Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Intolerable

    For many of us it has become intolerable that a heavily armed redneck can enter a "no firearm" area of a government building and threaten police and elected officials not only with violence but with a deadly virus (no PPD)  and not be made to leave, arrested or otherwise held accountable for their behavior  when a black person cannot safely walk our streets. For many of us it has become intolerable that the President of the US would encourage and endorse violence, racism, the suppression of freedom and the spread of fascism.  Our government blatantly violates our constitution and our laws and we are helpless. Trumpites now control all three branches of government with absolutely no evidence of the checks and balances supposedly guaranteed by the Constitution. We stand helplessly by and watch as they change rules and laws to assure that they remain in power. They either deny groups such as Native Americans their right to vote or they use gerrymandering to make those of us who would oppose them politically impotent.  
     If we speak out we run a good chance of being chastized, threatened, called names and told that we are being unAmerican. Gone is "government of the people, by the people and for the people" (Abraham Lincoln). Gone is representative democracy thanks to Citizens United v FEC (2010).  
     The most frightening reality is that Trumpites will most likely retain power. I am not altogether certain that we haven't passed beyond the point of no return.  Donald Trump has ignored, defied, and/or violated just about every norm, expectation, rule or law pertaining to the conduct of the Office of President and nothing has been done.  Even the so-called Impeachment Trial was a sham since we all knew how each Senator would vote. They made no pretense to listen to argument or fact. They didn't need or want facts. They voted as their owners; the rich elite who own our government;  told them.  
     There is a quote that has erroneously been attributed to Sinclair Lewis, but no one seems to know where it actually originated, that states "when fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross."  Another quote, ironically attributed to Huey Long, the racist governor and senator whom some believe was the real life person on whom Lewis based his fascist character in "It Can't Happen Here,"  (1935) was supposed to have said "when fascism comes to America, it will be called anti-fascism." (i) 
     Well, we've arrived.  Unfortunately, it seems that when we arrived we'd already lost our freedom, lost our hope. Trump very successfully wrapped himself in a flag, waved a bible and gave an under-educated, anti-intellectual, and racist society groups of people to hate and permission to act violently toward them. Is there any turning back?  I have strong doubts.  What lies ahead?  I'm afraid to consider the answer(s).  




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