Revolution in Perception
One of the greatest American political philosophers was Minister Malcolm X. Especially after he left the Nation of Islam (NOI), Malcolm became far more politically active. While he took a global view, he would also take an active interest in local events. He was encouraging black people to register to vote. He advocated registering as “independent,” rather than as a Democrat or republican. Still, those politicians that he associated with were all Democrats.
More, after leaving the NOI, Malcolm began focusing on politics in a more progressive way. For example, he spoke frequently about equality between the sexes, something that was in direct contradiction to the NOI‘s official stance. Also, in terms of economics, he noted that many of the countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia were benefiting from socialism.
Just as his working with Democrats did not make Malcolm a Democrat, or working with Baptists make Malcolm a Baptist, his relationship with socialists did not make Malcolm a socialist. Rather, it is evidence of the open-mindedness that allowed him to recognize the human beings behind labels, it increased his ability to work in cooperation with a number of groups and individuals.
Among this self-educated leader’s most notable talents was to use models of systems to help illustrate the facts and truths he wanted to communicate to the public. I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned it here on DU, but I like the study of systems, and use of models, myself. And, since my collection of Malcolm-related books, magazine articles, albums, etc, goes back to when I first learned of him in 1964, I’d speculate that he sparked my interest in this form of education.
Malcolm often told his co-workers to “make it simple.” And he had a knack for doing just that. On the topic of if either political party in the US could bring about social justice, Malcolm said that a system could not produce something foreign to its make-up. The example he gave was that a chicken could not possibly lay a duck egg. The hen’s system was only capable of laying a chicken egg.
I believe that it is accurate to say that, for the vast majority of Bernie Sanders’s supporters, Malcolm’s model works. We would like to believe that Hillary Clinton, if she becomes the Democratic Party’s nominee this year, would be capable of producing meaningful changes that provide for social justice. Yet, for many good and sincere citizens, that is viewed as no more likely than Chicken Little laying a duck egg.
Thus, the question that I must ask -- in all sincerity -- to those who support Hillary is: how would you expect those supporting Bernie to help, should she get the nomination?
And I’m not suggesting that only my friends who support Hillary Clinton respond. I’m up for a civil conversation with any of the others. Just as I’d welcome any input from Bernie’s supporters.
I’ve noted that, from our viewpoint, it seems evident that too many in Clinton’s campaign take an insulting “thanks, but no thanks” attitude towards us. That “you have no where else to go” approach, that rarely results in warm, fuzzy feelings.
If Bernie wins the nomination, some Hillary supporters will then vote for Sanders, and others won’t. Just as if Hillary wins the nomination, some Sanders’s supporters would vote for her in November, and other would not. No one can say what the exact numbers, and their impact, are at this time.
So, I ask the Hillary Clinton supporters: If you were someone like me, how would you encourage people who dislike Hillary to vote for her?
I can think of one good reason -- the US Supreme Court. No sane person wants Ted Cruz influencing who gets appointed. I say this as a person who lost a lot of respect for the USSC in 2000. It’s still a huge issue. Still. it is a lot easier for me to present a case for people to support and vote for Sanders, than Clinton
I’m curious what other approaches people might see. Thank you for your comsideration.
Peace,
H2O Man
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