This is what I have been saying to people all day. Trump will go down in history as the world's greatest con artist a couple of decades from now. He has thoroughly conned the disenfranchised Americans into believing pretty much what is outlined in this essay. He won't give them what they are looking for, as he promised. The worst part is yet to be seen. What happens when all of these people who voted for him out of anger for the elitists discover they have been conned again?
I listened, I read, but unfortunately I had no idea what to do as I saw the train approaching. There are not a lot of people that you can have the discussion with.
Fabulous piece! I hadn't heard of Kenneth Burke before, but wow did he figure it out. Many years ago I got really tired of the head in the sand "it could never happen here" of my family in particular. I love them, but boy are they naive. Thank you for this social history lesson.
But also- there was absolutely no way America was going to put a Black
Woman in the White House.
A white straight man might have had a chance.
I have no doubt that America’s Goebbels was behind the strategy- that vile man, Steve Bannon.
As the descendant of Jewish people who escaped the pogroms and the enslaved man, Tobias Rasberry, I have known that fascism was a possibility here since I was a child. My sister and I used to joke that we would be the first people sent to the gas chambers, since we were Jewish and Black.
This is America and always has been America.
In 1939, Black people were being hung from trees for being Black. Black people and Native Americans knew this would happen eventually…
Good article. I believe trump basically co-opted by Christian fundamentalist and they are using him as a wrecking ball - but the dems have dirty hands and self dealing as well - whole system needs cleansing. Note - I also voted for Trump as couldn’t in good faith vote for Kamal who was installed. My hope we get through 4 years of Trump without too much drama and off to younger governance with less blood on their hands or rapacious intentions. Fingers crossed.
This is brilliant and thank you for translating Burke so we don't all have to suffer through reading it.
Question: why do you think everyone doesn't fall for it? Do you think it's education, or personality, or something else.
I assume the next logical step, when you can't get everyone would be to instill fear in the hold outs, which is obviously happening now?
That would be my guess. I expect that it will be done with violence for the shock value.
Without cooperation from the "moderates" and "mainstream," I'm not sure what we can do other than keep masking and practice what we preach.
This is what I have been saying to people all day. Trump will go down in history as the world's greatest con artist a couple of decades from now. He has thoroughly conned the disenfranchised Americans into believing pretty much what is outlined in this essay. He won't give them what they are looking for, as he promised. The worst part is yet to be seen. What happens when all of these people who voted for him out of anger for the elitists discover they have been conned again?
It's a good question. We're in uncharted territory. We're heading back to the 1930s fast, and it looks like we're going to get stuck there.
I know he is a con - but dems just as disturbing. At least I can see what Trump is.
Upton Sinclair wrote on this, too. The novel "It Can't Happen Here" days much the same thing.
If only we listened to our writers and philosophers, huh?
I listened, I read, but unfortunately I had no idea what to do as I saw the train approaching. There are not a lot of people that you can have the discussion with.
Fabulous piece! I hadn't heard of Kenneth Burke before, but wow did he figure it out. Many years ago I got really tired of the head in the sand "it could never happen here" of my family in particular. I love them, but boy are they naive. Thank you for this social history lesson.
Yeah, they don't seem to understand that it's been happening here for a while, just not on the scale that would've alarmed them.
What an outstanding essay! As others have said it's the clearest and most accurate description of what has happened so much makes sense now.
So the question remains, what do we do now? I need to read Foucault's thoughts. In the meantime, my suggestion is to reboot the White Rose Society.
Brilliant essay Ms Wildfire. More relevant and expository than anything else I’ve read this nightmare week. Thank you.
Heck. offer the course. I’d take it
Well. Yes. This is America.
But also- there was absolutely no way America was going to put a Black
Woman in the White House.
A white straight man might have had a chance.
I have no doubt that America’s Goebbels was behind the strategy- that vile man, Steve Bannon.
As the descendant of Jewish people who escaped the pogroms and the enslaved man, Tobias Rasberry, I have known that fascism was a possibility here since I was a child. My sister and I used to joke that we would be the first people sent to the gas chambers, since we were Jewish and Black.
This is America and always has been America.
In 1939, Black people were being hung from trees for being Black. Black people and Native Americans knew this would happen eventually…
And here we are
Good article. I believe trump basically co-opted by Christian fundamentalist and they are using him as a wrecking ball - but the dems have dirty hands and self dealing as well - whole system needs cleansing. Note - I also voted for Trump as couldn’t in good faith vote for Kamal who was installed. My hope we get through 4 years of Trump without too much drama and off to younger governance with less blood on their hands or rapacious intentions. Fingers crossed.
@Terrance Jan 6th by his own supporters but against the Tump White House? Lol omg it would be so amazing.