"If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny" ::: Examining "The Handmaid’s Tale". . .the fictional story that explores the real potential of the U.S. as a failed state.
READ the novel that brought us the fictional dystopian world of the Republic of Gilead – The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood.
Have you read the dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood? Why not do it now as we face an America changing all around us?
“In Margaret Atwood’s dystopian future, environmental disasters and declining birthrates have led to a Second American Civil War. The result is the rise of the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian regime that enforces rigid social roles and enslaves the few remaining fertile women. Offred is one of these, a Handmaid bound to produce children for one of Gilead’s commanders. Deprived of her husband, her child, her freedom, and even her own name, Offred clings to her memories and her will to survive. At once a scathing satire, an ominous warning, and a tour de force of narrative suspense, The Handmaid’s Tale is a modern classic.” —The Publisher
For background on “The Handmaid’s Tale” TV series, see this quick trailer.
“We were asleep before. Now we’re awake…Adapted from the classic novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birthrate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalism in its militarized ‘return to traditional values’. As one of the few remaining fertile women, Offred (Elisabeth Moss) is a Handmaid in the Commander’s household, one of the caste of women forced into sexual servitude as a last desperate attempt to repopulate the world. In this terrifying society, Offred must navigate between Commanders, their cruel Wives, domestic Marthas, and her fellow Handmaids – where anyone could be a spy for Gilead – all with one goal: to survive and find the daughter that was taken from her.”
YOU ARE INVITED to watch the LIVE webcast, Thursday, 10/14/2021, 8:00 pm ET, of Season 1 of “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny.” This discussion group explores themes presented by “The Handmaid’s Tale” HULU Series,”which is an adaptation of the book, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” by Margaret Atwood. Co-hosted by Janice Graham and L. Michelle Odom, “If America Fails?”is a production of TruthWorks Network.
“America’s Fascist Brew; Will America Fail?” is an introduction to the “If America Fails? The Coming Tyranny” webcast series. It features a two-hour online panel discussion where we will share videos from “The Handmaid’s Tale” Hulu TV series and summarize the first four seasons of the show, while exploring key themes. The panel discussion is followed by a one-hour open chat with the audience.
This panel features Dr. Karen A. Ritzenhoff, Professor, Department of Communication, Central Connecticut State University. Dr. Ritzenhoff is a co-editor of The Handmaid’s Tale: Teaching Dystopia, Feminism, and Resistance Across Disciplines and Borders, and many other books.
“If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny,” examines a fictional story to explore the real potential of the U.S. as a failed state. A new totalitarian society is created in the dystopian world of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” It resonates, frighteningly, with the dramatic efforts happening in the United States today—to suppress voting rights, limit a woman’s right to choose, criminalize free speech, distort education, rewrite history, and other threats taking place in the country now. Our Black voice collaborative considers the themes presented by the universally-focused web series, from a Black perspective—relating them to real-life current events—and warns, the time to fight fascism is NOW!
“If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny” (IAF) is produced by TruthWorks Network (TWN). TruthWorks Network | A Black Voice Collaborative | Where Truth MUST be spoken more than once. TWN provides “Truth Talk Therapy for Strong and Empowered Communities,” as we link the best of Black dialogue and exchange — rational, informed and solution-based interchange for serious talk at every level. #TruthTalkTherapy.
Examining The Handmaid’s Tale. . .the fictional story that explores the real potential of the U.S. as a failed state. Discussion of “The Handmaid’s Tale” (HULU series) through the lens and perspectives of the Black experience. How do the events and characters suggest what might happen to Black people if the U.S. were to devolve into civil war? What do you see as the potential and capacity of the U.S. as a failed state? What might fascism mean for Black people? We will explore these questions and much more. Add your voice to the conversation! #FightFascismNow
When written, nothing included in the story, The Handmaid’s Tale, had NOT already happened in human history. The best-selling novel by Margaret Atwood is set in Gilead, a totalitarian society in what used to be part of the United States. Gilead is ruled by a fundamentalist regime that treats people, other than white men, as property of the state, and takes place following some environmental disasters that cause a plummeting birth rate. The new regime forces the U.S. system of democracy into failure, and ensuing chaos and civil war. The areas where the “Gilead Republic governs” in previous American regions, establishes a strict caste system and penal system.
The series will feature a weekly panel, followed by audience discussion and open chat. Let us know of your interest.
Add your voice to a new discussion series on the possibility of America as a failed state that devolves into tyranny – If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny – Coming this Fall, 2021.
ATWOOD disciplined herself in the writing of her dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, by only including experiences found in real-life human history. This includes tyranny, or the cruel, unreasonable or arbitrary use of governmental power or control. Our program will explore whether or not we see examples of such tyranny in modern America, especially as applied to the Black community.
WE ALSO consider the perspectives, relevancy and likely outcomes for different demographics, including men, women and children. Surely the dystopian world Atwood created is hell-on-earth for women—but it doesn’t look like paradise for men either—especially men who love their daughters and want to promote a world where women are free. For example, Luke, husband to the lead character, June, is showing signs by the end of Season 4, of an inability to cope with the woman his wife has become – a killer.
PEOPLE who have either been turned off by the political process, because “it doesn’t make a difference,” as some say, as well as the men who are turning to Right-wing politics out of some psychological need, but may not grasp the true implications of where this politic can lead, is another demographic we hope to reach with this series. The Republic of Gilead represents the creation of a society. Many of us want something better for ourselves, our children and our world – but if we fail to think clearly about what we truly want, we could end up with a monster that devours us all. “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny,” is a contribution to the public discussion on our hopes, dreams, vision, politics and plans – and we invite YOU to add your voice and views to the chat. Instead of failure, may we set our sights on success and live the story of America becoming the “land of the free” we believe she can be.
The past and present provide keys to maintaining freedoms, and shows like “The Handmaid’s Tale” offer a window to the realities of human cruelty. We must challenge ourselves to keep our eyes open, even when we’d rather look away.
This is a moving conversation between Melissa Harris-Perryand her mom on women’s reproductive rights. American women did not always have the freedoms we enjoy today – and there’s no guarantee we will always have them.
Both the past and present provide keys to maintaining freedoms – knowing our history and being vigilant about conditions in the modern world – from reproductive rights to voting rights, help us recognize signs before the damage is done.
The Handmaid’s Tale is such a powerful story, in my opinion, because it reminds us of the extremely harsh ways in which humans have acted toward other humans. It shows us what we’re capable of. And it’s not pretty!
Some people refuse to watch the show because they don’t want to see the ugliness. I’m compassionate toward them, of course, because I think many of us have seen and experienced far too much. There is a limit to what we can handle – while maintaining a certain level of happiness and sanity. My fear is that in our intentional blindness, we help to create the space where our rights slip away – and usher in a return to atrocities that defy description. — LMO
In this episode, Harris-Perry takes “a look at how activists worked to provide abortions prior to Roe v. Wade with…the Jane Collective, a group that operated out of Chicago and performed thousands of abortions between 1969 and 1973. Melissa speaks with her mother about her work in Washington between 1969-1971 and Laura Kaplan, author of a book about the collective, The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service…” — The Takeaway
#Melissa Harris-Perry #Laura Kaplan #The Story of Jane The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service #Women’s Reproductive Rights
Even when we are exhausted, “the struggles continues.” We must find the strength and energy to protect ourselves from the Right-wing barrage of hits on our human and civil rights.
“If they come for me in the morning, they will come for you in the night.”
–Angela Davis
You’re probably getting tired of me posting about abortion rights. I understand. Maybe it doesn’t affect you personally. Why should you care? Or maybe you believe there’s not much we can do about it…or someone else will deal with it.
I know. I get it. We’re tired. Worn out. Exhausted.
What if that’s the plan…the strategy behind the war on open society being waged by the Right? To wear us down.
What if we need to learn “to rest if we must” and keep on moving? What if we need to learn to “work smarter?” You know things could get so much worse than they are today. You don’t want that for yourself, your family, your loved ones or the world. Neither do I. — LMO
“The Supreme Court early Wednesday let a Texas state law take effect that allows private citizens to sue to uphold a ban on the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, potentially creating a new template for states to impose strict restrictions on the procedure…The court’s decision to not act on an emergency petition from Texas abortion clinics comes as the justices prepare to more broadly reconsider the right to an abortion it established almost 50 years ago. In May, justices agreed to review Mississippi’s ban on the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy — a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Those arguments are expected later this year, with a ruling in 2022….’This is a de facto overturning of Roe before the Supreme Court has time to hear the Mississippi case,’ said Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson. ‘And Texas will now go back to being a pre-Roe state, turning the clock back 50 years.'”
“If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny” (IAF) uses themes from The Handmaid’s Tale, the fictional story that explores the real potential of the U.S. as a failed state, to consider the chance of these events occurring in our modern society. We offer discussion of “The Handmaid’s Tale” ( Hulu series) through the lens and perspectives of the Black experience – considering the events, characters, and the capacity of the U.S. to fail – and what this could mean for Black people. IAF explores the potential of what a failed state and fascism might mean for Black people.
When written, nothing included in the story had NOT already happened in human history. The best-selling novel by Margaret Atwood is set in Gilead, a totalitarian society in what used to be part of the United States. Gilead is ruled by a fundamentalist regime that treats people, other than white men, as property of the state. It takes place following some environmental disasters that cause a plummeting birth rate. The new regime forces the U.S. system of democracy into failure, and plunges it into chaos and civil war. The areas where the “Gilead Republic governs,” in previous American regions, establishes strict caste and penal systems.
The If America Fails? series will feature a weekly panel of subject matter experts in the themes presented by the book and Hulu series, The Handmaid’s Tale, and will be followed by audience discussion and open chat. Some of the themes are fascism, religion and civil war – and of course, the status of women in a highly controlled, authoritarian theocracy. If you’re a fan of the book or TV series, or an expert in the subject areas, let us know of your interest in joining the live public chat.
OUR GOALS
Goal 1: Increase knowledge & awareness of trends in global fascism, among United States citizens, including what it looks like, root causes, warning signs, threats, and prevention and eradication strategies, from a Black perspective.
Goal 2: Promote a national dialogue regarding the potential of America as a failed state, among United States citizens.
THEMES: The discussion series explores themes of the Book, TV-Series and Current Political Events in the US
Totalitarianism ::: Authoritarianism ::: Fascism
Human Rights ::: Civil Rights ::: White Supremacy
:::Tyranny:::
Cults ::: Cultures ::: Religions
Criminal Justice ::: War ::: Torture
Comparative Conceptual Themes
Feminism / Black Feminism
Gender
Status of Women and Children
Status of Racial Groups
Class Status Men / Women
Race
Class
Feminism and Black Feminism
Incarceration and Work Camps
Sexualityand Sexual Identity
Class—Political, Social and Economic Levels
Environment—Global Warming
Fear and Denial
War—Civil War / Revolution / Underground / Terrorism
Amy Coney Barrett on the SCOTUS, like the dystopian character Serena Joy Waterford in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” is positioned to exert great influence in the lives of ALL women (and others). What is her vision? Check out this article for a feel of what’s happening in America today: “What The Texas Abortion Ban Does — And What It Means For Other States,” by Sarah McCammon
Amy Coney Barrett, the latest appointee to the U.S. Supreme Court, reminds me of Serena Joy Waterford, “the wife” in “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Let’s hope I’m wrong!
In the dystopian fiction, it was Serena who wrote the book, “A Woman’s Place,” that helped guide the course of the developing new society – Gilead – which successfully overthrew the United States. It was Serena, “the wife,” who believed she knew what was best for ALL women.
She may have had some second thoughts after she took the lash wielded by her husband, Fred – or maybe after her finger was chopped off for the crime of reading. But who knows? Maybe she was an insecure, low-self-esteem, mentally ill woman who felt she deserved everything she got. Serena wrote the book for ALL women. Who will write the book that will guide your life? — LMO
“With the U.S. Supreme Court mum, a new law went into effect in Texas that bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. That’s well before many women even know they are pregnant…The law allows private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone else who helps a woman obtain an abortion — including those who give a woman a ride to a clinic or provide financial assistance to obtain an abortion. Private citizens who bring these suits don’t need to show any connection to those they are suing….”
Attempts to control women’s bodies and lives reflect disturbing values, belief and culture. That’s one perspective! Look at what conservatives are up to now in “Texas Just Outlawed Abortion as We Knew It,” by Molly Jong-Fast.
“Conservatives are hell-bent on reasserting control over women’s bodies—and a fresh hell starts today with what women in the Lone Star State are waking up to…The Supreme Court declined to act and let Texas’ insane new abortion law stand, for now, in what looks to be the day Roe v. Wade began to die…As of today, SB8, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law, bans abortions at six weeks, with no exception for rape or incest, while targeting anyone who ‘aids or abets’ another person’s abortion. The idea is to make anyone who helps a woman get an abortion a legal target, even her Uber driver, with any citizen able to collect a bounty on abortion providers…”
This just goes to show that laws can say whatever we want them to say. They can be logical or illogical, moral or immoral, ethical or unethical, crazy or sane.
How a law looks, or how we perceive it, has much to do with our own values, beliefs and culture.
So what are the values and beliefs of the people who would support SB8? What is the nature of the culture they hope to create or reflect?
Clearly, they don’t value women or respect a woman’s right to make choices about her own life and body.
Clearly, they believe perfect strangers should be empowered to manipulate and control the private and personal decisions made between a woman and her healthcare provider.
Clearly, they want a world…a culture…where they can control everyone’s behavior and everything that happens in their world.
If America Fails? 