In
his book, The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis stated that it is
impossible to remedy the fact that one is going in the wrong
direction by continuing in the same direction. Repentance consists
of turning around and retracing one's steps in order to travel in the
right direction.
The
United States, a nation founded on oppression and bloodshed from its
very beginnings, finally began to come to its senses during the
1960's and 1970's, as a result of massive protests against violations
of the civil rights of its oppressed classes, both at home and
abroad. But almost from the moment the ink began to dry on the Civil
Rights Acts of the 1960's, the holders of concentrated economic and
political power and privilege in this country began plotting to tear
apart the civil rights gains that were achieved. They began plotting
to reverse the U-turn which American society had begun to make. They
began plotting during a time of plenty for the nation as a whole, a
high point of resource availability and economic power, thus giving
the lie to the notion that societies become fascist and oppressive
only during times of leanness and economic contraction. They plotted
thus and have continued to plot and to act on their plots over a
period of more than five decades, thus showing the pathology of their
plotting minds.
This
week it looks like these plotters have won – among whom are Ronald
Reagan, Dick Cheney, the Bush family, Rupert Murdoch, Charles and
David Koch, Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, Rudy Giuliani, Charles Butt
(son of Howard E. Butt, the owner of a large supermarket chain) and a
whole host of fellow-traveler multimillionaires and billionaires. And
the Republican Party is a revived, rampaging beast, seeking to
dominate the world in the name of a hypocrisy masquerading as a
theocracy. But all hope is not lost. In a post
I made last week, my last prediction regarding events in Ferguson,
Missouri is that I expected many disenfranchised people in this
country to become quite creative in the art of passive rebellion.
And
that is just what is happening. Many, not only African-Americans but
others as well, sick to death of being oppressed by narcissistic,
sociopathic supremacists, have decided to strike
back in a way that is both non-violent and perfectly
street-legal. Today, many of us are celebrating Blackout Black
Friday, a day in which we are boycotting all the sales at retail
outlets trying to move commercial trash. Many of us have pledged
that we will not spend one dime today. (Disclosure: I am at
Starbucks typing this. But that's because over two years ago, I
swore off paid Internet service. Once I'm done here, I'm done
spending money.)
I
hope Blackout Black Friday is a roaring success. However, I think we
should extend our boycott to the entire holiday season. And here's
what I mean. I know we all need groceries. But let's swear off
buying anything other that what is needed for everyday life. Let's
forgo buying toys of any kind, whether toys for kids or toys for
grown-ups. If your TV breaks between now and New Years, take it as a
sign that you should give up watching TV. If your computer breaks
between now and New Years, find a used computer or borrow someone
else's. If the phone you have now still makes phone calls, don't
upgrade it. Trust me, you don't need more consumer electronics. Let
those who still drink the Kool-Aid of supremacy take on the burden of
trying to save this shopping season. Let's see what happens when
they max out their credit cards.
If
such a boycott really takes off, expect whining multimillionaires to
dominate the airwaves complaining about how we're “hurting the
economy” and “depriving people of holiday celebrations.” I
have an answer for that also. If you still feel the need to give
gifts to people this season, then give food to the hungry. Extend
hospitality to the widows, the orphans and the strangers –
especially the dark-skinned strangers from foreign countries who have
come here because economic and military policies of the United States
jacked up their former homelands. A hot meal is always in season.
In
short, let's have a holiday season devoid of materialism. For those
who are Christians, let us return to a pure celebration of the birth
of Christ, and let us remember His concern for the oppressed, laid
out in Matthew 25:31-46. For those who are Jewish, remember the God
who commands His people to care for the orphan, the widow and the
stranger; and remember that God is not a “respecter of persons.”
For those who are not religious, remember that you are connected to
your fellow man, and that “an injustice against one is an injustice
against all.” Take time this season to reconnect with your fellow
human beings.
A
good place to boycott is Wal-Mart, where John Crawford was shot
to death by police in Ohio in August for buying a toy pellet gun for
his children. Some good toys to boycott include pellet guns from any
and all manufacturers because of the shooting
of 12 year old Tamir Rice by Cleveland police while he was playing
with a pellet gun in a public park. (Here
is a list of more shootings that have taken place since Michael Brown
was shot to death.) A good company to boycott is Emerson Electric,
which is headquartered in Ferguson, Missouri, and which manufactures
appliances and tools under the ClosetMaid, InSinkErator, Metro, ProTeam,
RIDGID, and WORKSHOP brands. Some good entertainment to boycott
includes all sports events (including all bowl games), all celebrity
shows, all movies, and any other entertainment designed to distract
us from the horrible injustice we are seeing in the “greatest
nation on earth.”
One other thing. We now know that the picture circulated on conservative media of police officer Darren Wilson sustaining injuries from his encounter with Michael Brown was a fake. (See http://www.snopes.com/info/news/wilson.asp)
One other thing. We now know that the picture circulated on conservative media of police officer Darren Wilson sustaining injuries from his encounter with Michael Brown was a fake. (See http://www.snopes.com/info/news/wilson.asp)
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