The View From Here

[NanceGreggs]

We can all understand a lack of intelligence, a lack of information, a lack of comprehension when it comes to complex issues.

But what we have been seeing for the past few months is a lack of common sense, and it is frightening to think that so many people who live among us lack that basic human trait.

We are born with the instinct to consume nourishment, to shelter ourselves from the elements, and to avoid danger in order to survive. But some of our fellow citizens seem to be totally devoid of those basic instincts – and that is scary to the max.

How can anyone look at the stats for countries/states that have practiced social distancing and mask-wearing, and have not figured out (duh!) that these measures actually work?

We’re all familiar with the expression not enough sense to come in out of the rain. How does one explain NOT having the sense to come in out of a pandemic – when one merely means getting wet, and the other means getting dead?

I have lived out-of-country for over forty years now, and haven’t been back for almost twenty years. But I don’t remember my fellow citizens ever being as downright dumb as they are right now. I don’t recall reasonable people being so unreasonable, and so devoid of basic common sense.

I know that Trumpism has changed people. I understand that his followers are a mindless cult.

But what I can’t wrap my head around is the fact that the instinct for survival has somehow been overcome by the need to be a dumb-ass, even if being so proves fatal.

What I am witnessing is Jonestown on steroids, people willing to die rather than admit they were wrong in their choice of a messiah.

This is not the America I left – reluctantly and kicking-and screaming the whole way. But it IS the America I now see, and I am devastated by the view.

[secondwind]

1. Nance, this is an amazing post. A real eye opener.

I am also looking at the US from another country, an island in the Caribbean where rich and poor alike wear masks etc.

I pray for my country, but do not plan to live there anymore.

[panader0]

13. So when the going gets a bit tough you leave?

Bye.

[duforsure]

2. Another great post Nance,

And wonder how many in this White House, this administration, and our government are working for other governments , causing this to happen with their propaganda machine they use against us. This is psychological propaganda designed to divide , and promote to many how democracy and the present government is hurting them now. Using fear and hate , and lying is clear indications their intent is to destroy this government we have now, and not to make us great again, but to turn this country into a russian like state like putin has now.

[oasis]

3. Trump propagandists on hate radio, Sinclair and Fox News, does the

thinking for many of the mindless clods who roam American streets.

[ananda]

4. What makes it even worse ...

if that’s possible, is that their messiah
is an orange shitfaced calf.

[MyOwnPeace]

12. He's not a calf......

he's a full-grown ox.......

[betsuni]

5. Republicans run against the government and when in office pretend they're not the government.

They've turned politics into religion. Everyone not in big cities seals themselves off from everyone else in cars and houses. They have no sense of society and there is no common sense or common culture, they're adrift, alone. Everything is a competition and everyone is out to rip you off -- dog eat dog.

I haven't been back to the U.S. for sixteen years. I don't think I could've handled being around people I know there who can't see the difference between parties and voted third party or didn't vote in 2016 because they believed incredibly stupid conspiracy theories, didn't take five minutes to look things up on the convenient computer machines we have now. Modern technology seems to have made people more stupid.

[Lochloosa]

6. My brother and I plan on moving to Belize.

As soon as they will let us in.

My country is gone. I don't know if it will ever return.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. Your country is not gone. It will return & ultimately will be better. Delay your plans til Jan 2021

... at least.

Take it from a Canadian who has lived in various places including years in California. The USA is damaged but not broken.

[Lochloosa]

10. We are giving it till November 3rd. Asshole cheats and wins. We're gone.

[wendyb-NC]

7. Thank you, for your post, Nance.

As always you are 100% correct. It's shocking that so many are so denatured by the orange disruption in the oval office.

[Roy Rolling]

8. Ha! You Channeled My Mom

That was her favorite expression, “they don’t have enough sense to come in out of the rain.”

I heard that a lot about my friends she was right I should avoid. 😂

[vlyons]

11. MAGAT's stupidity is truly astonishing

I see them from a Buddhist perspective. In Buddhism, what keeps us stuck in the perpetual cycle of suffering (Samsara) is delusion and stupidity. Not low-IQ stupidity, but the stupidity and delusion that the self-ego is some sort of solid, real self-existent thing. When really, self-ego is merely an imputed delusion that only SEEMS real. MAGATs sense of self-ego is all wrapped up and identified with supporting Trump -- no matter what. I think that he is so depraved and dispicable is a big part of his attraction for them, because habitual anger, resentment, selfisness, ill-will, and envy are negative emotions that they cultivate constantly and mindlessly.

MAGATs aren't any different from the NAZIs, who gladly went to Heil Hitler rallies, or Chinese Maoists, who tore down their civilization, or Stalinists, who snitched on their neighbors to be sent off to the gulags, or Americans, who gave small pox blankets to Indians. There have always been such people among us. You have but to read history to know the truth of human stupidity and selfishness. It is a sort of me-first and f**k-you sort of selfish mentality. Nowhere in their sorry lives were they taught that compassion and loving kindness, ethical morality and self-discipline were virtues that lead to happy lives.

And there is nothing we can do to make them wake up. No amount of angry words from us can change them to fit our pictures. We can only change ourselves. What usually changes people from a path of suffering and destruction is some sort of deeply painful, tragic event that makes them look at their lives, admit to mistakes, and seek an alternative way of being. So if having a child die, or getting carted off to the hospital and a tube shoved down their throat is what it takes to awaken them. Then so be it. That is the truth of karma. Bad decisions and stupid, hateful points of view have bad outcomes that create lots of suffering.

Meanwhile, I aspire to stay calm no matter what comes my way and to never speak words in anger for the rest of my life. I decided long ago to see Trump as a master's class in ethical morality. That is: the exact opposite of ethical behavior. I don't ever want to think like him or be like him. I choose to guard my peace of mind by not cultivating mindless anger and hatred.

Divine consciousness in man can be awake. It can also be asleep.

[Gothmog]

14. Great post