Robbie not only understood honor, he valued it in ways that Trump could never understand. Even worse, he equates kindness to weakness. Everyone in this path is there to be humiliated, denigrated, or swindled.
We need more Robbies in this world, A Glass-1/8th-Full, and less trumps. People like the orange man will never understand what it means to be an American patriot. Robbie was that and so are all of our brave service men and women.
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
I have cut and pasted this, Michael. I plan on sharing it with everyone I can today. That was absolutely fantastic! Thank you for reminding me of the great leaders we have had in the past. I want that so badly today. I want Patton, Bradley, Clark and "Beetle" Smith! America needs those strong leaders today more than ever. These men were the best of the best and American patriots. Thank you, Michael!
Trump — a failed casino clown, a draft-dodging coward with a gold toilet and a black heart — never built anything real in his life. His empire was built on air, debt, branding, and bluster. No integrity. No strategy. Just noise, lawsuits, and other people’s money.
And now he’s back. Not just back in politics. Back in power.
Controlling the GOP like a cult leader. Turning the Supreme Court into a wrecking crew. Holding the nation hostage with threats of violence, lies, and mass delusion.
We are not in a post-Trump era. We are in the late-stage Trumpist regime. And it all began with Roy Cohn.
ACT I: Mentored by a Monster
Roy Cohn — McCarthy’s hitman. A closeted, vicious, scorched-earth operator. Trump's shadow tutor.
Cohn taught Trump the gospel of shamelessness:
Never apologize.
Never admit.
Attack harder when you’re guilty.
Turn truth into a weapon.
Trump took notes. Built his entire public life on this moral sewage. And it worked. Because America was primed for it. Primed by reality TV, by decades of consumer rot, by institutional cowardice, and by a broken press addicted to balance over truth.
What followed was a con job on a national scale.
ACT II: Captain Bone Spurs Rides Again
He dodged Vietnam with fake bone spurs — but paraded as a wartime president against immigrants, journalists, women, minorities, and anyone who told the truth.
He lost the 2020 election — and turned that loss into a fundraising goldmine and a slow coup. He cheered on the January 6th terrorists — then pretended he was the victim. He called soldiers “suckers and losers” — while wrapping himself in the flag like a defiled relic.
And now, like a horror sequel nobody asked for, he’s back on the ballot — but never really off the throne. The institutions that could have stopped him? They flinched. They hedged. They waited for “norms” to do the job.
But you don’t stop fascism with norms. You don’t reason with a man who has no concept of reason. You don’t appeal to shame when you’re facing a sociopath who views shame as weakness.
This isn’t political anymore. It’s pathological.
ACT III: The Traitor’s Court
Look at the rogues’ gallery he leads:
Giuliani: A greasy ghoul with teeth stained by lies and red wine.
Bannon: A fascist huckster powered by meth, hate, and podcast donations.
Flynn: A former general turned QAnon puppet, spouting theocratic garbage.
Roger Stone: Tattooed Nixon on his back, treason in his mouth.
Kari Lake, MTG, Boebert, Gaetz: A walking anti-intellectual meltdown.
And behind it all: Rupert Murdoch, poisoning the national bloodstream from a penthouse far away, as his media empire manufactures outrage, division, and fantasy 24/7.
Fox News isn’t news. It’s a weapon. A propaganda howitzer aimed straight at the brainstem of Middle America.
They’ve normalized the abnormal. Sanitized sedition. Gave treason a chyron and a commercial break.
ACT IV: A Mind War
This is psychological warfare. Not against an enemy abroad — but against the American people.
Years of disinformation, grievance politics, white resentment, and Christian nationalism have created a nation where millions now believe democracy is optional, violence is patriotic, and Trump is some kind of divine instrument.
This is not normal. This is not political disagreement. This is a cult of organized madness.
We have Americans saluting a man who tried to end democracy and will try again.
And we have institutions, billionaires, and media execs who are fine with it as long as the checks keep clearing.
ACT V: The End of Illusion
Captain Bone Spurs never served. Never sacrificed. Never cared.
He is a walking void — filled only with greed, vengeance, and the deep, lizard-brain need to never be wrong. And that makes him extremely dangerous. Because when he fails again — and he will — he’ll bring as much of the country down with him as he can.
We are past the warning signs. We are past satire. We are staring into the abyss, and half the country thinks it’s just a campaign ad.
This house is not divided. It’s on fire. And dreck like this man — and the propaganda system that birthed him — must be torn down, root and stem.
This is not politics. This is survival. The propaganda must end. The Murdoch empire must be broken. The criminal syndicate posing as a movement must be exposed for what it is: a rotting death cult wrapped in a flag, wielding a Bible, and aiming a gun at the Constitution.
Call it what it is: fascism, American-style. And stop waiting for someone else to stop it.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
My Dad a ww2 vet came home from the war not with wounds to his body but to his mind. It took years for that to end. He also worked for Gen Mark Clark and admired him greatly. During the first of the war a close high school friend was killed in Vietnam. We visited the wall and saw his name. It was heart breaking. I went to Vietnam years later and it was such a wasted war as are most.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Well said, Michael, and, yes, the propaganda machine must be dealt with, for it is poisoning the minds of gullible Americans. Rupert Murdoch obviously hates humankind.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Super. I saw Angels in America as a young person and have never forgotten Roy Cohn--his character was not something I knew about until then. He was frightening and this reaction has stayed with me all these years. It was horrible when I realized he was a mentor of Trump.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Trump — a failed casino clown, a draft-dodging coward with a gold toilet and a black heart — never built anything real in his life. His empire was built on air, debt, branding, and bluster. No integrity. No strategy. Just noise, lawsuits, and other people’s money.
And now he’s back. Not just back in politics. Back in power.
Controlling the GOP like a cult leader. Turning the Supreme Court into a wrecking crew. Holding the nation hostage with threats of violence, lies, and mass delusion.
We are not in a post-Trump era. We are in the late-stage Trumpist regime. And it all began with Roy Cohn.
ACT I: Mentored by a Monster
Roy Cohn — McCarthy’s hitman. A closeted, vicious, scorched-earth operator. Trump's shadow tutor.
Cohn taught Trump the gospel of shamelessness:
Never apologize.
Never admit.
Attack harder when you’re guilty.
Turn truth into a weapon.
Trump took notes. Built his entire public life on this moral sewage. And it worked. Because America was primed for it. Primed by reality TV, by decades of consumer rot, by institutional cowardice, and by a broken press addicted to balance over truth.
What followed was a con job on a national scale.
ACT II: Captain Bone Spurs Rides Again
He dodged Vietnam with fake bone spurs — but paraded as a wartime president against immigrants, journalists, women, minorities, and anyone who told the truth.
He lost the 2020 election — and turned that loss into a fundraising goldmine and a slow coup. He cheered on the January 6th terrorists — then pretended he was the victim. He called soldiers “suckers and losers” — while wrapping himself in the flag like a defiled relic.
And now, like a horror sequel nobody asked for, he’s back on the ballot — but never really off the throne. The institutions that could have stopped him? They flinched. They hedged. They waited for “norms” to do the job.
But you don’t stop fascism with norms. You don’t reason with a man who has no concept of reason. You don’t appeal to shame when you’re facing a sociopath who views shame as weakness.
This isn’t political anymore. It’s pathological.
ACT III: The Traitor’s Court
Look at the rogues’ gallery he leads:
Giuliani: A greasy ghoul with teeth stained by lies and red wine.
Bannon: A fascist huckster powered by meth, hate, and podcast donations.
Flynn: A former general turned QAnon puppet, spouting theocratic garbage.
Roger Stone: Tattooed Nixon on his back, treason in his mouth.
Kari Lake, MTG, Boebert, Gaetz: A walking anti-intellectual meltdown.
And behind it all: Rupert Murdoch, poisoning the national bloodstream from a penthouse far away, as his media empire manufactures outrage, division, and fantasy 24/7.
Fox News isn’t news. It’s a weapon. A propaganda howitzer aimed straight at the brainstem of Middle America.
They’ve normalized the abnormal. Sanitized sedition. Gave treason a chyron and a commercial break.
ACT IV: A Mind War
This is psychological warfare. Not against an enemy abroad — but against the American people.
Years of disinformation, grievance politics, white resentment, and Christian nationalism have created a nation where millions now believe democracy is optional, violence is patriotic, and Trump is some kind of divine instrument.
This is not normal. This is not political disagreement. This is a cult of organized madness.
We have Americans saluting a man who tried to end democracy and will try again.
And we have institutions, billionaires, and media execs who are fine with it as long as the checks keep clearing.
ACT V: The End of Illusion
Captain Bone Spurs never served. Never sacrificed. Never cared.
He is a walking void — filled only with greed, vengeance, and the deep, lizard-brain need to never be wrong. And that makes him extremely dangerous. Because when he fails again — and he will — he’ll bring as much of the country down with him as he can.
We are past the warning signs. We are past satire. We are staring into the abyss, and half the country thinks it’s just a campaign ad.
This house is not divided. It’s on fire. And dreck like this man — and the propaganda system that birthed him — must be torn down, root and stem.
This is not politics. This is survival. The propaganda must end. The Murdoch empire must be broken. The criminal syndicate posing as a movement must be exposed for what it is: a rotting death cult wrapped in a flag, wielding a Bible, and aiming a gun at the Constitution.
Call it what it is: fascism, American-style. And stop waiting for someone else to stop it.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
my god, michael, thank you for this observant and accurate, clever analysis. You understand ... and were my Daddy still living, he would have gotten a wry chuckle out of your apt scenario. Thank you for giving us this.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Continue writing. Continue protesting. A sign at the Austin rally said: THE ONLY KING IS THE CONSTITUTION. It's so obvious, trump & his gang of incompetents, just want to wear us down. I am 80, and want to retire from this, but if there's one thing I've learned from this time, this wannabe dictator, ... is that democracy isn't GIVEN to us -- we must always be vigilant, see where the cracks are, and FIGHT for it. Prior to trump, I thought our democracy just sailed along ... so damn it, my whole life will be spent in vigilance. Oh well, a good way to be useful in life. As Kareem says, ... to be good, do good.
Socrates would not fight fascism with violence. He would expose it by questioning it—relentlessly, publicly, and logically. He would stand in the agora and ask:
“What is justice?”
“Is might the same as right?”
“Can a good soul be ruled by fear?”
He would challenge the sophists, the demagogues, and those who exploit public ignorance. He would refuse to flatter power and would die rather than betray his conscience—as he did when sentenced to death by Athens for “corrupting the youth” and “impiety.”
What would Socrates do?
Speak truth to power with calm irony.
Refuse to cooperate with unjust systems.
Accept death rather than compromise virtue.
📜 “The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
📚 Plato: The Philosopher-King's Vision
Plato, Socrates’ student, warned in The Republic that democracy without education can devolve into mob rule, paving the way for a tyrant—a demagogue who exploits fear and base desires to seize power.
He would resist fascism by:
Calling for education that teaches the love of truth and the Good.
Warning against manipulation by propaganda (his “noble lie” critique).
Advocating for leaders of virtue, not popularity.
To Plato, the tyrant is a slave to his appetites, and the state becomes sick when ruled by such men.
What would Plato do?
Build systems that cultivate wisdom and justice.
Teach the young to spot falsehood and resist flattery.
Remove corrupted leaders and replace them with wise ones.
📜 “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” – Plato
✝️ Christ: The Lion and the Lamb
Jesus of Nazareth never aligned with earthly empires. He spoke of a Kingdom not of this world—a reign of truth, love, and justice.
He:
Challenged oppressive religious and political elites.
Turned over the tables of exploitative merchants in the temple.
Said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” but also, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword”—the sword of truth.
Christ did not incite violent revolution. He absorbed evil without mirroring it, offering radical love, but never submission to injustice. His crucifixion was not weakness—it was resistance in its most divine form.
What would Christ do?
Expose lies with clarity and parables.
Defy fascist cruelty with active, courageous love.
Be willing to suffer rather than betray truth or harm others.
📜 “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – Jesus (John 8:32)
🔥 What Would They All Do Together?
Together, these three—the philosopher, the logician, the messiah—would not stay silent. They would:
Confront fascism with clarity and courage.
Educate the masses against manipulation and fear.
Refuse to serve power that crushes the soul.
Offer hope grounded not in blind optimism, but in eternal truths.
They would not run. They would not appease. They would speak. They would stand. And, if necessary, they would sacrifice everything for truth.
O Light that burns beyond the veil, When hope is dim and voices fail, When shadows stretch across the land, Strengthen our hearts, steady our hand.
Let not the tyrant’s tongue deceive, Nor fear compel the soul to leave The path of truth, however steep— Guard us when justice falls asleep.
Though power cloaks itself in might, Let us be candles in the night. Though lies may thunder, cold and loud, Help us to stand, not join the crowd.
When friends grow faint and truth is banned, Let courage rise where we still stand. Let kindness blaze and wisdom speak For all the strong, and all the weak.
May mercy temper righteous fire, But never let the flame expire. Let evil tremble at the song Of those who rise to right the wrong.
O Heart of hearts, O Silent Flame, Though worlds collapse, You stay the same. We walk with You, through storm and flame— For Good must rise, and Love reclaim.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Reich compares the “palantir” from The Lord of the Rings—a tool of distortion under Sauron—to how Palantir Technologies seeks to aggregate and surveil massive personal data, turning truth into propaganda .
📡 2. How Palantir Powers Trump’s Surveillance
Under Trump’s directive to break down federal agency silos, Palantir was selected to build a centralized “super database” containing personal info from DHS, HHS, IRS, Social Security, DoD, and more—linking it with military and ICE surveillance .
This has alarmed both Democrats (e.g., Rep. Trahan) and MAGA supporters, who see it tipping the U.S. toward “Deep State” or authoritarian surveillance—buried within a veneer of national security .
🌐 3. The Thiel–Musk Tech-Cult Revolution
Reich argues Thiel and Musk, along with figures like David Sacks and Alex Karp, are neo-reactionaries or proto-fascists from the “Dark Enlightenment.” They spurn democracy in favor of a Silicon Valley–led libertarian dictatorship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Enlightenment?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Their anti-democratic agenda includes dismantling democratic norms—civil rights, welfare, even women’s suffrage—while arming authoritarian regimes and fueling authoritarianism globally, not just domestically .
💣 4. Why This Is a Threat to Freedom
Centralized data power—combining military, medical, tax, and personal data—for surveillance or political targeting.
With the rise of right-wing authoritarianism globally—from Hungary to India—there’s a clear pattern of democratic backsliding via symmetric digital surveillance .
🚨 Bottom Line: Democracy on the Line
Robert Reich’s essay isn’t just commentary—it’s a warning cry. The Palantir-Trump-Musk-Thiel nexus is building a surveillance state with oligarchic control, powered by data and protected by co-opted institutions. It threatens not only American democratic norms, but echoes in emerging authoritarian regimes worldwide.
We now face a choice: resist before it’s too late, or become complicit in systems that will strip us of our freedoms—one data point at a time.
Despite his consistent warnings, Reich faced criticism that:
He did not successfully pressure top Democratic figures—like Obama, the Clintons, or Carter—to vocalize opposition, form a coalition, or mount a direct challenge to Fox News’s influence.
Reich lacked mobilization of high-profile Democrats or civil-rights leaders (e.g., Jesse Jackson) to publicly denounce Fox News as a “domestic enemy” and confront it as a threat to the Constitution.
The result: Fox News remained largely unchallenged within Democratic ranks, allowing it to continue manipulating public discourse and polarizing society without unified opposition.
He’s advocated for explicit legal and electoral action, including ballot disqualification, but failed to spur mass political momentum among Democratic elites.
✅ Summary
StrengthsWeaknessesPublicly & consistently condemned FoxDidn't catalyze unified or high-level Democratic oppositionCalled for accountability and bold legal stepsNo mass mobilization or formal resistance campaignHighlighted Fox News's role in spreading misinformationFox remains a powerful, unchallenged propaganda outlet
Final Take
Robert Reich has been a clear-sighted and vocal critic of Fox News’s corrosive influence and its role in empowering Trump’s rise. However, his inability to enlist or compel major Democrats to treat Fox as a national threat likely limited his impact. The network remains a dominant force in right-wing media despite his relentless warnings.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Michael, this - script - was BRILLIANT! and (in the day) should be a storied production within the 'Outer Limits' or 'Twilight Zone' format. I've been 'thinking' of DJT/47 as a 'walking horror wrapped up in pure sociopathic evil'...
Thank you for this - well 'scripted' comment ~ I hope to save it and print it out for distribution ~
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Michael, this is brilliant! It captures the historical context of our current horror show perfectly. I’ve always been aware that history is watching, but you made it palpable. “History has its eyes on you” as the Hamilton lyric put it.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
So, so, so, so true, A Glass 1/8th Full. Trump hates everyone on earth practically, and thinks they should all be imprisoned or deported, when IT IS TRUMP WHO SHOULD BE IMPRISONED, AND WOULD BE, IF NOT FOR MERRICK GARLAND AND NOW BIMBO BONDI AND THE not-so-"supreme" court PROTECTING HIM!! DISGUSTING THAT THIS FUCKING, LOW-LIFE SCUM POS ANIMAL IS WALKING AROUND SCOT-FREE DESTROYING EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IN SIGHT, AT RANDOM AND ABANDON! 86 47!!! DEATH TO DONALD TRUMP!!! 86 47!!! DEATH CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH TO DONALD TRUMP!!!
Garland waited and waited to go after trump until it was too late. Trump gets every break possible from our justice system . Delay , delay , delay , and deny , deny , deny .
I think that Vance may be worse. Trump has zero intellect Vance did get a law degree. Trump may damage and rage but he can do less damage to America that Vance who is just as stupid in his own way. But he has some capacity to do what Trump cannot.
We must find a way to deal with the Rich, a way to exclude them from politics and maybe our economies. I have racked my brain for a way to deal with these problems and my mind will not find and answer because violence is so easy. It makes me understand why the Civil War happened.
I've heard that many, many in Congress do not like Vance. And that he doesn't have the sway that the bloated, vengeful, despicable sociopath in power does. I say 86-47 by any means possible. And NOW!!
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
One can only hope that in, 'time eternal' or preferably before that, that these parasites are held to account. As to the equally vile congressional republicans, those who aided and abetted the infestation....what about their fate? They betrayed their oaths of office, became enemies of people to serve a different master, a criminal, rogue govt. They are not without guilt.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
We ruined so many young lives for wars which accomplished nothing. Nothing! I worked in VA hospitals and clinics during my medical training. My Dad was a Korean War Vet. We must treat and help as many as we can reach! I’m sorry! I’m so fucking sorry we did this to them.
I barely missed the Viet Nam war. I am of the age that I was called up (low draft #) and went for the intro and physical, but (evidently ?) was determined to be '4-F' (?) due to abdominal anomalies and reparative surgery in infancy, problems which have followed my all my life. Luckily (?) 'Tricky Dick' Nixon canceled the draft 1 week after my - call up, and I was no longer contacted by - Recruiters. But during that time I'd become an anti- Viet Nam war - activist... seeing just how pointless and futile that whole 'conflict' really was ~
My number was up the day he stopped the draft. I was an Army brat - I would have gone. But, it was a pointless war. I had a good friend die of an Agent Orange associated cancer last year…
It is how we served the goals of the rich and the capitalists in our country. They reap the benefits of these wars. We just provide the fodder for their desire to be rich. They care not for whom they kill on either side. But we do not understand this when we are young. We are motivated by patriotism and glory and all that other crap we get told in the 8th grade when we are taught the Constitution.
What still aches about Nam was it wasn't even a bona fide "War"... the congress could NOT get enough pro votes to declare it! So, a very questionable incident (late night "attack by a supposed North Viet Nam PT style craft fired on US destroyer) in the Tonkin Gulf during which no sailors were injured nor and significant damage to the ship resulted in a resolution called a "Police Action" was arranged to get sufficient votes in congress.
I’ve always felt the glass is always full. It might be 1/8 full of liquid, but the rest is air. I believed the same was true of people. They may act in ways I did not agree with, but I do not know the arc of their life or reasons, so I only had a fractional view of their situation. Trump has forced me to the point of believing that there can be no place in my understanding or empathy that allows me not to consider him evil. There is no banality about or potential excuses for his attacks on basic human (and Christian) values. He I’d destroying the government we have that has evolved from our constitution and the values mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.
Trump gets no respect from world leaders because Trump is not a respectable man. Putin does not take him seriously, plain to see. Bone spurs to cover avoidance of duty. Bankruptcies to cover business failures. Lies to cover mistakes. Political office to escape judgment for his felonies and sexual escapades. He only has one main skill, the film flam. Honestly I wouldn’t care if he lived or died except that now the disrespect shown the man bears down on all of us.
It’s natural to hate and despise a man like Trump. These things are based on evidence in compassionate people, and the jury couldn’t be more in. The trick is to prevent those emotions from leaking out and applying them to all his followers. But they are victims of a very effective con. My hope is that the same force of ego that sucked them in will pivot when they realize they’ve been played for fools.
Wouldn’t it be nice if June 14 was the day all his absurdity hits home for them, as Trump tries to portray himself as emperor of the world.
The more I hear about trump supporters, the more I regard them as 'childlike', immature, never having grown into 'responsible citizens' making responsible decisions (ditto trump himself). What do they know or care about the constitution, rights, democracy. They like trump because he doesn't bother with boring facts or information....they've aligned with the bully in the schoolyard who's not so good at book learning but tells them what to do, and they like that . Children. Is it too late for them to grow up?
And, the very 'silly' parade. This is just another example of trump's childish, deeply "embarrassing" juvenile fantasy.
That I 'fear' is that - IF ? - DJT/47's - 'day of infamy' actually happens on his B-D, AND vast #'s of - true and honest Patriots - demonstrate and protest - and march - against this - his - sociopathic regime - that he will see this and declare 'martial law' to - silence these protests and would allow (order !) the firing on the People by the military to - destroy - his - opposition, once and for all ~ i.e. He would allow 'al hell to break loose'~
A Glass...You raise an issue of such fundamental importance that I feel compelled to comment on. First of all: Trump. This would be his obvious reply: "I am alive, Robbie is dead. End of story." Survival of the "fittest" is the morality of Social Darwinism. Those who survive, whether on the battlefield, in politics, or in business, are the fittest, and the rest are losers. Every man is for himself, should give no mercy, and expect none from others. Trump is far from being alone in this way of thinking, which is shared by many libertarians. It is a way of thinking that exempts the wealthy from social responsibility. Now, about Robbie: You imply that Robbie went to Vietnam out of sense of honor, but did he? Maybe he was drafted. Maybe a sense of duty, not honor motivated him. We should honor him regardless, but how can military service, in and of itself, bestow honor?
How can military service, in and of itself, bestow honor, you ask? Since I served four years in the U.S. Army (1960 - 1964) I can take a crack at answering your question. I started out dirt poor as one of seven children in Uvalde, TX, ultimately ending up with a Ph.D. and a J.D., both from Harvard. The only reason I could do that is because of the sacrifice by millions of American men and women who served in the armed forces, some coming home with life-altering injuries, some never coming home. They preserved and protected the freedoms and opportunities that I enjoyed. But for them I could not have benefitted as I did. Some, as in my case, did not sustain physical injury or meet with death, but they were there, ready to take up the quarrel with the foe. For that, I honor them all, every single one.
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
Thank you for sharing that tribute to Robbie. So many died needlessly in Vietnam.. You may not have served in wartime, but you have served your country by your many years of dedicated teaching. So many lives have been enriched... You will always be remembered with love and gratitude for who you are and all you have contributed to critical thinking and to our Democracy...Thank you...
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
A beautiful and uplifting memory, perfect for Memorial Day. Thank you, Professor Reich.
Instead, we have a president is only in it for himself. He doesn’t give a damn about anyone including his own family, except, if in his fevered and selfish calculation, that person can do something or is useful for Trump. And once Trump has extracted any benefit for himself, that person is instantly disposable.
Why can’t we have a president who is at least a little like Robbie? What happened to the leaders who actually cared for our country?
“Robbie was never in it for himself. He did what he did because he felt he had an obligation to do it, for the nation he loved. It’s why I remember and honor Robbie on Memorial Day.”
I fear that until we get money out of politics, we'll never have a president "like Robbie." The amount of money (and free time) it takes to just try to "run for something" is staggering. The sums spent in presidential elections and all they entail could at least put a huge dent in our unforgivable child poverty rates let alone beef up our social safety nets -- for ALL Americans. When was the last time we had a president who was not a millionaire or at least a very wealthy person of their time? Ever? And this is not even accounting for Citizens United which put the final nail in the coffin of our very possible demise. Amoral, all of it.
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Michael, my comment was to something else, but your response brought me back to this and I read your long history lesson. I couldn’t agree more! You tell the truth about Haiti. I hate what these immoral, evil politicians are doing. And it is the same for all non-white people everywhere. My friends talk about Driving While Black. Someone on here suggested we start treating maga people like Black people have traditionally been treated: clutch my purse and cross the street, etc. Thanks for raising awareness of this issue. 👹
The rise of figures like Donald Trump—someone with no prior political experience, no legal training, no foreign policy expertise, multiple bankruptcies, thousands of lawsuits, and a well-documented pattern of lying, bullying, and cruelty—is not just embarrassing. It is terrifying and a damning indictment of how broken the U.S. political system has become.
Let’s unpack this with brutal honesty, solid sources, and psychological insight.
🔥 WHY THE MOST DEVIANT, STUPID, OR UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE RISE TO POWER
1. No Real Qualifications Are Required
In the U.S., there are virtually no legal qualifications to run for high office:
OfficeRequirementsPresident35 years old, natural-born citizen, 14-year residencySenator30 years old, 9 years a citizenRepresentative25 years old, 7 years a citizen
There are no requirements for:
Education
Experience
Psychological fitness
Criminal record
Military or public service
That means a convicted felon with no college education can run for president — and Donald Trump is a convicted felon as of 2024.
Source: U.S. Constitution, Articles I and II
2. Psychological Research: Authoritarian Appeal
Psychiatrists and psychologists have studied why people follow deviant leaders. Here’s what they say:
People with authoritarian tendencies are drawn to leaders who seem “strong” and “decisive,” even if cruel or ignorant. (Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Personality)
Trump supporters score high in:
Social dominance orientation
Racial resentment
Fear of change
Narcissistic and sociopathic traits are often rewarded in politics because they allow a person to lie, manipulate, and dominate without shame.
“Trump shows symptoms of malignant narcissism, including antisocial behavior, paranoia, sadism, and grandiosity.” — Dr. Bandy Lee, psychiatrist, Yale School of Medicine
“We wouldn’t hire a school bus driver without a psych exam. Why would we elect a president without one?” — Dr. John Gartner, clinical psychologist
3. The American System Encourages Demagogues
The Electoral College allows a candidate to lose the popular vote and still win (e.g., Trump in 2016).
Gerrymandering lets politicians choose their voters, rather than the other way around.
Dark money from billionaires and corporations floods campaigns, overriding reasoned debate.
Sources:
Dark Money by Jane Mayer
How Democracies Die by Levitsky & Ziblatt
Pew Research Center, 2020: 77% of Americans believe money has too much influence in politics.
💣 WHY WE HAVEN’T FIXED IT
1. The System Is Designed to Protect Itself
Incumbents write the rules.
Congress has no incentive to demand stricter qualifications, because many current members would fail them.
Any real change would require Constitutional amendments, which are incredibly hard to pass.
2. Anti-intellectualism
Many Americans are suspicious of intelligence, education, and expertise. Trump famously said:
“I love the poorly educated.” — Donald Trump, 2016
This reflects a cult of ignorance that rejects nuance and critical thought. Smart, experienced leaders get branded as “elitist.”
🧠 WHAT PSYCHIATRISTS RECOMMEND
Psychiatrists like Dr. Bandy Lee, Dr. Justin Frank (Trump on the Couch), and Dr. Lance Dodes say:
All presidential candidates should undergo mandatory psychological evaluations.
Congress should pass legislation requiring fitness-for-duty assessments, just as military personnel or airline pilots must take.
The public needs better education in media literacy, civics, and critical thinking.
📚 BOOKS AND SOURCES
"The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" – Bandy X. Lee, M.D., et al.
"Trump on the Couch" – Justin Frank, M.D.
"Dark Money" – Jane Mayer
"How Democracies Die" – Levitsky & Ziblatt
"Authoritarian Nightmare" – John W. Dean & Bob Altemeyer
Pew Research Center, various reports on political trust and misinformation
The Constitution of the United States, Articles I & II
❓SO WHY DID WE PICK TRUMP?
Because a toxic mix of:
Anti-intellectualism
Racism and xenophobia
Reality TV celebrity worship
Ignorance of civics
Fox News and right-wing propaganda
A broken system with no safeguards
…allowed the least qualified, most dangerous kind of man to ascend to the presidency.
🚨 WHY WE MUST CHANGE THE SYSTEM
If we don’t:
We risk permanent decline into authoritarianism.
We’ll continue to be ruled by sociopaths with no empathy or vision.
The most intelligent, experienced, and ethical Americans will stay far away from politics.
Socrates would not fight fascism with violence. He would expose it by questioning it—relentlessly, publicly, and logically. He would stand in the agora and ask:
“What is justice?”
“Is might the same as right?”
“Can a good soul be ruled by fear?”
He would challenge the sophists, the demagogues, and those who exploit public ignorance. He would refuse to flatter power and would die rather than betray his conscience—as he did when sentenced to death by Athens for “corrupting the youth” and “impiety.”
What would Socrates do?
Speak truth to power with calm irony.
Refuse to cooperate with unjust systems.
Accept death rather than compromise virtue.
📜 “The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
📚 Plato: The Philosopher-King's Vision
Plato, Socrates’ student, warned in The Republic that democracy without education can devolve into mob rule, paving the way for a tyrant—a demagogue who exploits fear and base desires to seize power.
He would resist fascism by:
Calling for education that teaches the love of truth and the Good.
Warning against manipulation by propaganda (his “noble lie” critique).
Advocating for leaders of virtue, not popularity.
To Plato, the tyrant is a slave to his appetites, and the state becomes sick when ruled by such men.
What would Plato do?
Build systems that cultivate wisdom and justice.
Teach the young to spot falsehood and resist flattery.
Remove corrupted leaders and replace them with wise ones.
📜 “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” – Plato
✝️ Christ: The Lion and the Lamb
Jesus of Nazareth never aligned with earthly empires. He spoke of a Kingdom not of this world—a reign of truth, love, and justice.
He:
Challenged oppressive religious and political elites.
Turned over the tables of exploitative merchants in the temple.
Said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” but also, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword”—the sword of truth.
Christ did not incite violent revolution. He absorbed evil without mirroring it, offering radical love, but never submission to injustice. His crucifixion was not weakness—it was resistance in its most divine form.
What would Christ do?
Expose lies with clarity and parables.
Defy fascist cruelty with active, courageous love.
Be willing to suffer rather than betray truth or harm others.
📜 “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – Jesus (John 8:32)
🔥 What Would They All Do Together?
Together, these three—the philosopher, the logician, the messiah—would not stay silent. They would:
Confront fascism with clarity and courage.
Educate the masses against manipulation and fear.
Refuse to serve power that crushes the soul.
Offer hope grounded not in blind optimism, but in eternal truths.
They would not run. They would not appease. They would speak. They would stand. And, if necessary, they would sacrifice everything for truth.
O Light that burns beyond the veil, When hope is dim and voices fail, When shadows stretch across the land, Strengthen our hearts, steady our hand.
Let not the tyrant’s tongue deceive, Nor fear compel the soul to leave The path of truth, however steep— Guard us when justice falls asleep.
Though power cloaks itself in might, Let us be candles in the night. Though lies may thunder, cold and loud, Help us to stand, not join the crowd.
When friends grow faint and truth is banned, Let courage rise where we still stand. Let kindness blaze and wisdom speak For all the strong, and all the weak.
May mercy temper righteous fire, But never let the flame expire. Let evil tremble at the song Of those who rise to right the wrong.
O Heart of hearts, O Silent Flame, Though worlds collapse, You stay the same. We walk with You, through storm and flame— For Good must rise, and Love reclaim.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Reich compares the “palantir” from The Lord of the Rings—a tool of distortion under Sauron—to how Palantir Technologies seeks to aggregate and surveil massive personal data, turning truth into propaganda .
📡 2. How Palantir Powers Trump’s Surveillance
Under Trump’s directive to break down federal agency silos, Palantir was selected to build a centralized “super database” containing personal info from DHS, HHS, IRS, Social Security, DoD, and more—linking it with military and ICE surveillance .
This has alarmed both Democrats (e.g., Rep. Trahan) and MAGA supporters, who see it tipping the U.S. toward “Deep State” or authoritarian surveillance—buried within a veneer of national security .
🌐 3. The Thiel–Musk Tech-Cult Revolution
Reich argues Thiel and Musk, along with figures like David Sacks and Alex Karp, are neo-reactionaries or proto-fascists from the “Dark Enlightenment.” They spurn democracy in favor of a Silicon Valley–led libertarian dictatorship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Enlightenment?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Their anti-democratic agenda includes dismantling democratic norms—civil rights, welfare, even women’s suffrage—while arming authoritarian regimes and fueling authoritarianism globally, not just domestically .
💣 4. Why This Is a Threat to Freedom
Centralized data power—combining military, medical, tax, and personal data—for surveillance or political targeting.
With the rise of right-wing authoritarianism globally—from Hungary to India—there’s a clear pattern of democratic backsliding via symmetric digital surveillance .
🚨 Bottom Line: Democracy on the Line
Robert Reich’s essay isn’t just commentary—it’s a warning cry. The Palantir-Trump-Musk-Thiel nexus is building a surveillance state with oligarchic control, powered by data and protected by co-opted institutions. It threatens not only American democratic norms, but echoes in emerging authoritarian regimes worldwide.
We now face a choice: resist before it’s too late, or become complicit in systems that will strip us of our freedoms—one data point at a time.
Despite his consistent warnings, Reich faced criticism that:
He did not successfully pressure top Democratic figures—like Obama, the Clintons, or Carter—to vocalize opposition, form a coalition, or mount a direct challenge to Fox News’s influence.
Reich lacked mobilization of high-profile Democrats or civil-rights leaders (e.g., Jesse Jackson) to publicly denounce Fox News as a “domestic enemy” and confront it as a threat to the Constitution.
The result: Fox News remained largely unchallenged within Democratic ranks, allowing it to continue manipulating public discourse and polarizing society without unified opposition.
He’s advocated for explicit legal and electoral action, including ballot disqualification, but failed to spur mass political momentum among Democratic elites.
✅ Summary
StrengthsWeaknessesPublicly & consistently condemned FoxDidn't catalyze unified or high-level Democratic oppositionCalled for accountability and bold legal stepsNo mass mobilization or formal resistance campaignHighlighted Fox News's role in spreading misinformationFox remains a powerful, unchallenged propaganda outlet
Final Take
Robert Reich has been a clear-sighted and vocal critic of Fox News’s corrosive influence and its role in empowering Trump’s rise. However, his inability to enlist or compel major Democrats to treat Fox as a national threat likely limited his impact. The network remains a dominant force in right-wing media despite his relentless warnings.
Thank you, Ian. Professor Reich has the ability to help so many understand the times we are living in. It makes me happy to know that his influence helped your country avoid an orange stain like we have in ours. We are fighting and resisting and hopefully, soon, we will be able to eliminate that orange smear. Today, all of us are remembering our veterans who gave their life in service to our country. "All gave some, some gave all". We honor them for being America's patriots. Our veterans loved our country so much they were willing to give their lives for it and many did. The only sucker and loser resides at our White House.
Laurie, wouldn't it be glorious if every single citizen in Washington went to that dictator's parade and as soon as they started up, went out into the street and sat down preventing that hideous dictator parade from continuing? I'm talking thousands going out and sitting in the street to prevent it from happening! They should all have signs protesting this maniac's regime!
Peggy ; that Would be truly Great! Even better would be if NOBODY showed up. Start the National Strike. Buy only local, and boycott all things fascist and MAGA corporate. Buy Canadian, Mexican. And even from a co-op. Locally grown.
Peggy, I hope so, but the way things have been going in this "administration"/regime, I can't help but wonder. Every other law has been broken. From the attack on our Capitol. To the Documents case, to denial of due process/Habeas Corpus to the Emoluments Clause. Remember the 14th Amendment's section 3 disqualification clause? Our Congress and the courts are full of disabled members and "justices". The DOJ, Pam Bondi is an election denier, and totally unfit for being AG. Our government is LOUSY with corruption. I would not lay down and assume that I would not be shot dead. Not for a nanosecond.
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
All true and very sad.While the Oligarchs steal from our treasury and end humanitarian aid to starving children and elders. AND tRUMP and Netanyahu "clean up"Gaza and build a Middle East Riviera for themselves and tRump towers planned in Viet Nam. With golf courses for the golf cheat "leader" and his rapist friends. And he calls true Patriots "suckers and those who were captured and imprisoned "losers".
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Michael: I believe that we have free will. But only if we have enough information to perform the best actions. Knowing what is ethical and sustainable is key, and caring about it.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Such a remarkable tribute to your friend,Robbie,who served with honor. I,too,will think of Robbie and those fellow patriots that lost their lives honorably serving their country,on this Memorial Day. It saddens me as much,as it angers me,to experience what's happening with our country now,all due to a draft dodging,fascist felon and the Fundamental Christian Nationalists with their Project 2025.
As we go through life, we occasionally met giants, many of which go unnoticed. However, their influence helps us to choose the correct path in an uncertain future. Robert, Rob was one of those giants.
Professor Reich: thank you for sharing robbie's story with us, so we too can come to know and appreciate a tiny piece of who he was.
As far as agent orange (see what i did there?) and his recent exploits in vietnam go ... i wonder if the people in that great country will have anything to do with it if they know who built that temple of death and despair? maybe it'll soon be time to project some reality onto the side of that building? maybe it'll soon be time to replace little holes with big ones on agent orange's golf course?
I am a little younger than you Robert but still had my Draft Card and worried about the draft in 1970 but they only called up to 195 and my number was 319 so I was cleared. I did however have a good friend in the 8th grade whose brother lost his life and I remember the funeral well. So sad and such a waste. There were so many of them here and so many residents of the country itself suffered greatly. It is good that we take a day to remember those who gave so much, so willingly, when the call of duty came to them. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/16376/PATRICK-J-FLAVIN/ in your memory, thinking of you and your family. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your memories of Robbie. The many families and friends who lost fine companions like Robbie carry their remembrances as part of why they try to do good in their lives. I deeply appreciate your sharing memories of Robbie, they move me to keep the good work of my own lost friends going in this present life.
Recall that the doctor who diagnosed Trump’s “bone spurs” rented office space in one of senior Trump’s buildings. Nice coincidence.
I also protested the Vietnam war even though excused from serving by dint of a high-enough draft lottery number. One mistake that too many of our compatriots made was not separating the warrior from the war. Robbie’s story illustrates that we lost too many good people in that misbegotten conflict. Robbie and his fellow warriors were not responsible for the war — it was our criminal leadership.
Robbie not only understood honor, he valued it in ways that Trump could never understand. Even worse, he equates kindness to weakness. Everyone in this path is there to be humiliated, denigrated, or swindled.
We need more Robbies in this world, A Glass-1/8th-Full, and less trumps. People like the orange man will never understand what it means to be an American patriot. Robbie was that and so are all of our brave service men and women.
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
I have cut and pasted this, Michael. I plan on sharing it with everyone I can today. That was absolutely fantastic! Thank you for reminding me of the great leaders we have had in the past. I want that so badly today. I want Patton, Bradley, Clark and "Beetle" Smith! America needs those strong leaders today more than ever. These men were the best of the best and American patriots. Thank you, Michael!
The Ride of Captain Bone Spurs
A Brutal History of a Nation Hijacked
He never earned it. He just took it.
Trump — a failed casino clown, a draft-dodging coward with a gold toilet and a black heart — never built anything real in his life. His empire was built on air, debt, branding, and bluster. No integrity. No strategy. Just noise, lawsuits, and other people’s money.
And now he’s back. Not just back in politics. Back in power.
Controlling the GOP like a cult leader. Turning the Supreme Court into a wrecking crew. Holding the nation hostage with threats of violence, lies, and mass delusion.
We are not in a post-Trump era. We are in the late-stage Trumpist regime. And it all began with Roy Cohn.
ACT I: Mentored by a Monster
Roy Cohn — McCarthy’s hitman. A closeted, vicious, scorched-earth operator. Trump's shadow tutor.
Cohn taught Trump the gospel of shamelessness:
Never apologize.
Never admit.
Attack harder when you’re guilty.
Turn truth into a weapon.
Trump took notes. Built his entire public life on this moral sewage. And it worked. Because America was primed for it. Primed by reality TV, by decades of consumer rot, by institutional cowardice, and by a broken press addicted to balance over truth.
What followed was a con job on a national scale.
ACT II: Captain Bone Spurs Rides Again
He dodged Vietnam with fake bone spurs — but paraded as a wartime president against immigrants, journalists, women, minorities, and anyone who told the truth.
He lost the 2020 election — and turned that loss into a fundraising goldmine and a slow coup. He cheered on the January 6th terrorists — then pretended he was the victim. He called soldiers “suckers and losers” — while wrapping himself in the flag like a defiled relic.
And now, like a horror sequel nobody asked for, he’s back on the ballot — but never really off the throne. The institutions that could have stopped him? They flinched. They hedged. They waited for “norms” to do the job.
But you don’t stop fascism with norms. You don’t reason with a man who has no concept of reason. You don’t appeal to shame when you’re facing a sociopath who views shame as weakness.
This isn’t political anymore. It’s pathological.
ACT III: The Traitor’s Court
Look at the rogues’ gallery he leads:
Giuliani: A greasy ghoul with teeth stained by lies and red wine.
Bannon: A fascist huckster powered by meth, hate, and podcast donations.
Flynn: A former general turned QAnon puppet, spouting theocratic garbage.
Roger Stone: Tattooed Nixon on his back, treason in his mouth.
Kari Lake, MTG, Boebert, Gaetz: A walking anti-intellectual meltdown.
And behind it all: Rupert Murdoch, poisoning the national bloodstream from a penthouse far away, as his media empire manufactures outrage, division, and fantasy 24/7.
Fox News isn’t news. It’s a weapon. A propaganda howitzer aimed straight at the brainstem of Middle America.
They’ve normalized the abnormal. Sanitized sedition. Gave treason a chyron and a commercial break.
ACT IV: A Mind War
This is psychological warfare. Not against an enemy abroad — but against the American people.
Years of disinformation, grievance politics, white resentment, and Christian nationalism have created a nation where millions now believe democracy is optional, violence is patriotic, and Trump is some kind of divine instrument.
This is not normal. This is not political disagreement. This is a cult of organized madness.
We have Americans saluting a man who tried to end democracy and will try again.
And we have institutions, billionaires, and media execs who are fine with it as long as the checks keep clearing.
ACT V: The End of Illusion
Captain Bone Spurs never served. Never sacrificed. Never cared.
He is a walking void — filled only with greed, vengeance, and the deep, lizard-brain need to never be wrong. And that makes him extremely dangerous. Because when he fails again — and he will — he’ll bring as much of the country down with him as he can.
We are past the warning signs. We are past satire. We are staring into the abyss, and half the country thinks it’s just a campaign ad.
This house is not divided. It’s on fire. And dreck like this man — and the propaganda system that birthed him — must be torn down, root and stem.
This is not politics. This is survival. The propaganda must end. The Murdoch empire must be broken. The criminal syndicate posing as a movement must be exposed for what it is: a rotting death cult wrapped in a flag, wielding a Bible, and aiming a gun at the Constitution.
Call it what it is: fascism, American-style. And stop waiting for someone else to stop it.
No better assessment of our hellacious state. Should be required reading for every voter in this country.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Excellent!
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Michael, thank you for another BRILLIANT analysis/script of the reality 'WE THE PEOPLE' are facing, now and into the - unknown - future ~ ~
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
My Dad a ww2 vet came home from the war not with wounds to his body but to his mind. It took years for that to end. He also worked for Gen Mark Clark and admired him greatly. During the first of the war a close high school friend was killed in Vietnam. We visited the wall and saw his name. It was heart breaking. I went to Vietnam years later and it was such a wasted war as are most.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Well said, Michael, and, yes, the propaganda machine must be dealt with, for it is poisoning the minds of gullible Americans. Rupert Murdoch obviously hates humankind.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Vile, crass, cowardly, ignorant, cruel, selfish, greedy, abusive, gluttonous, cheating, draft dodging, immoral, lying, demented, dangerous criminal 'PREDATOR' and 'traitor' to your country.
A tragedy that millions of your fellow Americans, including many in the military, admire this monster.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Super. I saw Angels in America as a young person and have never forgotten Roy Cohn--his character was not something I knew about until then. He was frightening and this reaction has stayed with me all these years. It was horrible when I realized he was a mentor of Trump.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Wouldn't remind seeing a revival of that play. It was really powerful, and in two parts, if I recall.
Well said and sad but true.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
The Ride of Captain Bone Spurs
A Brutal History of a Nation Hijacked
He never earned it. He just took it.
Trump — a failed casino clown, a draft-dodging coward with a gold toilet and a black heart — never built anything real in his life. His empire was built on air, debt, branding, and bluster. No integrity. No strategy. Just noise, lawsuits, and other people’s money.
And now he’s back. Not just back in politics. Back in power.
Controlling the GOP like a cult leader. Turning the Supreme Court into a wrecking crew. Holding the nation hostage with threats of violence, lies, and mass delusion.
We are not in a post-Trump era. We are in the late-stage Trumpist regime. And it all began with Roy Cohn.
ACT I: Mentored by a Monster
Roy Cohn — McCarthy’s hitman. A closeted, vicious, scorched-earth operator. Trump's shadow tutor.
Cohn taught Trump the gospel of shamelessness:
Never apologize.
Never admit.
Attack harder when you’re guilty.
Turn truth into a weapon.
Trump took notes. Built his entire public life on this moral sewage. And it worked. Because America was primed for it. Primed by reality TV, by decades of consumer rot, by institutional cowardice, and by a broken press addicted to balance over truth.
What followed was a con job on a national scale.
ACT II: Captain Bone Spurs Rides Again
He dodged Vietnam with fake bone spurs — but paraded as a wartime president against immigrants, journalists, women, minorities, and anyone who told the truth.
He lost the 2020 election — and turned that loss into a fundraising goldmine and a slow coup. He cheered on the January 6th terrorists — then pretended he was the victim. He called soldiers “suckers and losers” — while wrapping himself in the flag like a defiled relic.
And now, like a horror sequel nobody asked for, he’s back on the ballot — but never really off the throne. The institutions that could have stopped him? They flinched. They hedged. They waited for “norms” to do the job.
But you don’t stop fascism with norms. You don’t reason with a man who has no concept of reason. You don’t appeal to shame when you’re facing a sociopath who views shame as weakness.
This isn’t political anymore. It’s pathological.
ACT III: The Traitor’s Court
Look at the rogues’ gallery he leads:
Giuliani: A greasy ghoul with teeth stained by lies and red wine.
Bannon: A fascist huckster powered by meth, hate, and podcast donations.
Flynn: A former general turned QAnon puppet, spouting theocratic garbage.
Roger Stone: Tattooed Nixon on his back, treason in his mouth.
Kari Lake, MTG, Boebert, Gaetz: A walking anti-intellectual meltdown.
And behind it all: Rupert Murdoch, poisoning the national bloodstream from a penthouse far away, as his media empire manufactures outrage, division, and fantasy 24/7.
Fox News isn’t news. It’s a weapon. A propaganda howitzer aimed straight at the brainstem of Middle America.
They’ve normalized the abnormal. Sanitized sedition. Gave treason a chyron and a commercial break.
ACT IV: A Mind War
This is psychological warfare. Not against an enemy abroad — but against the American people.
Years of disinformation, grievance politics, white resentment, and Christian nationalism have created a nation where millions now believe democracy is optional, violence is patriotic, and Trump is some kind of divine instrument.
This is not normal. This is not political disagreement. This is a cult of organized madness.
We have Americans saluting a man who tried to end democracy and will try again.
And we have institutions, billionaires, and media execs who are fine with it as long as the checks keep clearing.
ACT V: The End of Illusion
Captain Bone Spurs never served. Never sacrificed. Never cared.
He is a walking void — filled only with greed, vengeance, and the deep, lizard-brain need to never be wrong. And that makes him extremely dangerous. Because when he fails again — and he will — he’ll bring as much of the country down with him as he can.
We are past the warning signs. We are past satire. We are staring into the abyss, and half the country thinks it’s just a campaign ad.
This house is not divided. It’s on fire. And dreck like this man — and the propaganda system that birthed him — must be torn down, root and stem.
This is not politics. This is survival. The propaganda must end. The Murdoch empire must be broken. The criminal syndicate posing as a movement must be exposed for what it is: a rotting death cult wrapped in a flag, wielding a Bible, and aiming a gun at the Constitution.
Call it what it is: fascism, American-style. And stop waiting for someone else to stop it.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
my god, michael, thank you for this observant and accurate, clever analysis. You understand ... and were my Daddy still living, he would have gotten a wry chuckle out of your apt scenario. Thank you for giving us this.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Continue writing. Continue protesting. A sign at the Austin rally said: THE ONLY KING IS THE CONSTITUTION. It's so obvious, trump & his gang of incompetents, just want to wear us down. I am 80, and want to retire from this, but if there's one thing I've learned from this time, this wannabe dictator, ... is that democracy isn't GIVEN to us -- we must always be vigilant, see where the cracks are, and FIGHT for it. Prior to trump, I thought our democracy just sailed along ... so damn it, my whole life will be spent in vigilance. Oh well, a good way to be useful in life. As Kareem says, ... to be good, do good.
Socrates: The Unyielding Questioner
Socrates would not fight fascism with violence. He would expose it by questioning it—relentlessly, publicly, and logically. He would stand in the agora and ask:
“What is justice?”
“Is might the same as right?”
“Can a good soul be ruled by fear?”
He would challenge the sophists, the demagogues, and those who exploit public ignorance. He would refuse to flatter power and would die rather than betray his conscience—as he did when sentenced to death by Athens for “corrupting the youth” and “impiety.”
What would Socrates do?
Speak truth to power with calm irony.
Refuse to cooperate with unjust systems.
Accept death rather than compromise virtue.
📜 “The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
📚 Plato: The Philosopher-King's Vision
Plato, Socrates’ student, warned in The Republic that democracy without education can devolve into mob rule, paving the way for a tyrant—a demagogue who exploits fear and base desires to seize power.
He would resist fascism by:
Calling for education that teaches the love of truth and the Good.
Warning against manipulation by propaganda (his “noble lie” critique).
Advocating for leaders of virtue, not popularity.
To Plato, the tyrant is a slave to his appetites, and the state becomes sick when ruled by such men.
What would Plato do?
Build systems that cultivate wisdom and justice.
Teach the young to spot falsehood and resist flattery.
Remove corrupted leaders and replace them with wise ones.
📜 “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” – Plato
✝️ Christ: The Lion and the Lamb
Jesus of Nazareth never aligned with earthly empires. He spoke of a Kingdom not of this world—a reign of truth, love, and justice.
He:
Challenged oppressive religious and political elites.
Turned over the tables of exploitative merchants in the temple.
Said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” but also, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword”—the sword of truth.
Christ did not incite violent revolution. He absorbed evil without mirroring it, offering radical love, but never submission to injustice. His crucifixion was not weakness—it was resistance in its most divine form.
What would Christ do?
Expose lies with clarity and parables.
Defy fascist cruelty with active, courageous love.
Be willing to suffer rather than betray truth or harm others.
📜 “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – Jesus (John 8:32)
🔥 What Would They All Do Together?
Together, these three—the philosopher, the logician, the messiah—would not stay silent. They would:
Confront fascism with clarity and courage.
Educate the masses against manipulation and fear.
Refuse to serve power that crushes the soul.
Offer hope grounded not in blind optimism, but in eternal truths.
They would not run. They would not appease. They would speak. They would stand. And, if necessary, they would sacrifice everything for truth.
Prayer for Courage in Dark and Confusing Times
O Light that burns beyond the veil, When hope is dim and voices fail, When shadows stretch across the land, Strengthen our hearts, steady our hand.
Let not the tyrant’s tongue deceive, Nor fear compel the soul to leave The path of truth, however steep— Guard us when justice falls asleep.
Though power cloaks itself in might, Let us be candles in the night. Though lies may thunder, cold and loud, Help us to stand, not join the crowd.
When friends grow faint and truth is banned, Let courage rise where we still stand. Let kindness blaze and wisdom speak For all the strong, and all the weak.
May mercy temper righteous fire, But never let the flame expire. Let evil tremble at the song Of those who rise to right the wrong.
O Heart of hearts, O Silent Flame, Though worlds collapse, You stay the same. We walk with You, through storm and flame— For Good must rise, and Love reclaim.
Amen.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
What Reich Warns Us About
Palantir, co-founded by Peter Thiel, is viewed by Reich as a convergence point for military AI, surveillance, Trump’s authoritarian data apparatus, and Silicon Valley libertarianism—a form of tech-enabled corruption and control https://substack.com/home/post/p-165677472?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Reich compares the “palantir” from The Lord of the Rings—a tool of distortion under Sauron—to how Palantir Technologies seeks to aggregate and surveil massive personal data, turning truth into propaganda .
📡 2. How Palantir Powers Trump’s Surveillance
Under Trump’s directive to break down federal agency silos, Palantir was selected to build a centralized “super database” containing personal info from DHS, HHS, IRS, Social Security, DoD, and more—linking it with military and ICE surveillance .
This has alarmed both Democrats (e.g., Rep. Trahan) and MAGA supporters, who see it tipping the U.S. toward “Deep State” or authoritarian surveillance—buried within a veneer of national security .
🌐 3. The Thiel–Musk Tech-Cult Revolution
Reich argues Thiel and Musk, along with figures like David Sacks and Alex Karp, are neo-reactionaries or proto-fascists from the “Dark Enlightenment.” They spurn democracy in favor of a Silicon Valley–led libertarian dictatorship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Enlightenment?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Their anti-democratic agenda includes dismantling democratic norms—civil rights, welfare, even women’s suffrage—while arming authoritarian regimes and fueling authoritarianism globally, not just domestically .
💣 4. Why This Is a Threat to Freedom
Centralized data power—combining military, medical, tax, and personal data—for surveillance or political targeting.
Unchecked authority, thanks to revolving doors between Palantir and U.S. agencies like DoD, DHS, ICE, FBI, NGOs, and global militaries https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palantir_Technologies?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Media monopoly and propaganda—Palantir-backed events promote a pro-authoritarian worldview (e.g., Trump’s birthday parade sponsorship) https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/bay-area-tech-sponsored-parade-20380041.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Corporate-funded strongmen—the fusion of Thielian ideology, Palantir tech, and political ambition (e.g., JD Vance’s rise) creates a new authoritarian ruling class https://substack.com/home/post/p-165677472?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Erosion of trust in democratic institutions—from both left and right, as conservatives (MAGA) and liberals see this as abusable power https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-melts-down-over-trump-deep-state-deportation-deal/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
🔍 5. What Evidence Supports This?
Two weeks ago, MAGA-aligned factions protested the federal $30 M contract to use Palantir’s “ImmigrationOS”—the outrage was over mass-surveillance, even among Trump’s own base https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-melts-down-over-trump-deep-state-deportation-deal/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
More recently, Hill Republicans and Dems formally complained, citing the threat of a digital ID database capable of targeting political opponents https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/maga-base-erupts-as-trump-admins-palantir-powered-national-citizen-database-sparks-outrage-and-distrust-us-news-donald-trump-news/articleshow/121597494.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Palantir’s own defense: at DC’s AI+ Expo, they threatened journalists over coverage and cited privacy defenses. Critics say that’s a sinister sign of corporate overreach https://www.wired.com/story/palantir-defense-conference-journalists?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Continuous contracts: Since 2009, Palantir has inked $2.7 B+ in U.S. government contracts—including ICE, Pentagon, FBI, and NHS in the UK .
⚠️ 6. Why This Should Terrify Us
We're seeing the infrastructure of authoritarianism:
Massive data aggregation under one private entity.
Tech billionaires shaping regulatory and political outcomes.
Erosion of democratic checks and balances, accelerated by emergency powers and national-security rhetoric.
This isn’t theoretical — it's a real operational system, already partially in place. Palantir’s tech is live—even if its full reach hasn’t been publicly tested, the potential is alarming https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/what-is-palantir-secretive-data-firm-with-deep-government-ties-now-central-to-trumps-federal-data-sharing-plan/articleshow/121704100.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
With the rise of right-wing authoritarianism globally—from Hungary to India—there’s a clear pattern of democratic backsliding via symmetric digital surveillance .
🚨 Bottom Line: Democracy on the Line
Robert Reich’s essay isn’t just commentary—it’s a warning cry. The Palantir-Trump-Musk-Thiel nexus is building a surveillance state with oligarchic control, powered by data and protected by co-opted institutions. It threatens not only American democratic norms, but echoes in emerging authoritarian regimes worldwide.
We now face a choice: resist before it’s too late, or become complicit in systems that will strip us of our freedoms—one data point at a time.
🗣️ Reich’s Critique of Fox News
Over two decades, Reich has publicly condemned Fox News as a central source of far-right misinformation and ideological manipulation. He frequently calls it Trump’s propaganda arm, saying its distortion of facts and encouragement of division have inflicted deep damage on American democracy https://www.eurasiareview.com/18042023-robert-reich-whats-the-perfect-punishment-for-fox-news-oped/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
In 2023 and earlier, he explicitly labeled Trump as authoritarian or fascist, warning that Fox’s media platform is fueling those threats .
Reich even urged election officials to refuse Trump's 2024 ballot access, calling Trump’s conduct treasonous https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-labor-secretary-reich-says-election-officials-should-refuse-put-trump-2024-ballot-treason?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
🎯 Where Reich Fell Short—A Critique
Despite his consistent warnings, Reich faced criticism that:
He did not successfully pressure top Democratic figures—like Obama, the Clintons, or Carter—to vocalize opposition, form a coalition, or mount a direct challenge to Fox News’s influence.
Reich lacked mobilization of high-profile Democrats or civil-rights leaders (e.g., Jesse Jackson) to publicly denounce Fox News as a “domestic enemy” and confront it as a threat to the Constitution.
The result: Fox News remained largely unchallenged within Democratic ranks, allowing it to continue manipulating public discourse and polarizing society without unified opposition.
📚 Reich’s Work & Calls to Action
Reich’s books, op-eds, and speeches—including “The Deadly Fox News–Trump Syndicate”—detail how Fox amplifies Trump’s authoritarianism and keeps voters misinformed during crises like COVID-19 https://www.eurasiareview.com/10062020-robert-reich-the-deadly-fox-news-trump-syndicate-oped/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
He’s advocated for explicit legal and electoral action, including ballot disqualification, but failed to spur mass political momentum among Democratic elites.
✅ Summary
StrengthsWeaknessesPublicly & consistently condemned FoxDidn't catalyze unified or high-level Democratic oppositionCalled for accountability and bold legal stepsNo mass mobilization or formal resistance campaignHighlighted Fox News's role in spreading misinformationFox remains a powerful, unchallenged propaganda outlet
Final Take
Robert Reich has been a clear-sighted and vocal critic of Fox News’s corrosive influence and its role in empowering Trump’s rise. However, his inability to enlist or compel major Democrats to treat Fox as a national threat likely limited his impact. The network remains a dominant force in right-wing media despite his relentless warnings.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
And to have him address the West Point graduates is a insult to these soldiers. Not even considering the abominable talk he tried to give.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Michael, this - script - was BRILLIANT! and (in the day) should be a storied production within the 'Outer Limits' or 'Twilight Zone' format. I've been 'thinking' of DJT/47 as a 'walking horror wrapped up in pure sociopathic evil'...
Thank you for this - well 'scripted' comment ~ I hope to save it and print it out for distribution ~
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Michael, this is brilliant! It captures the historical context of our current horror show perfectly. I’ve always been aware that history is watching, but you made it palpable. “History has its eyes on you” as the Hamilton lyric put it.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
I agree. May we all be Robbies, today and every day.
Amen!
So, so, so, so true, A Glass 1/8th Full. Trump hates everyone on earth practically, and thinks they should all be imprisoned or deported, when IT IS TRUMP WHO SHOULD BE IMPRISONED, AND WOULD BE, IF NOT FOR MERRICK GARLAND AND NOW BIMBO BONDI AND THE not-so-"supreme" court PROTECTING HIM!! DISGUSTING THAT THIS FUCKING, LOW-LIFE SCUM POS ANIMAL IS WALKING AROUND SCOT-FREE DESTROYING EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IN SIGHT, AT RANDOM AND ABANDON! 86 47!!! DEATH TO DONALD TRUMP!!! 86 47!!! DEATH CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH TO DONALD TRUMP!!!
Garland waited and waited to go after trump until it was too late. Trump gets every break possible from our justice system . Delay , delay , delay , and deny , deny , deny .
Just stop. What possible good does yelling about Garland do now?
I blame the millions of Americans who look at an aging, cognitively deficient, selfish, amoral convicted felon and said "Yes! That's my President!"
Trump has never had to pay the piper for anything. Every day I wake up hoping to hear he’s died. Course Vance might be worse…
I think that Vance may be worse. Trump has zero intellect Vance did get a law degree. Trump may damage and rage but he can do less damage to America that Vance who is just as stupid in his own way. But he has some capacity to do what Trump cannot.
To know Vance's agenda is to know Peter Thiel's.
We must find a way to deal with the Rich, a way to exclude them from politics and maybe our economies. I have racked my brain for a way to deal with these problems and my mind will not find and answer because violence is so easy. It makes me understand why the Civil War happened.
I've heard that many, many in Congress do not like Vance. And that he doesn't have the sway that the bloated, vengeful, despicable sociopath in power does. I say 86-47 by any means possible. And NOW!!
Merrick Garland and his accomplices placed and keep the Most heinous criminal above the law destroying whatever and whomever he chooses!
You’re forgetting Mitch and all the Republican sycophants including the idiots who voted for him!
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
One can only hope that in, 'time eternal' or preferably before that, that these parasites are held to account. As to the equally vile congressional republicans, those who aided and abetted the infestation....what about their fate? They betrayed their oaths of office, became enemies of people to serve a different master, a criminal, rogue govt. They are not without guilt.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
A glass 1/8 full with rancid cream
Well, here's to the Robbies of the World. Long may their lights shine brightly! Thanks for sharing this story, Bob!
I Wept For You But I Didn’t Mean To
By Larry LaVerdure October 2009
I wept for you last night but I didn’t mean to.
You slipped in among the words of a poem.
You who had been covered by darkness.
You who disappeared into the fog of war.
We played ball when we were kids.
You had a good arm and you could hit too.
In high school I lost track of you.
It wasn’t like we were close but we respected
each other from a distance.
Your dad, Blinky, umped the ball games for us.
He was friendly but firm and kids knew he
didn’t take any guff. Found out he was a Marine
when they told me you’d joined the Corps for Nam.
Enlist!? Like father like son?
I went to college and applied for CO status.
Maybe you didn’t know that or didn’t care.
But, one day, years later you suddenly appear
at my apartment with a thousand-mile stare.
You wouldn’t say much about Nam but
you were wondering if I had any drugs to share.
I told you the truth when I said I had none
but apparently that was the wrong answer.
You had to leave though I offered you some
supper and a chance to meet my wife and daughter.
I wrote my phone number on a slip of paper
“Call me and we’ll get together again.”
You walked away after telling me some
spaced-out story about how you were waiting
for the Avatar to return. You never called.
Years later I ran into your brother.
I asked about you, and in a hushed voice
he let me know that you were dead…
Murdered, found floating in Boston’s harbor.
“Wrong end of a drug deal gone bad.” he guessed.
I did not press him for details.
I could see he was uncomfortable.
My mind could not comprehend why the
universe would be so perverse as to slay
one so nearly perfect as you, George…
One so blue-eyed, gentle and clueless.
Your name is not on the black granite wall in DC
because you came back, a slave to heroin
and your bad dreams of VC.
You came back terrified of what you could be
Made to do to others, who wore black,
and had straw hats.
But the eager, young, talented you never came back.
Your family’s remorse can’t change that.
You disappeared into a fog of fear and hate.
You died from a blind case of duty
on the business end of a hypodermic needle
waiting for some God to reincarnate.
I didn’t mean to and
Yet I wept for you last night
When I heard of another solder
In a fresher war
Who could not stand the horror
of what his tribe had sent him there to do
and so he changed his tormented mind
With a revolver.
Good night, George.
Good night.
We ruined so many young lives for wars which accomplished nothing. Nothing! I worked in VA hospitals and clinics during my medical training. My Dad was a Korean War Vet. We must treat and help as many as we can reach! I’m sorry! I’m so fucking sorry we did this to them.
I barely missed the Viet Nam war. I am of the age that I was called up (low draft #) and went for the intro and physical, but (evidently ?) was determined to be '4-F' (?) due to abdominal anomalies and reparative surgery in infancy, problems which have followed my all my life. Luckily (?) 'Tricky Dick' Nixon canceled the draft 1 week after my - call up, and I was no longer contacted by - Recruiters. But during that time I'd become an anti- Viet Nam war - activist... seeing just how pointless and futile that whole 'conflict' really was ~
My number was up the day he stopped the draft. I was an Army brat - I would have gone. But, it was a pointless war. I had a good friend die of an Agent Orange associated cancer last year…
It is how we served the goals of the rich and the capitalists in our country. They reap the benefits of these wars. We just provide the fodder for their desire to be rich. They care not for whom they kill on either side. But we do not understand this when we are young. We are motivated by patriotism and glory and all that other crap we get told in the 8th grade when we are taught the Constitution.
We seem to value life most when there is not much of it left… unless we acquire the money disease.
What still aches about Nam was it wasn't even a bona fide "War"... the congress could NOT get enough pro votes to declare it! So, a very questionable incident (late night "attack by a supposed North Viet Nam PT style craft fired on US destroyer) in the Tonkin Gulf during which no sailors were injured nor and significant damage to the ship resulted in a resolution called a "Police Action" was arranged to get sufficient votes in congress.
Dear 1/8 full,
I’ve always felt the glass is always full. It might be 1/8 full of liquid, but the rest is air. I believed the same was true of people. They may act in ways I did not agree with, but I do not know the arc of their life or reasons, so I only had a fractional view of their situation. Trump has forced me to the point of believing that there can be no place in my understanding or empathy that allows me not to consider him evil. There is no banality about or potential excuses for his attacks on basic human (and Christian) values. He I’d destroying the government we have that has evolved from our constitution and the values mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.
Trump gets no respect from world leaders because Trump is not a respectable man. Putin does not take him seriously, plain to see. Bone spurs to cover avoidance of duty. Bankruptcies to cover business failures. Lies to cover mistakes. Political office to escape judgment for his felonies and sexual escapades. He only has one main skill, the film flam. Honestly I wouldn’t care if he lived or died except that now the disrespect shown the man bears down on all of us.
It’s natural to hate and despise a man like Trump. These things are based on evidence in compassionate people, and the jury couldn’t be more in. The trick is to prevent those emotions from leaking out and applying them to all his followers. But they are victims of a very effective con. My hope is that the same force of ego that sucked them in will pivot when they realize they’ve been played for fools.
Wouldn’t it be nice if June 14 was the day all his absurdity hits home for them, as Trump tries to portray himself as emperor of the world.
The more I hear about trump supporters, the more I regard them as 'childlike', immature, never having grown into 'responsible citizens' making responsible decisions (ditto trump himself). What do they know or care about the constitution, rights, democracy. They like trump because he doesn't bother with boring facts or information....they've aligned with the bully in the schoolyard who's not so good at book learning but tells them what to do, and they like that . Children. Is it too late for them to grow up?
And, the very 'silly' parade. This is just another example of trump's childish, deeply "embarrassing" juvenile fantasy.
Perhaps the July 14 tanks will unaccountable pivot and blow them all to smithereens. Now that would be a "No Kings" protest indeed! Here's hoping.
That I 'fear' is that - IF ? - DJT/47's - 'day of infamy' actually happens on his B-D, AND vast #'s of - true and honest Patriots - demonstrate and protest - and march - against this - his - sociopathic regime - that he will see this and declare 'martial law' to - silence these protests and would allow (order !) the firing on the People by the military to - destroy - his - opposition, once and for all ~ i.e. He would allow 'al hell to break loose'~
Chances are that Robbie's parents taught him an important lesson, the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
A Glass...You raise an issue of such fundamental importance that I feel compelled to comment on. First of all: Trump. This would be his obvious reply: "I am alive, Robbie is dead. End of story." Survival of the "fittest" is the morality of Social Darwinism. Those who survive, whether on the battlefield, in politics, or in business, are the fittest, and the rest are losers. Every man is for himself, should give no mercy, and expect none from others. Trump is far from being alone in this way of thinking, which is shared by many libertarians. It is a way of thinking that exempts the wealthy from social responsibility. Now, about Robbie: You imply that Robbie went to Vietnam out of sense of honor, but did he? Maybe he was drafted. Maybe a sense of duty, not honor motivated him. We should honor him regardless, but how can military service, in and of itself, bestow honor?
How can military service, in and of itself, bestow honor, you ask? Since I served four years in the U.S. Army (1960 - 1964) I can take a crack at answering your question. I started out dirt poor as one of seven children in Uvalde, TX, ultimately ending up with a Ph.D. and a J.D., both from Harvard. The only reason I could do that is because of the sacrifice by millions of American men and women who served in the armed forces, some coming home with life-altering injuries, some never coming home. They preserved and protected the freedoms and opportunities that I enjoyed. But for them I could not have benefitted as I did. Some, as in my case, did not sustain physical injury or meet with death, but they were there, ready to take up the quarrel with the foe. For that, I honor them all, every single one.
So well written
Thank you for Robbie’s story, a true patriot and a good person. 💔
Our world would be a much better place if there were more Robbies and fewer Trumps. Thank you for sharing him with us on this Memorial Day.
Not fewer Trumps, no Trumps at all.
Good point!!
I regret that the country did not give him a better outlet for his patriotism,
one which preserved his life and let him use his several decades in service to others,
rather than a few fleeting years in service to a liar, who was impeached and disgraced out of office.
Robbie deserved better, and we deserved more time with him in our community.
May future presidents and generals honor the Robbies in our midst more than the ego in theirs.
Well said!
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
I Totally agree, Susan Melnik.
Thank you for sharing that tribute to Robbie. So many died needlessly in Vietnam.. You may not have served in wartime, but you have served your country by your many years of dedicated teaching. So many lives have been enriched... You will always be remembered with love and gratitude for who you are and all you have contributed to critical thinking and to our Democracy...Thank you...
Hear! Hear!
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
Thank you for your post.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Thank you for your tribute, Dr. Reich. The world could use a lot more Robbies.
A beautiful and uplifting memory, perfect for Memorial Day. Thank you, Professor Reich.
Instead, we have a president is only in it for himself. He doesn’t give a damn about anyone including his own family, except, if in his fevered and selfish calculation, that person can do something or is useful for Trump. And once Trump has extracted any benefit for himself, that person is instantly disposable.
Why can’t we have a president who is at least a little like Robbie? What happened to the leaders who actually cared for our country?
“Robbie was never in it for himself. He did what he did because he felt he had an obligation to do it, for the nation he loved. It’s why I remember and honor Robbie on Memorial Day.”
I fear that until we get money out of politics, we'll never have a president "like Robbie." The amount of money (and free time) it takes to just try to "run for something" is staggering. The sums spent in presidential elections and all they entail could at least put a huge dent in our unforgivable child poverty rates let alone beef up our social safety nets -- for ALL Americans. When was the last time we had a president who was not a millionaire or at least a very wealthy person of their time? Ever? And this is not even accounting for Citizens United which put the final nail in the coffin of our very possible demise. Amoral, all of it.
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
We saw it the first time. 👹
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
Michael, my comment was to something else, but your response brought me back to this and I read your long history lesson. I couldn’t agree more! You tell the truth about Haiti. I hate what these immoral, evil politicians are doing. And it is the same for all non-white people everywhere. My friends talk about Driving While Black. Someone on here suggested we start treating maga people like Black people have traditionally been treated: clutch my purse and cross the street, etc. Thanks for raising awareness of this issue. 👹
The rise of figures like Donald Trump—someone with no prior political experience, no legal training, no foreign policy expertise, multiple bankruptcies, thousands of lawsuits, and a well-documented pattern of lying, bullying, and cruelty—is not just embarrassing. It is terrifying and a damning indictment of how broken the U.S. political system has become.
Let’s unpack this with brutal honesty, solid sources, and psychological insight.
🔥 WHY THE MOST DEVIANT, STUPID, OR UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE RISE TO POWER
1. No Real Qualifications Are Required
In the U.S., there are virtually no legal qualifications to run for high office:
OfficeRequirementsPresident35 years old, natural-born citizen, 14-year residencySenator30 years old, 9 years a citizenRepresentative25 years old, 7 years a citizen
There are no requirements for:
Education
Experience
Psychological fitness
Criminal record
Military or public service
That means a convicted felon with no college education can run for president — and Donald Trump is a convicted felon as of 2024.
Source: U.S. Constitution, Articles I and II
2. Psychological Research: Authoritarian Appeal
Psychiatrists and psychologists have studied why people follow deviant leaders. Here’s what they say:
People with authoritarian tendencies are drawn to leaders who seem “strong” and “decisive,” even if cruel or ignorant. (Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Personality)
Trump supporters score high in:
Social dominance orientation
Racial resentment
Fear of change
Narcissistic and sociopathic traits are often rewarded in politics because they allow a person to lie, manipulate, and dominate without shame.
“Trump shows symptoms of malignant narcissism, including antisocial behavior, paranoia, sadism, and grandiosity.” — Dr. Bandy Lee, psychiatrist, Yale School of Medicine
“We wouldn’t hire a school bus driver without a psych exam. Why would we elect a president without one?” — Dr. John Gartner, clinical psychologist
3. The American System Encourages Demagogues
The Electoral College allows a candidate to lose the popular vote and still win (e.g., Trump in 2016).
Gerrymandering lets politicians choose their voters, rather than the other way around.
Dark money from billionaires and corporations floods campaigns, overriding reasoned debate.
Sources:
Dark Money by Jane Mayer
How Democracies Die by Levitsky & Ziblatt
Pew Research Center, 2020: 77% of Americans believe money has too much influence in politics.
💣 WHY WE HAVEN’T FIXED IT
1. The System Is Designed to Protect Itself
Incumbents write the rules.
Congress has no incentive to demand stricter qualifications, because many current members would fail them.
Any real change would require Constitutional amendments, which are incredibly hard to pass.
2. Anti-intellectualism
Many Americans are suspicious of intelligence, education, and expertise. Trump famously said:
“I love the poorly educated.” — Donald Trump, 2016
This reflects a cult of ignorance that rejects nuance and critical thought. Smart, experienced leaders get branded as “elitist.”
🧠 WHAT PSYCHIATRISTS RECOMMEND
Psychiatrists like Dr. Bandy Lee, Dr. Justin Frank (Trump on the Couch), and Dr. Lance Dodes say:
All presidential candidates should undergo mandatory psychological evaluations.
Congress should pass legislation requiring fitness-for-duty assessments, just as military personnel or airline pilots must take.
The public needs better education in media literacy, civics, and critical thinking.
📚 BOOKS AND SOURCES
"The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" – Bandy X. Lee, M.D., et al.
"Trump on the Couch" – Justin Frank, M.D.
"Dark Money" – Jane Mayer
"How Democracies Die" – Levitsky & Ziblatt
"Authoritarian Nightmare" – John W. Dean & Bob Altemeyer
Pew Research Center, various reports on political trust and misinformation
The Constitution of the United States, Articles I & II
❓SO WHY DID WE PICK TRUMP?
Because a toxic mix of:
Anti-intellectualism
Racism and xenophobia
Reality TV celebrity worship
Ignorance of civics
Fox News and right-wing propaganda
A broken system with no safeguards
…allowed the least qualified, most dangerous kind of man to ascend to the presidency.
🚨 WHY WE MUST CHANGE THE SYSTEM
If we don’t:
We risk permanent decline into authoritarianism.
We’ll continue to be ruled by sociopaths with no empathy or vision.
The most intelligent, experienced, and ethical Americans will stay far away from politics.
We need:
Psychological screening for all candidates
Mandatory education requirements
Election reform
Media regulation and accountability
Civic education in schools
You write very succinct history lessons! Could you write one on basic civics without commentary that we could forward to others? Thanks!🙏🏼👹
Socrates: The Unyielding Questioner
Socrates would not fight fascism with violence. He would expose it by questioning it—relentlessly, publicly, and logically. He would stand in the agora and ask:
“What is justice?”
“Is might the same as right?”
“Can a good soul be ruled by fear?”
He would challenge the sophists, the demagogues, and those who exploit public ignorance. He would refuse to flatter power and would die rather than betray his conscience—as he did when sentenced to death by Athens for “corrupting the youth” and “impiety.”
What would Socrates do?
Speak truth to power with calm irony.
Refuse to cooperate with unjust systems.
Accept death rather than compromise virtue.
📜 “The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
📚 Plato: The Philosopher-King's Vision
Plato, Socrates’ student, warned in The Republic that democracy without education can devolve into mob rule, paving the way for a tyrant—a demagogue who exploits fear and base desires to seize power.
He would resist fascism by:
Calling for education that teaches the love of truth and the Good.
Warning against manipulation by propaganda (his “noble lie” critique).
Advocating for leaders of virtue, not popularity.
To Plato, the tyrant is a slave to his appetites, and the state becomes sick when ruled by such men.
What would Plato do?
Build systems that cultivate wisdom and justice.
Teach the young to spot falsehood and resist flattery.
Remove corrupted leaders and replace them with wise ones.
📜 “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” – Plato
✝️ Christ: The Lion and the Lamb
Jesus of Nazareth never aligned with earthly empires. He spoke of a Kingdom not of this world—a reign of truth, love, and justice.
He:
Challenged oppressive religious and political elites.
Turned over the tables of exploitative merchants in the temple.
Said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” but also, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword”—the sword of truth.
Christ did not incite violent revolution. He absorbed evil without mirroring it, offering radical love, but never submission to injustice. His crucifixion was not weakness—it was resistance in its most divine form.
What would Christ do?
Expose lies with clarity and parables.
Defy fascist cruelty with active, courageous love.
Be willing to suffer rather than betray truth or harm others.
📜 “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – Jesus (John 8:32)
🔥 What Would They All Do Together?
Together, these three—the philosopher, the logician, the messiah—would not stay silent. They would:
Confront fascism with clarity and courage.
Educate the masses against manipulation and fear.
Refuse to serve power that crushes the soul.
Offer hope grounded not in blind optimism, but in eternal truths.
They would not run. They would not appease. They would speak. They would stand. And, if necessary, they would sacrifice everything for truth.
Prayer for Courage in Dark and Confusing Times
O Light that burns beyond the veil, When hope is dim and voices fail, When shadows stretch across the land, Strengthen our hearts, steady our hand.
Let not the tyrant’s tongue deceive, Nor fear compel the soul to leave The path of truth, however steep— Guard us when justice falls asleep.
Though power cloaks itself in might, Let us be candles in the night. Though lies may thunder, cold and loud, Help us to stand, not join the crowd.
When friends grow faint and truth is banned, Let courage rise where we still stand. Let kindness blaze and wisdom speak For all the strong, and all the weak.
May mercy temper righteous fire, But never let the flame expire. Let evil tremble at the song Of those who rise to right the wrong.
O Heart of hearts, O Silent Flame, Though worlds collapse, You stay the same. We walk with You, through storm and flame— For Good must rise, and Love reclaim.
Amen.
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
What Reich Warns Us About
Palantir, co-founded by Peter Thiel, is viewed by Reich as a convergence point for military AI, surveillance, Trump’s authoritarian data apparatus, and Silicon Valley libertarianism—a form of tech-enabled corruption and control https://substack.com/home/post/p-165677472?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Reich compares the “palantir” from The Lord of the Rings—a tool of distortion under Sauron—to how Palantir Technologies seeks to aggregate and surveil massive personal data, turning truth into propaganda .
📡 2. How Palantir Powers Trump’s Surveillance
Under Trump’s directive to break down federal agency silos, Palantir was selected to build a centralized “super database” containing personal info from DHS, HHS, IRS, Social Security, DoD, and more—linking it with military and ICE surveillance .
This has alarmed both Democrats (e.g., Rep. Trahan) and MAGA supporters, who see it tipping the U.S. toward “Deep State” or authoritarian surveillance—buried within a veneer of national security .
🌐 3. The Thiel–Musk Tech-Cult Revolution
Reich argues Thiel and Musk, along with figures like David Sacks and Alex Karp, are neo-reactionaries or proto-fascists from the “Dark Enlightenment.” They spurn democracy in favor of a Silicon Valley–led libertarian dictatorship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Enlightenment?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Their anti-democratic agenda includes dismantling democratic norms—civil rights, welfare, even women’s suffrage—while arming authoritarian regimes and fueling authoritarianism globally, not just domestically .
💣 4. Why This Is a Threat to Freedom
Centralized data power—combining military, medical, tax, and personal data—for surveillance or political targeting.
Unchecked authority, thanks to revolving doors between Palantir and U.S. agencies like DoD, DHS, ICE, FBI, NGOs, and global militaries https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palantir_Technologies?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Media monopoly and propaganda—Palantir-backed events promote a pro-authoritarian worldview (e.g., Trump’s birthday parade sponsorship) https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/bay-area-tech-sponsored-parade-20380041.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Corporate-funded strongmen—the fusion of Thielian ideology, Palantir tech, and political ambition (e.g., JD Vance’s rise) creates a new authoritarian ruling class https://substack.com/home/post/p-165677472?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Erosion of trust in democratic institutions—from both left and right, as conservatives (MAGA) and liberals see this as abusable power https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-melts-down-over-trump-deep-state-deportation-deal/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
🔍 5. What Evidence Supports This?
Two weeks ago, MAGA-aligned factions protested the federal $30 M contract to use Palantir’s “ImmigrationOS”—the outrage was over mass-surveillance, even among Trump’s own base https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-melts-down-over-trump-deep-state-deportation-deal/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
More recently, Hill Republicans and Dems formally complained, citing the threat of a digital ID database capable of targeting political opponents https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/maga-base-erupts-as-trump-admins-palantir-powered-national-citizen-database-sparks-outrage-and-distrust-us-news-donald-trump-news/articleshow/121597494.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Palantir’s own defense: at DC’s AI+ Expo, they threatened journalists over coverage and cited privacy defenses. Critics say that’s a sinister sign of corporate overreach https://www.wired.com/story/palantir-defense-conference-journalists?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
Continuous contracts: Since 2009, Palantir has inked $2.7 B+ in U.S. government contracts—including ICE, Pentagon, FBI, and NHS in the UK .
⚠️ 6. Why This Should Terrify Us
We're seeing the infrastructure of authoritarianism:
Massive data aggregation under one private entity.
Tech billionaires shaping regulatory and political outcomes.
Erosion of democratic checks and balances, accelerated by emergency powers and national-security rhetoric.
This isn’t theoretical — it's a real operational system, already partially in place. Palantir’s tech is live—even if its full reach hasn’t been publicly tested, the potential is alarming https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/what-is-palantir-secretive-data-firm-with-deep-government-ties-now-central-to-trumps-federal-data-sharing-plan/articleshow/121704100.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
With the rise of right-wing authoritarianism globally—from Hungary to India—there’s a clear pattern of democratic backsliding via symmetric digital surveillance .
🚨 Bottom Line: Democracy on the Line
Robert Reich’s essay isn’t just commentary—it’s a warning cry. The Palantir-Trump-Musk-Thiel nexus is building a surveillance state with oligarchic control, powered by data and protected by co-opted institutions. It threatens not only American democratic norms, but echoes in emerging authoritarian regimes worldwide.
We now face a choice: resist before it’s too late, or become complicit in systems that will strip us of our freedoms—one data point at a time.
🗣️ Reich’s Critique of Fox News
Over two decades, Reich has publicly condemned Fox News as a central source of far-right misinformation and ideological manipulation. He frequently calls it Trump’s propaganda arm, saying its distortion of facts and encouragement of division have inflicted deep damage on American democracy https://www.eurasiareview.com/18042023-robert-reich-whats-the-perfect-punishment-for-fox-news-oped/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
In 2023 and earlier, he explicitly labeled Trump as authoritarian or fascist, warning that Fox’s media platform is fueling those threats .
Reich even urged election officials to refuse Trump's 2024 ballot access, calling Trump’s conduct treasonous https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-labor-secretary-reich-says-election-officials-should-refuse-put-trump-2024-ballot-treason?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
🎯 Where Reich Fell Short—A Critique
Despite his consistent warnings, Reich faced criticism that:
He did not successfully pressure top Democratic figures—like Obama, the Clintons, or Carter—to vocalize opposition, form a coalition, or mount a direct challenge to Fox News’s influence.
Reich lacked mobilization of high-profile Democrats or civil-rights leaders (e.g., Jesse Jackson) to publicly denounce Fox News as a “domestic enemy” and confront it as a threat to the Constitution.
The result: Fox News remained largely unchallenged within Democratic ranks, allowing it to continue manipulating public discourse and polarizing society without unified opposition.
📚 Reich’s Work & Calls to Action
Reich’s books, op-eds, and speeches—including “The Deadly Fox News–Trump Syndicate”—detail how Fox amplifies Trump’s authoritarianism and keeps voters misinformed during crises like COVID-19 https://www.eurasiareview.com/10062020-robert-reich-the-deadly-fox-news-trump-syndicate-oped/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
He’s advocated for explicit legal and electoral action, including ballot disqualification, but failed to spur mass political momentum among Democratic elites.
✅ Summary
StrengthsWeaknessesPublicly & consistently condemned FoxDidn't catalyze unified or high-level Democratic oppositionCalled for accountability and bold legal stepsNo mass mobilization or formal resistance campaignHighlighted Fox News's role in spreading misinformationFox remains a powerful, unchallenged propaganda outlet
Final Take
Robert Reich has been a clear-sighted and vocal critic of Fox News’s corrosive influence and its role in empowering Trump’s rise. However, his inability to enlist or compel major Democrats to treat Fox as a national threat likely limited his impact. The network remains a dominant force in right-wing media despite his relentless warnings.
Even from Australia, on the other side of the globe, I can see that Robbie was a role model and neither a 'sucker' or a 'loser'.
Lucky you, Robert, to have such a friend.
If you ever questioned whether your input made a difference, have a look at recent elections in this country and elsewhere.
Thank you, Ian. Professor Reich has the ability to help so many understand the times we are living in. It makes me happy to know that his influence helped your country avoid an orange stain like we have in ours. We are fighting and resisting and hopefully, soon, we will be able to eliminate that orange smear. Today, all of us are remembering our veterans who gave their life in service to our country. "All gave some, some gave all". We honor them for being America's patriots. Our veterans loved our country so much they were willing to give their lives for it and many did. The only sucker and loser resides at our White House.
He is also a convicted Felon.
Laurie, wouldn't it be glorious if every single citizen in Washington went to that dictator's parade and as soon as they started up, went out into the street and sat down preventing that hideous dictator parade from continuing? I'm talking thousands going out and sitting in the street to prevent it from happening! They should all have signs protesting this maniac's regime!
Peggy ; that Would be truly Great! Even better would be if NOBODY showed up. Start the National Strike. Buy only local, and boycott all things fascist and MAGA corporate. Buy Canadian, Mexican. And even from a co-op. Locally grown.
That would be better; however, you know magas will be there wearing their leader's merchandise and nazi saluting herr fuhrer!
Probably with masks hiding their faces for "security" : reasons ; Their security!
Drumpf would probably give orders to shoot.
If he gave an order to shoot, the military would not follow that order. They will obey the Constitution not that man.
Peggy, I hope so, but the way things have been going in this "administration"/regime, I can't help but wonder. Every other law has been broken. From the attack on our Capitol. To the Documents case, to denial of due process/Habeas Corpus to the Emoluments Clause. Remember the 14th Amendment's section 3 disqualification clause? Our Congress and the courts are full of disabled members and "justices". The DOJ, Pam Bondi is an election denier, and totally unfit for being AG. Our government is LOUSY with corruption. I would not lay down and assume that I would not be shot dead. Not for a nanosecond.
Peggy, I hope you are right.
If only they would follow the Constitution. 'Just' one question, would you trust tRUMP with your life? With Anything?
Yes, Peggy, provided the protesters carry American flags.
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
All true and very sad.While the Oligarchs steal from our treasury and end humanitarian aid to starving children and elders. AND tRUMP and Netanyahu "clean up"Gaza and build a Middle East Riviera for themselves and tRump towers planned in Viet Nam. With golf courses for the golf cheat "leader" and his rapist friends. And he calls true Patriots "suckers and those who were captured and imprisoned "losers".
Confronting Evil Through the Lens of Genuine Spirituality
1. Evil Exists Within the Unity of All Things
In the deepest mystical traditions—from Advaita Vedanta to Kabbalah, from Sufism to Christian mysticism—there is a fundamental understanding: all is One.
This includes even what we call evil.
Evil, in this framework, is not a cosmic enemy warring against God, but rather a distortion or imbalance within the divine manifestation. It is the shadow cast by free will, by separation from truth, by forgetting our Source.
While Absolute Reality knows no division—there, all is God—Relative Reality, the realm in which we live and breathe, is filled with suffering, cruelty, and injustice. To deny this is spiritual naivety. To confront it consciously is the work of the awakened soul.
As Kabbalists would say, evil (the sitra achra, or “other side”) exists to challenge and refine the soul. It is not separate from God, but it hides God.
⚖️ 2. Our Role Is to Respond, Not to Become Numb
Authentic spirituality does not run from suffering, nor does it whitewash evil in syrupy affirmations. It calls us to presence, to action, and to compassionate clarity.
True mystics do not dissociate. They bear witness.
They ask:
“How can I stand before the fire of injustice and not become what I oppose?”
This is the mystery of non-reactive resistance.
As Meister Eckhart wrote:
“The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me.” In confronting evil, God moves through the awakened human heart.
🕯️ 3. Evil as Catalyst for Awakening
Paradoxically, it is often the presence of evil that awakens the soul.
In Kabbalah, evil is permitted so that goodness may be chosen freely.
In Hinduism, even the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita is sacred when action is rooted in dharma.
In Buddhism, suffering is the gateway to compassion.
In Sufism, even the devil is said to be God’s most loyal servant—by driving seekers back to the Beloved.
To awaken means not to bypass evil, but to understand its place in the architecture of divine learning.
💠 4. Love Is Not Weakness
Spiritual warriors—like Jesus, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—understood that true love is not passive. It is a disciplined, courageous force that confronts injustice without becoming unjust.
To love one’s enemy does not mean to surrender to evil.
It means to act without hatred, to see the delusion and still respond from the deepest clarity and purpose.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
🌀 5. Negotiating This in the Mind and the Heart
Different traditions offer rich lenses for holding the paradox of divine unity and the presence of evil:
Christian Mysticism: Evil exists within time, but grace exceeds it.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.” (Romans 5:20)
Buddhism: Evil is a form of ignorance. To respond with wisdom and compassion is the only true remedy.
Sufism: Evil is a veil. It hides the Face of the Beloved. But even the veil is God.
“God breaks the heart again and again until it stays open.”
Advaita Vedanta: Evil is maya—the illusion of separation. Awake. Act wisely within the illusion. Perform your dharma with love.
🧭 Final Summary: What Does Genuine Spirituality Say?
Evil is real in the human world—but it is not separate from the Divine.
Your response matters. Your soul’s posture matters.
Hatred fuels more hatred. Wisdom seeds healing.
Do not deny evil. Do not be consumed by it. Stand in the fire—but do not become it.
Your presence, if anchored in clarity, love, and the Whole, becomes the very light that dissolves shadows.
🕊️ A UNIVERSAL MEDITATION
(For quiet reflection, morning or night — alone or with others.)
Let all that is broken be seen. Let all that is dark be acknowledged. Let all that is wounded be named.
I do not turn away. I do not numb. I do not hate.
I stand in the fire, but I do not become it. I see the shadow, but I serve the light.
I remember who I am. I remember who you are.
May justice rise. May truth awaken. May love endure.
In me. Through me. Around me. For all. Amen. Ameen. Om Shanti. So it is.
Michael: I believe that we have free will. But only if we have enough information to perform the best actions. Knowing what is ethical and sustainable is key, and caring about it.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Subject: Please Speak Out on TPS and Haiti—Now More Than Ever
Dear Dr. Reich,
I’ve long admired your clarity and moral courage in speaking out on issues of justice, economics, and the dignity of working people. That’s why I’m writing to ask—urgently—that you raise your voice on something that is getting far too little attention in our national conversation: the plight of Haitian immigrants and the gutting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Haiti is, tragically, one of the hardest places on Earth to live—a result not only of natural disasters and corrupt leadership, but also of centuries of systematic exploitation by France and the United States. From the catastrophic indemnity Haiti was forced to pay France after its independence, to the brutal U.S. military occupation and Citibank’s profiteering from Haitian debt, much of Haiti’s suffering has our fingerprints on it.
This isn’t just a humanitarian issue. It’s a matter of historical accountability. And now, under the current regime, tens of thousands of Haitians with TPS—who work, pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to our society—are being told they’re no longer welcome. They're being threatened with deportation to a country we helped break.
What’s worse, the cruelty is amplified by racial animus. Let’s be honest: if these were blond-haired, blue-eyed refugees fleeing chaos, the response would be very different. Haiti’s Blackness is part of what fuels this callous disregard. Racism is not just a part of the story—it’s embedded in the policy.
You have an enormous platform and a trusted voice. Please, speak out for Haitian TPS holders. Explain the historical and economic realities that most Americans have never been taught. Show them that this isn’t about “illegals” or “line-jumpers”—it’s about people who deserve safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive.
We need your voice right now more than ever. Silence in the face of this injustice is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
With great respect and urgency,
Haiti’s Struggle: A History of Exploitation and the Case for U.S. Responsibility
Haiti's current challenges are deeply rooted in a history of exploitation by foreign powers, notably France and the United States. Understanding this history is crucial to comprehending the nation's present circumstances and the rationale behind policies like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.
Colonial Exploitation and Its Aftermath
In the 18th century, Haiti, then known as Saint-Domingue, was France's most profitable colony, primarily due to its sugar and coffee plantations operated by enslaved Africans. Following a successful slave revolt, Haiti declared independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic.
However, in 1825, France demanded reparations for lost property, including enslaved people, amounting to 150 million francs. This debt crippled Haiti's economy for over a century, with payments continuing until 1947.
U.S. Intervention and Economic Control
The United States occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, a move influenced by financial interests, particularly those of the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank). During this occupation, the U.S. controlled Haiti's finances, including its customs revenue, and implemented policies that favored American businesses. Forced labor practices were instituted, leading to significant human rights abuses.
Citibank's involvement extended beyond financial control; the bank lobbied for the U.S. invasion to protect its interests and profited from Haiti's debt repayments, which constituted a significant portion of the nation's revenue during the occupation.
The Role of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Given this historical context, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to assist Haitians affected by the long-term consequences of foreign exploitation. TPS provides temporary legal status to nationals from countries experiencing extraordinary conditions, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. For Haitians, TPS has been a vital lifeline, especially after natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake.
However, recent policy changes have threatened this protection. In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke TPS for over 500,000 migrants, including Haitians, putting them at risk of deportation. This decision has been widely criticized for ignoring the historical and ongoing challenges Haitians face, many of which stem from foreign interference.
Recommended Reading on Haitian History
To gain a deeper understanding of Haiti's complex history, the following books are recommended:
The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James – A seminal work on the Haitian Revolution.
Haiti: The Aftershocks of History by Laurent Dubois – Explores Haiti's post-independence struggles.
The Uses of Haiti by Paul Farmer – Discusses foreign exploitation and its impact on Haiti.
An Unbroken Agony by Randall Robinson – Chronicles Haiti's political history and foreign interventions.
The Colonial System Unveiled by Baron de Vastey – A critique of colonialism from a Haitian perspective.
Conclusion
Haiti's enduring hardships are not solely the result of internal factors but are significantly influenced by a history of foreign exploitation and intervention. Policies like TPS are not just humanitarian gestures but acknowledgments of this historical responsibility. As debates on immigration and refugee policies continue, it's imperative to consider the historical contexts that have shaped the current realities of nations like Haiti.
Video Resources (Search on YouTube):
The U.S. Occupation of Haiti Explained
Haiti's History of Foreign Exploitation
Understanding TPS and Its Importance
References & Sources
Office of the Historian – U.S. involvement in Haiti’s occupation
Five Books – Best scholarly texts on Haiti
El País English – Haiti’s debt to France and its long-term effects
Wikipedia – Articles on U.S. occupation of Haiti, Citibank’s role
History News Network – Citibank and financial exploitation in Haiti
Reuters – TPS and Haitian migration coverage
The Guardian – Supreme Court TPS ruling in 2025
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) – Legal consequences of TPS removal
Axios – Reporting on TPS legal battles and policy impacts
Amazon – Book listings and descriptions
Apple Podcasts – Historical discussions on Haiti and U.S. foreign policy
I think it is relatively simple, we refuse to be bought. Money and wealth have become our ruler. Our boss.
Such a remarkable tribute to your friend,Robbie,who served with honor. I,too,will think of Robbie and those fellow patriots that lost their lives honorably serving their country,on this Memorial Day. It saddens me as much,as it angers me,to experience what's happening with our country now,all due to a draft dodging,fascist felon and the Fundamental Christian Nationalists with their Project 2025.
I'll be thinking of Robbie and those like him on this Memorial Day.
As we go through life, we occasionally met giants, many of which go unnoticed. However, their influence helps us to choose the correct path in an uncertain future. Robert, Rob was one of those giants.
Professor Reich: thank you for sharing robbie's story with us, so we too can come to know and appreciate a tiny piece of who he was.
As far as agent orange (see what i did there?) and his recent exploits in vietnam go ... i wonder if the people in that great country will have anything to do with it if they know who built that temple of death and despair? maybe it'll soon be time to project some reality onto the side of that building? maybe it'll soon be time to replace little holes with big ones on agent orange's golf course?
I remember a saying from my grandmother that only the good die young. This is so true in your story about your friend Robby.
I doubt if anyone will believe me but I think sometimes "only the good get taken out young." Ahem.
I also think good people of any age, especially from a strong family, are removed ("before they can start trouble").
Signed,
Our Lady, Queen of Conspiracy Theory
I am a little younger than you Robert but still had my Draft Card and worried about the draft in 1970 but they only called up to 195 and my number was 319 so I was cleared. I did however have a good friend in the 8th grade whose brother lost his life and I remember the funeral well. So sad and such a waste. There were so many of them here and so many residents of the country itself suffered greatly. It is good that we take a day to remember those who gave so much, so willingly, when the call of duty came to them. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/16376/PATRICK-J-FLAVIN/ in your memory, thinking of you and your family. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your memories of Robbie. The many families and friends who lost fine companions like Robbie carry their remembrances as part of why they try to do good in their lives. I deeply appreciate your sharing memories of Robbie, they move me to keep the good work of my own lost friends going in this present life.
I agree,Rita. It is the memory of good people that we carry with us which enables us to endure and be strong I think.
Recall that the doctor who diagnosed Trump’s “bone spurs” rented office space in one of senior Trump’s buildings. Nice coincidence.
I also protested the Vietnam war even though excused from serving by dint of a high-enough draft lottery number. One mistake that too many of our compatriots made was not separating the warrior from the war. Robbie’s story illustrates that we lost too many good people in that misbegotten conflict. Robbie and his fellow warriors were not responsible for the war — it was our criminal leadership.