I didn't watch. I and many others tuned their TVs to the Cartoon Network or puppies/kittens to f**k with his Nielsen ratings. I hope enough people did it that it seriously affected them. That will get under his thin, orange skin.
I saw no need to watch, as I knew it would affect me too much. I knew what was coming because I've read The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. What we witnessed yesterday was the birth of the Fourth Reich. Muskrat's Nazi salute (and make no mistake, that's what it was) was an intentional confirmation. The gloves are off, the masks have been dropped, the monsters have revealed themselves.
He let the January 6 rioters off because he finds them useful. Otherwise, he would have let them rot. They, plus the Proud Boys and other "militias," are going to be his Brownshirts. The nation is under an existential threat that its never faced before. I think we could be headed for Civil War II.
Jared, thanks for that well written summary of 'installation day'. I refused to watch, and instead stood alone, at a busy intersection in southern New Hampshire, with an anti-Trump sign in the cold snow. I had to bear witness to what was unfolding in that hour. I received mostly positive beeps, and only one person yelled at me calling me an idiot! I am not giving in or giving up! Thanks for your inspiration.
I suggest a recent talk from economist Gary Stevenson, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPoXOwiEfrQ for his stunning take on why the very wealthy keep pushing the danger from immigrants / others narrative. It's about 16 minutes, and eminently listenable.
Amongst my other reading, I too recently picked up William L. Shirer's little 1960 tome, "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" as a primer. I'd read it in high school history class, and it didn't seem like anything more than just 'history' then. Didn't foresee that it'd become a blueprint for a future oligarchy.
One testimony therein from Nuremberg caught my attention: "What had been hardness became cruelty, while a tendency to bluff became dishonesty. He lied without hesitation and assumed others lied to him. It had already been difficult enough dealing with him; it now became a torture that grew steadily worse from month to month." Hans Guderian, the Panzer ace, recalling dealings with that 'Boss' after July of '45.
I wouldn't say that I feel any less nauseated for having this knowledge; possibly more so. But at least I'm recognizing the source of the bile when it rises. Thanks for your awareness, Jared.
Another great piece, Jared. I could not watch yesterday. I didn't want to spend the day screaming at my TV. I kept an eye on news clips and that outraged me enough.
It is maddening. It's PoS tRump, so I believe it, I know it's true. But in the generic kind of 20 years ago I would have thought this impossible for an American president to spew anytime, let alone at the inauguration. Incredulous.
I've got to figure out viable action. I will not spend the next 4 years helplessly screaming at my TV set. In the past, I worked for the Democrats, but I no longer see that as a viable option or good use of my time.
I'm interested to read more about the resistance work you are doing and how people can get involved.
I am working on building community in my community and many of the other things you've described.
I didn't watch. I and many others tuned their TVs to the Cartoon Network or puppies/kittens to f**k with his Nielsen ratings. I hope enough people did it that it seriously affected them. That will get under his thin, orange skin.
I saw no need to watch, as I knew it would affect me too much. I knew what was coming because I've read The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. What we witnessed yesterday was the birth of the Fourth Reich. Muskrat's Nazi salute (and make no mistake, that's what it was) was an intentional confirmation. The gloves are off, the masks have been dropped, the monsters have revealed themselves.
He let the January 6 rioters off because he finds them useful. Otherwise, he would have let them rot. They, plus the Proud Boys and other "militias," are going to be his Brownshirts. The nation is under an existential threat that its never faced before. I think we could be headed for Civil War II.
I can hear Putin and Xi laughing.
Yes, yesterday was the day when the curtain was pulled back in the analogy told by the late great Frank Zappa.
Jared- thank you for apt description of yesterday's clown show. I felt the same.
It left me angry and saying "What the fuck? a lot. My Trump defenses were shattered.
However, I was able to use my AA coping skills and meeting to get back on track.
I was powerless over Trump and his outright insane actions but my life has not become unmanageable because of the bullshit.
Focused on the future and aware of the past to, along with you and others, make my way through this rat trap.
Deep breaths and Ma Nature are helping me to move forward.
Peace and love in '25.
Rob, northern California
Glad here, too, for the gift of finding my way into those meetings.
Thank you, Jared. I needed that, especially the part about how they are really utterly fragile.
Jared, thanks for that well written summary of 'installation day'. I refused to watch, and instead stood alone, at a busy intersection in southern New Hampshire, with an anti-Trump sign in the cold snow. I had to bear witness to what was unfolding in that hour. I received mostly positive beeps, and only one person yelled at me calling me an idiot! I am not giving in or giving up! Thanks for your inspiration.
Kudos to you for being out with your anti-tRump sign! You fought back!
I suggest a recent talk from economist Gary Stevenson, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPoXOwiEfrQ for his stunning take on why the very wealthy keep pushing the danger from immigrants / others narrative. It's about 16 minutes, and eminently listenable.
Amongst my other reading, I too recently picked up William L. Shirer's little 1960 tome, "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" as a primer. I'd read it in high school history class, and it didn't seem like anything more than just 'history' then. Didn't foresee that it'd become a blueprint for a future oligarchy.
One testimony therein from Nuremberg caught my attention: "What had been hardness became cruelty, while a tendency to bluff became dishonesty. He lied without hesitation and assumed others lied to him. It had already been difficult enough dealing with him; it now became a torture that grew steadily worse from month to month." Hans Guderian, the Panzer ace, recalling dealings with that 'Boss' after July of '45.
I wouldn't say that I feel any less nauseated for having this knowledge; possibly more so. But at least I'm recognizing the source of the bile when it rises. Thanks for your awareness, Jared.
I read Shirer’s book when I was a kid, and the parallels are frightening to say the least.
Another great piece, Jared. I could not watch yesterday. I didn't want to spend the day screaming at my TV. I kept an eye on news clips and that outraged me enough.
It is maddening. It's PoS tRump, so I believe it, I know it's true. But in the generic kind of 20 years ago I would have thought this impossible for an American president to spew anytime, let alone at the inauguration. Incredulous.
I've got to figure out viable action. I will not spend the next 4 years helplessly screaming at my TV set. In the past, I worked for the Democrats, but I no longer see that as a viable option or good use of my time.
I'm interested to read more about the resistance work you are doing and how people can get involved.
I am working on building community in my community and many of the other things you've described.