Well done, James. One of the hardest things for me to stomach is seeing people I grew up with become full throated anti-labor, anti-freedom, pro-MAGA zealots. These people, without exception, benefited from being born into Union families in a heavily unionized community. Their quality of life, economic opportunity, educational attainment, healthy childhood and longevity, every aspect of their lives was made exponentially better because of strong unions. Those unions didn’t happen by accident but were fought for by their grandparents, at times through great personal sacrifice, not just for themselves but for future generations. Those same grandparents were the ones who set aside their personal plans and ambitions, and in too many cases gave their lives, to fight fascism and imperialism to ensure future generations could live in peace, freedom, and prosperity. You’d never know it to hear those “future generations” talk today. It’s so shameful it makes my stomach churn.
I hope you’re right but I’m not confident that will happen. They’ve invested so much, destroyed relationships, bought hundreds in crappy merch, idolized the worst person in the world in the name of hate. When he’s gone, they’ll have to turn all of that hate somewhere.
Well said. The same moral dilemma faces us all, one by one. A longtime friend of mine recently scolded me for claiming to be NPA when I must be a leftwing Democrat, based on my writings. I started to refer him to the same Twilight Zone episode you started with. (That was Donna Douglas from The Beverly Hillbillies, by the way--before she became "famous"...) Then I thought better of it--why start a fight you can't win, with no gain--I have not belonged to a party for 30-odd years, and he is still a Republican--so I let him off with a subtle rebuke: better to keep a friend and avoid politics, if you can, I find, at my age. He missed the point of NPA, and nothing else I can say will open his eyes...or change his mind.
It's a familiar story. I, too, avoid getting into tar baby situations where battling it out with true believers proves to be futile. But it's one thing for, say, Romney and Obama supporters engaging in vigorous but polite debate over issues and, today, with brainwashed MAGA types echoing conspiracy theories and the lies of their criminal Dear Leader while those of us still grounded in reality futilely try to discuss the facts. In any case, as a writer and an independent, I don't feel I'm doing my job unless I catch flak from all sides, depending on the circumstances. When Obama was president, I had liberals hurling abuse at me. Today, it comes from the right.
Well done, James. One of the hardest things for me to stomach is seeing people I grew up with become full throated anti-labor, anti-freedom, pro-MAGA zealots. These people, without exception, benefited from being born into Union families in a heavily unionized community. Their quality of life, economic opportunity, educational attainment, healthy childhood and longevity, every aspect of their lives was made exponentially better because of strong unions. Those unions didn’t happen by accident but were fought for by their grandparents, at times through great personal sacrifice, not just for themselves but for future generations. Those same grandparents were the ones who set aside their personal plans and ambitions, and in too many cases gave their lives, to fight fascism and imperialism to ensure future generations could live in peace, freedom, and prosperity. You’d never know it to hear those “future generations” talk today. It’s so shameful it makes my stomach churn.
They live in a cult. When the cult leader passes from the scene, the whole phony charade will go up in smoke.
I hope you’re right but I’m not confident that will happen. They’ve invested so much, destroyed relationships, bought hundreds in crappy merch, idolized the worst person in the world in the name of hate. When he’s gone, they’ll have to turn all of that hate somewhere.
Well said. The same moral dilemma faces us all, one by one. A longtime friend of mine recently scolded me for claiming to be NPA when I must be a leftwing Democrat, based on my writings. I started to refer him to the same Twilight Zone episode you started with. (That was Donna Douglas from The Beverly Hillbillies, by the way--before she became "famous"...) Then I thought better of it--why start a fight you can't win, with no gain--I have not belonged to a party for 30-odd years, and he is still a Republican--so I let him off with a subtle rebuke: better to keep a friend and avoid politics, if you can, I find, at my age. He missed the point of NPA, and nothing else I can say will open his eyes...or change his mind.
It's a familiar story. I, too, avoid getting into tar baby situations where battling it out with true believers proves to be futile. But it's one thing for, say, Romney and Obama supporters engaging in vigorous but polite debate over issues and, today, with brainwashed MAGA types echoing conspiracy theories and the lies of their criminal Dear Leader while those of us still grounded in reality futilely try to discuss the facts. In any case, as a writer and an independent, I don't feel I'm doing my job unless I catch flak from all sides, depending on the circumstances. When Obama was president, I had liberals hurling abuse at me. Today, it comes from the right.
More power to you, friend! Keep up the good work as long as you draw breath!
Looks like another unwilling date with Pete Hegseth.