Why, you ask. Racism. Same reason there wasn't enough objection to the marginalizing of Jews in 1930s Germany. It is ALL about racism. Always has been and will always be. Slavery was the original sin of this nation and we are all still trying to atone for that sin centuries later. Original sin: now that is a very Catholic concept from a recovering Catholic!
I just had a conversation this morning with someone who is completely ignorant about what is going on in our country. Granted, she is a person who works long hours holding down two jobs and has basically no time for herself. She and her husband, who works six 12-hour days a week, raised four children and now have five grandchildren. She’s a nonvoter who doesn’t like DJT, but she is oblivious to the evil he and his administration have foisted on the American people since DJT took office the second time. How do we get folks like this awake and engaged?
Fortunately, we have leaders who are standing up, are fired up, and warning all of us of the impending doom facing us—Booker, Crockett, Sanders, Murphy, Pritzker, AOC, and a lot of inspired journalists sounding the alarm. By the looks of the protests throughout the country, the public is getting the message. Fight on!!
I shared yesterday's post (Was This Worth It, Trump Voters?) on facebook and my idiot nephew replied "Yes."
So I asked if he was OK with the ICE's tactics, the canceling of student visa,etc. I said he should read the Bill of Rights and explain to me how he is OK with the violation of people's rights. And again he said "Yes" (Notice that he won't or can't explain how he is ok with the violation of people's Constitutional rights).
In my next reply I said "Well I hope for your parent's and your children's sake that you never end up having your civil rights violated the way people with darker skin than your skin have had their rights violated." His response? "not a thing that happens" Sigh. Well he's a 35 year old straight white male with a job in the tech sector, so he probably won't get swept up in a raid of brown skinned unemployed men with tattoos. I just do not understand how my husband's brother could have raised such a self centered, uncaring son.
I'm slowly coming to the realization that there is nothing I can do about it and should stop wasting my time on him and expend my limited energy on my less intractable friends and relations. And be happy that my sons (in their late 30s) are polar opposites of their cousin.
Other then my idiot nephew, and the daughter of a good friend, I don't communicate with any hard core MAGAs, so I don't know how Midwest MAGAs are dealing with this, but judging by the two I know, they just don't (or won't) see what's happening. All I can do is keep sharing posts by John Pavlovitz, Joyce Vance, Heather Cox Richardson, Alt National Park Service, and A Mighty Girl in the hope that at least one of my non-MAGA, but not 'woke' friends will wake up and see what's happening.
As we stage another protest today for May Day in our small red town in Maine, it seems fruitless, but we persist. So many Americans have had so much privilege they have no idea what’s here and that the worst is yet to come. They are as blind as MAGA.
You're so right about all of this, John. I look out my dining room window onto the street below and everything looks the same ... when, in fact, so much has changed. Today I will be placing an upside down American flag in the front yard. I want people to ask what it means or go look for the answer elsewhere.
I think that two of the things John mentions at the end of his piece are likely huge contributors to the state of denial: "toxic positivity" and "American exceptionalism."
Toxic positivity is the stance that insists "we have to stay positive" no matter what's happening, "see the good, see the bright side," "don't let the MAGAs get you down," etc. Some of this, I believe, comes from a misguided form of Christianity, an utter misreading of what "hope" is. (It's not a sunny mood). Insisting on being "upbeat" is not an appropriate moral/spiritual/emotional response to evil. See: Jesus overturning tables in the temple.
And the idea of American exceptionalism -- "we're the greatest nation in the history of the world, there's nobody like us, we're the ultimate form of human civilization" -- is probably doing us in, as much as anything else. It's the "It can't happen here" blindness, a pure mythology that is preventing people from comprehending or admitting actual realities. Just keep telling ourselves how great we are, how great we've always been, etc., never mind our actual history of slavery, racism, sexism, environmental abuse, capitalistic greed, etc. As in misguided forms of religious mythology, national mythologies can serve to blind people to oppressive realities because a comforting, self-promoting story is consumed instead of the truth. People, this is not the time to find "comfort" with what's happening.
Americans think they can right the ship in the next election or the one after. Is there anything Trump and the GOP have done or said reveal they will follow voters will?
We will have elections, just like Russia does. But over the next year all the media will be attacked, institutions and courts attacked, and voting systems attacked.
If desperate enough, Trump could delay the election until “fraud and abuse” are “fixed”.
For the past 2 decades the Supreme Court snd courts down to the state level have been bought by dark money and anonymous donors. It has been a very secretive and calculated plan that got us to today.
I was thinking this very thing this morning! Life has been going on here as if nothing has happened.... I volunteer at a museum... last Saturday we had our biggest fundraiser, NO ONE mentioned what is going on.... and then Sunday, I picketed. It's like two separate worlds, one where people are adrift in euphoria and one where people are concerned as heck. Someone (a friend) said to me the other day... "We don't let what is happening in Washington worry us". Oh my gosh, people... IT'S COMING.
We ran out of "statesmen" willing to put it all on the line in support of our founding principles but who became more obsessed with protecting and promoting themselves and their bottom line. From this president to the cowards in Congress who led him run with a free rein, it is all about "what's in it for me?"
People personally have not felt the pain…those that have are beginning to question. Example…reviving coal mining, this is how a coal miner with black lung disease responded… 'I want to live': Coal miners speak out as Trump strips away health protections. So he gives coal miners jobs.,.but doesn’t care about their health..nice.
If you are a Catholic…did you see Donald’s disrespect of Pope Francis at his funeral…wearing a light blue suit…negotiating with Zelenskyy….falling asleep…leaving quickly after the Funeral…do you question his Christianity? I would.
Did you listen to the Trump’s interview with ABC’s Terry Moran? Everything’s great….not if you lost your job…gas at my gas station has gone up…eggs are still expensive…and Medicaid and Medicare are being threatened….but he says it’s all wonderful.
I’m not even sure he’s giving them jobs. Just letting the owners off the hook to pay for the damages they have done in the past and will do in the future. Everything he does is to benefit the rich and to oppress the poor.
White Catholics voted for Trump by a wide margin. They are fine with the bigotry, misogyny, cruelty, veniality, corruption, terrorism, malice, destruction, ignorance and autocracy. They believe this is good governance. Just what is needed to own the libs.
They are willing to suffer dictatorship as long as their desire for power and revenge is satisfied.
Nearly 100 years ago, two statesmen -- Winston Churchill and Robert Vansittart -- warned Britain against Adolf Hitler. We know how that turned out. In the immortal words of the great Italian philosopher Lawrence P. Berra: "It's deja vu all over again."
The British people ignored Churchill's warnings for years. Until they finally were at war. Then they asked Churchill to lead the country and he graciously accepted. We ignore the warnings at our own peril. If not, we could become part of Russia, or who the heck knows...
Exactly my point. History does have a way of repeating itself, doesn't it? I hope my fellow Americans have learned a lesson. (BTW, Berra was a catcher for the New York Yankees baseball team, who was well-known for his mixed-up quotations.)
I felt shock and sadness until Trump started rounding up people and sending them to an offshore gulag. Then, I felt alarm which grew as he ignored the Supreme Court, With Congress neutered and the FBI and military under his control I’m fully aware that we are now living in an authoritarian state.
Why, you ask. Racism. Same reason there wasn't enough objection to the marginalizing of Jews in 1930s Germany. It is ALL about racism. Always has been and will always be. Slavery was the original sin of this nation and we are all still trying to atone for that sin centuries later. Original sin: now that is a very Catholic concept from a recovering Catholic!
I just had a conversation this morning with someone who is completely ignorant about what is going on in our country. Granted, she is a person who works long hours holding down two jobs and has basically no time for herself. She and her husband, who works six 12-hour days a week, raised four children and now have five grandchildren. She’s a nonvoter who doesn’t like DJT, but she is oblivious to the evil he and his administration have foisted on the American people since DJT took office the second time. How do we get folks like this awake and engaged?
They won’t wake up until they are directly affected…like one or both losing their jobs or getting sick & unable to access proper healthcare.
Empty Walmart and Dollar General shelves...
Exactly.
Good question. Although, it's so hard to understand for me.
At least there is hope that with better messaging there are those who are still reachable.
Fortunately, we have leaders who are standing up, are fired up, and warning all of us of the impending doom facing us—Booker, Crockett, Sanders, Murphy, Pritzker, AOC, and a lot of inspired journalists sounding the alarm. By the looks of the protests throughout the country, the public is getting the message. Fight on!!
I mean.... are people not noticing people being disappeared off the streets?
I shared yesterday's post (Was This Worth It, Trump Voters?) on facebook and my idiot nephew replied "Yes."
So I asked if he was OK with the ICE's tactics, the canceling of student visa,etc. I said he should read the Bill of Rights and explain to me how he is OK with the violation of people's rights. And again he said "Yes" (Notice that he won't or can't explain how he is ok with the violation of people's Constitutional rights).
In my next reply I said "Well I hope for your parent's and your children's sake that you never end up having your civil rights violated the way people with darker skin than your skin have had their rights violated." His response? "not a thing that happens" Sigh. Well he's a 35 year old straight white male with a job in the tech sector, so he probably won't get swept up in a raid of brown skinned unemployed men with tattoos. I just do not understand how my husband's brother could have raised such a self centered, uncaring son.
I'm slowly coming to the realization that there is nothing I can do about it and should stop wasting my time on him and expend my limited energy on my less intractable friends and relations. And be happy that my sons (in their late 30s) are polar opposites of their cousin.
Other then my idiot nephew, and the daughter of a good friend, I don't communicate with any hard core MAGAs, so I don't know how Midwest MAGAs are dealing with this, but judging by the two I know, they just don't (or won't) see what's happening. All I can do is keep sharing posts by John Pavlovitz, Joyce Vance, Heather Cox Richardson, Alt National Park Service, and A Mighty Girl in the hope that at least one of my non-MAGA, but not 'woke' friends will wake up and see what's happening.
As we stage another protest today for May Day in our small red town in Maine, it seems fruitless, but we persist. So many Americans have had so much privilege they have no idea what’s here and that the worst is yet to come. They are as blind as MAGA.
You're so right about all of this, John. I look out my dining room window onto the street below and everything looks the same ... when, in fact, so much has changed. Today I will be placing an upside down American flag in the front yard. I want people to ask what it means or go look for the answer elsewhere.
I put an upside down flag on my fence a few months ago.
I think that two of the things John mentions at the end of his piece are likely huge contributors to the state of denial: "toxic positivity" and "American exceptionalism."
Toxic positivity is the stance that insists "we have to stay positive" no matter what's happening, "see the good, see the bright side," "don't let the MAGAs get you down," etc. Some of this, I believe, comes from a misguided form of Christianity, an utter misreading of what "hope" is. (It's not a sunny mood). Insisting on being "upbeat" is not an appropriate moral/spiritual/emotional response to evil. See: Jesus overturning tables in the temple.
And the idea of American exceptionalism -- "we're the greatest nation in the history of the world, there's nobody like us, we're the ultimate form of human civilization" -- is probably doing us in, as much as anything else. It's the "It can't happen here" blindness, a pure mythology that is preventing people from comprehending or admitting actual realities. Just keep telling ourselves how great we are, how great we've always been, etc., never mind our actual history of slavery, racism, sexism, environmental abuse, capitalistic greed, etc. As in misguided forms of religious mythology, national mythologies can serve to blind people to oppressive realities because a comforting, self-promoting story is consumed instead of the truth. People, this is not the time to find "comfort" with what's happening.
Americans think they can right the ship in the next election or the one after. Is there anything Trump and the GOP have done or said reveal they will follow voters will?
We will have elections, just like Russia does. But over the next year all the media will be attacked, institutions and courts attacked, and voting systems attacked.
If desperate enough, Trump could delay the election until “fraud and abuse” are “fixed”.
And the GOP will be l enable this dictatorship.
You have hit the nail on the head. Excellent analysis.
For the past 2 decades the Supreme Court snd courts down to the state level have been bought by dark money and anonymous donors. It has been a very secretive and calculated plan that got us to today.
At least since Reagan.
I wrote about my frustration today. As I read the piece for audio, I fought tears. (I hope I kept it together.)
I was thinking this very thing this morning! Life has been going on here as if nothing has happened.... I volunteer at a museum... last Saturday we had our biggest fundraiser, NO ONE mentioned what is going on.... and then Sunday, I picketed. It's like two separate worlds, one where people are adrift in euphoria and one where people are concerned as heck. Someone (a friend) said to me the other day... "We don't let what is happening in Washington worry us". Oh my gosh, people... IT'S COMING.
We ran out of "statesmen" willing to put it all on the line in support of our founding principles but who became more obsessed with protecting and promoting themselves and their bottom line. From this president to the cowards in Congress who led him run with a free rein, it is all about "what's in it for me?"
People personally have not felt the pain…those that have are beginning to question. Example…reviving coal mining, this is how a coal miner with black lung disease responded… 'I want to live': Coal miners speak out as Trump strips away health protections. So he gives coal miners jobs.,.but doesn’t care about their health..nice.
If you are a Catholic…did you see Donald’s disrespect of Pope Francis at his funeral…wearing a light blue suit…negotiating with Zelenskyy….falling asleep…leaving quickly after the Funeral…do you question his Christianity? I would.
Did you listen to the Trump’s interview with ABC’s Terry Moran? Everything’s great….not if you lost your job…gas at my gas station has gone up…eggs are still expensive…and Medicaid and Medicare are being threatened….but he says it’s all wonderful.
The list goes on…don’t be impatient.
Everyone else at the funeral was dressed in dark suits. He stood out in a blue suit and tie. Mission accomplished!
I’m not even sure he’s giving them jobs. Just letting the owners off the hook to pay for the damages they have done in the past and will do in the future. Everything he does is to benefit the rich and to oppress the poor.
White Catholics voted for Trump by a wide margin. They are fine with the bigotry, misogyny, cruelty, veniality, corruption, terrorism, malice, destruction, ignorance and autocracy. They believe this is good governance. Just what is needed to own the libs.
They are willing to suffer dictatorship as long as their desire for power and revenge is satisfied.
Nearly 100 years ago, two statesmen -- Winston Churchill and Robert Vansittart -- warned Britain against Adolf Hitler. We know how that turned out. In the immortal words of the great Italian philosopher Lawrence P. Berra: "It's deja vu all over again."
The British people ignored Churchill's warnings for years. Until they finally were at war. Then they asked Churchill to lead the country and he graciously accepted. We ignore the warnings at our own peril. If not, we could become part of Russia, or who the heck knows...
Exactly my point. History does have a way of repeating itself, doesn't it? I hope my fellow Americans have learned a lesson. (BTW, Berra was a catcher for the New York Yankees baseball team, who was well-known for his mixed-up quotations.)
Yogi!
Yes John!
Yes, we must not be like frogs in tepid water, unaware until too late that we can no-longer jump.
I felt shock and sadness until Trump started rounding up people and sending them to an offshore gulag. Then, I felt alarm which grew as he ignored the Supreme Court, With Congress neutered and the FBI and military under his control I’m fully aware that we are now living in an authoritarian state.