In light of the turbulence of our recent election season and its unfolding implications, I wanted to make a connection with one of the chapters from The Shape of Joy.
Yep - it seems it where people find their righteousness. Almost as if your vote has become like recitation of the creed.
I find nearly everything about Trump abhorrent, as well as the support he gets from the mostly white evangelical church. I don’t believe the kingdom of God comes top down from left or right - it has to come from within and is outwardly expressed in love in action (joy, peace patience…)
Lots of people have been left behind by both sides of the political spectrum, and the populist has provided enough of them with an avenue to shout loud enough. In a way, the mission (sent-ness) of the church should always be those left behind by society, and had that been the case rather than putting so much store in the politics of power, then maybe we wouldn’t be where we are today.
Historically, when hope and promise are unfulfilled, the energy that creates leads to revolution. If the people continue to feel unheard, and become desperate enough, that’s where this will end up.
I see what you're saying, but that assumes that all sides or options are equal, which has not been the case for the last 8-10 years. If we had an election between Kamala Harris and literally ANY OTHER normal Republican, people would not be reacting this way. Republicans could have chosen or aligned themselves with Nikki Haley, Marco Rubio, Mitt Romney, or other Republicans who have the same general priorities -- the economy, immigration, crime -- but who have not been convicted of a felony, sent a mob to storm the capital, left their own vice president to be hanged by a mob. There are many other Republicans who have not been found liable for rape, who have not said they will be "a dictator on day one." Voters did not choose any of those other Republicans.
Not only that, but Trump is THE ONLY PRESIDENT in the history of the United States who has trouble accepting the peaceful transfer of power. THE ONLY ONE. Nothing about authoritarian Trumpism is normal for America -- until now.
Additionally, politics is often where heroes are actually made: the suffragists fighting for decades for the rights of women to vote. Civil rights leaders marching on Selma. All the lawmakers who voted for the Affordable Care Act.
PS I say this as someone who would love to have two strong parties I respect. In 2012, I was OK with either President Obama or Mitt Romney winning the presidency. They are both good people and strong leaders. However, Romney, the lifelong Republican, has condemned Trump and Trumpism in no uncertain terms. That's because his party developed an attraction to authoritarianism.
This morning, 10 minutes ago, I was thinking about how we could work during the next 4 years to get back to valuing pragmatic politics. We can view government like a Trapeeze circus act. When it's working, the flyer is the center between left and right catchers, who add momentum. Today, the left and right hold the flyer, never letting go. There is no moving center.
How do you move toward the center when the center elects a man found liable for rape who has bragged about sexually assaulting women? How much sexual assault is considered acceptable in order to be a moderate?
100% agree that Trump should have been disqualified years ago. In terms of character the bar has been set pretty low at this point. But why? I think that's the question that drives most of us crazy. Good friends and family voted for this man, choosing to ignore his transgressions and inflamatory rehtoric. I think if we strive to learn from what happened there is an opportunity to get the center flying again. The vast majority of the center, left or right, want to know that the government values and supports ordinary hardworking people, and understands them. The Democratic parties messaging has become overly idelogical, in too many directions to mention here. Maybe in real life the Democratic Party is not overly ideological but somehow either through Republicans characterization or media coverage the impression by the vast majority of the center is the Democratic party is out of step with the moderate ordinary hardworking people who make up its center. Accepting that is a reality is in itself a learning.
I see the learning as that America has overwhelmingly developed fascist tendencies. That's the reality. And I don't know that a democratic / non-fascist party can (or should??) appeal to people attracted to fascism.
This was not a Democrat vs. Republican election. This was a Democrat vs. a Fascist who cloaks himself in Republican language. The GOP could have chosen almost any other Republican to represent conservative values and uphold democracy at the same time. Instead, they chose the fascist that many high-level Republicans publicly denounced.
How do we address rising fascism in America? I don't know, but I've ordered a bunch of library books to find out.
Agree 👍 . I've said the same....no one needed Trump for conservative policy or immigration reform. Conservatives could have supported other candidates. But instead they chose Trump. That will always baffle me. Good luck on the journey!
Funny, I had said to someone the day after the election that " I would have gladly voted for that guy, you know, who made millions in capital venture or private equity...is a Mormon" i couldn't remember his name, and it's not like I don't know who he is. One the few who stood up to Trump.
Hey, thanks for lettings your comments be 'wild', which means a complete stranger gets to say stuff.
I can see why you might want to take a 'both sides' approach to this issue, especially when 'the left' has historically been more likely to see the state as a bringer of the Kingdom of God, but this doesn't feel like a both sides moment.
We are not talking about people meeting the same need in different ways, we are talking about two completely different conceptions of what is good, true and beautiful. This isn't tomaeto/tomahto, this is love of power/the power of love.
Someone argued to me during the months before the election that they were against “identity politics,” meaning using race or gender to determine your political stance, and the implication being that the “other side” doesn’t do that. But I thought that was a very unaware statement, because there are clearly identify politics on both sides. I call it tribal identity, where your place in the tribe is what’s important, more so than the actual values and issues being raised by that tribe. As Christians, we can’t let our identities be rooted in anything other than child of God.
Well, since others are expressing their views I will do my individualist thing. It is wrong to support genocide and both parties are genocidal. Arguably the worst crime you can support and the support is bipartisan. That’s America, or at least it is our political class.
The poem "The Superhero Complex" delves into the concept of individuals embodying heroic personas, inspired by the chapter "The Superhero Complex" from the book "The Shape of Joy." This poem depicts individuals who take on the mantle of superheroes, roaming the night and seeking justice, drawing parallels to the phenomenon of real-life superhero enactments observed in society.
The opening stanza sets the stage by portraying these heroes in masks and capes, symbolizing their dual identity and underlying purpose to combat darkness. The reference to their powers drawn from "tales of old" reflects a deeper connection to timeless narratives that shape their quest for justice.
The following stanzas explore the themes of courage, truth, and righteousness embodied by these heroes as they navigate through the chaos of societal challenges. The heroes symbolize a beacon of hope, striving to uphold virtues in the face of adversity, akin to the analysis of heroic pursuits discussed in the chapter.
The poem encapsulates the essence of the superhero complex as a symbolic representation of people's innate desire for purpose, meaning, and significance, mirroring the societal dynamics explored within the book. The portrayal of heroes engaging in battles beneath the night sky signifies the enduring struggle for moral clarity and justice within a complex world.
Overall, "The Superhero Complex" serves as a reflection on the human propensity to seek heroic identities and the underlying quest for significance, resonating with the exploration of hero games and identity performance discussed in the chapter from "The Shape of Joy."
"Politics is no longer a pragmatic tool used to solve social problems. Politics has become an expression of identity."
Bingo.
I would argue that performing identity has become one of the results of an extreme cultural and economic individualism. Social media platforms, where politics are most commonly performed by those of us who are not millionaires, trick us into thinking that we're engaging in relational process, when in actuality we're selling our "personal brand", whatever that means.
But parasocial relationships and IRL relationships have completely different rules for engagement. In-real-life relationships enable us to define commonalities, explore differences, and wrestle with tensions in ways that enact the real-life implications of the decisions that we make.
A lot of my friends and family, Pastor and church community voted different than me. They have an entirely different way of seeing reality. At first it was a bit unsettling. But I put the work into understanding how they arrived at their conclusions. I held onto my values and principles, even though they seemed unimportant to my circle. My realization is we humans do indeed react to rehtoric. A basis of truth + inflamatory rehtoric + repetition = reality = security. And we humans do justify the means to get to the end we think serves us best. Desire for something that helps "me" get ahead, or reinforces an order "we" value, short circuits other principles we may hold. That's it. We have to accept that by and large human nature is easily triggered toward defense and protection of identity. I hope it's benign, but time will tell.
I have mixed feelings about this. Much of it is true on all sides and I can apply it to myself as well, but at the same time there really are issues that should have people concerned or even outraged. I will refrain from listing the ones I focus on, but everyone should be able to think of some.
“Politics has become an expression of identity.”
Yep - it seems it where people find their righteousness. Almost as if your vote has become like recitation of the creed.
I find nearly everything about Trump abhorrent, as well as the support he gets from the mostly white evangelical church. I don’t believe the kingdom of God comes top down from left or right - it has to come from within and is outwardly expressed in love in action (joy, peace patience…)
Lots of people have been left behind by both sides of the political spectrum, and the populist has provided enough of them with an avenue to shout loud enough. In a way, the mission (sent-ness) of the church should always be those left behind by society, and had that been the case rather than putting so much store in the politics of power, then maybe we wouldn’t be where we are today.
Historically, when hope and promise are unfulfilled, the energy that creates leads to revolution. If the people continue to feel unheard, and become desperate enough, that’s where this will end up.
I see what you're saying, but that assumes that all sides or options are equal, which has not been the case for the last 8-10 years. If we had an election between Kamala Harris and literally ANY OTHER normal Republican, people would not be reacting this way. Republicans could have chosen or aligned themselves with Nikki Haley, Marco Rubio, Mitt Romney, or other Republicans who have the same general priorities -- the economy, immigration, crime -- but who have not been convicted of a felony, sent a mob to storm the capital, left their own vice president to be hanged by a mob. There are many other Republicans who have not been found liable for rape, who have not said they will be "a dictator on day one." Voters did not choose any of those other Republicans.
Not only that, but Trump is THE ONLY PRESIDENT in the history of the United States who has trouble accepting the peaceful transfer of power. THE ONLY ONE. Nothing about authoritarian Trumpism is normal for America -- until now.
Additionally, politics is often where heroes are actually made: the suffragists fighting for decades for the rights of women to vote. Civil rights leaders marching on Selma. All the lawmakers who voted for the Affordable Care Act.
PS I say this as someone who would love to have two strong parties I respect. In 2012, I was OK with either President Obama or Mitt Romney winning the presidency. They are both good people and strong leaders. However, Romney, the lifelong Republican, has condemned Trump and Trumpism in no uncertain terms. That's because his party developed an attraction to authoritarianism.
This morning, 10 minutes ago, I was thinking about how we could work during the next 4 years to get back to valuing pragmatic politics. We can view government like a Trapeeze circus act. When it's working, the flyer is the center between left and right catchers, who add momentum. Today, the left and right hold the flyer, never letting go. There is no moving center.
How do you move toward the center when the center elects a man found liable for rape who has bragged about sexually assaulting women? How much sexual assault is considered acceptable in order to be a moderate?
100% agree that Trump should have been disqualified years ago. In terms of character the bar has been set pretty low at this point. But why? I think that's the question that drives most of us crazy. Good friends and family voted for this man, choosing to ignore his transgressions and inflamatory rehtoric. I think if we strive to learn from what happened there is an opportunity to get the center flying again. The vast majority of the center, left or right, want to know that the government values and supports ordinary hardworking people, and understands them. The Democratic parties messaging has become overly idelogical, in too many directions to mention here. Maybe in real life the Democratic Party is not overly ideological but somehow either through Republicans characterization or media coverage the impression by the vast majority of the center is the Democratic party is out of step with the moderate ordinary hardworking people who make up its center. Accepting that is a reality is in itself a learning.
I see the learning as that America has overwhelmingly developed fascist tendencies. That's the reality. And I don't know that a democratic / non-fascist party can (or should??) appeal to people attracted to fascism.
This was not a Democrat vs. Republican election. This was a Democrat vs. a Fascist who cloaks himself in Republican language. The GOP could have chosen almost any other Republican to represent conservative values and uphold democracy at the same time. Instead, they chose the fascist that many high-level Republicans publicly denounced.
How do we address rising fascism in America? I don't know, but I've ordered a bunch of library books to find out.
Agree 👍 . I've said the same....no one needed Trump for conservative policy or immigration reform. Conservatives could have supported other candidates. But instead they chose Trump. That will always baffle me. Good luck on the journey!
How I wish Mitt Romney were still on the scene.
Good luck to you too!
Funny, I had said to someone the day after the election that " I would have gladly voted for that guy, you know, who made millions in capital venture or private equity...is a Mormon" i couldn't remember his name, and it's not like I don't know who he is. One the few who stood up to Trump.
Hey, thanks for lettings your comments be 'wild', which means a complete stranger gets to say stuff.
I can see why you might want to take a 'both sides' approach to this issue, especially when 'the left' has historically been more likely to see the state as a bringer of the Kingdom of God, but this doesn't feel like a both sides moment.
We are not talking about people meeting the same need in different ways, we are talking about two completely different conceptions of what is good, true and beautiful. This isn't tomaeto/tomahto, this is love of power/the power of love.
Exactly.
Someone argued to me during the months before the election that they were against “identity politics,” meaning using race or gender to determine your political stance, and the implication being that the “other side” doesn’t do that. But I thought that was a very unaware statement, because there are clearly identify politics on both sides. I call it tribal identity, where your place in the tribe is what’s important, more so than the actual values and issues being raised by that tribe. As Christians, we can’t let our identities be rooted in anything other than child of God.
Well, since others are expressing their views I will do my individualist thing. It is wrong to support genocide and both parties are genocidal. Arguably the worst crime you can support and the support is bipartisan. That’s America, or at least it is our political class.
Title: The Superhero Complex
Yvon Roustan ©
In masks and capes, they roam the night,
A city's saviors, bathed in light.
Their powers drawn from tales of old,
A world of villains, hearts so cold.
In every street, a hero lurks,
A quest for justice, shadows shirk.
They stand for truth, for what is right,
Their courage shining through the night.
Amidst the chaos, they arise,
Their battles fought beneath the skies.
The superhero complex reigns,
A dance of virtues, loss and gains.
*************^******************
Explanation:
The poem "The Superhero Complex" delves into the concept of individuals embodying heroic personas, inspired by the chapter "The Superhero Complex" from the book "The Shape of Joy." This poem depicts individuals who take on the mantle of superheroes, roaming the night and seeking justice, drawing parallels to the phenomenon of real-life superhero enactments observed in society.
The opening stanza sets the stage by portraying these heroes in masks and capes, symbolizing their dual identity and underlying purpose to combat darkness. The reference to their powers drawn from "tales of old" reflects a deeper connection to timeless narratives that shape their quest for justice.
The following stanzas explore the themes of courage, truth, and righteousness embodied by these heroes as they navigate through the chaos of societal challenges. The heroes symbolize a beacon of hope, striving to uphold virtues in the face of adversity, akin to the analysis of heroic pursuits discussed in the chapter.
The poem encapsulates the essence of the superhero complex as a symbolic representation of people's innate desire for purpose, meaning, and significance, mirroring the societal dynamics explored within the book. The portrayal of heroes engaging in battles beneath the night sky signifies the enduring struggle for moral clarity and justice within a complex world.
Overall, "The Superhero Complex" serves as a reflection on the human propensity to seek heroic identities and the underlying quest for significance, resonating with the exploration of hero games and identity performance discussed in the chapter from "The Shape of Joy."
"Politics is no longer a pragmatic tool used to solve social problems. Politics has become an expression of identity."
Bingo.
I would argue that performing identity has become one of the results of an extreme cultural and economic individualism. Social media platforms, where politics are most commonly performed by those of us who are not millionaires, trick us into thinking that we're engaging in relational process, when in actuality we're selling our "personal brand", whatever that means.
But parasocial relationships and IRL relationships have completely different rules for engagement. In-real-life relationships enable us to define commonalities, explore differences, and wrestle with tensions in ways that enact the real-life implications of the decisions that we make.
A lot of my friends and family, Pastor and church community voted different than me. They have an entirely different way of seeing reality. At first it was a bit unsettling. But I put the work into understanding how they arrived at their conclusions. I held onto my values and principles, even though they seemed unimportant to my circle. My realization is we humans do indeed react to rehtoric. A basis of truth + inflamatory rehtoric + repetition = reality = security. And we humans do justify the means to get to the end we think serves us best. Desire for something that helps "me" get ahead, or reinforces an order "we" value, short circuits other principles we may hold. That's it. We have to accept that by and large human nature is easily triggered toward defense and protection of identity. I hope it's benign, but time will tell.
I have mixed feelings about this. Much of it is true on all sides and I can apply it to myself as well, but at the same time there really are issues that should have people concerned or even outraged. I will refrain from listing the ones I focus on, but everyone should be able to think of some.