Thank you for helping me understand more of that reality, Anngwyn. I’m so
curious how to be able to provide a respectful support as a Canadian, while
honouring the history of the States. We have our own violent history here in
Canada, but on the scale of things, it seems we have been a refuge for others
coming from the States, such as with the underground railroad.
I’ve lived in Mexico, as well, and have been humbled by the depth of suffering
and ways that people are totally abandoned, exploited and misunderstood there
from the American and Canadian lens of prejudice.
What is the trauma within white people that makes them afraid of the very
people they oppress or enslave? I saw that perhaps there is a fear of poverty
that innately makes the dominant culture despise those who are oppressed. I
don’t think it’s entirely a fear of vengeance, though that is probably partly
the case. One gets on the offense/defense when there is guilt and injustice.
For some reason, I’m pulled to be part of this process of unknotting the many
layers of fear in the States (some of my American ancestors speaking, I’m
sure), yet love my privilege of sitting in my own safety here in Canada. What
is the appropriate, compassionate and life-giving action I could take where I
don’t get hurt, and yet can take my experience of living in a country that
doesn’t have as much fear of the other to provide some refuge and guidance on
showing that there could be another way than bearing arms.
Thank you for reminding me of the rightful ownership of the land…it helps me
see the border crossings and struggles of Mexicans returning to re-claim what
was theirs from another light. This could be considered an indigenous land
claims issue…
With respect and appreciation for those in the States who keep a compassionate
and soft heart amidst all of this…
Heather
From: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2016 9:57 AM
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] Peace ?
Hello
Yes, Canada and the USA are very different cultures...as Michael Moore spoofed
in his Canadian Bacon film...as it has been said " The Canadians are the nicer
Americans ". I live in a southwestern border state and the" fear of the other
" here is rampant and continually stoked by the press and the
politicians...with fear mongering rumors that the Mexicans are coming to take
over our country and that many of these illegal immigrants are dealing drugs to
young people, bringing diseases and many are actually Muslim terrorists in
disguise and so on... and while there is considerable violence along our
southwest borders much of it is fear generated...and born out of desperation...
.Also, our situation in the southwest is complicated by the fact that these
territories used to be Mexico...and one of the fears is that the Mexicans are
coming to take them back... on and on...many layers in operation....and the
common thread is "fear of the others "....which lingers here in what has
historically been the legendary lawless "Old West "...where the "gunslingers "
were idolized as protectors of the people...this meme lingers until today in
story and in films...
Warm regards
Anngwyn
In a message dated 1/5/2016 7:33:07 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
writes:
Speaking as someone who lives in Canada where no one is allowed to carry a gun
and gun registration is legally required, I find that the law, in this case,
let’s me feel safe walking in public, knowing that it is not a public norm to
carry guns. As soon as I cross the border into the States, I feel tense, even
just seeing the signs of gun sales and racks of guns in Wal-mart. It creates an
atmosphere of violence just seeing that it is possible. Then being in Texas,
where people drive around with guns in their trucks with pride and joy (not
sure if that’s legal or not), I felt terrified….
Here in Canada, I can talk to my neighbor openly, even have a dispute or
disagreement, and not be afraid that their psychosis will immediately lead to
being shot.
There’s no guarantee, of course, as people carry guns illegally, but the
cultural atmosphere is way different.
Yes, law enforcement of guns does make a huge difference…..
From: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, January 04, 2016 9:23 PM
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [ConstellationTalk] Peace ?
Hello to All,
Maybe in some vicious cycles causes and symptoms are not separated by absolute
boundaries. For better or worse, laws do educate populations, and obviously it
will take more than passing laws to shift deep seated cultural attitudes.
Unlike the US in Switzerland existing laws better regulate the sale, ownership
and licensing of private guns, which includes a ban on carrying concealed
weapons. The law allows citizens who have no criminal record or history of
mental illness, to buy up to three weapons from an authorised dealer, with the
exception of automatic firearms, which are banned, and military ammunition must
be stored in central arsenals rather than in soldiers’ homes. Guns are
responsible for between 200 and 300 suicides each year in Switzerland. One of
the reasons the crime rate in Switzerland is low despite the prevalence of
weapons — and also why the Swiss mentality can’t be transposed on the current
individualistic (lack of universal health insurance) American reality — is the
culture of responsibility, support and safety that is anchored in Swiss society
and passed from generation to generation.
Best wishes to all,
Robert
On Tue, Jan 5, 2016 at 12:12 PM, anngwyn@xxxxxxx <mailto:anngwyn@xxxxxxx>
[ConstellationTalk] <ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Yes, confusing symptoms and the underlying causes is not likely to lead to
resolution...nor will the imposition of "laws"...we have an interesting and
complex dynamic unfolding now...but not only here in the USA...In Switzerland,
where I have happily lived and worked for many years, citizens are
individually and as a culture very heavily armed...and yet , this is not a
social problem..more evidence that guns are not the problem...only the symptom
of a pervasive underlying miasm here in USA... Students of history know that
outlawing alcohol during the prohibition era led to more violence because a
significant percentage of the populace did not agree and a black market economy
arose...same with the spurious, deeply corrupt "war on drugs"... outlawing is
not the solution, for alcohol, drugs or firearms...best to think systemically
and think more deeply into this massive social trauma...involving what is also
our military/industrial/ state sponsored , media complicit, national and
international violence....and who benefits ?
All for now...
Anngwyn
In a message dated 1/4/2016 5:40:41 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
writes:
Hello All,
Gun laws in the US appear to reinforce the violent psyche of fear that drives
it. In the large scheme of things changing the laws may be more than just
treating the symptoms.
Best wishes,
Robert
On Tue, Jan 5, 2016 at 2:49 AM, anngwyn@xxxxxxx <mailto:anngwyn@xxxxxxx>
[ConstellationTalk] <ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Hello Everyone,
While I am all for peace and not so fond of guns, from a systemic perspective,
guns are not the problem...only the symptom of the problem...We have always had
guns in this country....and as a social traumatologist, more problematic is
the trans-national epidemic of state-sponsored, media generated "fear porn "
designed to promote and accelerate " fear of the other "....and this inevitably
leads to all manner of violence as history as proven over and again. Confusing
the symptom with the problem is likely to lead only to more confusion. We might
ask: Who or what benefits from this current fear mongering epidemic that seeks
to exploit the darker aspects of tribal consciousness ?
I addressed this "fear porn " in my blog " Trauma and the Human Condition "
http://anngwyn.wisrville.org ;<http://anngwyn.wisrville.org/> as "Our Year of
Fear ". which may be of interest....
Warm regards
Anngwyn St. Just Ph.D.
http://anngwyn.wisrville.org ;<http://anngwyn.wisrville.org/>
www.acst-international.com <http://www.acst-international.com/>
