General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPresident Obama on the massacres this weekend. A President speaks.
Michelle and I grieve with all the families in El Paso and Dayton who endured these latest mass shootings. Even if details are still emerging, there are a few things we already know to be true.
First, no other nation on Earth comes close to experiencing the frequency of mass shootings that we see in the United States. No other developed nation tolerates the levels of gun violence that we do. Every time this happens, were told that tougher gun laws wont stop all murders; that they wont stop every deranged individual from getting a weapon and shooting innocent people in public places. But the evidence shows that they can stop some killings. They can save some families from heartbreak. We are not helpless here. And until all of us stand up and insist on holding public officials accountable for changing our gun laws, these tragedies will keep happening.
Second, while the motivations behind these shootings may not yet be fully known, there are indications that the El Paso shooting follows a dangerous trend: troubled individuals who embrace racist ideologies and see themselves obligated to act violently to preserve white supremacy. Like the followers of ISIS and other foreign terrorist organizations, these individuals may act alone, but theyve been radicalized by white nationalist websites that proliferate on the internet. That means that both law enforcement agencies and internet platforms need to come up with better strategies to reduce the influence of these hate groups.
But just as important, all of us have to send a clarion call and behave with the values of tolerance and diversity that should be the hallmark of our democracy. We should soundly reject language coming out of the mouths of any of our leaders that feeds a climate of fear and hatred or normalizes racist sentiments; leaders who demonize those who dont look like us, or suggest that other people, including immigrants, threaten our way of life, or refer to other people as sub-human, or imply that America belongs to just one certain type of people. Such language isnt new its been at the root of most human tragedy throughout history, here in America and around the world. It is at the root of slavery and Jim Crow, the Holocaust, the genocide in Rwanda and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans. It has no place in our politics and our public life. And its time for the overwhelming majority of Americans of goodwill, of every race and faith and political party, to say as much clearly and unequivocally.
Gothmog
(145,231 posts)malaise
(268,998 posts)Other former Presidents must condemn this slaughter incited by the Con's hate speech right fucking now!
underpants
(182,803 posts)nolabear
(41,963 posts)underpants
(182,803 posts)Im using that tonight on Facebook. Something like it anyway.
I know now why you typed Toledo. The 3rd grader in the Oval Office.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)The Grifter in the Oval needs to heed these words of truth and act accordingly.
Not going to happen in my lifetime is the reality.
MontanaMama
(23,314 posts)ProudMNDemocrat
(16,785 posts)I just did. I have FB friends that are Trumpers that I have not unfriended. I want them to read what needs to be said from a former President who was the subject of Donald Trump's hatred for over 5 years, denouncing his legitimacy as an American who happened to be President.
The last paragraph of Obama's essay points the finger at Trump in a way that I hope some people understand that words have consequences.
peggysue2
(10,828 posts)There's a clear divide between the words of an actual president and the imposter now squatting in the White House. Surprising?
No.
A DUer made an interesting suggestion yesterday: that the critical nature of what's going on, the damage, chaos and mass killings pressed against the clear incompetence and complicity of Trump should inspire a joint statement from our former presidents, a presidential rebuke/warning of sorts. It would be completely unconventional, of course, probably politically treacherous. But at the same time it would be very powerful, a joint statement by men who have served the country, know the challenges and can clearly see how Donald Trump has failed to execute the Office of the Presidency while threatening our very security as a country, a people. This suggestion was made in the wake of the essay GW's former speechwriter published, an extraordinary piece.
Something needs to be done. Trump is totally out of control and deliberately tearing the country apart.
nolabear
(41,963 posts)Theyre so afraid of losing small battles theyre completely sacrificing the war. The GOP knows this is on them but they weasel and wriggle and try to point at anything else. The Democrats argue and argue and argue while were dying.
Ultimately Im hoping the Dems come together and hit this as hard as it needs to be with the unity we need to have, including we average people with buying power, boycotting power, protest power, voting power, contributing power, withholding power, and everything else. But man, my idealism is suffering.
peggysue2
(10,828 posts)Again and again and again. It's positively sickening to hear voters, journalists and Republicans make endless excuses for the man thereby enabling the next atrocious thing to come out of his mouth and/or crippling policy ideas as if the ignorant, racist behavior, the lack of knowledge and basic competence were in the least bit normal for a modern-day president.
And after this latest killing spree? Enough is enough is bloody well enough!
murielm99
(30,740 posts)politically treacherous. It might just be what we need to unify the country.
You say something needs to be done. He is tearing the country apart. Someone should suggest this to them. You know the Bush family despises him just as much as our former Democratic Presidents.
peggysue2
(10,828 posts)I can almost hear the howls through the halls of Congress now. But if GW were to join the other Dem presidents, it would balance the message out and appear far less partisan.
I don't know but something definitely needs to be done, something out of the box. The man is a waking nightmare. For everyone.
State the Obvious
(842 posts)....and it is time for the overwhelming majority of Americans of goodwill, of EVERY race and faith and political party to say as much - clearly and unequivocally"
More_Cowbell
(2,191 posts)Just in case the orange one is keeping track of how people respond to a real president.
Traildogbob
(8,739 posts)I was banned for good from Twitter by just calling Tami Lauren a street lamp post appendage, a racist bimbo. She is A protected white wing princess. That was after she tweeted gasing immigrants over Thanksgiving was the highlight of her holiday. Where is my free speech? If I can be shut down for that, why are these white wing hate groups allowed to spew and encourage hate and death. Shut them down. Fuck that free speech. Slippery slope my ass. Many mediums have rules. You can not use foul language on most radios. Why can you call for killing on Internet social media sites?
bearssoapbox
(1,408 posts)From a true and great leader.
I know this said on DU almost every day and I say it almost as often.
DAMN, I MISS THAT MAN/LEADER.
gademocrat7
(10,657 posts)Not an evil racist illegitimate grifter.
BadgerMom
(2,771 posts)We have fallen so far so rapidly. It makes me very blue.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,345 posts)Mostly, the Gangsters Of Putin wants more money and more power.