Since then I’ve learned more about him. What I heard I believe was divisive and destructive. Now with his widow at the reins the racism and division he was creating will continue. Have I changed my mind about what I said when he was murdered?
He built on the fears of insecurity that we all know now has one outcome, hate. Why do I say that? Because of what he said and his views on humanity. He brought it all on himself while he was out creating and making domestic terrorist across the country with his messages.
“If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, boy, I hope he’s qualified.”
“If I’m dealing with somebody in customer service who’s a moronic Black woman, I wonder is she there because of her excellence, or is she there because of affirmative action?”
“Joy Reid and Michelle Obama and Sheila Jackson Lee and Ketanji Brown Jackson were affirmative action picks… You do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously. You had to go steal a white person’s slot to go be taken somewhat seriously.”
“I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the second amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.”
Have I changed my mind? No. Why? Because I’m not a seething damaged monster propping up another damaged monster.
Did I just write that above? Yes. It was reaction to Kelly. And even a reaction to the things that Kirk said to thousands of kids today in his tours. Both through their fear and insecurity. Breathing an empty self righteous message that has no reality. It is an agenda that is a cruel and egregious self promotion. In the throws of the tragedy of another human.
I am not naive to the reality of humanity in all that shines and all that is dim. Even for those who say or do the most egregious things like Kelly. One thing that I carried from my days in the church, this is not an appropriate message or behavior. I might decide to speak out against an injustice. Strike that. I will speak out against injustice. It is my right. And while I am not a lawyer, those injustices where lawlessness that has replace the law. All at the direction of a government tell us they are the ‘law and order’ administration. The “laws for thee and not for me” administration.
As offensive and destructive as I believe most of what Kirk said, he also had his right to say it. And I have a right to speak out against it. Because even to date, neither of us ever said or did anything unconstitutional or illegal. As much as I would like for what they said to be legally actionable, it was not.
Megan Kelly is offensive and destructive. She also has the right to say what she says, even as indefensible as it is, and to her advantage a very large financialy lucrative platform. One that gives her the right to say things like, “shut up and dribble”, “shut up and sing”. And fully display that she has no compassion. I don’t remember what she said about Ashley Babbitt. Doesn’t matter.
Tell me that of all the division created that has separated us, broken families and communities in this world in the last 10 years, that this is not the most disgustingly hypocritical of them all. To disparage someone, anyone after their murder. And place yourself in a position to be the judge and jury of those who exercise their constitutional rights that are constitutional, just different from yours. Again, that difference is in her bank account. Somehow that feels like it should somehow be illegal. Certainly reprehensible.
I called myself a Christian growing up. I guess. I went to church, Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday. In High school I remember my best friend Steve asking me in the hall one day, are you going to the new FCA meeting. Yes I was! That was Freshman year. My heavy involvement lasted until my first year in college at CMSU. Then things started to shift. I realized that some were using their religion or Christianity as a crutch or an easy out to life. Not as honor or truth but now that I think back almost as a weapon against someone they either didn’t like or didn’t want to have to be closer to than they were.
I wasn’t going to add this, but decided to go ahead. I’m not sure these are the exact moments that started my shift, but they are two things that are still with me. I also don’t remember the order in which they happened. The first story, might be the first.
My freshman year in college, again I was very involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I realize now I was edging into fundamentalism. I had no intention of doing anything but classes and FCA. As was my roommate who was a sophomore and the sister of my favorite teacher from Junior High. It was a good match and the person who I had intended to room with had decided to either not go to CMSU or wait.
I had no intention or interest in sorority. My friend and neighborhood friend who was also somewhat involved in FCA in High School was in a sorority and asked me to go through RUSH just to see. I said, okay. This experience did change my mind set for the right reasons. After a long talk with my Mom, I pledged. I didn’t go active, but they actually helped me later with classes and study. I was not ready for college.
Yes there are parties. There are events with alcohol. The sorority I joined was also the one who maintained the highest GPA of Panhellenic. This was helpful for me. But like most who either don’t explore or take at face value what ‘they hear’ about something, the experience of asking someone I was interested in from high school who was also an FCA member to the Christmas party. I don’t recall exactly what his answer was. I heard later the he told someone that he worried it would damage his “witness” to go to a sorority party. Huh, okay. So going to a party and being who you are, not drinking or having a good time maybe not drinking, how does that damage your witness? It doesn’t. It is a judgement of others that I realized I was also guilty of. Even saying at an FCA meeting in high school and ‘praying’ for my neighborhood friend who I had heard was “partying” a lot in college.
I left CMSU after that first year. I didn’t have to but my grades were in the tank and I thought it would take too much to bring them back up. After the summer I got a job in a factory and went to community college in an effort to bring my GPA back up. I did and went back to CMSU. Less involved in FCA. And after another year, now knowing what I wanted to do, I left CMSU again.
It was after that I believe I was hanging out with a couple of friends from high school at the neighborhood pizza joint. We decided to call our favorite teacher. This person was also a member of the church I grew up in. We thought we’d meet up. She had just returned from a trip and was tired. All good! But then a few minutes later over the PA in the restaurant we heard, Leigh you have a phone call up front. This was long before cell phones, we had called her on a payphone. Yes she was exhausted, but she couldn’t pass up seeing the 3 or 4 of us all together. We loaded up in the car and headed to her house.
I believe now she sensed a change in me. She reminded me about the time after saying I missed seeing her in church. I don’t remember what she said but obviously at the time it wasn’t good enough for me because my response was something along the lines of, well I hope that the day you need him(God) he’s not to tired or too busy or whatever I said. I think, or hope I apologized? I do think I lowered my head a bit, not in shame but a bit of embarrassment. Who am I to pass judgement? Not what I had read in that bible, but here I was. So maybe reflection started then. I also while not going active with the sorority, I did continue to participate in the events and parties. And yes I drank. I didn’t and have never had a problem with alcohol, moderation was my path. But I did drink. Wonder if I might not have if that “witness” back in 1979 was to go to a party with someone I was interested in and not drink? Honestly, pretty sure he just didn’t want to go with ‘me’. That’s fine.
There is barely a day that goes by that I’m not thinking about my foundation or a foundation for character, morality, ethics and wrapping all of that in decency. I also think about those in my world while growing up who are either silent or post here or there things that lean toward still supporting the current president and this administration. Even as they tore families apart and moved forward with policies and attitude lacking decency and morality. Taking innocent people in for no reason and now killing peaceful protestors on the streets exercising their constitutional rights.
And for what?
Abortion? Anti-vax? Irony. My body my choice when it fits my ideology. 2nd Amendment, good for me not for thee. Law Enforcement? What is happening right now is not law enforcement or immigration enforcement. They are not working with anyone to capture and deport rapists and murderers. They are murdering and detaining innocent people to cover a corrupt and lawless administration.
Again, for what?
None of what is happening or has happened for a long time fits into any definition of morality, character, ethics or decency that I was taught or thought was the foundation of Christianity.
There is an arm or section of Christianity that is running scared and fear the false narrative that has been carefully and successfully crafted just for them. And they are fully on board. I do not know 99.999% of those people, but I would venture a wild guess that none of them have the resources to fully survive where we are now economically. The damage will be done. Lack of insurance or income will cause early unnecessary death and poverty. Yet they hold strong and their steadfast loyalty or commitment does not fail.
From time to time you hear or I’ve heard the use of ‘a red line’ or ‘line in the sand’. The line where acceptable is now unacceptable.
In the movie Regarding Henry with Harrison Ford and Annette Benning, Henry is a lawyer who survives a shooting only to find he can’t remember anything — he also has to recover his speech and mobility, in a life he no longer fits into. When he finally goes back to work his secretary brings him coffee and pours cream. He watches. She stops just before it overflows. “When you’ve had enough Mr Turner you say, when.”
When
So where was or is your red line, your when? The authoritarian talk, conspiracies, racial tendencies, misleading statements, lies?
Adultery
“grab’m by the pussy”
Telling Howard Stern the ‘acceptable’ age for him to date or that he’d date his daughter if not his daughter,
2016, Rally: “Knock the crap out of” protesters; “I’ll pay legal fees.” 2016, Debate: Called Hillary Clinton a “nasty woman.” 2016, Speech: Suggested “Second Amendment people” could stop Clinton.
2017, Rally: Praised body-slamming a reporter as “my kind of guy.”
2018, Interview: Mocked a sexual assault survivor as “not credible.” 2018, Interview: Proposed border moats with snakes or alligators.
2019, X Post: Labeled journalists “enemies of the people.” 2019, Rally: Suggested shooting migrants in the legs to deter crossings.
2020, X Post: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
2020, Rally: Called protesters “low-life scum” and “animals.”
2021, Rally: Called critics “losers” and “scum.”
2022, Speech: Vowed “retribution” against political foes.
2023, Rally: Called Democrats “radical-left thugs” and “vermin.”
2023, X Post: Judges are “corrupt dogs” undermining justice
2023, Truth Social: Gen. Mark Milley deserves “DEATH” for perceived disloyalty. 2023, Interview: Immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.”
2024, Interview: Threatened to “lock up” political rivals if elected.
2024, Rally: Liz Cheney should face “a rifle with nine barrels shooting at her face.”
2024, Speech: Political opponents are “enemies from within,” worse than foreign threats. Pardoned –
1- Convicted January 6 participants. 1500 Many back in prison; sexual abuse of children, attempted murder of law enforcement, etc.
2 – Leader of Proud Boys, sedition
3 – Leader of Oath Keepers, sedition, evidence tampering
4 – Ross Olbrecht – made millions selling illegal drugs on the dark web
5 – Las Vegas politician – stole from police memorial fund for plastic surgery
6 – Sheriff – sold badges for cash
7 – Paul Wolzack bought a yacht with money he stole from employees paychecks ticket out – Mom paid a mil for dinner
8 – Trevor Milton cheated investors, including teachers out of $6mil – ticket out – paid $2mil for dinner
9 – Lawrence Duran stole $200mil from Medicare(hey DOGE – there’s some fraud).
Some 21 convicted of fraud, the full list as of 12/3/25.
weaponization of all government agencies against American’s
Saying black women or women of color are Low IQ
Quite piggy
EDITED: 1/30/26 3:04pm
Kevin Porter Jr. – dead
Renee Good – dead
Alex Pretti – dead
5 year old Liam
Shake down for voter records in MN to remove ICE.
Raid on the election offices in Fulton, GA.
Ignoring Judges orders and arresting several journalists in the middle of the night, for doing the job of documenting and reporting the events in Minneapolis.
So where was your red line?
Mine? June 16, 2015 the day *he descended the escalator in *his tower and announced *he was running. From that moment, our descent has been embarrassing, disappointing, devastating, heartbreaking and today as unacceptable as I knew it and *he would be. Not even for a second did I think otherwise.
Am I wrong in thinking that we all should have a respect for life? Let me qualify that. The consideration for the life of another human alive as they stands before you, walks beside you, passes you in movement or are in need of a life saving medical procedure.
I am questioning this. And have for some time but hoped that it was just that part of me where the worst case scenario not only creeps in, but is just there but not a reality. It’s a part of me that I work hard to push down, to not go to, but it is in me. Maybe even part of my DNA.
Even the most evil of evil I believe deserves life. Yes even those who take a life. Do we, can we truly know, understand or even investigate why it happened. Sure, sometimes it seems simple. But is it? The man who pulled the trigger three times and killed Renee, why? What in him made that acceptable, including his comment after as her car rolled away and I can only assume she was already dead. His father said he was a good man, father, husband and Christian. That’s a little hard to take in considering what we have seen and heard. So again what in him, not saying anything about his position, gave him license to act as he did? When you see or hear of law enforcement who don’t display this type of behavior, what damage allows it? Who is Jonathan Ross?
At this point, I think his position is not relevant. Indictment, trial, judgement and yes, incarceration. In many cases it is required and needed. Eye for an eye? No. The leading cause of death of those on death row, natural causes. But that’s an entirely different topic of consideration.
The death of another often opens grief that has been postponed or tucked away for later. Even when is someone I have never met and do not know. Either way, it does stop me when it comes into my view. Regardless of who it is.
This week, a 37 year old woman. A few weeks back Rob Reiner. Last year Charlie Kirk. Other notables, Keaton, Pope Francis, Swaggert, Redford, Goodall, Cheney, Kennedy, Floyd, Martin, Brown, Arbery, Taylor, the list goes on. And the deadliest year in two decades, 32 died in ICE custody.
About Renee Good I didn’t have enough in me to post more than her picture and;
“a wife, mom, and poet.
Murdered by ICE.
Minneapolis”
About Rob because the current president needed to be himself and make it about himself. “When someone you don’t know dies and it opens those raw places, why? Is it held over past grief that somehow or for some reason got pushed down? Is it the insensitive, unnecessary commentary from some that need to push away or displace grief for an uncomfortable comparison to bring attention to themselves?
About Charlie:
“Yesterday someone took a gun, loaded it, aimed, shot and killed him, murdered him in a public place. A son, a sibling, a cousin, a husband, a father, a friend. I’ve had a cousin killed by gun violence. This feeling is devastating and numbing. His family is changed for-ever. His children, 1 and 3 now only have pictures and videos. No arms for hugs, no more words of love.
This is not okay. This is horrific. This is not right or left, THIS IS WRONG. This is NOT how we debate difference.
I decided to cover the image of what I guess are Tweets. Emotional, angry words demanding more violence. Violence toward Democrats, leftist organizations, lunatic leftist and radical left. More name calling, more assumptions with a ‘single story’ labeling a group of people, that includes me as celebrating this. I am sure there are some who are. I am not.”
This week Rep Jasmine Crockett got very emotional speaking about Renee Good on Capitol Hill, repeating a line from what the Mayor of Minneapolis said. Others in the room were more offended by the “f” word than the murder of a young woman.
I saw a post quoting Rep. Randy Fine(AZ): “If you impede the actions of our law enforcement as they seek to repel foreign invaders from our country, you get what’s coming to you. I do not feel bad for the woman that was involved.”
“I think it’s worth it. It’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.” ~Charlie Kirk
Considering our President, Vice President, DHS and Rep Randy Fine’s comments. Have I changed my mind about Charlie, I do not feel bad for the man … anymore. No. Because, well saying why feels as wrong to me as what these “leaders” have said. While they may deserve a disparaging comment, I’ll keep it to myself. Even though my Mom would say, if you thought it you might as well say it.
As inhumane as the comments from these “officials” is. As abhorrent as they tend to be when it is about someone in opposition, I will not stoop to their level. Regardless of who leaves this plain next, regardless of how diametrically opposed they are to my beliefs and convictions, I will not disparage or disgrace them in death as others do.
“There is something uniquely dangerous about a population that refuses to be hurried past its dead. Something unsettling to power about people who show up wet and cold and angry. And not to burn it all down, but to stand together and say, “No, you do not get to move on from this. This is not chaos. This is not despair. This is discipline.” ~ Robert Arnold
What settles into one’s being, their soul, their heart that allows them to freely proclaim approving acceptance of the killing of another human being? Any human being. How does it feel inside. Who does this serve? Has this world dealt them such abuse and grief that any life outside their understanding has no worth and the death of another. Very often one they do not know is some relief for them and gives them this permission.
Where does this aberration live in them? What is its origin?
I don’t know people who think this is okay. I hear and read people accusing others of it, yet show no proof. However I hear or read on social media language that speaks as support of the current regime in their reply approving acceptance of a death. The President, the Vice President, several GOP and the now new leader of the organization of one that was also murdered in daylight in front of a crowd. Also leaving young children without a parent.
I’m not one who uses this word, I don’t say it and rarely write it, hate. Where does this hate manifest from? The origin, what wakes or feeds it and does it not eat at them like I imagine it does?
It is one thing to read brazen unfounded accusation on a media or organization page on Facebook. But to read a reply on the post of a ‘friend’ by what appears to be their ‘friend’, yet name calling ensues and hateful language. Why are they ‘friends’? Why not unfriend or unfollow? Are they there to channel their personal historical pain onto others to relieve themselves? (note to self: do not read comments)
What settles into one that allows them to freely call someone a dehumanizing and disparaging name? What is the argument to a post that has actual meaning, purpose or impact in a positive way for not just yourself, but your family, your friends, your neighbors?
I don’t know any idiots. I don’t know that I know low IQ people. I don’t call people names to their face or online. I may see or know some who have done stupid things, but they are not stupid. Some call out P.O.S, and honestly just sound like a P.O.S doing it because they have no legitimate argument. Do some actions or words make one stupid? Does it take a P.O.S to know a P.O.S. And body shaming in any form is wrong, full stop.
Are the lies, abuse and bullying elevating any of us to greatness? No. It just drags us deeper into the land of false narratives.
My truth, the origin lies with one. One who created this alternate space, a waste land that takes from us the full ability to live our lives free and safely. As members of a humanity that cares for others. License to dismiss decency. It limits those actions within that honor and embrace our individual rare contributions and the beauty of our diversity. It opens for some an avenue to use language as weapon instead of a salve for healing. A healing they are in desperate need of.
Did you see the movie Regarding Henry with Harrison Ford and Annette Bening? Henry is a lawyer who survives a shooting only to find he can’t remember anything — he also has to recover his speech and mobility, in a life he no longer fits into. When he finally goes back to work his secretary brings him coffee and pours cream. He watches. She stops just before it overflows. “When you’ve had enough Mr Turner you say, when.”
There is this split, a gap or a space of difference that for some, for me, just feels enormous. Deep within me I have to believe that space is as alternative as the one he has created and one day maybe soon, the emperor will be revealed for being fully unclothed and the hate will stop and recovery will begin.
We all exist on this planet in this country together. For some, me I guess, there is a misunderstanding of what one believes is right and another is wrong. Right and wrong no longer have the meaning they once had. The meaning of morality, justice and religion have been bastardized. Right is wrong and wrong is right, alternative.
The NYT asks the most morally bankrupt president we have ever had if he thinks there are limits to his powers, Trump says: “…one thing: my own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”
I went back to college in 1986, graduated in 1991. I and several classmates did internships at local television stations. Mine was over the summer and a bit different. I was at Channel 41 and most of the my time there I interned with that morning show with Julie Lux. I had an idea before this, but after, while it was fun, television was not where I wanted to be.
My classmates were at the other networks. It was also during the Persian Gulf War. More than once, they would come to class with a certain look, shock, stun maybe even fear. They wouldn’t say much except for something like, you should see the film, or the reporting they don’t show you from the war. I think that today we are probably seeing more, maybe less filtered. But what is it was are seeing and from who?
Since then my thought, news outlets get and received all the news unedited and unfiltered. Then ‘they’ decide what you and I should see. Who is making that decision? What is the agenda behind that decision?
If you look or try to look up and get a true analysis of media bias, even today is there accurate information about that? Again the questions, who is making the list and what is the agenda for that list?
Top of the search page:
As I scroll the search and see the names on these lists, what’s missing? The outliers. What is media? What was Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones, Randi Rhodes, Thom Hartman? Were they ever on a list that categorized them L to R? And now with the run of talent that has left network for individual independent unfettered, unfiltered Podcast, YouTube or Substack.
Pew Research Center, “For years now, Democrats have much more like than Republicans to say they trust the information that comes from national news organizations.”
Can you read that? 🙂 It is from 2023, but Mediaite breaks that down a bit. When will they add or include all those voices who left a network and are now crossing the platforms of YouTube, Substack and even a Facebook live?
Okay, so all of that to get me here to my original thought. Yes, network outlets get feed from everyone and everywhere. They see everything, unfiltered. The unedited versions of what is happening, start to finish. Every word, every image. They see it all. With the evolution of and the complete bombardment of now anyone and everyone can and will be a reporter. The race to get their footage in first doesn’t allow much time for fact checking or editing.
So, does having access to and seeing it all also create a bias? If the right is influencing, if the left is influencing, where or what is the context? And is that backed up with fact, a law, a precedent, historical relevance and god forbid truth.
If “news” is biased it is because those who report it are seeing the full story and that influences what they choose to show us. We are seeing the digestible version. The less traumatic version. At least we used to. So for me, that is why I believe some feel that the news is left or liberal. And for me, yes a liberal, more attuned to how we as a citizen should act in a community. News and content that does not feed the anger, the fear, the lies being told.
To see the full real story of what has or is happening it is a hope to move people to a less contentious, radial disruptive right. One that feels corrupt, unlawful, alarming and harming more than just a country that had some credibility not just within our boarders but around the world. That feels gone or diminished.
If people think that the “news” is biased is that because they see the full story and that doesn’t fit into their agenda or what they want to believe. They have a disregard for truth, facts and want a world that never existed, fear the browning of America and have been convinced by one person that they have actually been taken advantage of while the takes advantage of them at every swing.
I was watching this interview with Katie Couric. Thank god for Katie! She is beholden to no sponsor, corporate or otherwise. Somedays hearing her drop the “F” bomb is like a salve. I happen to believe that her agenda after years of being on that side that saw EVERYTHING, is truth and maybe just a better way. Or is it as Rich said, “it’s ammunition for what they already believe”. Or want to believe regardless of ultimately who it might harm. That single issue voter. That voter who narrows their view because they can’t take the reality of what might happen, so they hold their nose, push the button and hope for the best.
I think that today what is so hard for me to understand is that we all are dosed every day with everything that is happening. What i see and understand as corruption, disregard for the rule of law, emboldening racism, blatant hypocrisy, concessions for the rich, support and services taken from most and the demise of decency. Yet all of that continues to be normalized as how we should be.
I saw a post earlier on Facebook that said people like me are stupid. A Hitler vs Trump meme. Oh friend, a meme is no way to form an opinion, sorry. I’m not going to share the actual meme. It said, Hitler was responsible for the death of 80 million and an attempt to exterminate a race. Trump, lowered your taxes and hurt your feelings. I guess the plus here, they aren’t saying that the holocaust didn’t happen.
My first thought of a response was a simple three words, give him time. I didn’t respond. I respectfully responded to a post from this person a while back, with some facts with no response from them. So not sure it would matter. But then I went back and saw another post about liberals and some new item at McDonalds. So I went back and replied, Give him time. Took Hitler 8 years. The president lacks the moral character and decency to hurt my feelings. My ego is in check. His isn’t.
If I’m stupid, I’m okay with that considering some who have spoken to or written on this topic. Contrary to many of his supporters who say that I (or the left) hate America, I’m hateful and lack joy. You can call me passive aggressive, but not hateful or mean or maybe not stupid either. Yet…I digress.
“Some scholars argue that both leaders employed similar strategies to gain power, including divisive language and appeals to nationalism.”
Referencing first a site called Factually which balances things a bit;
Targeting of “enemies within” – Both leaders attacked specific groups and political opponents
Attacks on media and democratic institutions – Similar tactics of undermining press freedom and political opposition
Use of dehumanizing rhetoric – Particularly regarding immigrants, echoing Hitler’s language patterns
Monomaniacal political approach and readiness to lie as political tools
Differences:
Lack of ideological cohesion – Trump lacks the systematic ideological framework that Hitler possessed
Different effectiveness in power consolidation – Trump has been less successful than Hitler in consolidating absolute control
Distinct backgrounds and career paths – Significant differences in their rise to power and personal histories
Different popular support levels – Hitler had broader initial popular backing
Trump’s first term, he had a few reasonable law and constitutional abiding staff, guardrails. Those now appear to be gone. We are just in nine months for 2.0. He and those who are around him now are dangerous. He may lack cohesion and it seems that popular backing has no impact on his actions. His current staff and cohesion there is alarming. Simply, I think that they fear the Browning of America and are fighting for the “whiting” of America. This will not happen. There is so much more, democracy, rule of law, justice, decency, social justice, racism…..
Other references say the comparison is disturbingly evident. His VP once ‘pondered’ whether he would be the American Hitler. Another article; “Drawing parallels between Trump and Hitler is not about equating their actions but about understanding the mechanisms that allow authoritarian leaders to rise. Both figures highlight the dangers of demagogues who exploit societal divisions, undermine democratic institutions, and erode norms in pursuit of personal power.” There’s more. Here is the search “trump vs hitler”, if you are so inclined.
So let’s look at a little history.
Hitler’s rise began with his appointment as Chancellor, leading to the rapid dismantling of Germany’s democratic government.
January 30, 1933: Hitler was legally appointed Chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg.
March 23, 1933: Just weeks after his appointment, the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act, which gave Hitler the power to enact laws without parliament. This established his dictatorship.
August 2, 1934: Following President Hindenburg’s death, Hitler combined the offices of President and Chancellor, declaring himself Führer (leader).
The escalation of persecution (1933–1941) [8 years]
Upon taking power, the Nazis began persecuting Jews through a series of escalating policies, but did not immediately begin mass killings.
Discrimination and exclusion: The Nazis began to exclude Jews from German life through legislation, economic boycotts, and violent intimidation.
Increasingly harsh laws: Major milestones included the 1935 Nuremberg Race Laws, which stripped Jews of German citizenship.
Mass violence: In November 1938, the coordinated pogrom known as Kristallnacht (“Night of Broken Glass”) saw the widespread destruction of Jewish businesses and synagogues. Over 30,000 Jewish men were sent to concentration camps, marking a significant escalation of violence.
Second thought, the president lacks the moral character and decency to hurt my feelings, ever. He is insignificant. He is counter to everything I hold true and dear and my ego is in check. I would question his is.
I’m pretty sure that growing up, values wasn’t part of my regular vocabulary. It wasn’t top of mind, or an issue of discussion. In other words, I didn’t hear the word values that often if ever unless it was specific to something, a class a personality test or maybe a job application later. Because we just lived our values. It wasn’t challenged or questioned.
Other words that were infrequent, religion, government, morality and tradition.
Somehow life was lived by a set of unspoken, values, tradition and morality. It was the daytime soaps my Mom watched that values were questionable. How many times were Lisa and Erica married? Luke and Laura? Phew!Life in the soaps traveled at lightning speed. My Mom used to raze me, “Lisa and I were pregnant at the same time, Tom has been to war and is now a lawyer, you’re still in high school!” LOL! This was early or mid-70’s.
While I am not naive or dense, I realize that there were issues, that things happened. I’m going to guess, maybe even at the same rate? That overall statistics of life might not be that much different, we just know about it because of wall to wall 24/7/365 news.
What are family values? What is morally, what is tradition beyond what you do for birthdays or holidays?
We had what I would call family traditions around holidays. Then there were shifts, the evolution of the family. People grew up, got married and naturally divided the traditions to more of a yours, mine and ours if you will. Nothing wrong with it, but it was different. Sometimes I’d wish that Christmas Eve was just as it was. The house full of family, watching old home movies backwards or patiently (maybe not) waiting for the dishes to be done so that presents could be open, was gone.
The values, the morality, the tradition was almost unspoken because it did feel like it was who we were. We didn’t talk back, or if we did, we knew the consequences. Same for lying, breaking the rules or the laws. Respect was appropriate, not given just because of a position or title.
I didn’t know anyone who had been married 5 times. I didn’t know any parents who had affairs. I’m sure that happened. I didn’t have a lot of friends who were children of divorce. A few high school pregnancies, but the message I heard about that was never a judgmental one.
Of course in the late 60’s and 70’s gay or lesbian wasn’t “out”. I think for some we guessed or wondered, but it wasn’t out. Although realized later, I know now that my cousin was gay. I just hope that he never felt that I wouldn’t have loved or treated him any differently if I knew.
And now, 2025 we have a president who has bankrupted several businesses. Has been restricted from nonprofit work in New York because he was found guilty of misuse of funds for personal and political gain. Fraudulent university. He is on his third wife, all three he cheated on and had affairs with a number of women, publicly. He was charged and found guilty of 34 felonies for falsifying business records and mishandling classified documents, election interference, found liable of defamation (2024) and liable for sexual abuse(2023)and defamation. He’s a racist. You can probably count on both hands , maybe one how many times he has actually been in a church or held a bible.
In September he signed a new Executive Order, NSPM-7 targeting groups, organizations or individuals That can be identified by;
anti-Americanism,
anti-capitalism,
anti-Christianity,
support for the overthrow of the United States Government,
extremism on migration,
extremism on race,
extremism on gender
hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family,
hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on religion, and
hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on morality.
Right now the true offender is the president and every appointment he has made back to the Supreme Court. He says the quiet part out loud every day and tells you exactly what he’s going to do, but wraps it up with a fake Biden bow.
Why? Because he can. Because he is a weak, insecure, shallow individual with child like mentality that easily gets his feelings hurt and is in a position that due to lack of any guard rails or consequences from anyone allows his retribution and tantrums.
The bastard has bastardized truth, reality and anything sacred.
I have two thoughts that while right now in my head feel different, but I know they aren’t. I know that some of us are afraid of that word ‘critical’. Stay with me for a minute.
You’ve heard, listen to understand or listen to respond right?
Search Assist:
“Listening to respond means focusing on what you want to say next while the other person is speaking, which can lead to misunderstandings. In contrast, listening to understand involves fully engaging with the speaker’s message, seeking to comprehend their feelings and perspective without planning your response.”
One, too often we just read the headline and not the entire article or thesis. I actually read a study a while back that indicated that about 70+% of people do only read the headline.
Two, we listen to what we want to hear, one line, one reference or a sentence and form our opinion of that when we have missed the context or entire thesis. Or we don’t form our own opinion we take the opinion of another. Much easier, less work to do that.
And here we are. You’re wrong, I’m right. I’m right, you’re wrong. Right wing. Left wing. Radical…
Manipulation. I can say lots of things and make them sound a certain way to some, but others will hear the exact opposite.
Bias. A few years ago I asked a question about bias. If you listen with bias can you hear truth? Can you? I don’t think so. Do you know and understand your biases? Again, too much work, so no.
Let me start with this controversial example. I don’t believe 99.9% of what the current president of the US says. Others believe and live by every word he says. I did a search a while back. Something like who lied more, Biden or current occupant of the Oval? Result, Biden 2 or 300, *him 30,000+. (note: *him, *he, and current occupant is current president.)
One most recent example. *He says that Portland is burning. IT IS NOT. I sat here last weekend and watched video after video after video of friends out and about in Portland and guess what. *He. Is. Lying. The current Governor and Mayor of Portland, both voted in by the voters have told him that there is no issue and to NOT order National Guard. He did, we sued. The Governor and Mayor, both Democrats.
My dearest friend lives blocks from the one ICE facility that has protestors out front just about every day. All 5-10 of them during the day and more at other times. At NO time has there been fire. An officer did aggressively knock someone to the ground a few weeks ago. Don’t know why, saw that video. Yes, in 2020 there was a block or two during the Protests for the murder of George Floyd where things got a bit tense and there were fires and building break in’s … AFTER the fed came to town and stirred the pot. Whom ever these people are that he knows who have left Portland because it’s so bad are most likely … well … never mind. Why, because he knows NO ONE who left. Sure some have left.
Let’s see if we can find a survey or study as to why. Quick couple of minutes with a search, taxes, affordable house and while maybe moving out of Portland, not going far. Suburbs or WA where there’s no income tax. But they’ll still come to OR to shop, no sales tax. And many of them work in OR. So. I moved out of Portland because I was fully remote and could. I’ve wanted to live near water all my life, I found a place at the coast. Times like now, the last few weeks I wish I were still in Portland so I could share images and videos and tell that a**hole and those who believe *him to F – off.
I’ve made a few comments about name-calling. Yes, that is an issue. It’s childish, absurdly ridiculous and unpresidential. But what else does *he say and in what context is *his name-calling? Or someone else, is the context or what they say a cover for name-calling and tell you something else? Do they not say, Low IQ, horrible person, very bad person, stupid, not very smart, to try to stay above the fray of a juvenile delinquent?
I’m not going to include who said these. They can easily be referenced in a search. Here are a few quotes that I say are name-calling without the name-calling.
If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, boy, I hope he’s qualified.
If you’re a WNBA, pot-smoking, Black lesbian, do you get treated better than a United States marine? (I’ll add and the military who have had spouses deported or the Vet who live on the street, homeless?)
Happening all the time in urban America, prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people, that’s a fact. It’s happening more and more. (Do us all a favor and google ‘crime stats’)
If I’m dealing with somebody in customer service who’s a moronic Black woman, I wonder is she there because of her excellence, or is she there because of affirmative action?
If we would have said that Joy Reid and Michelle Obama and Sheila Jackson Lee and Ketanji Brown Jackson were affirmative action picks, we would have been called racists. Now they’re coming out and they’re saying it for us … You do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously. You had to go steal a white person’s slot to go be taken somewhat seriously. (I’d say check their education, but I know what some of you will say)
I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the second amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational. (Some hill to die on huh?)
America was at its peak when we halted immigration for 40 years and we dropped our foreign-born percentage to its lowest level ever. We should be unafraid to do that.
The American Democrat party hates this country. They wanna see it collapse. They love it when America becomes less white.
“They love it when America becomes less white.” Ah, the browning of America. It can’t happen soon enough for me. THEN only then maybe Black and Brown people will have the needed numbers to get the full and equal representation they should have. What comes to my mind reading those statements together is racism.
I’ve recruited students and employees. All while it was either EOE or DEI. I did hear of at least one story of a student whose father was going to write a very large check or did to the school for tuition. The kid, who was not white did not have the skills or what was needed for acceptance. That kid did not matriculate. While a corporate recruiter I looked for qualifications and I believe that I can say, that everyone that was hired for a job that I was working on was qualified for that job. No one got a job because they were a certain race. I also, unless it was actually required, didn’t look at education.
QUALIFICATIONS! Doing this since 1991 and seeing the current box of unqualified rocks running the country has me PISSED!
This administration is racist and anyone who still supports *him, is completely aligned with the lies, rhetoric and policies is also racist. Full stop. There I said it.
Oh, you didn’t like me taking a large perceived mass of people and call them ALL racists? Who does like it? No one.
I went back to try to find what was posted that had this reply, but did not find it.
“For those of us that are educated and familiar with the English dictionary “Patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion, and a sense of attachment to one’s country or state.” Has nothing to do with your neighbors. Which adds truth to your lack of patriotism. You just don’t now the truth about anything, so you make it up expecting people to believe you.” (because if you don’t believe what he tells me, you’re wrong)
Now I could make several more assumptions, which may not entirely be assumptions? And I’ve gone back and forth on what I say here. The commenter a white man who supports the serial offender, affording him license has one arrest record. The poster a white man was a Sheriff who resigned admitting to an inappropirate relationship with a female employee. The poster and commenter attended the same high school I did. I’m not sure about education beyond high school. An assumption I am taking from his(the commenter) other comments tells me that he is very angry at something or someone so projects that onto the one(the poster) who appears to have taken responsibility of his “personal failings”. I don’t know the entire story, it’s an old one. That said, it appears he took accountability.
I read that comment over the weekend. Two, three days later it’s still with me. This ‘commenter’ it appears does not like the ‘poster’. The ‘poster’ seems to piss him off, always. So another assumption, he’s more interested in verbal attacks than to just walk away, keep scrolling, unfollow or unfriend. It’s the attack that is important to him. His visibility in the fractured ‘conversation’. That self-righteous indignation. The comment was the first I’d seen that wasn’t just a dig. Again, usually showing his allegiance to a man rather than a country or the law and offering nothing but the dig.
Okay, enough of that. I’m starting to feel like the ‘commenter’.
Sometimes I read replies. Most of them make me sad. Most of them are a weird, complex example of the fracture in humanity. And a freedom from decency. I’m of the opinion that it’s always been there, just under the surface. Then someone came along and allowed some to bring it out into the open without apology. Why? Fear, identity fusion, racism, greed, manipulation or just willful ignorance? They can say what they want now, regardless of how it demeans or dehumanizes, yet they are still angry.
I’ve been trying to sort out the contradiction. Is it a contradiction? It almost feels like another bastardization of a definition.
My first thought without any other information was when I read it, how can patriotism not involve one’s neighbors? Belief in something that the entire country either believes in or not will involve another, neighbor, friend or foe.
“What does it mean to be Patriotic? Even that question divides us as Americans. “Despite these divisions, there’s a strong desire for a renewed sense of unity and a more inclusive understanding of patriotism.”
“When given a list of options, among the top choices in our survey were supporting the military(neighbor) (by 59% of the respondents), flying the flag(object) (52%) and celebrating national holidays like July 4 (45%).”
“For some respondents, it means voting (61%), speaking out against political leaders (49%) and pushing the country, sometimes uncomfortably, to live up to its promises.”
All have potential impact on … your neighbor. To remove your neighbor from patriotism to me feels like a devaluing. Or removing your responsibility to consider them. It feels arrogant. It gives more value to an object or even words, that depending on who wrote them could have just about any intent behind them.
“Most Americans consider themselves patriotic, but fewer and fewer people agree on what that means.”
What anything means these days is a problem. I see this posters posts frequently. I have commented a few times. I typically scroll by. Occasionally I do read the replies. (note to self: don’t read replies)
We now have license to say the quiet part out loud and more than that the opposition just isn’t nice. I think I am, or try to be. But nice has also been redefined.
I guess we don’t have to be nice. I’d prefer it. Especially with people we have know for 30-40-50- even 60 years. I did have a friend, who I have known since kindergarten, replied to a post of mine last year asking “What happened to the notion of not calling people names and being nice to one another?” She later blocked me when I asked a question on an angry post of hers a few weeks later about the Olympics.
Her comment, it kind of took my breath away considering I had seen her call people names on her page and the litany of name-calling the candidate and now president she supports. Not to mention his recent proclamation, “I hates my opponents and I don’t want the best for them.” At a memorial service no less.
It can’t be said enough, hate will not make us great, it will destroy everything I and even you think is true and right. What I hear as hate and what they hear as hate are contradictory. We have allowed one person to bastardize everything from truth to religion and how we see each others as human beings.
It’s easy to go out and find the definition of something. It’s not a stretch. I do that all the time. I have advanced education, but that gives me nothing. My question, what about meaning OF that definition? What does it mean to hit up google then copy and paste the words found. Then offer a (IMO) somewhat narrow understanding of the meaning of the word as what we all should accept as definition or meaning.
Search Assist: Patriotism in America is often defined as a love for one’s country, encompassing respect for its symbols, values, and the sacrifices made by its citizens. However, interpretations vary widely, with some viewing it as a call to hold the nation accountable to its ideals, while others see it as a more traditional expression of loyalty and pride.
“…values, and the sacrifices made by its citizens.” I personally can’t think about much that is going on today, political or otherwise that does not involve or include ‘my’ neighbor. Even the neighbor who voted against everything I believe are values of the America I grew up in. The one my parent and grandparents showed me, by their living example. Now, if you did not know me, would you now know “what side” I am on?
Help Save America: For many Americans, patriotism now emphasizes civic participation, community service, and defending democratic institutions. Volunteering, voting, and supporting first responders are common expressions. Others find patriotism in cultural pride—music, food, and regional traditions—or through military service.
Community service, volunteering, first responders, neighbors.
How has patriotism changed over time?
“Patriotism has shifted from Revolutionary-era resistance to a broader civic identity shaped by wars, social movements, and political debates. Its expressions have expanded from public rituals to civic engagement and social activism.“
I’m not sure that there is a reasonable, logical cogent explanation as to this dynamic that is our current discourse. In the Bulwark’s Focus Group talking to voters of the current president one says;
“…because they literally think that any right-winger or Trump voter is is an actual unironic Nazi or racist anti-semitic so on and so forth.”
“And I think that conservatives are a lot more open to be able to talk to the opposing side than. than the other way around.” (both comments copied from Youtube transcript, unsure about accuracy)
Both of those comments are, in my experience, the exact opposite. It feels to me that the ‘conservative’ side or the GOP/Republican/MAGA voter is too angry to talk. I’ll take the route of others who are listening and say, if you don’t want someone to call you a Nazi or racist, don’t talk like or quote the words of a Nazi or a racist.
I’ve tried to be measured with my words, not call out what I am hearing for what it is but try to be neutral enough to maybe invite a conversation. People for the most part, have no response. I’ve only had questionable replies to my comments from people who don’t know me, but what I see is name calling or an angry response that is hateful, not nice. (IMO)
But by saying that patriotism has nothing to do with your neighbor, this completely removes any engagement of another human. I’m not sure how one eliminates that engagement. It removes any responsibility to be accountable to harm of any kind. It is strictly a commitment or an allegiance to an object. What has an object done for you? Yet it’s an emotional attachment that conjures up such emotion when it is challenged and doesn’t align with how they believe it should be considered, honored or respected. All that, rules for thee but not for me.
All this to say, you have to consider your neighbor in all you do. Giving more respect, honor and consideration for an object is the projection of so much, that to say more should involve more reference and reading. Maybe I’ll do that later.
With every word out of your mouth, every vote, every dollar you spend, just about every action you take, will impact another, a neighbor. We should all do ourselves and those neighbors a favor and stop for even a few seconds and think, actions, result, consequences. And if that last has any negative adverse impact on any other human, you have to stop. You have to. Full stop.
