Facing the Crowd (2019)
The people have the power
The people have the power
The power to dream, to rule
to wrestle the world from fools
it’s decreed the people rule
it’s decreed the people rule
we have the power
People have the power
we have the power…
–Patti Smith, People Have the Power (1988)
Crazy week, wasn’t it? Tuesday night’s debate beatdown by Kamala Harris was followed by several days of escalating insanity from the GOP presidential candidate who lashed out in all directions as he tried to cover the abject humiliation of his defeat.
He claimed victory while still claiming he was somehow cheated by moderators who were obviously biased because they fact-checked a handful of his most outrageous and obvious lies. He also claimed that Harris must have been given the questions because she was too good, too smooth, in her answers. As if the average moron couldn’t foresee what type of questions would be asked in a presidential debate. I certainly could and nobody gave me a heads up. Besides, it’s not like they’re asking you specific Jeopardy! questions or asking you to identify a string of images. Something like person/man/woman/camera/TV.
Only a true genius could do that.
That strange and awful character continued through the week building on his insane they’re eating the dogs/they’re eating the cats riff he first unleashed during the debate. Though thoroughly debunked as being utter racist/xenophobic bullshit, he and his fascist wannabe running mate have continue to harp on this theme. It puts not only the Haitian community both in Springfield, Ohio and around the nation at great risk, it serves as platform on which to build other similar attacks on other groups. We’ve seen it in the all too recent past with the Asian and Jewish communities.
If this isn’t stopped in its tracks, it will continue to spread. It’s right out of the authoritarian playbook. It will spread and eventually get around to most everyone in some way or another.
There were other crazy aspects to the appearances of the former president*** this week. I’m not going to go into them all here. But you should be aware of how dangerously detached this person has become. It’s obvious to anyone who watched even a few minutes of his appearances this week.
This creature is not a mere political actor now. This is not about policy differences about taxation, Social Security or anything else that has to do with the average American’s life. He doesn’t give one good goddamn about any of that. This is only about one man’s hunger for the power to elevate himself to a position where he can grind anyone who has ever opposed him in even the most minor way under his heel. Everyone but he himself is disposable in his quest for this power. His family is an afterthought. He has no real friends– only flunkies.
He has begun to take on the identity of a supervillain, one step from retreating to a lair in a hollowed-out volcano from which he will issue video warnings of the havoc he will wreak on the world if we don’t submit to him.
But it’s not too late. He can be stopped. He will be stopped. Kamala Harris made a big step to doing that by looking him in the face and calling him out in front of 67 million people as the weak and disgraceful being he has become. Punching them in the face, thus exposing their weakness, is how you deal with bullies of any sort.
She punched him in the face. Hard. And the world saw it. And he has stumbled, all the time yelling it didn’t hurt, it didn’t hurt.
We are tired of the never-ending chaos and violence that fills the days of their lives, all brought on by this selfish old fool. It’s up to us to finish the job. Knock him off his feet.
We have that power. The forces needed to do this, people from wide and varied groups, are gathering. You can sense the momentum. As much as I am not a fan of those ridiculous truck parades with flags flying, I saw a big one online yesterday from Texas, of all places, with Harris/Walz flags streaming. I have to say, it raised my spirits. Gave me hope that people are finally waking up and coming to the table.
It’s only about 51 days until the election. Seven weeks. If we care enough about this country, about our future and our fellow citizens, especially the most powerless among us, we can do it.
People have the power.
That leads us to this week’s Sunday Morning Music. I wasn’t planning on writing the diatribe above. I was only going to share this song but sometimes the spirit captures you. The song is People Have the Power from Patti Smith. It’s probably her best-known song after Because the Night. I love this performance of this song with Choir!Choir!Choir! with a group of 250 volunteer choir members as well as Stewart Copeland from The Police on percussion. It captures the spirit and energy needed to face down threats to our democracy. Powerful stuff all the way through to the very end.
I have also included an image of a favorite piece from my Multitudes series of several years back. I call this smaller (12×12 on canvas) painting Facing the Crowd and it’s not about the power of the crowd in this painting. It is about the power of that one person on the far left of this piece calmly standing up to the ugliness and anger of that crowd.
One person can do that. Many people standing for others can do much more.
Let’s do this.
Redtree Times 
I do not get emails from you to listen to your rant about your political stand. I am disappointed in reading it as a matter of fact and it’s not because I agree or agree.
You have taken advantage of those who just want to enjoy your art! I thought that is what these emails are about. Evidently, I was wrong and if it’s to become a political bullhorn, I am finished with receiving your emails.
I understand completely. I have explained in the past that my whole basis as an artist is an emotional one, affected by everything the world around me offers. Unfortunately, that sometimes includes the political scene, which affects us all in some way. I am not looking to take advantage of anyone with this nor do I look to offend anyone. I have apologized in the recent past for feeling the need to expound on my views that this is in no way a normal election for this country. There is great peril for many people at hand, with much more at stake than merely one party having power for a few years. That being said, I try to use reason and fact and not hyperbole in my political posts. But as I said, I understand if you feel the need to end the emails. Thanks so much for subscribing. It is much appreciated. All my best wishes to you–gary