In Front of Our Noses: Holiday “Greetings”
This isn't normal.
“To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.”-George Orwell.
Previous entries:
- Chronicling Trump Right in Front our Noses: The Case of iPhones
- In Front of our Noses: The Golden Dome
- In Front of Our Noses: Lies about Balancing the Budget
- In Front of our Noses: Dictatorial Claims
The point of these posts is to highlight specific, clear examples of Trump’s attempts at blatantly constructing his own authoritarian unreality. It is a list that may be of use to me in the future or to readers. It is also hopefully places seeds that I hope will germinate in the minds of supporters who may some day question that support.
This is actually a great example of the kind of thing that inspired this post series because it is the kind of thing that is so very easy to ignore, because it is part of the wall of sound that Trump creates.
But any dispassionate reader has to know that this is not a normal way for a human being to communicate, let alone the sitting POTUS.
I will not parse the whole thing, but will point out that the 21 million figure is an upper-end estimate of the total number of undocumented persons in the country, not just those that entered during the Biden administration (as the post implies). It is worth noting, too, that most estimates are far lower than 21 million and that the higher number tend to be propagated by right-wing sources.
I will only further note that this is classic politics of “us v. them” and part of his ongoing demonization of immigrants. Remember, it is this kind of rhetoric that creates the permission structures to seize students off the streets for writing op-eds, detaining US citizens, shipping people off to CECOT for life, and/or dumping them in South Sudan.
This is also part of the ongoing attempt at making people believe in unreality.
It is definitely fear-mongering and asserting that only Trump and his administration have the wherewithal to make the country safe.
These things are not just harmless all-caps rantings.
And yes, he does something similar every holiday, which is what makes it become background noise that we then end up ignoring when we shouldn’t.
A thought for any who might wish to entertain it: if you like this kind of rhetoric and behavior, why? What do you think it says about you? If you ignore it while still supporting Trump, why?
Rationalizing this stuff away because of partisan preferences at some point may still provide explanations for mass outcomes, but it does not absolve individuals from using their intellects and moral judgements to assess what is right in front of their noses.
After his chaotic 1st term, knowing full well that he was an extremely malevolent and malignant person, We The Voting People collectively decided to bring him back for a 2nd term. All bad things are possible now.
By the way, he’s even worse than I thought he’d be, and I thought he would be terrible. He’s worse than terrible.
I sometimes feel bad for all the terrible things I wish happen to Trump. When I read stuff like this I don’t feel bad at all. Remember that as awful as Trump is, he has undoubtedly done things that dwarf his known crimes and transgressions. I’ll bet he has been involved in mob beatings and murders. We know he can rationalize any behavior since he has no moral compass. Think of the worst person you know, they are still better than Trump. Unless you know a serial killer or two (and that is still debatable as to who is worse).
You do realize that his supporters actually like this kind of stuff? They think he is just telling the truth and sticking it to the libs. That’s what they voted for him to do.
Steve
@steve: Some very much do. Many, in fact. I fully recognize that, hence my question, “What do you think it says about you?”
@steve: it almost like the talk radio heads have said the exact same thing, verbatim for the past thirty some years, without any appreciable pushback, normalizing this for the rural GOP base.
The all caps weirdness. Yes, the numbers are BS, but what is truly sad is he mentions nothing about honoring and remembering the brave Americans who gave their lives in service to our country. Nothing. Oh, but I am sure some clowns will defend his self centered rants like always…it must get exhausting to defend stupidity while all the while trying to pretend to be a serious person.
@Jc:..it must get exhausting to defend stupidity while all the while trying to pretend to be a serious person.
Dream on. These citizens thrive on this rot.
Serendipitously, over at LGM Paul Campos quotes Hannah Arendt,
@Jc:
It takes almost no effort, since the defense can be equally stupid.
For instance, here Trump is calling on all Americans, even those which he has profound agreements with, to come together to celebrate our memorials, and make America stronger rather than divided.
It’s far more exhausting to fight against that shit than to defend it.
Did you know that Memorial Day started as Decoration Day to commemorate those fallen to protect America? Obviously, Trump doesn’t know or care about that. Maybe Trump thought that today was Festivus for the airing of grievances. Maybe he thinks every day is Festivus.
I can think of a good use for the Festivus pole.
Shouldn’t the be an In Front Of Our Nose tag?
@Dave Munger: I thought about that, and yes there should be.
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