CounterSpin is your weekly look behind the headlines—but at year’s end, we take a look back and revisit some of the stories it’s been our privilege to bring you. We call it “Best Of,” but the truth is we’re always working to bring you voices and perspectives that corporate media ignore—or worse—and to shed some behind-the-scenes light on why so-called mainstream news looks the way it does. Expanding the public conversation, listening to people who don’t make the nightly news, has always been crucial. Right now, more people may be recognizing that, and that’s a good thing.
(photo: Your Call)
This year’s “Best Of” includes Heidi Beirich on white supremacy, Chris Savage on Flint’s toxic water, Alvaro Bedoya on discriminatory policing, Brendan DeMelle on Exxon’s climate secrets, Josmar Trujillo on militarized “gang” raids, Shahid Buttar on civilian copwatching, Joe Macare on Brexit, Phyllis Bennis on Trump and the world, and Kelly Hayes on Dakota Access.
Is the Future Ours?
Just being rich does not make one smart.
What does it take to make people, many people unmanageable? Survival is a powerful and compelling force, and one that will never be controlled by any conceivable might exerted against it.
The will to survive is manifest in all of creation and is established and demonstrated for all to see every day on this planet. Earth, for now is the only sanctuary for the living breathing things of this world.
So what happens when this billions of year’s old planet is confronted with the willful destruction by a degenerate few who do not have the capacity to see beyond their bank accounts and who are setting up regimes for total extinction?
At some point, there will be a tipping and it will be out of the hands of those who think they can control everything. Either the people take control now or if left up to the planet…..the planet will win and there will never again ever be heard a whimper or murmur of discontent. The planet will have peace.
As people go about their business of living day-by-day, take a moment to think on what it is that is important. I am sure there is ample agreement. If you live in this world, and want this world to continue then you must make allies and fight for what is essential and sometimes a life must be laid down to save the lives of the many, this—the noblest of deeds.
If survival is all we have, will it be a savage one or will it be a cooperative and caring part of our everyday lives? By our actions, we have the ability to save ourselves.
Barbara Hensley