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This is what's needed. Direct and unequivocal responses. Moral statements that make a clear case:
Support this president and his party, and there is no more "normal" for you any more. You've got a problem with millions of us that isn't going away.
baltimoresun.com/opinion/editor…
Support this president and his party, and there is no more "normal" for you any more. You've got a problem with millions of us that isn't going away.
baltimoresun.com/opinion/editor…
Politeness sure is important these days, I've noticed, for people who'd like to be allowed to go on supporting a bully whose mildest fault is his fathomless impoliteness, and are hoping they will be permitted to go on doing so quietly.
They mustn't be allowed to have it.
They mustn't be allowed to have it.
The loud Trump supporters just love the racism and cruelty and every other kind of bigotry and will say so.
The quiet ones all have their reasons. They things they tell themselves to make it all right.
It's very important to them to be told it's all right.
It's not all right.
The quiet ones all have their reasons. They things they tell themselves to make it all right.
It's very important to them to be told it's all right.
It's not all right.
No need to list the various reasons. You can read them nested in the newspapers opinion columns, all the reasons they may just be "forced" away from opposing Trump.
They all share a common theme: These are people who believe they should pay no price.
Make them pay one.
They all share a common theme: These are people who believe they should pay no price.
Make them pay one.
Here's how it goes: you're at a party, and some point of politics comes up.
"It's crazy," they say. "Some people can't even say they support Trump. They're afraid to speak."
'Some people.'
You're talking to one of the quiet ones.
The ones who know better but don't care.
"It's crazy," they say. "Some people can't even say they support Trump. They're afraid to speak."
'Some people.'
You're talking to one of the quiet ones.
The ones who know better but don't care.
Afraid? Can't even say?
Can't?
Request specifics.
"Wow, that's surprising. Every week there's a rally, and the president is out there with thousands of people, and they're chanting "SEND HER BACK" about an American congresswoman, and so on. They don't seem scared to me."
Can't?
Request specifics.
"Wow, that's surprising. Every week there's a rally, and the president is out there with thousands of people, and they're chanting "SEND HER BACK" about an American congresswoman, and so on. They don't seem scared to me."
And here's how THAT will go: The quiet one shakes their head, commiserating. "I know, the president says such crazy things. It makes people so angry."
The sly retreat to what's said, not what's done.
The subtle shift to the reaction to the words rather than their meaning.
The sly retreat to what's said, not what's done.
The subtle shift to the reaction to the words rather than their meaning.
"But what are people who support Trump afraid will happen if they speak? Are they afraid they'll be asked for their papers and deported? Are they afraid they'll lose their healthcare? Are they afraid they won't be able to afford insulin or education? What's the fear?"
The quiet one will be looking for an escape now—as they ought to be. They'd hoped for another quiet one, and failed.
The typical retreat from there is Both Sides.
"Well I don't know, but both sides are crazy. Our government sure is broken."
Anything to not have to pay a price.
The typical retreat from there is Both Sides.
"Well I don't know, but both sides are crazy. Our government sure is broken."
Anything to not have to pay a price.
You can take it any direction from there, now that they've given up on holding any position.
Explain who is truly afraid in our country, and why.
Explain exactly what our president is, and why it makes people angry.
Or let them wander away, knowing there's no "normal" for them
Explain who is truly afraid in our country, and why.
Explain exactly what our president is, and why it makes people angry.
Or let them wander away, knowing there's no "normal" for them
They don't want to pay any price at all. Like anyone who's hooked themselves to a bully for advantage, they're terrified of being recognized for their choices.
They want to cruise in atrocity's wake to avoid having to swim.
Let them know you know them.
Put it in your eyes.
They want to cruise in atrocity's wake to avoid having to swim.
Let them know you know them.
Put it in your eyes.
If you still support this president, if you still support his party, you've chosen a moral catastrophe.
You've got a problem with millions of us.
There's a price to pay.
We've got the invoice.
Come get it.
You've got a problem with millions of us.
There's a price to pay.
We've got the invoice.
Come get it.
They aren't afraid of being beaten by police
They aren't afraid of being run out of their communities
They aren't afraid of white supremacists in their places of worship
They aren't afraid of travel bans
They're afraid of criticism for supporting all that.
They should have it.
They aren't afraid of being run out of their communities
They aren't afraid of white supremacists in their places of worship
They aren't afraid of travel bans
They're afraid of criticism for supporting all that.
They should have it.
They aren't afraid of losing their children.
They aren't afraid of being packed into camps.
They aren't afraid of being asked for their papers.
They aren't afraid of bathroom laws
They're afraid of criticism for supporting all that.
They should have it.
They aren't afraid of being packed into camps.
They aren't afraid of being asked for their papers.
They aren't afraid of bathroom laws
They're afraid of criticism for supporting all that.
They should have it.
They aren't afraid of losing bodily autonomy
They aren't afraid of losing their homes
They aren't afraid of not having clean water for years
They aren't afraid of climate change emergencies
They're afraid of criticism for insulating themselves from all that
They should have it
They aren't afraid of losing their homes
They aren't afraid of not having clean water for years
They aren't afraid of climate change emergencies
They're afraid of criticism for insulating themselves from all that
They should have it
They aren't afraid of the white supremacists
They aren't afraid of the neo Nazis
They aren't afraid of hate groups infiltrating law enforcement
They aren't afraid of an openly racist president
They're afraid of criticism for not opposing any of it.
They should have it.
They aren't afraid of the neo Nazis
They aren't afraid of hate groups infiltrating law enforcement
They aren't afraid of an openly racist president
They're afraid of criticism for not opposing any of it.
They should have it.
The quiet ones are all counting on us staying quiet too. It's their gamble. It's their great hope.
How dare we remain quiet for them.
How dare we remain quiet for them.
Of course they're decent. Of course they love their kids and work hard and pay their taxes.
That doesn't make it better.
Individual decency is a wonderful thing and it matters.
It doesn't cover for supporting systemic atrocity.
True decency will say so
That doesn't make it better.
Individual decency is a wonderful thing and it matters.
It doesn't cover for supporting systemic atrocity.
True decency will say so
It's their individual decency that makes them quiet. They know better.
It's the fear of losing that understanding of themselves as fundamentally decent that makes them quiet ones.
That IS the fear.
They fear losing the good regard individual decency bought them.
They should.
It's the fear of losing that understanding of themselves as fundamentally decent that makes them quiet ones.
That IS the fear.
They fear losing the good regard individual decency bought them.
They should.
Direct and unequivocal talk: if you support this, there is no "normal" for you anymore. You have a serious problem with millions of us.
How dare we give them the silence they hope for.
How dare we give them the silence they hope for.
There are a series of timeless quotes I typically use to sign off when I write on this topic.
Please, read them. Really feel them.
The time is now, and we are in the moment we're in.
Meet the demand of this moment.
Please, read them. Really feel them.
The time is now, and we are in the moment we're in.
Meet the demand of this moment.
Two final quick thoughts: first, this thread is not anti-politeness, anti-civility or even anti-calm discourse. It’s not pro shame.
The first 3 things are quite good when properly applied. They just shouldn’t be allowed to be used to cover atrocity—even if shaming is the result.
The first 3 things are quite good when properly applied. They just shouldn’t be allowed to be used to cover atrocity—even if shaming is the result.
Don’t let the appeal to the inherent goodness of politeness or civility or calm prevent you from a moral imperative to speak uncomfortable truth and confront clear atrocity
If it’s appropriate to be polite, and if you can, then do so
But don’t confuse politeness with goodness
If it’s appropriate to be polite, and if you can, then do so
But don’t confuse politeness with goodness
Second, be aware and cautious and wise. What’s being supported by the highest levels of power in our country today is a terrible darkness, and it has roused people with bad intentions to a reawakened boldness.
They are quite willing to harm.
So keep safe.
They are quite willing to harm.
So keep safe.
Since the tweet I linked to for this tweet was deleted, here’s the video I was referencing.
