This Friday’s newsletter is a quick digest of two powerful leaders I have come across recently — both, incidentally, thanks to a reader of this newsletter! (Thank you Heather, I am following every recommendation you make from now on. 👍)
First up:
Sonnie Johnson
This woman should be leading the charge of the entire discussion around race in America. Her analysis is insightful, brilliant and constructive — and deeper than Candace Owen’s. Her platform should be just as big. But it’s not, and perhaps that is because, despite being a self-proclaimed conservative, in this interview at least she really rips conservatives a new one. She says things that mainstream liberals will be extremely comfortable with, like “the system is never held to account when black bodies are killed,” but she also goes places that will make liberals deeply uncomfortable. She’s a fierce defender of capitalism and gun rights. Also hard to hear for some of my liberal friends will be her take on progressivism — that it’s basically evil and the cause of all the woes in black communities. Or as she says: “Progressives want to destroy black culture.” Basically, her argument is all positive change happens at the local, even micro, level. If the State is stepping in and “doing” for you, you will be harmed by that down the line. And of course progressivism is founded on Science (Peace Be Upon It) -driven elites detached from but “doing” for the masses. If you consider yourself a progressive and find that statement stunning or offensive, then hear her out and she just might convince you. Sonnie Johnson for President — like, now.
This young man, all of 21 years old, is living what Sonnie Johnson preaches, to a degree that is almost hard to fathom given his tender age. How many young men at 21 are barely earning a wage and still having their mommies do their laundry? Well, this guy went and started a school for black boys — The X for Boys — teaching them how fix cars, fix up houses and literacy and vocabulary.
His motto is “do for self” — but in so doing, he’s done for others. His story is remarkable, I strongly suggest listening to it. Self-belief, self-sufficiency, taking action and taking on responsibility seem to be his core tenets.
King and Sonnie have these things in common: a faith in God, a belief in the right to bear arms — and most interesting of all, both grew up in rural poverty where they learned to grow food and work the land. Excuses do not exist for these people. As someone who grew up in and around cynical, atheist, metropolitan networks I am moved and impressed by the very things that set Sonnie and King apart from me.
Every single day the State becomes increasingly unrecognisable to me — in 12 months it has gone from an organisational principle that I respected and was grateful for, to an unaccountable, incompetent, powerful and sinister bureaucracy. Maybe you, my friends and readers, also have increasing misgivings about what the State is doing in your name, with your tax money, and to your rights. If so, Ms Johnson and Mr. Randall might help you square a few things away.
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Yea... I’m further down the rabbit hole than these two on what’s habbening with the gov-o-ment. However, I firmly support both of their plans and see it as the only way out of the mess we are in. Everyone needs to become sovereign and self-sufficient and also network with other like minded people. My phone contact list is full of blue collar people with real expertise, and to remind myself of the ones I don’t enjoy in my contact list I have a very simple method of using emojis, usually these two. 👎🏻 or 💩. I prefer the turd, perhaps it’s the smile. I like your blog, it charts a sane path out for any classic Liberal who doesn’t recognize their old party.
It's funny, because I now know lots of people who are way further down the rabbit hole than I am and probably will ever be -- but the things we can agree on are enough to make common cause. Vive la difference. So yes, I'm glad to hear anyone voicing support for Sonnie and King. On a related note, I am actively practicing acceptance for seemingly crazy ideas as long as they do not 1) directly infringe upon my life 2) lead to totalitarianism. I'm trying to adopt of stance of detachment towards other people's beliefs because they have nothing to do with me. I'm not saying I am successful, I was called a Nazi the other day and it made me angry -- but I was called that by someone who is utterly failing to recognise where his (bullshit) opinions end and someone else's begin, and at least I can recognise that. Most of us are so so so invested emotionally in our own beliefs that someone coming along with different ones feels like a personal attack. It's something we should always be aware of in ourselves. Plus it's hard to differentiate between righteous and misguided anger. Thank you for liking & engaging with my blog. 😀
I agree, it’s about common cause and that’s true diversity. There’s a way to disagree that is still harmonious because we’re all learning, however in my experience there needs to be a common moral grounding in order for that to happen. Years ago I had the same approach you are using now, essentially because people have the right to believe whatever they want, that’s Free Will. I just found most were not in control of their minds and had no filtering system to establish those beliefs, they were just being programmed through school, media, whatever. You need to be able to entertain a thought or idea before accepting or rejecting it, that’s a higher state of consciousness. Lots are operating like human robots, memorize and regurgitate, tough to level with these types.
Your sentiments on the seemingly changing nature of the State, from a benign and vital source of basic human rights and freedoms, to something that actively menaces all that average people require to live good lives, sounds familiar to me. I've been dealing with that disillusionment ever since graduating from college years ago; and now I am in the process of trying to shed some of the libertarian dogma I have had gradually grow on me, like ideological barnacles. ;-) The way I do it is to listen to individuals who I know I have some very profound philosophical differences with, but whose obvious efforts to pursue truth, no matter whose ox is gored. For example, listening to this Triggernometry guest, journalist Aaron Mate, made me clench my jaw a few times. (I do not think he acknowledges the difference between positive and negative rights, for example.) But I sure do respect him and the work he has been doing: https://youtu.be/c_VqIGbqepg
Heather we are on the same wave length -- i just listened to that interview yesterday. It was helpful in giving me more clarity to define myself against the left. I STILL struggle with thinking of myself in opposition to the left, so ingrained is "left = good" in me. But that dude...wow, you are being more generous about him than I'm prepared to be. (I might be kind of a bitch, though 🤣) He triggered me, to use the phrase! 🤣 The intellectual elitism, the bad faith, the distain, the myopia -- add to that, he's just plain wrong on so much, for me it dwarfed the things that he was right about. I think it makes me mad because I hear him (and a lot of the other smart left) come so close to a positive consensus with populism, which would greatly help humanity, only to throw it away because they have to be the smartest guys in the room. And they are not. The Triggernometry guys left him off easy, not that that's an entirely bad thing. It left him free to expose himself in ways that I found very useful.
Yes, it is difficult to not feel overwhelmed when dealing with someone who has got so much to learn, but who is convinced they already know it all (like my teenage daughter). I am afraid too many of us human beings never mature out of this state, and then get too puffed up with hubris after having a few early successes in conquering a dragon. Such folks still have something of value to contribute, but wading through all their nonsense to find it can be arduous. As the saying goes, even a stopped clock is right twice a day . . . but only twice. :-)
BTW, I admire people who have that "piss and vinegar" quality about them. Some folks might describe that compulsion to confront as being "bitchy," but whatever label is used, I envy those who have it.
Yea... I’m further down the rabbit hole than these two on what’s habbening with the gov-o-ment. However, I firmly support both of their plans and see it as the only way out of the mess we are in. Everyone needs to become sovereign and self-sufficient and also network with other like minded people. My phone contact list is full of blue collar people with real expertise, and to remind myself of the ones I don’t enjoy in my contact list I have a very simple method of using emojis, usually these two. 👎🏻 or 💩. I prefer the turd, perhaps it’s the smile. I like your blog, it charts a sane path out for any classic Liberal who doesn’t recognize their old party.
It's funny, because I now know lots of people who are way further down the rabbit hole than I am and probably will ever be -- but the things we can agree on are enough to make common cause. Vive la difference. So yes, I'm glad to hear anyone voicing support for Sonnie and King. On a related note, I am actively practicing acceptance for seemingly crazy ideas as long as they do not 1) directly infringe upon my life 2) lead to totalitarianism. I'm trying to adopt of stance of detachment towards other people's beliefs because they have nothing to do with me. I'm not saying I am successful, I was called a Nazi the other day and it made me angry -- but I was called that by someone who is utterly failing to recognise where his (bullshit) opinions end and someone else's begin, and at least I can recognise that. Most of us are so so so invested emotionally in our own beliefs that someone coming along with different ones feels like a personal attack. It's something we should always be aware of in ourselves. Plus it's hard to differentiate between righteous and misguided anger. Thank you for liking & engaging with my blog. 😀
I agree, it’s about common cause and that’s true diversity. There’s a way to disagree that is still harmonious because we’re all learning, however in my experience there needs to be a common moral grounding in order for that to happen. Years ago I had the same approach you are using now, essentially because people have the right to believe whatever they want, that’s Free Will. I just found most were not in control of their minds and had no filtering system to establish those beliefs, they were just being programmed through school, media, whatever. You need to be able to entertain a thought or idea before accepting or rejecting it, that’s a higher state of consciousness. Lots are operating like human robots, memorize and regurgitate, tough to level with these types.
Your sentiments on the seemingly changing nature of the State, from a benign and vital source of basic human rights and freedoms, to something that actively menaces all that average people require to live good lives, sounds familiar to me. I've been dealing with that disillusionment ever since graduating from college years ago; and now I am in the process of trying to shed some of the libertarian dogma I have had gradually grow on me, like ideological barnacles. ;-) The way I do it is to listen to individuals who I know I have some very profound philosophical differences with, but whose obvious efforts to pursue truth, no matter whose ox is gored. For example, listening to this Triggernometry guest, journalist Aaron Mate, made me clench my jaw a few times. (I do not think he acknowledges the difference between positive and negative rights, for example.) But I sure do respect him and the work he has been doing: https://youtu.be/c_VqIGbqepg
Heather we are on the same wave length -- i just listened to that interview yesterday. It was helpful in giving me more clarity to define myself against the left. I STILL struggle with thinking of myself in opposition to the left, so ingrained is "left = good" in me. But that dude...wow, you are being more generous about him than I'm prepared to be. (I might be kind of a bitch, though 🤣) He triggered me, to use the phrase! 🤣 The intellectual elitism, the bad faith, the distain, the myopia -- add to that, he's just plain wrong on so much, for me it dwarfed the things that he was right about. I think it makes me mad because I hear him (and a lot of the other smart left) come so close to a positive consensus with populism, which would greatly help humanity, only to throw it away because they have to be the smartest guys in the room. And they are not. The Triggernometry guys left him off easy, not that that's an entirely bad thing. It left him free to expose himself in ways that I found very useful.
Yes, it is difficult to not feel overwhelmed when dealing with someone who has got so much to learn, but who is convinced they already know it all (like my teenage daughter). I am afraid too many of us human beings never mature out of this state, and then get too puffed up with hubris after having a few early successes in conquering a dragon. Such folks still have something of value to contribute, but wading through all their nonsense to find it can be arduous. As the saying goes, even a stopped clock is right twice a day . . . but only twice. :-)
BTW, I admire people who have that "piss and vinegar" quality about them. Some folks might describe that compulsion to confront as being "bitchy," but whatever label is used, I envy those who have it.