Fear Used to Promote Aggression — Read in theConversation.com

Published March 20, 2019 by Nan Mykel

Demagogues have always used fear for intimidation of the subordinates or enemies, and shepherding the tribe by the leaders. Fear is a very strong tool that can blur humans’ logic and change their behavior.

When ideologies manage to get hold of our fear circuitry, we often regress to illogical, tribal and aggressive human animals, becoming weapons ourselves – weapons that politicians use for their own agenda.

From a psychiatrist and neuroscientist specializing in fear and trauma, who has some evidence-based thoughts on how fear is abused in politics: theconversation.com

The politics of fear: How it manipulates us to tribalism

Arash Javanbakht, Wayne State University

Fear, a psychiatrist writes, has roots deep within the human psyche, and demagogues have long exploited the emotion. In today’s world, it’s important to know the dangers of that exploitation

Drinking Poetry

Published March 19, 2019 by Nan Mykel

It’s delicious!

I Wanted to be Included in on This One!

Published March 19, 2019 by Nan Mykel

Sorry–I couldn’t let this one pass…

Reparations? NO!

Published March 19, 2019 by Nan Mykel

The idea of paying attention to past wrongs while continuing to cause more and accelerated wrongs at the same time is…wrong. Halting continued and increasing racism is what’s important–not a pretend show that we are truly repentant.

Current Violence: New Zealand…

Published March 18, 2019 by Nan Mykel

Don’t only authors usually autograph their books? That means…

(Observation by Jill Dennison: Trump’s a plagiarist or he really thinks he is…)

Writing a Poem

Published March 18, 2019 by Nan Mykel

I’m writing a poem,

waiting for an image

to lead me on while eating

Greek yogurt…No, can’t

do both at the same time.

Now I am writing a poem,

my eyes closed…………….

A snapping turtle. I’m falling

asleep. No, I must do this.

Why did Socrates drink

hemlock? Maybe if I lie down…

Got it! Helpless worms who

drown in a downpour. And

unsuspecting turkeys who raise

their heads, drink the rain and

die. I didn’t use to know that.

Of course! My offstage image

has arrived: water. . . Tears.

No wonder it took me so long to

recall New Zealand, Parkland,

Jumal Khashoggi, refugees,

children in cages, climate change

and the raccoon who was tortured

to death in my hometown. And no,

I shed no tears for the devil.

Nan

Who Is Not Listening? Excerpt from Jill Dennison

Published March 16, 2019 by Nan Mykel

See Jill Dennnison’s site today for more moving material!

Mate, …We Got Your Back.

Published March 16, 2019 by Nan Mykel

Perfect. Reblogged.

In the Depths of Your Dreams…

Published March 16, 2019 by Nan Mykel

Did a plant ever speak to you from the depths of a dream? (A dog did in mine, once)

After you’re good and dead, what do you want? Not that it’ll make any difference…probably. But really, would you like to carry any of you into the transition?

What do you hope for after death pulls the shade on you from this side?

To remember? How we value our consciousness, our own me-ness.

Perhaps, if we re-merge with the womb…would that be progress? Who said anything about progress? Was it Mary Kay?

Were we meant to always be separate? What does meant mean, anyway?

I wouldn’t opt for hell, but not to be disrespectful, feel I don’t want to be dandled on another father’s knee forever, either.

Do I really want to be alone forever? (Just not with some people, I guess). What a mouthful: forever!

Back to consciousness. While I don’t want Groundhog Day every lifetime, is it all downhill after this? Back to the atom after Beethoven?

Do I not get a goody for not throttling my husband? If so, what would that goody be?

I won’t care any more, they say. I’d better let go or stay on as a ghost.

Dust to dust…”Hey! I’m in here!”

Like sleeping, they say, but no dreaming?

What do you want to dream about forever? The past? The future? The eternal now?

In your dreams did a plant ever speak to you?

Scary Things Not Mentioned

Published March 15, 2019 by Nan Mykel

It’s frightening how the media seems afraid of scaring the public with mention of climate change–I’ve never heard that word mentioned on internet weather forecasts, and Trump’s threat about his access to rough people, bikers and the military feels equal to his pulling his mask off; and I see no mention of it this morning on the internet. Are they trying to figure how to respond without frightening the pants off everyone but the rough followers, the bikers and the military?