General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNYT--If This is America: Read it. Read it out loud. And take heart!
This is what we need to say to ourselves and one another EVERY. DAMN. Day.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/22/opinion/america-trump-united-nations.html
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,718 posts)I have not always been a huge fan of Roger Cohen, but he's redeemed himself with this one.
If this is America, and you know where militarism and nationalism and disdain for intellectuals and artists, and the cultivation of enemies and scapegoats, and contempt for a free press can lead, and it pains you to see the world voting against the United States at the United Nations with the exception of Micronesia and Nauru and Palau (and a few others), then you will see that this, Trumps American travesty, is in fact a lie and an affront and a betrayal.
America cannot be first, as Trump insists. It can be a thug and a bully only in the betrayal of itself. It must be itself, a certain idea of liberty and democracy and openness, or it is nothing, just a squalid, oversized, greedy place past the zenith of its greatness....
As a new year approaches, stoicism will prevail, decency will prevail, contestation will prevail, over the Great Leaders plundering of truth and thought. This is not America. It must be fought for and won back.
nolabear
(41,983 posts)I know what you mean about not liking everything about him and I feel that way about numerous people. But we so need passionate allies, and Ill take these words for the strength they give.
murielm99
(30,741 posts)But by the time the sun sets, the purity police will have rolled into DU, and anyone who is not progressive enough for them is no good at all.
SkyDaddy7
(6,045 posts)You are 100% correct!! I'm not joking I will zone out stressing over it & thinking about that day because it is coming!! The truly scary part is it ALWAYS HURTS US & everyone swears it won't happen again but it does! Even when we win elections huge chunks of us will go freaking AWOL at the slightest hint policy is not going to unfold & pass like they dreamed it would. No one in politics gets everything they want when they want it...You lucky if you just get a huge chunk. However, the Republicans dominate because they totally understand the concept of taking what you can when the opportunity is there. Keep a united front! NO, not us!!
...Yeah, I'm very worried.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Excellent article. Thanks for posting.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)nolabear
(41,983 posts)Its like an angry, strong, eyes-open anthem.
Faux pas
(14,681 posts)posted on my facebook page, Thanks!
hedda_foil
(16,375 posts)calimary
(81,295 posts)This is too lyrical. Too literate. Just a little too nuanced for them to understand. Anybody remember dubya stating I dont do nuance? All they can understand and function with is a blunt instrument. To match their mentality.
BamaRefugee
(3,483 posts)nolabear
(41,983 posts)Battle cries are for your own. And they are heartening.
Johnny Noshoes
(1,977 posts)My right wing older brother would say "So what's your point."
kentuck
(111,098 posts)gademocrat7
(10,658 posts)I needed this.
nolabear
(41,983 posts)Hekate
(90,704 posts)Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)niyad
(113,318 posts)mtngirl47
(989 posts)Enoki33
(1,587 posts)mountain grammy
(26,622 posts)To say all this before the election.. better late than never, I guess.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,718 posts)did not anticipate quite how spectacularly, galactically, stunningly terrible he would prove to be. I thought he'd keep being a crass, rude, racist asshole who knows nothing about government (or much else), but I did not expect the entire GOP congress to blow him on a daily basis, encouraging him to weaponize his fundamental awfulness.
I expected him to suck, and that we'd have to deal with yet another stupid, sucky president like W, but Trump sucks hard enough to bend light.
mountain grammy
(26,622 posts)I honestly think theres a real possibility of no elections in 2018, and I expect a large outbreak of violence.
CrispyQ
(36,470 posts)I can't recall which show she was on, but no one commented on that, they just continued with what they were discussing.
Rhiannon12866
(205,416 posts)Well said!
maddiemom
(5,106 posts)nolabear
(41,983 posts)Not to mention that he didn't. Yeah, lots of things would have been better I suppose but without the evidence to back it up it would have been conjecture. I know the minions won't care but WE care, and I think more and more of us are paying attention all the time.
mountain grammy
(26,622 posts)Predicting a Hillary landslide..I wasnt hearing that from canvassing where I live, but its red, and I just refused to believe he could win, and, of course, he didnt.
The people I know supporting him dont know anything about him and dont care. Thats what really gets me. They dont care what a nasty and horrible man he is.
byronius
(7,395 posts)Love this.
Nitram
(22,803 posts)are in despair and on the point of giving up.
Hamlette
(15,412 posts)sofa king
(10,857 posts)nolabear
(41,983 posts)sofa king
(10,857 posts)... CCleaner seems to have expunged it, though.
underthematrix
(5,811 posts)democrank
(11,095 posts)and oh, so needed.
TeamPooka
(24,228 posts)sandensea
(21,636 posts)But it'll take the defeat the right-wing noise machine, and above all willpower.
burrowowl
(17,641 posts)Puzzler
(2,505 posts)-Puzzler
barbtries
(28,797 posts)i'm still crying.
i hope democracy and the constitution will prevail.
nolabear
(41,983 posts)That's an important thing to remember. People who are in agreement or have a positive response have a much lower urge to rage and snark. We have to remember that seeing them doesn't mean they're in the majority. They're just throwing a fit.
barbtries
(28,797 posts)were confirmatory and many well written. i didn't read them all but the ones i did anyway.
nolabear
(41,983 posts)these comments were good. they're not always. but the piece itself was so well done and much of the replies kept the spirit and the poetry and it made me cry because i was moved.
randr
(12,412 posts)Those who stand with him will pay a dear price.
barbtries
(28,797 posts)they can't see it coming.
pansypoo53219
(20,977 posts)Ferrets are Cool
(21,106 posts)Cha
(297,264 posts)Thank you.
TomSlick
(11,098 posts)Thanks.
mnhtnbb
(31,390 posts)and to our elected representatives with a note:
We will win in 2018.