We are in a battle for the soul of our nation

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I wish I could write better and longer to express what I truly feel. I consider myself a man of the left, not the far left, not the center left, just the left. My heroes in the seventh grade were the martyred Kennedy brothers, Dr. King, and Muhammad Ali. They still are today. But I have a deep love of country and an abiding faith in American exceptionalism. I also get choked up when I see the WW ll vets , who are becoming rarer and rarer, selling those little flags to raise money. I love my country. It doesn't lead me to hate other countries just as loving my girlfriend doesn't lead me to hate other women. It also doesn't mean she is better than other women, but she is to me.

America to me is more than just a big piece of real estate. In my America we are bound together by ideals like pluralism, the rule of law, individual initiative, and collective responsibility. We are not bound by blood and soil.

I have lived through eleven presidents, not including the current occupant of the White House. Of course I liked the Democratic ones a lot more than the Republican ones, but I never thought the Republican ones were fundamentally evil, even Nixon. And yeah, I am aware of all their chicanery. To me a fundamentally evil person is one who does evil things because he or she likes it, like the Devil. They do evil things for the Hell of it.

That brings me to Donald Trump. He is that guy. He is the embodiment of evil. He is the guy that would get two homeless men to fight with a promise of fifty dollars to the winner and then not pays the victor. He is just a bad guy.

Is he Hitler ? Mussolini ? Tojo ? No, he lacks their smarts, discipline and vision, but he represents the turning of one's back on America's ideals. Those who prop him up aren't really American at all.

-DSB

[Freedomofspeech]

1. Brilliant.

[secondwind]

2. BIGLY K&R ... EXCELLENT!

[ewagner]

3. Good essay...more over....

There is a huge difference between the Trump presidency and all others...and especially that of JFK...look at the difference in the rhetoric of JFKs inaugural and Trumps speech.. Here's Kennedy:

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility — I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it — and the glow from that fire can truly light the world."

Here was a vision for America. A vision of resolve and hope. A vision that saw America as a beacon of light for the rest of the world.

And then there is Trump's America...which imposes it's will on all other nations. An America that rules international relations through threat of force and fear of retaliation both militarily and economic...

You're right.

The soul of our nation is at stake.. and JFK had something to say about that too...

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

Just as it was then, it is now...the success or failure of our nation

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. All presidents emphasize American exceptionalism. Thump has specifically rejected it.

How his moronic devotees hold themselves out as patriots baffles me.

[dalton99a]

4. Well put.

Thank you!

[ananda]

6. What battle?

Where is it? How is it going?

We notice that our nation has lost its soul.

People do a lot of talking and some protesting here and there.
The town halls are good but are now being boycotted by the GOP
or made into controlled phone sessions.

Good people sponsor immigrants and pass sanctuary resolutions.
Churches are doing their best to help people.

But there is no battle. It's lost. It was lost the day SCOTUS
voted against Gore's recount and later for Citizens United.

I think we could get it back with a large-scale, persistent
grassroots movement.

But the so-called resistance "fighters" I know are talking about 2020.

By then, it will be too late.

[ewagner]

7. 2018

That's the first battle...the battle to take control of Congress, or, at least some portion of it.

and it is a battle....against the forces of jingoism as patriotism and greed as a national value...

It's not going to be easy because, as you stated, we lost the initial battle with Bush v Gore and we've been reeling in the aftermath ever since....

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. I do what I can. I donate. I protest. I make phone calls.