These 5 Citizen Papers are Turning Points!
Hey Friends. Happy September to ya. So far my Citizen Papers have focused on fully and deeply defining the problem. With this set, you will notice a turn toward fixing the problem. Here’s the skinny: 1) the situation calls for destruction of property in protest, 2) for unity to occur, we must condemn both the pessimists and the do-nothing optimists, 3) here’s 5 strategies and 5 steps for dialogue, 4) here’s a cheat sheet for dialogue about race, gender, and class, and 5) our liberation rests on rejecting our everlasting worship of wealth and domination.
· Paper #13 – What’s It Mean To Resist?
· Paper #14 – Can We Achieve Unity?
· Paper #15 – Can We Have Healthy Dialogue?
· Paper #16 – Can We Learn The Opposing Viewpoint?
· Paper #17 – Can We Be Liberated?
Also check out a video delivery of the paper on Unity.
Between papers and posts, I’ve been pushing out a lot of info I had to get out, and now I’m ready to spend more time pulling info from you. I want to know what is most aggravating to you. Though conversations about politics and religion are usually emotionally challenging, I find I usually gain perspective from it. Even if the dialogue doesn’t always bring perspective to others, I like to think it helps just helping others feel heard.
Here is some of the feedback I’ve gotten so far in 2020:
· “Bringing awareness to issues that are “outside of your community” means something special to me, so I want to commend my Brother Mark DeNome for being the principled individual I have always known him to be.”
· “I want to be crystal clear that I LOVE and APPRECIATE the friends on my timeline who are not people of color who continuously voice their disgust practically EVERY time shit like this happens. This is my thanks in recognizing you.”
· “I’m waiting to see you on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”
· “I’m realizing more just how much you were aware... forecasted... and tried to prepare us with your messages!”
· “I honestly have know idea how you’ve done what you’ve done and remained sane. People are so far out of touch.”
· “You are welcome on my boat any time.”
· “Mark I respect the hell out of what you been doing and standing up for. More important than ever these days.”
· “I’ve taken the time to learn where you stand and why and I’ve learned a lot in the process. Changed a lot of what and how I was doing things and treating people.”
· “You continually amaze me with your poised and respectful recourse with people who write both ignorant and beautiful commentary on your posts. You are a champion of what is right in this world, and Mark my words: your roar will make this jungle a more gentle place.”
· “So I had a [911] call Saturday. 2 black men one rear ended the other. The one that caused it wasn’t breathing and the brother of the victim who was alert and talking was yelling and pulling me to take care of the conscious guy. I was able to approach the family and explain why I did what I did and basically hot wash the issue and got a hug and thank you at the end. I attribute some of this being able to understand and react to you. Thank you. I want you to know it so you know your work is not on deaf ears.”
So please share with me! Try answering these questions: 1) What aggravates you most about politics or religion? 2) What’s your greatest fear about politics or religion? 3) What’s your biggest unanswered question? If you’re considering voting for TheRump, I have a few more questions to ask you. 4) Why? What do you see him doing for you, other than sharing your frustration that science and smart people are right all the time? What fear does he reduce for you? 5) How has he shown himself as having the knowledge and abilities to be president, or shown himself as a model of virtue deserving of your vote? 6) How is it those who still support him can let him get away with screwing workers and taxpayers over for his own profit, and even violating our constitution?
Respond to me or not, please don’t forget you are loved and deserving of dignity. You are great, always.
Mark