Those are famous and heartening words coming out of the world cataclysm of WWII. And then I think of one of my favorite plays, Les Miz. and of the rousing song of hope - and sacrifice - One Day More and of the echoes of history and the epic heroism of those who refuse to be slaves and I wonder, I really do.
What has become of us. We are actually both a laughingstock to the rest of the thinking world and a most frightening phenomenon at the same time. How does one have a leader, an elected leader yet, who is a clown, a liar, a morally bankrupt person, a perpetual adolescent, and an imbecile in the knowledge of tact and honesty and simply watching one's mouth. The old saw of engaging one's mind before engaging the lips and mouth would serve him well. And yet, we see that his "leadership" has led the world and our country into a frightening revival, coming out into the open, of those who hate, who pander to hate, who think hate is a reason for violence and act upon that belief. He has encouraged the rise to power of the same forces in Europe. Dictators sleep comfortably in their beds, no longer afraid that the military and moral right and might of the United States will be raised against them.
There should be dignity in the Office of the President of the United States, a sense of gravitas, but where is such a thing when it is now announced that the President as of Jan. 20 will still be listed as the Executive producer of Celebrity Appearance and get paid for this via MGM. What an undignified state of being for a sitting president and for the country he represents. How inappropriate and how symbolic of all that we will have, a sitting president who refuses to divest, who thinks that the Oval Office is just another, bigger way to enhance his income, his monied holdings and that he is above the law, legal and moral. How uncouth. How morally incorrect. Simply revolting and this is to be whom we show to our children as a role model, as one to emulate?
There is not a one of his campaign promises that he has kept and indeed he has violated many. He promised to "drain the swamp", whatever that was meant to signify and yet one now finds that the level of the swamp water has risen. The net worth of those so far appointed to the Cabinet is over 14.5 billion dollars - wow, such a collection representative of the blue collar workers who were his voters! They have as much connection to them as we do to these Fat Cats. In fact, he has invited the foxes into the henhouses and we are expected to sit there and clap and shout how the Emperor's new clothes are wonderful even as he parades naked in the streets with the hens in his mouth - and he could care less. So we will now have an enemy of environmental changes and rules in order to at least slow down climate change - will instead be in charge of it. We will have enemies and foes of the health needs and interests of women, of their rights to their own bodies as the heads of these departments. Should we now all get ready to lose the vote and regard ourselves as chattel to men? We have fossil fuel industry executives in charge of energy and clean fuels.
Our country, which has long prided itself on the separation of civilian and military, and of having the military subject to civilian control, has taken a big blow to this principle as Trump has appointed general after general, including one whose nickname is Mad Dog, another who sees conspiracies under every bed and the closets too and a running or working principle in this future administration seems to be that it is okay to bring your child to work time, every day, and the more corrupt, the more morally challenged why the better it is.
As for medical issues and promise, nothing doing. Nothing detailed, just bluster and tweets. Oh he will lower drug prices. Really, where are the details. Words mean nothing unless accompanied by action - or underlined by inaction. The millions who achieved medical care under the ACA will now have it ripped away, but oh, not to worry, one will be able to choose freely- except of course if one has a chronic condition, or is poor and has no money to pay these exorbitant fees and there is no longer any government subsidies and shall we go on....
He states that he will get rid of the terrorists, all out war upon them and yet he praises Pakistan to the sky, tells of its "terrific" people, that it is a "fantastic" country. Yes, this is the same Pakistan that harbors terrorists like a dog harbors fleas, the same country which openly hosted Bin laden.
The Department of Labor is going to be headed by a fast food magnate, not exactly the most welcoming of places of employment, a man who says not to increase hourly wages or else these places will close. So much better to keep people in slave wages, Oh yes. Such a friend to labor!
And this man's own party already has great differences with him but this is countered by all those who now suck up to him, afraid to lose business or to be tweeted about and then receive threats to life and limb. If the muckety mucks have a great fear of him, then what should the little people feel? How do we tolerate a man who lies, a man who admires tyrants, a man who has no moral boundaries or guidelines, a man who will use the power of the office to enhance his own income - against the legal and moral law, though he has openly stated that if one takes advantage of legal loopholes, immoral as that might be, then that is smart!! Folks, where do we go from here?
Fear only fear itself? Yes, but there is more to it than that. I know people who already have put in place escape plans. Escape plans!!!! But where in the world will be a safe haven if the world has gone insane? Why and what are we to do when there are already rumors of war with China and allies? Whether this be an exaggeration or not, the mere existence of that thought is frightening - even as he collects rent!!!! from them , a straight out violation of the Emoluments Clause. Well, we can impeach him and seeing him sit in a courtroom will be a common place event as he has to answer to all the suits against him- or settle them as he did with Trump University and the fraud he perpetrated there.
What have we wrought !! What have we done? How do we fix this? How do we gird our loins as the Bible says and stand against all that he represents? Well, we pull up our pants, stand tall, take a deep breath, and shout out loud. We shout for rights. We shout for equality. We shout for justice. And we keep on shouting until the point is made and protective and restorative actions are taken, until the representatives man and woman up and remember their souls, until the spirit and values of America are front and center once more and the rest of the world follows, until the brave resisters of violence and hate, of invasion of their countries finally have hope once more. Big job but there is no alternative. Fear? Yes, I, and many others are afraid, but this is still America and we will still use our rights and the law to return to sanity. There is no other choice.
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