From: Jim Troxel As I am not a member of this august group, I have been encouraged by my wife, who is a member, to make available to it the attached article I have spent the last several months working on. I have already shared this with some of you one-on-one and the feedback I have gotten has helped me clarify my thoughts. One of them is this, which I think this group will grasp easier than the general public: Trump won the 2016 presidential election NOT because he had a better political message, platform, or apparatus. He won because he – instinctively – captured a “spirit issue” among many of the American people. The issue being that many people in our country right now feel as if they have been left out, behind, and forgotten. They were/are captives of the Victim Image. He sensed that vulnerability and exploited it with the crafty articulation of messages that shaped an image among the electorate that people resonated with: namely, he and he alone could rescue them from the clutches of forces outside their control. The political landscape of America can be viewed through a spiritual set of eyeglasses better than it can a political set: conservative / liberal; democrat / republican; and so forth. The Democrats who run against Trump need to understand this lest they fall into his trap. A better healthcare legislation, a more tolerant immigration policy, and stricter gun control laws alone will not win the election of the next candidate the Democrats put forth, nor will it win for the 2018 congressional candidates. Hope you enjoy the article and if you wish to send me feedback, email it direct to me as I do not monitor the traffic on this channel. My email is: jtroxel49@gmail.com <mailto:jtroxel49@gmail.com>.
Jim, This is a profound and well written article. You are a talented man and I congratulate you on a very well packaged paper. Here a few of my reflections. First, this needs to be shared broadly and deeply. Specifically I would ask who in the media would grasp this and could build on it? There is such a blind spot by so many pundits and reporters that do not know how to cut through these Trumpian lies. But just calling it a “lie” will not convince those who are already living out of the images being communicated. In fact, it often reinforces the lie. “What you can expect from Fake News, or the failing NY Times.” But perhaps the underlying faulty strategy is that it forces you to play on their home court. Secondly, to counter Trump’s image strategy is to take a good hard look at the “truth” that so much of it is based upon. One would need to take each area (like over regulations) and see the reality of its real affects. For one, it would be recognising that centralised solutions tend to make one rule, law or policy fit all situations. So how can you communicate a new model, imaginally, about local solutions flexibility. Thirdly, I would actively search for our best Imag. Educators, to be a resource in enabling prospective candidates who respond positively to the understanding and who have this capacity to relate to local people and situations. The first name on the top of my head is the Mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu. The “old guard” of Sanders, Warren. etc. already have firmly imparted image of who they are and what they stand for to overcome. Finally, we cannot underestimate just how much of what is “working” is built on strong images that do not enable humanness, for instance, the advertising images of satisfying wants and not needs. You can add to that images of military power, nationalism and patriotism. Tricky things to counter. I could add a lot more on the Fifth City work, but I’ll save that for another conversation. Ad a big thanks to Karen for pushing you to share this! Jack
On Jun 15, 2018, at 13:37, Karen Snyder via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
From: Jim Troxel
As I am not a member of this august group, I have been encouraged by my wife, who is a member, to make available to it the attached article I have spent the last several months working on. I have already shared this with some of you one-on-one and the feedback I have gotten has helped me clarify my thoughts. One of them is this, which I think this group will grasp easier than the general public:
Trump won the 2016 presidential election NOT because he had a better political message, platform, or apparatus. He won because he – instinctively – captured a “spirit issue” among many of the American people. The issue being that many people in our country right now feel as if they have been left out, behind, and forgotten. They were/are captives of the Victim Image. He sensed that vulnerability and exploited it with the crafty articulation of messages that shaped an image among the electorate that people resonated with: namely, he and he alone could rescue them from the clutches of forces outside their control.
The political landscape of America can be viewed through a spiritual set of eyeglasses better than it can a political set: conservative / liberal; democrat / republican; and so forth. The Democrats who run against Trump need to understand this lest they fall into his trap. A better healthcare legislation, a more tolerant immigration policy, and stricter gun control laws alone will not win the election of the next candidate the Democrats put forth, nor will it win for the 2018 congressional candidates.
Hope you enjoy the article and if you wish to send me feedback, email it direct to me as I do not monitor the traffic on this channel. My email is: jtroxel49@gmail.com <mailto:jtroxel49@gmail.com>.
<Trump and Dark Side of Image Change.2018.06.02.pdf> _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
I, too found your article profound and thoughtful. Jack asked who the audience would be. I listened to Oprah on YouTube giving an address to the to the graduates of Annenberg School of journalism and communication. Her talk called for truth, honesty and a spirit of calmness in the midst of hype and fear experienced in our country and around the world. The Sea of Tranquility? Perhaps these students could be one small group with ears to hear? Nancy
On Jun 15, 2018, at 2:04 PM, Jack Gilles via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
Jim,
This is a profound and well written article. You are a talented man and I congratulate you on a very well packaged paper. Here a few of my reflections.
First, this needs to be shared broadly and deeply. Specifically I would ask who in the media would grasp this and could build on it? There is such a blind spot by so many pundits and reporters that do not know how to cut through these Trumpian lies. But just calling it a “lie” will not convince those who are already living out of the images being communicated. In fact, it often reinforces the lie. “What you can expect from Fake News, or the failing NY Times.” But perhaps the underlying faulty strategy is that it forces you to play on their home court.
Secondly, to counter Trump’s image strategy is to take a good hard look at the “truth” that so much of it is based upon. One would need to take each area (like over regulations) and see the reality of its real affects. For one, it would be recognising that centralised solutions tend to make one rule, law or policy fit all situations. So how can you communicate a new model, imaginally, about local solutions flexibility.
Thirdly, I would actively search for our best Imag. Educators, to be a resource in enabling prospective candidates who respond positively to the understanding and who have this capacity to relate to local people and situations. The first name on the top of my head is the Mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu. The “old guard” of Sanders, Warren. etc. already have firmly imparted image of who they are and what they stand for to overcome.
Finally, we cannot underestimate just how much of what is “working” is built on strong images that do not enable humanness, for instance, the advertising images of satisfying wants and not needs. You can add to that images of military power, nationalism and patriotism. Tricky things to counter.
I could add a lot more on the Fifth City work, but I’ll save that for another conversation. Ad a big thanks to Karen for pushing you to share this!
Jack
On Jun 15, 2018, at 13:37, Karen Snyder via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
From: Jim Troxel
As I am not a member of this august group, I have been encouraged by my wife, who is a member, to make available to it the attached article I have spent the last several months working on. I have already shared this with some of you one-on-one and the feedback I have gotten has helped me clarify my thoughts. One of them is this, which I think this group will grasp easier than the general public:
Trump won the 2016 presidential election NOT because he had a better political message, platform, or apparatus. He won because he – instinctively – captured a “spirit issue” among many of the American people. The issue being that many people in our country right now feel as if they have been left out, behind, and forgotten. They were/are captives of the Victim Image. He sensed that vulnerability and exploited it with the crafty articulation of messages that shaped an image among the electorate that people resonated with: namely, he and he alone could rescue them from the clutches of forces outside their control.
The political landscape of America can be viewed through a spiritual set of eyeglasses better than it can a political set: conservative / liberal; democrat / republican; and so forth. The Democrats who run against Trump need to understand this lest they fall into his trap. A better healthcare legislation, a more tolerant immigration policy, and stricter gun control laws alone will not win the election of the next candidate the Democrats put forth, nor will it win for the 2018 congressional candidates.
Hope you enjoy the article and if you wish to send me feedback, email it direct to me as I do not monitor the traffic on this channel. My email is: jtroxel49@gmail.com.
<Trump and Dark Side of Image Change.2018.06.02.pdf> _______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
_______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
I agree with Jack—this is a, comprehensive and profound piece of work, Jim. I also agree that it must be presented to people that will read and understand the great gift your’e giving them. I would need to think of who. I, also, would like to see a small group wrestle with NEW images that speak to our most important issues. I have felt, for some time, that Global Warming needs a new story (image)—one that hits home at the personal and immediate effects of Global Warming. Makes me proud that I was even a small apart of this. You do not govern now only your own small, insignificant existence. You are a throw of the dice on which, for a moment, the entire fate of your race is gambled. ~Nikos Kazantzakis ❤ Frank
On Jun 15, 2018, at 11:37 AM, Karen Snyder via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
From: Jim Troxel
As I am not a member of this august group, I have been encouraged by my wife, who is a member, to make available to it the attached article I have spent the last several months working on. I have already shared this with some of you one-on-one and the feedback I have gotten has helped me clarify my thoughts. One of them is this, which I think this group will grasp easier than the general public:
Trump won the 2016 presidential election NOT because he had a better political message, platform, or apparatus. He won because he – instinctively – captured a “spirit issue” among many of the American people. The issue being that many people in our country right now feel as if they have been left out, behind, and forgotten. They were/are captives of the Victim Image. He sensed that vulnerability and exploited it with the crafty articulation of messages that shaped an image among the electorate that people resonated with: namely, he and he alone could rescue them from the clutches of forces outside their control.
The political landscape of America can be viewed through a spiritual set of eyeglasses better than it can a political set: conservative / liberal; democrat / republican; and so forth. The Democrats who run against Trump need to understand this lest they fall into his trap. A better healthcare legislation, a more tolerant immigration policy, and stricter gun control laws alone will not win the election of the next candidate the Democrats put forth, nor will it win for the 2018 congressional candidates.
Hope you enjoy the article and if you wish to send me feedback, email it direct to me as I do not monitor the traffic on this channel. My email is: jtroxel49@gmail.com <mailto:jtroxel49@gmail.com>.
<Trump and Dark Side of Image Change.2018.06.02.pdf> _______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
Jim, Do you have any plans to publish this more widely,i.e. in a public media? Very helpful, we shared it with our minister and he will probably use it in a sermon. Ellen & David Rebstock On Fri, Jun 15, 2018 at 1:37 PM Karen Snyder via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
From: Jim Troxel
As I am not a member of this august group, I have been encouraged by my wife, who is a member, to make available to it the attached article I have spent the last several months working on. I have already shared this with some of you one-on-one and the feedback I have gotten has helped me clarify my thoughts. One of them is this, which I think this group will grasp easier than the general public:
Trump won the 2016 presidential election NOT because he had a better political message, platform, or apparatus. He won because he – instinctively – captured a “spirit issue” among many of the American people. The issue being that many people in our country right now feel as if they have been left out, behind, and forgotten. They were/are captives of the Victim Image. He sensed that vulnerability and exploited it with the crafty articulation of messages that shaped an image among the electorate that people resonated with: namely, he and he alone could rescue them from the clutches of forces outside their control.
The political landscape of America can be viewed through a spiritual set of eyeglasses better than it can a political set: conservative / liberal; democrat / republican; and so forth. The Democrats who run against Trump need to understand this lest they fall into his trap. A better healthcare legislation, a more tolerant immigration policy, and stricter gun control laws alone will not win the election of the next candidate the Democrats put forth, nor will it win for the 2018 congressional candidates.
Hope you enjoy the article and if you wish to send me feedback, email it direct to me as I do not monitor the traffic on this channel. My email is: jtroxel49@gmail.com.
_______________________________________________ OE mailing list OE@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
participants (5)
-
David Rebstock -
Frank Knutson -
Jack Gilles -
Karen Snyder -
Nancy Lanphear