By David Orenstein |
Open-Air Screening
A Film of a Talk by Bob Avakian:
THE TRUMP/PENCE REGIME MUST GO! In the Name of Humanity, We REFUSE to Accept a Fascist America. A Better World IS Possible
Thursday, August 30 at 7 PM
18 Mount Morris Park West, New York City, 10027
(Take the 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 trains to 125th Street. Enter at 5th Avenue and 124th Street.)
Being on the right side of history requires each person, given access to the same irrefutable facts, the opportunity to reach the same objective conclusions concerning the events they witness. Accepting such evidence makes one aware and honest not only with themselves but with their neighbors. Such acceptance of reality and honestly will always reject counter-narratives to the truth, or bullying and insults. While these negative manipulations used by Trump and his administration may be good political ploys they cannot nor will they ever be able to circumvent reality or truth.
We have a President and his many enablers inside and out of government, and certainly the conservative media who lap up his tag lines like, “the press is the enemy of the people.” Support Jingoism towards our international friends yet cower to our enemies. We have an administration and allied powerful Republican legislators who will sell themselves for “make-the-rich-richer tax policies,” or will deny healthcare to the poorest citizens, or are willing to allow polluters to pollute through the reinvention of environmental policies in favor of dirty energy interests.
They hate all those civil libertarians across the political spectrum who support the rule of law while they allow this President to remain above legal reproach. Essentially and in my opinion, they have sold their souls for the sake of consecutive quarters of two percent of GDP growth. How sad and pathetic these people who say they work for all Americans, yet work without honor, as they put party over country.
I say to you no more. The Manafort convictions and the Cohen admittance of guilt have lead both men to the chopping block of history; from high Trump associates to convicted felons in just about 18 months. The first two Congressmen to endorse Trump for president have also been indicted for violating tax and campaign fraud laws. These indictments and convictions came because of regular people. People like you and me who serve as jurors and look at evidence to convict or acquit. This isn’t a witch hunt, this isn’t fake news. It is your fellow citizens, from all walks of life and political parties calling reality…well…reality.
And you should come join that team that looks to evidence to inform their material reality. If you’re already doing this we can and should lock arms regardless of the superficial differences we all share. If you’re not sure or have been a Trumpworld supporter and want out, let me assure you that there is always room for you. Plus, you’ll feel much better about yourself and the future in the end if you come over to reality.
But this article isn’t about gloating about the legal fortunes and futures of corrupt men who got caught. Gloating in politics is hubristic and utter nonsense. Anyone who wishes to gloat about the current political mess needn’t feel too superior given its impact on our nation’s identity and reputation at home and abroad. After all, we’ve met our enemy and we are them – they are our neighbors, family members and colleagues. Not some evil foe from a propaganda film, but people who accept for political expedience the changes Trump has made because they believe they are best for their family, community and our country.
The 16th President said it best, “A house divided against itself, cannot stand.” Lincoln’s words about the abolition of slavery ring true today. They are also certainly true in the context of our real and best goal, still unreached, the abolition of hate for our fellow human being. This needs to be fulfilled for actual healing. Such true and honest abolition would lead to a new political, social and human awareness and caring for one another.
This means rejecting the idea that there are “shit hole countries” just like there are no shit hole people. This is also why from the church pulpit to the humanist lectern, all people of faith, that is faith in a divine and those with faith in reason, must join together against the Trump/Pence regime. Why farmers and filmmakers, teachers and technicians, doctors and doorbell ringers, all have a vested interest in seeing Trump and his regime politically euthanized by the rule of law and by public citizens tied together for mutual benefit and mutual respect.
This also means becoming aware and active. On Thursday, August 30, 2018, Revolution Books will be sponsoring yet another showing of the Bob Avakian film, The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go, and everyone is invited to the Harlem (NYC) showing to see the film. You don’t have to accept or believe the struggle for freedom and democracy requires an Avakian worldview, but coming out to see the film, listening to what Avakian has to say, and being open to joining others from across the spectrum of communities united in changing our politics for the sake of fairness, goodness and kindness, is in everyone’s empathetic self-interest.
The showing in Harlem is bringing together such a diverse group who see the danger of Trump and his administration. Clergy, politicians, activists, educators, humanists will be in attendance for the film and lead discussion afterwards. But the event cannot exist in a vacuum, it needs listeners to become leaders and watchers to become willful participants for change.
This is why I have always concluded that activism requires not only a tacit agreement or a “like” on a particular social media platform. It requires you to move physically to take action as it has moved you emotionally to click an icon or even read this article. It requires resources like time or money to move forward.
In order to move past this sad time in American history, good people from across the nation should…actually MUST…stand up and confront the demons of the American id and ego. To become the better angels of our nature and to stand for something that, even our Founding Fathers never fully realized, since many owned slaves. For this country to survive and thrive it must become one nation, in liberty and justice for all.
Dr. David Orenstein is a professor of Anthropology at CUNY Medgar Evers College and also serves on the Host Committee for the Harlem showing of the Avakian film on 8/30/18