So, I’ve got something on my mind…
But before I make my point, I want to thank all my new subscribers! I’ve been on vacation the past week — thus, many of you signed up during a bit of a lull — but welcome to our little hang-out place!
Feel free to reach out to me anytime! I’m a nobody who’s chasing a dream, and I’m also trying to build a community, so you can comment anytime and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)
Now, let’s get to my point.
I spent the weekend heavily involved in covering the Russian coup news for my defense website (The View from the Front). I not only wrote three posts in two days, I also spent more time on social media than is healthy as I desperately searched for scraps, clues, and the very latest happening in Russia.
As you probably know, when you’re on social media, it’s kind of bad for you. You see a LOT of anger, stupidity, and ignorance. And that stuff weighs me down probably more than some because I’m too soft-hearted.
In truth, I’m an empath.
And seeing this fighting online makes me sad. It makes me almost hurt in my heart because I see good people — even people I know in real life in my community — get sucked into the most ridiculous, foolish, and easily provable falsehoods.
For instance, I came across this one, and it just eat me alive:
Why? Because I know the person who posted it. He’s a great guy in real life. He’s also actually smart, has a degree, and makes WAY more than me. (Probably double.) lol.
But the information he’s consuming is so inaccurate that a very smart person such as himself can be deeply misinformed.
Let’s take a moment and dive into what was said.
On the accounting error? Honestly, that’s pretty simple. I found that in the first article I searched for (from the AP and a free article, at that!):
a detailed review of the accounting error found that the military services used replacement costs rather than the book value of equipment that was pulled from Pentagon stocks and sent to Ukraine.
To make this a bit clearer, let me use an example. Take a simple vehicle. A M2 Bradley armored personnel carrier that cost us $5.5 million thirty years ago is not worth $5.5 million now. It’s thirty years old and has been beat half to death. (Speaking as a veteran, trust me when I say this: you do not even want to see gear even five years old after a bunch of 18- and 19-year-olds have mishandled it for a bit.)
And “the fake coup?”
Are you kidding me? Russia had more people die in its fake coup (39, resulting from the loss of six helicopters and one command plane) than we had die in ours during the attack on the capitol (5, one was shot by Capitol Police, another died of a drug overdose, and three died of natural causes.)
Both were real and both were nearly successsful.
In fact, the last Russian coup from thirty years ago was relatively bloodless (and quick), too: 147 people killed and 437 wounded. And that covered ten days of fighting.
Coups are NOT wars. They don’t last long and only require a few people to blink.
The last point my friend made about Russia fleecing us for $6.2 billion? Are you kidding me? You think we’re transferring money to Russia?
Have you not seen all the sanctions we’ve placed on Russia? The weapons we’ve sent to Ukraine that are currently destroying the last vestiges of Russia’s military?
We’re hardly sending money to Russia.
Where do such absurd thoughts come from?
I tried googling it, but couldn’t find that particular item in the cesspool of conspiracies on the far Right. But I’m sure it’s out there.
How do I know it’s out there?
Because they push even crazier stuff. Like this insane video below. It’s almost worth watching because it’s that horrific and bad. Even Kyle Rittenhouse has a look like, “What have I gotten myself into?!”
I want to make two serious points before we wrap this up.
First, this is about flooding the zone with falsehoods, lies, and conspiracy theories. Jay Rosen is right about that below.
There have been soooooo many of these falsehoods.
You’d think at some point people would want to stop looking stupid, but apparently, that’s not the case.
There’s really very little point in engaging most of these folks.
The important thing is to remember their goal: it’s about making you not want to care anymore. To feel helpless and weak and powerless.
But I have some good news for you.
Those who care about justice and truth and (gasp) democracy are winning. Those who love authoritarians such as Putin saw just how weak that man is this past weekend.
Even here at home, they’ve seen the walls closing in on their own vaunted hero Trump.
But let’s remember this key point: it’s not fun to lose and it’s not fun to be scared. Deep down, that’s what these people feel. They’re angry, and they’re scared.
And the best thing to do in such a situation is show love and kindness. And as much understanding as possible, which I confess, can be hard.
Just remember: they are losing. And we have to keep engaged and keep working. Here’s a place you can get engaged at.
Or find a local candidate to help or donate to. You can even get involved with the local party in your area. Just google Democrats and your town or city.
Google can be our secret weapon because clearly the other side is only using it to search for conspiracy theories. We can use it to illuminate love, tolerance, and peace.
Love and peace,
Stan R. Mitchell
CLOSING THOUGHT: Do not despair in these coming days. The light of dawn is emerging, and nothing can stop light (or truth).
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written 11 of them: a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational self-help book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan. You can find all of these books on Amazon.
Want to know more about me? Click here: About me. You can also learn more about my journey here: Writers are crazy, and I’m crazier than most.
Thanks, I needed a shot of hope.