Voices of the People

Freedom of Expression 

A Foundation of Democracy

The Voice of the People must be preserved at all cost.

Freedom of Expression includes:

All Free Speech

All Demonstrations

All Protests

All Social Media

All Media

All Free Press 

This means that terms like

Enemy of the People and Fake News 

are anti-American and anti-Democracy

We need to wake up and preserve 

our democracy or we will lose it.

We must become anti-fascist in the true sense of the term if we value democracy. Limiting the free press along with all other voices of the people is the first step in a fascist society. We can see it happening around the world currently. Instead, fascism and anti-fascism is being weaponized for selfish political propaganda within democracy. This is very concerning.

We the People cannot have a Government of the People, for the People, by People while at the same time allowing people in power to think all voices must agree or we label it as fake. Quelching voices of the people should never be tolerated. It is a defining factor of what is anti-democracy.

"If we indulge the human propensity to understate, exaggerate, and alter facts for whatever comfort or false security a lie might accord us, we forfeit our capacity to see reality clearly, and see only a world of our own invention."
—Lin Jensen, "Right Lying"

Enemy of the People

This is a term that fascists and totalitarian dictators have used throughout the world and throughout history. At one time, no president would ever use such a term for any American, especially not those that are a pillar of democracy, the free press. Because this president thrives on fear, people won’t stand up against his fascism. He can’t stand those that disagree even though that is foundational to democracy.

Fear is the Enemy of the People

Fear is the Enemy of Freedom. 

The Enemy of the People is the lack of a Free Press.

Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the first amendment for a reason. The free press does not mean that all news agrees with me and when it does not, then it is fake news. This is a violation of the first amendment because its purpose is to silence the voices of the people. This is one of the things that provides checks and balances to power in government. We must guard ourselves against tyranny as a country. We are heading in that direction.

Speaking truth to power does not make anyone the enemy. 

Any true leader would not feel threatened by truth or the opinions of others, whether they agree or disagree. A true democratic leader would know this is the essence of democracy, its life-blood.

By limiting the voice of the people through the free press, dissent is suppressed, which is necessary for democracy in a free society. Dare I say that the terms enemy of the people and fake news used in these ways are nothing more than fascist name-calling due to those in power fearing those that disagree. Never in our history should this be allowed. It is a violation of our constitution. What is happening in America now is the dissent is being quashed while its validity is being nullified.

Triggering Fear

Fearmongering

I find it very interesting how words related to fear have become very popular lately. 

Xenophobia

Agoraphobia

Homophobia

Androphobia

Anthropophobia

Gynophobia

Arachnophobia

Autophobia

And there is even phobophobia, the fear of phobias.

Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are very common. They’re estimated to affect more than 30 percent of U.S. adults at some time in their lives.

https://www.healthline.com/health/list-of-phobias

What triggers fear?

Real danger that triggers a fight or flight response for survival.

Imagined danger that can be triggered by words and phrases, anxiety and phobias.

Most of our lives, we live in fear…

… fear of the future

… fear of the past

… fear of regret

… fear of failure

… fear of falling short

… fear of what others might think

… fear of having too little

… fear of not achieving enough

… fear of losing things and people

… fear of death

… fear of life and really living

 

Why do we fear that which we do not agree,

that which is not the same?

Diversity and divergent perspectives are everywhere...

the essence of life itself.

 

Why do we fear what we do not understand,

that which may be beyond understanding?

Mystery and uncertainty is everywhere...

the essence of life itself.

 

So we must learn to...

Embrace mystery.

Embrace diversity.

Embrace change.

Amygdala: Instinctively Triggering Fear

Why do we attack that which we fear?

When there is now rarely a need 

for the survival response of fear?

Here's why...

 

Compassion First

Compassion First???

A requirement and priority for being human 

as well as a test of the authenticity of all the religious as well as the nonreligious.

It seems we have forgotten.

We must remember what we’ve always known.

If we are to live together as human beings, then we must learn to put love central to our politics and our religion.

As the Dalai Lama says,  “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”

"Rather than take religious views and teachings to be ultimate statements of absolute truth, they might be better understood as skillful means to liberate the mind. Instead of pitting one view against another, we might let go of rigid attachment to any view, and ask the very pragmatic question, “Is this teaching leading my heart and mind to greater wisdom and peace, to greater kindness and compassion? Or does it lead to more divisiveness, to more selfishness, to more violence?” ("Mindfulness, Compassion & Wisdom: Three Means To Peace" by Joseph Goldstein)

“A compassionate city is an uncomfortable city!
A city that is uncomfortable when anyone is homeless or hungry.
Uncomfortable if every child isn't loved and given rich opportunities to grow and thrive.
Uncomfortable when any group anywhere in the world is marginalized or oppressed.
Uncomfortable when as a community we don't treat our neighbors as we would wish to be treated.”
(Karen Armstrong, Charter for Compassion)