of what happens. That is a strong beginning.” – Rebecca Solnit<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So who do we want to commit to be in view of being surrounded by voters willing to tolerate or invite fascism, voters manipulated into ignorance about the consequences of their actions, or non-voters indifferent enough to fail to prevent it? (I think it is important to remember how many people did not vote at all.) Who do we want to commit to be in anticipation of the catastrophes brought to our neighborhoods (and the world) by agents of hate, retribution and lust for power?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In my own case, I want to commit to nourish community, in my real as well as my digital life, as expressed here on the blog. I will stand on principle and not make compromises halfway between the truth and lies, as appeasers in the media would like to have us. I will continue to use the tools I have, to stimulate thinking about politics and history, to use my background as a scientist to educate about the domains of psychology, health and climate change. I will also add a new feature once a week, Does this makes sense?<\/em>, linking to one or two long-form pieces of writing that were particularly thought-provoking in my perusal of the week’s publications (and not necessarily something I agree with), perhaps prompting a community discussion in the comments. I will post reading recommendations from people who are smarter and more organized than I am, geared towards the issues at hand. You’ll find some at the end of today’s blog. Solnit’s encouragements<\/a> are a good way to start. Mind you, I completely understand if reading is too much now, or ever; it’s just my frantic default option….<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I will commit to balancing the reports on the frightening with all that we can still be grateful for, the beauty around us, nature that models resiliency, indigenous wisdom that guides us, art that encourages resistance, poetry that fortifies us. Today’s choice, written during the horrors of the Civil War, describes adaptation as a form of resilience, not defeatism. Let that be the manner in which we tackle our current universe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We grow accustomed to the Dark-<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We grow accustomed to the Dark \u2013
When light is put away \u2013
As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp
To witness her Goodbye \u2013

A Moment \u2013 We uncertain step
For newness of the night \u2013
Then \u2013 fit our Vision to the Dark \u2013
And meet the Road \u2013 erect \u2013

And so of larger \u2013 Darknesses \u2013
Those Evenings of the Brain \u2013
When not a Moon disclose a sign \u2013
Or Star \u2013 come out \u2013 within \u2013

The Bravest \u2013 grope a little \u2013
And sometimes hit a Tree
Directly in the Forehead \u2013
But as they learn to see \u2013

Either the Darkness alters \u2013
Or something in the sight
Adjusts itself to Midnight \u2013
And Life steps almost straight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Emily Dickinson<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I am currently in Southern California, surrounded by nature in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The noisiest birds that visit me are the California acorn woodpeckers. I wrote at length about this fascinating species here<\/a> two years ago. They are perfect models for what we have to learn: to live in “bushels” of community, tending to our broods and granaries as a cohesive group, rather than fixating on individual success. They are a prime example of the evolutionary benefits of cooperation, across many generations, both with regard to breeding patterns, raising the young and creating, using and restoring granaries for acorns, riddling oak trees with custom-sized holes which provide storage for food during winter. Cannot think of a better symbol for the road ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Music today is Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony<\/a>. Feel it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Reading Recommendations (some might be of interests to book groups that don’t shy away from difficult conversations): <\/p>\n\n\n\n
 Hope in the Dark<\/a><\/em>  by Rebecca Solnit<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Tyranny<\/a> by Timothy Snyder<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Autocracy, Inc.<\/a> by Anne Applebaum<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surviving Autocracy<\/a> by Masha Gessen<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let This Radicalize You<\/a>.<\/em> by Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strongmen<\/a> by Ruth Ben-Ghiat<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to be an AntiRacist<\/a> by Ibram X. Kendi<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several of these come with work books helpful to guide group discussion or offering further action proposals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Here is a compilation of analyses of how we got here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
 https:\/\/sarahkendzior.substack.com\/p\/ten-articles-explaining-the-2024?ref=organizingmythoughts.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is a road map from Choose Democracy<\/em> founder Daniel Hunter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/therealnews.com\/10-ways-to-be-prepared-and-grounded-now-that-trump-has-won<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Here are ten currently free e-books<\/a> around dealing with times of crises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yesterday’s sunrise:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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