Trump is a real threat to the USA. His followers are idiots: there’s no helping them. I will put all efforts to making sure this dirtbag does not get elected to office, of any kind.
Umberto Eco’s 14 Traits of Fascism serve as a good reminder of what Trump is doing:
1. The cult of tradition. “One has only to look at the syllabus of every fascist movement to find the major traditionalist thinkers. The Nazi gnosis was nourished by traditionalist, syncretistic, occult elements.”
2. The rejection of modernism. “The Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, is seen as the beginning of modern depravity. In this sense Ur-Fascism can be defined as irrationalism.”
3. The cult of action for action’s sake. “Action being beautiful in itself, it must be taken before, or without, any previous reflection. Thinking is a form of emasculation.”
4. Disagreement is treason. “The critical spirit makes distinctions, and to distinguish is a sign of modernism. In modern culture the scientific community praises disagreement as a way to improve knowledge.”
5. Fear of difference. “The first appeal of a fascist or prematurely fascist movement is an appeal against the intruders. Thus Ur-Fascism is racist by definition.”
6. Appeal to social frustration. “One of the most typical features of the historical fascism was the appeal to a frustrated middle class, a class suffering from an economic crisis or feelings of political humiliation, and frightened by the pressure of lower social groups.”
7. The obsession with a plot. “Thus at the root of the Ur-Fascist psychology there is the obsession with a plot, possibly an international one. The followers must feel besieged.”
Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all, beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is doom, unless the writing be erased."
If your school still has history books in its library, you might want to read Rise and Fall of The Third Reich by William Shirer. It’s Trump’s campaign outlined very neatly.
Substitute January 6th for Beer Hall Putsch. Also our concentration camps will most likely have different names.
While you are there also look up the “America First” isolationist movement where we decided to NOT assist Europe in its fight against dictators. Then read the next chapter: World War II. (Spoiler alert to MAGAs – it already happened and it was not as, Trump claimed, “a beautiful war.”)
Not only did America First encourage Stalin, Hitler and Mussolini, it also gave the Japanese the idea that Americans didn’t want to fight and would capitulate to them and cede Asia and the western Pacific to them if “properly motivated.” See also Pearl Harbor.
“OBEDIENCE IS NOT ENOUGH. Unless he is suffering, how can you be sure that he is obeying your will and not his own? Power is in inflicting pain and humiliation. Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing. Do you begin to see, then, what kind of world we are creating? It is the exact opposite of the stupid hedonistic Utopias that the old reformers imagined. A world of fear and treachery and torment, a world of trampling and being trampled upon, a world which will grow not less but more merciless as it refines itself. Progress in our world will be progress toward more pain. The old civilizations claimed that they were founded on love or justice. Ours is founded upon hatred. In our world there will be no emotions except fear, rage, triumph, and self-abasement. Everything else we shall destroy—everything. Already we are breaking down the habits of thought which have survived from before the Revolution. We have cut the links between child and parent, and between man and man, and between man and woman. No one dares trust a wife or a child or a friend any longer…
Mitchell notes that some evangelicals disagree but does not name or cite them. Instead, he cites the growing threat of China, Russia, and Iran, before Wallnau concludes, “America’s going to have a challenge either way. With Trump, I believe we have a Cyrus to navigate through the storm.”
The comparison comes up frequently in the evangelical world. Many evangelical speakers and media outlets compare Trump to Cyrus, a historical Persian king who, in the sixth century BCE, conquered Babylon and ended the Babylonian captivity, a period during which Israelites had been forcibly resettled in exile. This allowed Jews to return to the area now known as Israel and build a temple in Jerusalem. Cyrus is referenced most prominently in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, in which he appears as a figure of deliverance.
That comparison has become more and more explicit in the wake of Trump’s presidency. Last week, an Israeli organization, the Mikdash Educational Center, minted a commemorative “Temple Coin” depicting Trump and Cyrus side by side, in honor of Trump’s decision to move the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. It was among the most brazen, public links between Trump and Cyrus; one that takes the years of subtext running through outlets like Christian Broadcasting Network and, quite literally, sealed the comparison.
Concretionist 6 months ago
Yes, he DOES.
knutdl 6 months ago
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (OMG)
sandpiper 6 months ago
Seeing Buttercup in a dream is a good reason to be scared and have your hair go whiter
sevaar777 6 months ago
“Oh, the spirit of Xmas future couldn’t make it, eh?”
comixbomix 6 months ago
To be clear, that’s the spirit without a soul…
braindead Premium Member 6 months ago
The Disciples will agree. Authoritarian rule is what they crave.
ibFrank 6 months ago
Trump the end of all future Christmas if reelected.
cracker65 6 months ago
Now that’s a nightmare.
mysterysciencefreezer 6 months ago
It’s been done. (Google “ERB Donald Trump vs Ebenezer Scrooge”*)
*Posted the link, but system ate it.
smithsilverstrea 6 months ago
Spirit, are you of things that were, are, or are yet to come?
akachman Premium Member 6 months ago
Trump is a real threat to the USA. His followers are idiots: there’s no helping them. I will put all efforts to making sure this dirtbag does not get elected to office, of any kind.
cdward 6 months ago
Umberto Eco’s 14 Traits of Fascism serve as a good reminder of what Trump is doing:
1. The cult of tradition. “One has only to look at the syllabus of every fascist movement to find the major traditionalist thinkers. The Nazi gnosis was nourished by traditionalist, syncretistic, occult elements.”
2. The rejection of modernism. “The Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, is seen as the beginning of modern depravity. In this sense Ur-Fascism can be defined as irrationalism.”
3. The cult of action for action’s sake. “Action being beautiful in itself, it must be taken before, or without, any previous reflection. Thinking is a form of emasculation.”
4. Disagreement is treason. “The critical spirit makes distinctions, and to distinguish is a sign of modernism. In modern culture the scientific community praises disagreement as a way to improve knowledge.”
5. Fear of difference. “The first appeal of a fascist or prematurely fascist movement is an appeal against the intruders. Thus Ur-Fascism is racist by definition.”
6. Appeal to social frustration. “One of the most typical features of the historical fascism was the appeal to a frustrated middle class, a class suffering from an economic crisis or feelings of political humiliation, and frightened by the pressure of lower social groups.”
7. The obsession with a plot. “Thus at the root of the Ur-Fascist psychology there is the obsession with a plot, possibly an international one. The followers must feel besieged.”
Silenced Victim Premium Member 6 months ago
It is not like Trump to represent BLM and DEI and ID politics. Why the switch?
Victory 6 months ago
“Are they your children?”
“They are man’s.”
“This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want.
Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all, beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is doom, unless the writing be erased."
-Charles Dickens, 1843
God help us all
LVObserver 6 months ago
It is the Biden administration working so hard to jail the political opposition, though. Worked for Chavez and Maduro in their socialist utopia.
dflak 6 months ago
If your school still has history books in its library, you might want to read Rise and Fall of The Third Reich by William Shirer. It’s Trump’s campaign outlined very neatly.
Substitute January 6th for Beer Hall Putsch. Also our concentration camps will most likely have different names.
While you are there also look up the “America First” isolationist movement where we decided to NOT assist Europe in its fight against dictators. Then read the next chapter: World War II. (Spoiler alert to MAGAs – it already happened and it was not as, Trump claimed, “a beautiful war.”)
Not only did America First encourage Stalin, Hitler and Mussolini, it also gave the Japanese the idea that Americans didn’t want to fight and would capitulate to them and cede Asia and the western Pacific to them if “properly motivated.” See also Pearl Harbor.
charliekane 6 months ago
Dark Christmas in ’25 if the felonious fraud gets back in.
piper_gilbert 6 months ago
Once you get a dictator, he’s everyone’s dictator. Yours too.
Bubba_Boo Premium Member 6 months ago
He keeps announcing his plans, he’s being very open about it. It’s time that we take him seriously and put a stop to him and his ilk.
librarylady59 6 months ago
“OBEDIENCE IS NOT ENOUGH. Unless he is suffering, how can you be sure that he is obeying your will and not his own? Power is in inflicting pain and humiliation. Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing. Do you begin to see, then, what kind of world we are creating? It is the exact opposite of the stupid hedonistic Utopias that the old reformers imagined. A world of fear and treachery and torment, a world of trampling and being trampled upon, a world which will grow not less but more merciless as it refines itself. Progress in our world will be progress toward more pain. The old civilizations claimed that they were founded on love or justice. Ours is founded upon hatred. In our world there will be no emotions except fear, rage, triumph, and self-abasement. Everything else we shall destroy—everything. Already we are breaking down the habits of thought which have survived from before the Revolution. We have cut the links between child and parent, and between man and man, and between man and woman. No one dares trust a wife or a child or a friend any longer…
lsnrchrd.1 Premium Member 6 months ago
Mitchell notes that some evangelicals disagree but does not name or cite them. Instead, he cites the growing threat of China, Russia, and Iran, before Wallnau concludes, “America’s going to have a challenge either way. With Trump, I believe we have a Cyrus to navigate through the storm.”
The comparison comes up frequently in the evangelical world. Many evangelical speakers and media outlets compare Trump to Cyrus, a historical Persian king who, in the sixth century BCE, conquered Babylon and ended the Babylonian captivity, a period during which Israelites had been forcibly resettled in exile. This allowed Jews to return to the area now known as Israel and build a temple in Jerusalem. Cyrus is referenced most prominently in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, in which he appears as a figure of deliverance.
That comparison has become more and more explicit in the wake of Trump’s presidency. Last week, an Israeli organization, the Mikdash Educational Center, minted a commemorative “Temple Coin” depicting Trump and Cyrus side by side, in honor of Trump’s decision to move the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. It was among the most brazen, public links between Trump and Cyrus; one that takes the years of subtext running through outlets like Christian Broadcasting Network and, quite literally, sealed the comparison.
.Com/identities/2018/3/5/16796892/trump-cyrus-christian-right-bible-cbn-evangelical-propaganda
Free Radical 6 months ago
If elected, he will bring the joy of the birth of christian nationalist jesus
Radish the wordsmith 6 months ago
Hey its Trump, the fascist leader and Maga king/dictator of the anti democracy republican vermin party.
Treedodger 6 months ago
Strike the “s”.