ABOUT THE ELECTION
I am a 91-year-old Democrat who has lived through the Great Depression, two World Wars, and the creation of both the United Nations and Nato. I must say that I find the recent election very disheartening for these reasons: America has become self-centered, ignorant, and isolationist. We have elected a hopelessly selfish idiot as our next President because he promises to be good to us without giving a damn about our responsibilities to the rest of the world. Back in the day we fought two World Wars as much for others sake as our own. We sacrificed for each other and our European neighbors. We created and joined in with our neighbors to create the United Nations and Nato just so the world could be safe from leaders like Trump. Now we have basically said that we do not care for our neighbors nor our own long-range well-being. We fought for the freedom and well-being of our European friends, and we have built our nation by welcoming people from other countries. I am greatly ashamed, embarrassed and saddened.
10 responses to “ABOUT THE ELECTION”
Hello Jerry,
I’m a product of the ’60’s, but couldn’t agree with you more! There must be something that those of us who didn’t vote for Trump can do… publish American samizdat? (Ha ha! 😂)
Seriously, I’m reading “The Making of Donald Trump” by David Cay Johnston, an investigative journalist who has written several books about him. It’s beyond comprehension how someone with Trump’s guile and nerve could get away with so much wrongdoing.
I know that there’s not much I can do as an expat here in the UK. I am sure frustrated, disheartened and disgusted by the choice American voters made this month. I guess reading good books will be my only option at this point. And having online discussions with you and other decent people in this forum.
By the way, have you heard of someone by the name of A. J. Muste? From what little I know about him, he was someone who was a bit radical in his day. His family was originally from The Netherlands. He took part in sit-down strikes at nuclear facilities in the 1960s, and protested America’s involvement in Vietnam. He was known as “America’s Gandhi”. I recently happened to find an interesting quote attributed to him on Facebook.
I would really like to connect with people who think on a deeper level and get away from the isolation I am feeling at this time.
Any ideas?
Many thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jerry – and for letting me share some of mine.
Sincerely,
John
Hey John – good to hear from you again :O) Just keep reading and thinking – and sharing :O) Paz, Jerry
I somewhat familiar with A.J. Muste from my time volunteering at the Catholic Worker in the early to mid-80s. I love a famous quote of his–“There is no way to peace, peace is the way.” I know he also attended a rather famous informal peace conference/gathering at Thomas Merton’s hermitage in 1965, that also included the Berrigan brothers and Jim Forest, co-founder of the Catholic Peace Fellowship. I like his idea of being a one-man revolution and that being successful is secondary to being faithful.
very thoughtful stuff Gary :O) I like the more personal approach as well (necessary) but think we need a political one at the same time. Paz, Jerry
I appreciate your point of view, but think that there were many factors at that time which forced the country into greater involvement internationally that are decidedly not the case now. Two world wars for instance. For better or not, THE most predictive factor for determining the winner in presidential elections is the strength of the economy. It’s undeniable that inflation was much lower during Trump’s first term than it was during Biden’s presidency. I hate the phrase, but it seems to fit: it is what it is!
Interesting but it seems that the current world situation is every bit as complex as in “my day” ;o) You are right about the economy’s importance (that was half of my point) but i think it was a lot worse during the Pandemic under trump. And i still think that we self-centered Americans need to look around and think of others. Paz, Jerry
As am I. It isn’t the America I knew as a child, when my father was a sergeant in the Air Force, working for the safety of the country. As a soldier, he was nonpolitical, committed to serve the commander-in-chief whoever he was. We listened to J.P. Sousa in school at the end of the school day, always lived near a military base where all the neighbors were very pro-America, and considered our political opinions our own beliefs, which did not prevent us from serving the country under a President we did not vote for. The unity of the states was important to us. The raising of the flag moved us. I longed to don a uniform and serve, but I had a heart condition that prevented it. I had hopes for America. All of that is gone now, and I am happy that I live in Finland.
Lucky you, David :O) I would like to follow you but winter would be too hard for me with my walker. :O) Paz, Jerry
I agree, Jerry. My partisanship says I have to speak out on this one and it’s a struggle to honestly say Trump supporters are entitled to have their views respected. Dale R.
So great to hear from you DALE – AND TO KNOW YOU ARE STILL READING THESE THINGS :o) “Entitled” is a slippery word in this case – tough to utter here. I probably will never get to see the end of the Rump ! Paz, Jerry