Emmet Fox on The Historical Destiny of the US

[autorank]

Emmet Fox was one of the most influential writers and popularizers of the "New Thought Movement" in the first half of the last century. Take a look at this:

"Again and again in history internal feuds have destroyed nations great and small, but there is every reason to believe that the American people will not be betrayed into this obvious suicidal blunder.

Such a danger cannot arise as long as the American people are careful never to allow party spirit to become so embittered that the destruction of their political enemies seems to be more important than the safety of the country.

However strongly devoted you may be to any particular cause; however strongly opposed you may be to some other cause; the vital thing is to remember is that any cause, however good it may be in itself, is secondary in importance to the supreme cause of national unity. Any other doctrine than this is pure treason."

The Historical Destiny of The United States and The Mystery of The American Money Emmet Fox (1932). Devorss & Co: Marina Del Ray, CA

I think Fox has it just right. The Republicans are committed to "the destruction of their political enemies." They attack Democrats, their "enemies", and risk the "safety of the country." They elevate their cause to such an extent that it works against "national unity" (divider not uniter) and the survival of the nation.

Pretty good stuff.

[NMDemDist2]

1. Emmet Fox

is a spiritual giant and was a very smart man....

[demgrrrll]

2. Seems like I remember Emmet Fox from my old Unity days. Did he

did he write for the Unity Church?

[autorank]

3. Unity...cool

His books are sold at Unity book stores because they're "New Thought" also but he did not write for them specifically. The New Thought Movement includes Unity and the Church of Religious Science as two outgrowths. I actually got this pamphlet at a Unity church I attended for a while. The minister was shunned in some political tussle so I quit. That was about 10 years ago. I attended a Church of Religious Science a couple of times recently. Now they rock: great guided meditations, I mean outstanding, and a not much dogma other than peace. Hope this one works out or it will be another 10 years.

[LWolf]

4. I think that Democrats are just as committed

to the destruction of their political enemies. There is a sense of "we've got the power" on the republican side, and rage and impotence on the democratic side, that does not bode well. I think we've reached a point where our best chance is to do away with the 2-party duality. When we can come together to agree, disagree, discuss, find consensus, and work together without party labels or baggage, we will be able to move our nation forward.

I live in a republican stronghold. I've lived and worked with these people for 24 years now. When we don't talk politics, I find them to be really good people. I find people who are kind, intelligent, and who want solutions to all of the issues we face. It's only when politics enter the picture that it gets ugly. I see them leave behind their principles and the issues they are working with daily to support the destructive policies of the christian right and the republican party. And I see the reason; I see that they are swayed by propaganda from their churches, their newspapers, their community leaders. They actually believe everything they are told.

I see some of the same from the left; the left tends to be more open to thinking about and talking about a greater range of ideas, but we have our hot-button issues, too. We have our slogans, phrases, and single-issue focuses. We have many people who exhibit the same hate, lack of respect, disregard, superiority over, or other attitude towards the right as they have for us. When we are their mirror, or the other side of their coin, we aren't going to achieve fundamental change. We aren't going anywhere. It's stalemate. "Power" and energy will flow back and forth while the two sides battle, but it won't settle permanently with one, and it will never actually go anywhere new; just back and forth.

I think if we sat down at a table with people, and no one had any political affiliation or knew the others' political leanings, and we set an issue down to discuss without party propaganda or agenda, we could come to some agreements to move the issues in a new direction. Because we'd sit down with respect for all, and no reason to "battle" people or "win." Winning would come by forging agreement.

[hippiechick]

5. Thank you, LWolf

This is perhaps the best post I've read at DU in the last several months.


:hug:


:hippie:

[LWolf]

6. Anytime.

;-)

:hug:

[autorank]

7. Sorry to interrupt the hippiechick, LWolf love fest but...

We are not equal to the Republican hatred and destructiveness. To say we are is, in my opinion, very unhelpful and an example of tortured logic. Yes, some Republicans and Democrats can sit down and work out common positions. However, let's look at the record of Republican control over the past four years and the underlying intentions of the core Republican constituency.

Record: Iraq war; bankrupting the nation; denying health and other benefits; destroying the environment; and, by environmental damage, putting the earth's existence as we know it in peril. That is an vile record, one that is clear and out front. Yet the Republicans continued in their support for Bush by an overwhelming margin.

Their record shows their intent to destroy not just the Democrats but anyone or anything that gets in their way.

Underlying intentions: The core constituency of the Republican Party is the evangelical faction. It is common knowledge that the evangelicals firmly believe that if you fail to accept Jesus Christ on their terms, you are in for an eternity of damnation and suffering in Hell.

Let's see how this sets us apart from them. Well, you, me, everybody here who is not within their doctrine (plus entire continents and races) will suffer immeasurable and eternal damnation because we don't agree with them. They firmly believe that their version of the afterlife is 100% revealed truth. We summer forever. Wonderful.

When you think we're equal in the destructiveness of the Republicans, just keep the above in mind. It is a fatal mistake.

CORPORATE AMERICA controls the media and we get MANUFACTURED NEWS.
CORPORATE AMERICA now controls the voting machines and we get MANUFACTURED ELECTIONS.