“…It
is only through taking a tough stand on moral grounds, and in acting according
to conscience that some Americans can seek redemption for their country, and
for what it has done to its own citizens and the rest of the world. It is those
Americans who act from their conscience against the likes of Trump and Clinton,
and whoever the desperate Republicans may try to foist on people late in the game, who will
put the term ‘greatness’ next to the name ‘America.’
“Notwithstanding,
those who decide to lead their lives in fear and moral cowardice are those who
choose to abrogate their conscience as human beings. Thus, they have in effect
nothing to say of any importance to others who act according to their
conscience. Those who act according to their conscience are exercising their
free will: they do not need to account to anyone for doing what they know, in
all good conscience, to be right.
“If
cowards have the right to decide their mode of self-destruction by making bad
choices which affect the fates of others who do not share their lily-livered
outlook on existence, those with moral courage have the right to make their
decisions and bear the consequences of that, and the cowards will have to learn
to live with it: which is what cowards do best. Not everyone will be led by the
nose to the slaughter house. Some will resist and do what is right.
“For those who are
going third party and looking to go Green because it is the right thing; because
you reject the [racist, misogynist, and narcissist] that is Trump, and the
corruption, violence and deceit that is Clinton: …You are taking a monumental
step in sending a message to the controllers behind the scenes of America: that
there are people in America who will not stand for what has happened to their
country anymore.
“In taking on the
controllers decisively, you are completing your contract with yourself as being
a person with moral agency: someone who can rise above fear and stand your
ground despite the odds. You do not owe anything to the cowards who only blame
you for your courage and good sense, you owe it to yourselves and to the good
name that America can start re-building for itself.
“For
all those who this year are consciously making the effort, strengthening your
backbone and exercising your will power to reject Trump, exorcise America of
the Clintons, and struggle against the controllers—this is your time. Trump and
the Republicans, Hillary and the Democrats, and their controllers are giving
you a chance of a lifetime to go beyond the calculus of fear. As Francis Bacon
says: ‘In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be
present…’”
The complete article,
entitled America’s Chance for Moral Courage by Sanjay Perera, can be found at Philosophers
for Change, philosophersforchange.org.
From Robert Zahniser:
ReplyDeleteClinton or Trump will be the next U.S. President. One of them reflects your self interest and values better than the other. It is irresponsible and unwise to refrain from voting and, therefore, allow others to determine your fate and the country's fate.
From John Church:
ReplyDeleteA noble thought, but in practical terms we must choose between the two candidates.
Drawing votes from one and allowing the other to be elected will not solve our problems.
"Voting should not be viewed as a form of personal self-expression or moral judgment directed in retaliation towards major party candidates who fail to reflect our values or of a corrupt system designed to limit choices to those acceptable to corporate elites. The exclusive consequence of the act of voting in 2016 will be (if in a contested 'swing state') to marginally increase or decrease the chance of one of the major party candidates winning..."-Noam Chomsky.
ReplyDeleteJUAN GONZÁLEZ: ...Where do you feel this massive movement that has developed over the last few years, this people movement, would have a better opportunity to grow, under a Trump presidency or under a Clinton presidency, assuming that one of those two will eventually be elected?
ReplyDeleteCHRIS HEDGES: I don’t think it makes any difference. The TPP is going to go through, whether it’s Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Endless war is going to be continued, whether it’s Trump or Clinton. We’re not going to get our privacy back, whether it’s under Clinton or Trump. The idea that, at this point, the figure in the executive branch exercises that much power, given the power of the war industry and Wall Street, is a myth…"-Democracy Now Interview
from Mary Richie:
ReplyDeleteThe last time Richard Nixon ran for President I chose to vote for dog catcher on up and left my presidential spot on my ballot empty, not voting for either candidate.
I've regretted that move ever since.
Those who are furious about the Presidential choices should begin working toward the 2020 election right now. Democracy takes patience as well as time. How idle were these philosophers while the primaries were going on??
We angry Americans are being presented with what others have prepared for us. Preparing our own choices is past for 2016, and we must rally for the next election.
Mary Richie