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The Last Straw.

8/15/2017

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Never before in our history has the occupant of the White House cared so little for the well-being of the country, and its citizens. The incidents at Charlottesville, and Trump’s initial reactions, then his follow-up to his feeble attempt at salving these new wounds caused by alt-right American fascist violence, left no doubt about his moral compass. He has none. He sees the world as a reflection of his ego, his entitlement, his small world of white businessmen who only accept women and minorities when they conform to his narrow world view, and stay in line. Trump’s ridiculous attempts to smear the protestors who came out to denounce American Nazis, his line that they were also guilty of violence, show that his small mind cannot fathom ideas like tolerance, peace, fraternity and equality. That he would attempt to justify a march by torch and weapon-wielding fascists, and claim that some of them were “nice” or “good” people, is repugnant, and ignorant. Ignorant of our history, of the Civil War, of slavery, of what our parents and grandparents, and great-grandparents fought against in the past century. And that he would lump Jefferson and Washington together with Lee, Davis and Stonewall Jackson because the two founding fathers also owned slaves, is not just ignorant of the differences between late 18-century America, and the Confederacy, but of the great attempts, however imperfect they might have been, by the US to eradicate racism, and bigotry. Yet here is Trump, indignant, angry, that he feels he is being forced to denounce white privilege, anti-Semitism, the US’s long and sad history of slavery and oppression of blacks, and other acts of intolerance and hatred – many of these acts which have flourished under his administration.

Some Republican leaders denounced any attempts by Trump, or others, to assimilate white supremacist views into the mainstream. The Chief Commander of the Marine Corps issued a statement that in that branch of the Armed Forces, there is no room for bigotry, hatred, racism or prejudice. The 82nd Airborne Division of the Army, upon viewing on of the Nazis in the rally at Charlottesville stated that individual might be able to buy the cap, but he had nothing in common with their values. And, just as damning of Trump’s tone-deaf embracing of the alt-right, General John Kelly, Trump’s Chief of Staff, could be seen on videos and photos shared on the internet, hanging his head in disbelief as Trump went off the rails at the press conference today. The military, usually any President’s staunchest supporters, are showing signs of disaffection, at the least.

And that’s just the latest iteration of his utter incapacity as leader of our Union. Russia-gate, nepotism, the attempted deregulation of environmental protections, the appointment of Betsy De Vos, an utter fraud and shill for the privatization of all education (and a loan shark for student debt), his appointment of lifetime racist Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, Trump’s willingness to take North Korea to the brink, his war of words with European allies, his utter lack of knowledge about the world, about politics, about history, and on and on ….  I could go on, but I will cut it short with one last plea.

Please, Robert Mueller, make it quick, and decisive. We can’t wait too long, and we all know that the crimes committed by Trump, his family, members of his campaign and administration, and perhaps even GOP leaders will warrant prosecution, and perhaps also warrant removing Trump and others from their held offices. Let it begin. Soon. The life-line of our democracy suddenly looks very tenuous.

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    David Hammerbeck

    Writer, professor of literature and theatre, director, actor, traveler and bon vivant....


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