— Musings —11.04.2018 09:23 AM
In yesterday walks tomorrow
The U.S. government made this cautionary film during the World War II era.
It doesn’t seem that old.
The U.S. government made this anti-fascism film in 1943. Spookily prophetic for what is happening in America in 2018.pic.twitter.com/ihtMhoLjBm
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) November 4, 2018
Rubbish.
Read darkness at noon to see the threat that really exists to democracies.
Gord,
I don’t think it’s ever a good idea to reflexively dismiss the other side’s argument any more than to do the same with yours.
Isn’t life all about broadening our collective perspectives?
You do realize that this was 1943 and that this was essentially a propaganda film. One that ignored communist infiltration- remember hiss?- because Stalin was our ally.
So fascism is ok, Gord?
Agree this is a good reflection of what is happening in the U.S., and is embodied in the orange menace Trump.
However, and bear with me for being provocative here, but don’t we do the same thing here in Canada? Lots of talk about who “owns” the land, and how the immigrants (“settlers”) should pay up. It’s the same idea: pitting one group against another, and villainizing certain people simply because of their color. The premise that, if not for the “others”, everything would be hunky-dory.
If you want to know where the seeds are sown for evil men like Trump to come into power, it is when a large group of people feel they are demonized for no fault of their own. When they see special privileges bestowed upon certain groups. When they are told that “fairness” is the goal, but policies are enacted that are the opposite of fair.
Just like the film notes, when someone is creating these divisions within society, it is because they want something. It is never simply about “fairness”.
No president in the modern era has been more divisive than Obama.
Seriously? You think the U.S. was as torn apart during Obama’s years as they are now under Trump? Only a hardcore Tea Party supporter could believe that.
Warren permit me to explain.
Trump as president deeply divides people – likely no other president in the past hundred years has been as divisive save perhaps RMN. I and others argue that that is a symptom of the times we live in as populism on both the right and left has risen across the globe to challenge the entitled / protected elites.
Watch or read trumps speeches and you hear “we” a lot and “i” very rarely. He appeals to blacks and other visible minorities often. And rails against those who take them for Granted. His language is not divisive within America. If it divides the rest of the world I think he couldn’t (and shouldn’t) care less.
Look at the speeches and candid comments of Obama – “clinging” etc. He ceaselessly played identity politics.
Many presidents divided the country – not by there acts or language but due to the circumstances of their time – Lincoln and Grant being the most obvious. Trump falls into that category.
Probably no president
“”His language is not divisive within America.”
So calling the media “the enemy of the people”, including after pipe bombs have been hate-mailed to CNN and CNN personalities, is not divisive within America?
Calling Rosie O’Donnell a fat pig is not divisive within America?
Calling white supremacists “very fine people” is not divisive within America?
Are you effing serious?
He was a pretty conventional neo-liberal leader. Did that happen because he was black or because the right-wing media systematicly attacked everything he did.
The right-wing media being only a small fraction of the size of the Obama-loving left wing media, who cares?
Fox News is the most watched of all the cable news and non-news channels. https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/october-2018-ratings-fox-news-channel-averaged-more-viewers-than-cnn-and-msnbc-combined/382598
“Fox News is the most watched of all the cable news”
Yes. So what? Cable news is only a small part of the total news media, which includes regular TV (nightly) news and investigative report shows (60 Minutes, etc), newspapers, magazines, radio and of course online (internet) sources.
“and non-news channels.”
???
LOL completely divorced from reality as usual Gord.
And I think I owe you an explanation too, Gord, since you were replying/supporting my original post.
I do believe that the practice of screaming “racist!” every time someone questions left-wing policies is a contributor to Trump’s election. However, I don’t believe Obama was the main problem. This situation existed long before he came to power; on both sides of the border, and globally.
It just happens that candidate Trump appeared at a time when a certain segment of the U.S. population was tired of hearing it, and other factors (such as a disaffected blue-collar middle class) also were in place.
Trump voters heard what they wanted to hear; it didn’t matter that it was mostly bullshit. As a society, we can either write those people off, or we can look at how to change the conversation to make them feel more included. Not the racists; but the vast majority of Trump voters who just saw no hope in the other choices.
Why don’t guys like you ever host shows for CNN or write for the NYT or Washington Post?
Hmm, let’s see. Recently arrived European immigrant sets confused, simplistic (but basically decent) native-born American straight. Not sure how that would play in flyover country then or now. But I do like the message and agree it’s apposite, so as we’re into the thirties these days and as both sides could do with some shaking up, how about a bipartisan agreement that this be shown in all theatres in America on a double bill along with Reefer Madness?