I have always appreciated your brutal honesty when it comes to the reality that the media and so many others wish to whitewash.
My grandmothers would remind us when they saw the statues of people like Stalin and Robert E. Lee that we were never ever to forget the horrors that were committed by them and the people they controlled. So if this memorial does come about, then we must never ever forget the lies, atrocities, war crimes, and crimes against humanity that go along with that "memorial". I say this as a USAF veteran and Gold Star Daughter who had siblings who served, best friends served, AND lost the man I was supposed to marry on New Year's day 2006. He was KIA in Iraq two weeks before his unit was supposed to return and finally retire. Instead of a wedding, I was flying home with what remained to bury him.
We have met the enemy and it is US! It is because of our air of exceptionalism and colonialism that there is such poverty and evil in our own country and in our colonies around the world.
What this country has done in many places are beyond words. US as a country has brought many good things to rest of the world but also has done horrible and despicable things in many places including to its own population.
All actions have consequences.
In my opinion there is always a balance, somebody does good things good things will follow, if we do bad things to other people bad consequences will also follow.
There is no other way around that.
Sometimes it might seen nothing will happen if one or other person act badly but at the end all is paid in this life or after.
As Newton said: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This a physical law that is always present and it can be extrapolated to life in general.
I am so truly sorry for your loss. There is nothing more hurtful than loosing the love of your life that close to being reunited. My sincerest condolences for your loss. I retired from the US Navy a couple years before the so called "War on Terror" but I was intimately involved with Gulf War 1. I was not very popular with my peers when I voiced my opposition to the second Gulf War. I've had many friends go to that AOR during the second round of hostilities but thankfully they all returned. We do need to pull together. Well, at least some of us. A world of hurt may be coming to our country in the near future (before the closing of this decade or sooner) and it will be of our own doing. God bless.......
Thank you for the kindness. I was really looking forward to many good years of "retirement" with Jon. But I am thankful for every day I did have with him and the memories. So many say that the military is a family. This is very true. I had many people to lean on.
I was often called an effing hypocrite and worse for my very loudly outspoken views on the "war on terror". I often went to the protests in front of the World Court and The Hague calling for Bush#2's arrest. I would then go home to support my brothers and sisters who had just lost a loved one and listen to the young people who were distraught over what they saw and did. The great irony, my best friend lives in the subdivision next to Bush#2. I just keep remembering that we will all be rewarded 10 times over for what we have done.
The people who value humanity will join together. We just have to find each other and Mike has given us a way to do just that.
I am so very sorry for your loss of these most important men in your life and I am so grateful for amazing families like yours who have given their best and sacrificed so much for the rest of us, with honor and love for this country and her peoples. Bless those grandmothers! Surely they’re the heart and conscience of our nation! Blessed be.
Thank you Penny for your kindness and humanity. I appreciate your comments. I have met many sincerely good people, no make that real Human Beings along my life's path. And yes, most absolutely yes, we must never forget all of the Human Beings who have been lost due to all forms of terrorism, violence, and oppression.
Btw Michael, I’ve been a fan since you were on Phil Donahue over two days at the old Whiting Auditorium in Flint promoting Roger & Me. Half the audience was with you and half wanted to attack you. You’ve never been afraid to call it as you see it, even when it upsets many. I’m from Grand Blanc and many of my friends love you but many loathe you. Many haven’t even seen your films, they just watch Fox, Newsmax etc. and believe everything they spew about you.
Thank you Micheal for your voice and keep chugging along, we need you and we’ll be helping as well!
The thing is we only know MM through his work.Why folks decide to hate somebody because of their opinions is beyond me.Whatever happened to the idea of being able to disagree and let others have their opinion. I don’t like DJT. Never have. From way back when he was married to #1. Always thought he was sleazy but I have a friends who think he’s amazing.I don’t argue…I listen, nod my head and mentally make a to do list or grocery list. When they finish their glorification,I say thank you for sharing your thoughts and change the topic. Passive aggressive. Dishonest. Correct on both accounts. I treasure peace. Would I vote, financially support or in any way help him get elected…nope. Would I work for the opposition….yup.Argue with friends and family over this waste of oxygen. Nope.
Thank you, thank you so much for this well written and incisive article.
I am 83 years old and so frightened at the course this country has taken.We need leaders who are examples of courage and have the imagination to envision a better future for the generations to come by also confronting our past and learning from our mistakes.
I’m 60 and I’ve never been so frightened for my country and her peoples. “They” worked hard to frighten my generation as children of the Cold War, but that pales in comparison to the terror I feel for my home and the world, as a result of our nation’s peril.
Exactly right Susan. I and many others, have been glued to the Rittenhouse and Arbury Murder Trial. Hard to believe half of America thinks these guys did nothing wrong! We all have to be more politically and socially active in our towns, districts and states.
Thank you for your honesty, integrity, and courage to speak your truth which is the truth of the MAJORITY of us if anyone asked and then published the real conversation without editing/censoring/spinning the words to fit the narrative. We are IN 1984 just somewhat late. You said it all - Hitler was elected by a democratic society. It not only can but IS happening here right now. The reason? Greed and power - money
Damn, MM, don’t you talk pretty. That was hard to read. The stark naked truth of the matter.
The monumental sadness of the matter. The colossal stupidity, icy cruelty and corruption that addiction to power causes. Seeing it in my country (again) makes me embarrassed and ashamed. I have seen it in myself (what horror) and cannot any longer allow that. The ugly mess you present is impossible. Here we are the supposedly most intelligent beings on earth and because we cannot manage our fear, we are hurting each other, destroying our home and ourselves. Forgiveness will take a little time, centuries at least.
I have hurrahs for you, slender threads of hope rising up from your words. Hopes, wonderings, how many will be able to hear, and choose the hard work of facing their fears, rather than forcing another person to bear their burden.
I fail to understand why we as Americans continue to think we are the victims, and insist that we need more weapons because we are AFRAID of "terrorists" who hate us for our "freedoms"
I had bought the lie lock, stock, and barrel that we had the freest nation ever, except I knew Canada was just as free if not freer from personal experience. Then I moved to Europe where I found out that we had an anti-freedom nation. In Europe I was able to experience the freedom to have health treatments and real care. My disabled neighbor had the freedom to live with dignity, respect, real care, and a bank account so that she never had financial worries. Everyone had the freedom to have education as a child and when they became adults that allowed them to be employed and stay employed. I was had the freedom to not live in a Christian nation although I found most of the countries I did live in seemed to follow the teachings of a man named Jesus which is very unlike the US.
What I have failed to understand is why anyone still believes the lies that this is the greatest country in the world. The US is one of the last places on earth that I would want to immigrate to. Visit - yes, immigrate - no.
You always get it right, Michael. Our problem is our corporate media sees everything with $$ signs, thus loves to brainwash even educated white folks with lies and distortions. When will America wake up?
There needs to be a concerted effort to figure out a way for everybody to have the opportunity to be their best self. Contented people don’t have the need to disturb the peace of others. There are too many living lives of hopeless desperation.Stop wasting money on wars and invest in the people of America.
Don't take my word for it, but it's an inside job knowing peace in ourselves by realizing our own fears, excessive anger and hatred, especially of those who hate us for the color of our skin, religion, gender, orientation, etc.
Here in Denver we had a couple massive meditation sit-ins in the park to help settle ourselves down and encourage others to, like GOP politicians who need to invest in the people instead of some special interest that President Washington warned of long ago.
The Commonwealth must prevail for our nation to survive.
Cf circa 2,500 BC Lao Tzu from his Tao Te Ching or Way Of Change:
"If you see something you dislike in someone, look within. In meditation, go deep. No fight. No blame. Don't take things to the hilt."
He was speaking to his own people. Jung confirmed how we project on others things we've yet to realize that dreams help reveal where we might be whole in ourselves.
More importantly, Lao Tzu says:
"Know the ways of man, but keep to a woman's care to be in the world's channel."
He felt nourished by the Great Mother.
Indeed, Follow The Women, our inner feminine guides and outer women, too.
How do you suppose I'm able to say this and try to live? Not that I always do.
We all have to work at it, especially admitting our mistakes to be forgiven.
I guess it would be dangerous to protest this immoral expenditure of our tax money to deface our public property. Because those of us who would, are not aggressors.
I have been wondering how America survives, at all. when one side is not aggressive.
“America refuses to admit we have a problem.”
One of my favorite movies in recent years is “JoJo Rabbit” not just because it was very well done and creative. Because it depicts one town and how some of the people lived on, amidst what looks dangerous and devastating to others.
I have to admit it feels awful realizing our country is not only not helping the environment, we are a huge part of the problem. We send arms around the world, not help or food. We don’t even help the countries we destroyed. America is empowering the worlds aggressors so those of us who are non-violent are in big trouble.
The rabid human threats that have existed for the black community, in the form of beatings, killings, lawless action and incarceration; is now a threat to all of us. Our outrage of murderous police, and they’re disregard for human life, did not bring us together for good.
The result instead is the police are more powerful and the white supremacists are winning.
Over the last five years we’ve lost our judicial system, our government, our voting right's.
The various candidates we worked so hard to put in this year, have no power and corporate America didn’t even have to spend as much as usual control the out come, they only had to pay off two people⁉️
Thank you Michael. For decades I have been saying that we (the USA) is creating such bad karma, and one day it will come back to us. It is writings such as yours that bring out the truth. We must stop inflicting violence on the world and make amends for what we have done. Unfortunately, I don't see the powerful willing to do this. I don't think they can because they have sold their souls to the devil. Our hope lies with you, your suscribers, the youth and all who are awakened. Each day we must do our small acts of kindness, hold onto love and keep from letting fear take us down.
So much suffering has been caused to so many for all the violence and death around the world. I in no way meant unkindness to anyone who has lost a loved one anywhere. Only that we must stop creating suffering if we don't want to suffer ourselves. It is not personal, but collective.
I'd be more impressed with a memorial to our extraordinarily brave America whistle-blowers. Exposing white collar corruption is far more dangerous than dropping bombs on women and children.
Ironically interesting that Memorial Day used to be called Armistice Day; one celebrating warriors and the other peacemakers. Everything MM says here is absolutely factual, the real history of what this country has done and the ensuing cover-ups and lies about it all. But it must be remembered that there are many, hopefully most, Americans that disdain and are horrified by that history recounted here and have worked in their lives to right those wrongs and change the American character as D.H. Lawrence depicted it.
Thank you, Michael, for your unending courage to speak out and clarify what is REALLY going on in this country!
I have always appreciated your brutal honesty when it comes to the reality that the media and so many others wish to whitewash.
My grandmothers would remind us when they saw the statues of people like Stalin and Robert E. Lee that we were never ever to forget the horrors that were committed by them and the people they controlled. So if this memorial does come about, then we must never ever forget the lies, atrocities, war crimes, and crimes against humanity that go along with that "memorial". I say this as a USAF veteran and Gold Star Daughter who had siblings who served, best friends served, AND lost the man I was supposed to marry on New Year's day 2006. He was KIA in Iraq two weeks before his unit was supposed to return and finally retire. Instead of a wedding, I was flying home with what remained to bury him.
We have met the enemy and it is US! It is because of our air of exceptionalism and colonialism that there is such poverty and evil in our own country and in our colonies around the world.
I’m very sorry for your lost.
What this country has done in many places are beyond words. US as a country has brought many good things to rest of the world but also has done horrible and despicable things in many places including to its own population.
All actions have consequences.
In my opinion there is always a balance, somebody does good things good things will follow, if we do bad things to other people bad consequences will also follow.
There is no other way around that.
Sometimes it might seen nothing will happen if one or other person act badly but at the end all is paid in this life or after.
As Newton said: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This a physical law that is always present and it can be extrapolated to life in general.
I am so truly sorry for your loss. There is nothing more hurtful than loosing the love of your life that close to being reunited. My sincerest condolences for your loss. I retired from the US Navy a couple years before the so called "War on Terror" but I was intimately involved with Gulf War 1. I was not very popular with my peers when I voiced my opposition to the second Gulf War. I've had many friends go to that AOR during the second round of hostilities but thankfully they all returned. We do need to pull together. Well, at least some of us. A world of hurt may be coming to our country in the near future (before the closing of this decade or sooner) and it will be of our own doing. God bless.......
Thank you for the kindness. I was really looking forward to many good years of "retirement" with Jon. But I am thankful for every day I did have with him and the memories. So many say that the military is a family. This is very true. I had many people to lean on.
I was often called an effing hypocrite and worse for my very loudly outspoken views on the "war on terror". I often went to the protests in front of the World Court and The Hague calling for Bush#2's arrest. I would then go home to support my brothers and sisters who had just lost a loved one and listen to the young people who were distraught over what they saw and did. The great irony, my best friend lives in the subdivision next to Bush#2. I just keep remembering that we will all be rewarded 10 times over for what we have done.
The people who value humanity will join together. We just have to find each other and Mike has given us a way to do just that.
Peace be with you.
I am so very sorry for your loss of these most important men in your life and I am so grateful for amazing families like yours who have given their best and sacrificed so much for the rest of us, with honor and love for this country and her peoples. Bless those grandmothers! Surely they’re the heart and conscience of our nation! Blessed be.
Thank you Penny for your kindness and humanity. I appreciate your comments. I have met many sincerely good people, no make that real Human Beings along my life's path. And yes, most absolutely yes, we must never forget all of the Human Beings who have been lost due to all forms of terrorism, violence, and oppression.
Btw Michael, I’ve been a fan since you were on Phil Donahue over two days at the old Whiting Auditorium in Flint promoting Roger & Me. Half the audience was with you and half wanted to attack you. You’ve never been afraid to call it as you see it, even when it upsets many. I’m from Grand Blanc and many of my friends love you but many loathe you. Many haven’t even seen your films, they just watch Fox, Newsmax etc. and believe everything they spew about you.
Thank you Micheal for your voice and keep chugging along, we need you and we’ll be helping as well!
The thing is we only know MM through his work.Why folks decide to hate somebody because of their opinions is beyond me.Whatever happened to the idea of being able to disagree and let others have their opinion. I don’t like DJT. Never have. From way back when he was married to #1. Always thought he was sleazy but I have a friends who think he’s amazing.I don’t argue…I listen, nod my head and mentally make a to do list or grocery list. When they finish their glorification,I say thank you for sharing your thoughts and change the topic. Passive aggressive. Dishonest. Correct on both accounts. I treasure peace. Would I vote, financially support or in any way help him get elected…nope. Would I work for the opposition….yup.Argue with friends and family over this waste of oxygen. Nope.
Thank you, thank you so much for this well written and incisive article.
I am 83 years old and so frightened at the course this country has taken.We need leaders who are examples of courage and have the imagination to envision a better future for the generations to come by also confronting our past and learning from our mistakes.
I'm 78 and terrified
I’m 60 and I’ve never been so frightened for my country and her peoples. “They” worked hard to frighten my generation as children of the Cold War, but that pales in comparison to the terror I feel for my home and the world, as a result of our nation’s peril.
Thank you Michael!
You put in words what some think.
Everyday our own citizens are terrorizing their neighbors!
A car plowing down dozens at a Christmas parade!
Awarding a gun to a 18 year old who has killed two citizens and wounded another…
Just one day I would love to hear just the good news!
You are my trusted truth teller!
Exactly right Susan. I and many others, have been glued to the Rittenhouse and Arbury Murder Trial. Hard to believe half of America thinks these guys did nothing wrong! We all have to be more politically and socially active in our towns, districts and states.
Thank you for your honesty, integrity, and courage to speak your truth which is the truth of the MAJORITY of us if anyone asked and then published the real conversation without editing/censoring/spinning the words to fit the narrative. We are IN 1984 just somewhat late. You said it all - Hitler was elected by a democratic society. It not only can but IS happening here right now. The reason? Greed and power - money
Damn, MM, don’t you talk pretty. That was hard to read. The stark naked truth of the matter.
The monumental sadness of the matter. The colossal stupidity, icy cruelty and corruption that addiction to power causes. Seeing it in my country (again) makes me embarrassed and ashamed. I have seen it in myself (what horror) and cannot any longer allow that. The ugly mess you present is impossible. Here we are the supposedly most intelligent beings on earth and because we cannot manage our fear, we are hurting each other, destroying our home and ourselves. Forgiveness will take a little time, centuries at least.
I have hurrahs for you, slender threads of hope rising up from your words. Hopes, wonderings, how many will be able to hear, and choose the hard work of facing their fears, rather than forcing another person to bear their burden.
I fail to understand why we as Americans continue to think we are the victims, and insist that we need more weapons because we are AFRAID of "terrorists" who hate us for our "freedoms"
I had bought the lie lock, stock, and barrel that we had the freest nation ever, except I knew Canada was just as free if not freer from personal experience. Then I moved to Europe where I found out that we had an anti-freedom nation. In Europe I was able to experience the freedom to have health treatments and real care. My disabled neighbor had the freedom to live with dignity, respect, real care, and a bank account so that she never had financial worries. Everyone had the freedom to have education as a child and when they became adults that allowed them to be employed and stay employed. I was had the freedom to not live in a Christian nation although I found most of the countries I did live in seemed to follow the teachings of a man named Jesus which is very unlike the US.
What I have failed to understand is why anyone still believes the lies that this is the greatest country in the world. The US is one of the last places on earth that I would want to immigrate to. Visit - yes, immigrate - no.
Well said Michael!
You always get it right, Michael. Our problem is our corporate media sees everything with $$ signs, thus loves to brainwash even educated white folks with lies and distortions. When will America wake up?
excellent analysis - as usual, YOU knock it out of the park!
There needs to be a concerted effort to figure out a way for everybody to have the opportunity to be their best self. Contented people don’t have the need to disturb the peace of others. There are too many living lives of hopeless desperation.Stop wasting money on wars and invest in the people of America.
Don't take my word for it, but it's an inside job knowing peace in ourselves by realizing our own fears, excessive anger and hatred, especially of those who hate us for the color of our skin, religion, gender, orientation, etc.
Here in Denver we had a couple massive meditation sit-ins in the park to help settle ourselves down and encourage others to, like GOP politicians who need to invest in the people instead of some special interest that President Washington warned of long ago.
The Commonwealth must prevail for our nation to survive.
Cf circa 2,500 BC Lao Tzu from his Tao Te Ching or Way Of Change:
"If you see something you dislike in someone, look within. In meditation, go deep. No fight. No blame. Don't take things to the hilt."
He was speaking to his own people. Jung confirmed how we project on others things we've yet to realize that dreams help reveal where we might be whole in ourselves.
More importantly, Lao Tzu says:
"Know the ways of man, but keep to a woman's care to be in the world's channel."
He felt nourished by the Great Mother.
Indeed, Follow The Women, our inner feminine guides and outer women, too.
How do you suppose I'm able to say this and try to live? Not that I always do.
We all have to work at it, especially admitting our mistakes to be forgiven.
I guess it would be dangerous to protest this immoral expenditure of our tax money to deface our public property. Because those of us who would, are not aggressors.
I have been wondering how America survives, at all. when one side is not aggressive.
“America refuses to admit we have a problem.”
One of my favorite movies in recent years is “JoJo Rabbit” not just because it was very well done and creative. Because it depicts one town and how some of the people lived on, amidst what looks dangerous and devastating to others.
I have to admit it feels awful realizing our country is not only not helping the environment, we are a huge part of the problem. We send arms around the world, not help or food. We don’t even help the countries we destroyed. America is empowering the worlds aggressors so those of us who are non-violent are in big trouble.
The rabid human threats that have existed for the black community, in the form of beatings, killings, lawless action and incarceration; is now a threat to all of us. Our outrage of murderous police, and they’re disregard for human life, did not bring us together for good.
The result instead is the police are more powerful and the white supremacists are winning.
Over the last five years we’ve lost our judicial system, our government, our voting right's.
The various candidates we worked so hard to put in this year, have no power and corporate America didn’t even have to spend as much as usual control the out come, they only had to pay off two people⁉️
Thank you Michael. For decades I have been saying that we (the USA) is creating such bad karma, and one day it will come back to us. It is writings such as yours that bring out the truth. We must stop inflicting violence on the world and make amends for what we have done. Unfortunately, I don't see the powerful willing to do this. I don't think they can because they have sold their souls to the devil. Our hope lies with you, your suscribers, the youth and all who are awakened. Each day we must do our small acts of kindness, hold onto love and keep from letting fear take us down.
So much suffering has been caused to so many for all the violence and death around the world. I in no way meant unkindness to anyone who has lost a loved one anywhere. Only that we must stop creating suffering if we don't want to suffer ourselves. It is not personal, but collective.
I'd be more impressed with a memorial to our extraordinarily brave America whistle-blowers. Exposing white collar corruption is far more dangerous than dropping bombs on women and children.
Ironically interesting that Memorial Day used to be called Armistice Day; one celebrating warriors and the other peacemakers. Everything MM says here is absolutely factual, the real history of what this country has done and the ensuing cover-ups and lies about it all. But it must be remembered that there are many, hopefully most, Americans that disdain and are horrified by that history recounted here and have worked in their lives to right those wrongs and change the American character as D.H. Lawrence depicted it.