In previous essays for this newsletter I’ve followed the line of thought that the value of radical inclusivity leads to an intolerance of intolerance, and I believe that moment has come.
In this post I speak for myself as I am no longer on the PNWS Board of Directors, no longer the Representative/President of the whole group. I have passed the torch to Leslie Crist and a great team of thinkers and doers. The scheduling, the emails, the meetings and the unreasonable desire to relate to each of the PNWS Members, all that is being released.
The Board may have an official response to current politics, meanwhile I’m posting my personal observations and opinions which may or may not reach an audience. So be it. It’s time to speak out in any way we can.
Put simply, if Trump-Musk-Putin etc. get their way, the United Stated of America will be an extension of Russia; arguably this has already happened. The last month has been an unConstitutional coup d’état, as Musk/Trump have dismantled our Federal government. Most of this has looked like chaos, but it’s been very intentional, replacing non-partisans with loyalists, and serving up the U.S. resources that remain to privatization by Oligarchs like Musk. You may be aware of bad news like this. It can be over whelming, and while “shock and awe” is an intentional strategy it also shows their desperation.
My advice for facing the chaos is Show up, in any way you can. Celebrate and Educate as a simple directives to be your authentic self and not give into despair, isolation or denial.
It’s appropriate to mock them, to laugh at bullies like DT/EM and Putin. Do not fear them. Crack open their hollow narcissism. If we can be light, take heart in one another, our tears and laughter can melt into one. Fascists are afraid of Freedom. So, the antidote to fascism: More Freedom; take joy in the endless strangeness of reality. Show up and support the diversity of other folks who are showing up to face this political moment. Be the artist you are fully meant to be and share that. Now is the time.
+++Andy Kennedy former President PNWS