This weekend I had hope.
I’ve often shared about my belief that there are still many Trump supporters who are not totally out on a limb. Here’s a comment from someone named Mal who’s seen a lot in his 94 years on this third rock from the sun.
“It’s the radicals causing all the problems, on BOTH sides. If we got rid of them, things would be much better. Rational folks are sensible, ergo, easier to work with.”
My response?
YES!
I believe Mal’s statement is 100% true.
Today opening the Captain’s Log on the HMS Mothership, here are two things that caught my attention and robbed me of my few moments of hope.
- We saw KENT STATE and kids going wild………HOW MANY DO YOU THINK WERE REPUBLICANS?
- Ever compare the DNC and the RNC and notice the enormous difference in the attending young people? DNC; long hair, sloppy jacket. RNC, shorter hair, nice clothing (honestly, it’s quite amazing, the difference…I notice it every time.)
Let’s take those separately.
Speaking of Kent State, sure the left-wing protesters got unruly. But how many Republicans were there? Probably the ones with the guns who killed the mostly peaceful protestors.
Then, looking at Republican National Conventions, yes, sometimes people are dressed better and have shorter hair. That’s what you see. But you know what you don’t see? People of color. And this has been true in every election post Gerald Ford’s run against Jimmy Carter in 1976.
In fact, at the 2024 RNC, only 55 of the convention's 1700+ official delegates were black. Less than 3% according to Yahoo News.
But none of this obscures the reality of Mal’s statement… “the radicals on BOTH sides.”
The only “radicals” the Captain could come up with from the right are Liz Cheney and MTG.
Really? MTG and Cheney? They probably have a 100% GOP voting record, save for the last election when voting for a lying, coup enabling man was a bridge too far.
I’ve tried for years to get someone, anyone on the conservative side to give me examples of right wing extremism. You know what I’ve received as answers? Beyond the typical blather I cited above, I’ve got two other responses…
- I can’t think of anything.
- You can’t have too far right [extremism] because the right [directionally] is right [morally].
It’s truly amazing.
- The Proud Boys who orchestrated the January 6 beatings of US Capitol officers? Not radical.
- The Jews will not replace us crowd that marched at the Unite the Right rally? Not radical.
- The people who cheered the shooting of Alex Pretti in the back? Not radical.
- Young Republicans who championed Adolph Hitler in multiple text messages? Not radical.
- The Senate Republican who called for a religious test for election to the Senate in violation of the Constitution? Not radical.
- The conservatives who post and repost racist images of black people? Not radical.
There seems to be nothing people on the right will admit is extreme or radical behavior from their tribe.
Unless of course it’s not voting for Trump.
2 comments:
"Research into civic engagement shows that young people across the political spectrum—regardless of their personal style—actively contribute to society in various ways:
Young conservatives may focus their civic energy on religious organizations, local business growth, or traditional community structures.
Young liberals may focus their civic energy on social justice advocacy, environmental initiatives, or mutual aid networks.
Ultimately, evaluating citizenship based on outward appearance or political labels overlooks individual character and actual contributions to the community.
What a society deems "well-dressed" is rarely objective; it is historically defined by the aesthetics of the dominant social or economic class.
Standard business attire or conservative styling signals access to economic resources and adherence to traditional power structures. This creates a systemic bias where unconventional dress is penalized as "unprofessional" or "unreliable," regardless of the individual's actual capabilities or civic virtue."
If we were allowed to post on her blog, I'd remind her that George Washington's soldiers were poorly dressed, "rag-tag" unkempt farmers, laborers, apprentices, and tradesmen who enlisted or served as local militiamen compared with the professionally suited and trained British Red Coats.
How someone dresses has very little to do with how good a citizen he/she is, but, IMO, the sailors and the captain of the Mother Ship tend to focus on surface things without giving much thought to what people DO and how they treat others.
A well- dressed, short-haired and courteous individual can take away one's health care with the most charming smile and friendliest handshake, while the individual who advocates for helping the helpless, the foreigner, the homeless, and sick, may appear with a flowing beard, long robe, and sandals.
I think I know which one the captain and her sailors would think is the better human being. 😏
It's why I now choose to sport a ponytail, let my beard grow to nearly reach my belly button (before I cut it shorter), wear sandals, beads, a kira, and couldn't care less what small minded bigoted rightwing conservatives think. In fact they give me the juice to keep being as different as possible. Why? Because I sure as hell do not ever want to be mistake for one of them.
Even when I considered myself a conservative back in the day the way Republicans have recently been acting acted (MAGA) would have made me sick to my stomach.
Post a Comment