fear and loathing...and politics

[jenni_blog]

To paraphrase some of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth":

"There is something happening here
What it is isn't exactly clear..."

"I think it's time we stop, people, what's that sound?
Everybody look at what's going down..."

"There are partisan lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
But so much resistance from behind"

"Paranoia strikes deep
Into your lives it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid..."

I've never written about politics; in fact, until about ten years ago I rarely gave the subject any thought. For years since the "Sixties Revolution," there has seemed to be a sameness in politics and governance in North America, no matter what party was in power. Things always seemed to be done the same way.

But not anymore!

I've just ordered two books: one, James Comey's 'A Higher Loyalty' and Madeleine Albright's 'Fascism'. They have yet to arrive.

My reason for wanting to read Comey's is less for the salacious details regarding Donald Trump than for what I can glean from a Republican's views on what is going down in the country these days. Yes, I am Canadian but with American relatives and deep connection to the USA.

It's been approximately 50 years since Buffalo Springfield's iconic song, and I am very afraid that the freedom of spirit we enjoyed in the 1960s has given way to the current fear of a growing fascist society.

I saw Madeleine Albright giving a brief interview recently about her latest book. She said she was afraid that fascism was "creeping back". She echoed my own feelings in saying that her father (as did mine) fought for our freedom from fascism in the second world war. She sees things in today's world that she thinks are clues that fascism may be making its way back into many societies throughout the world. Sometimes it happens in insidious ways, and not necessarily by way of an overt coup or something so obvious.

I want to read her book to get her Democratic view of the situation. I feel hers will be the more enlightening of the two; however, Comey has written his book partly because he was afraid of Trump and what he was asking him to do. It crossed a certain line and I want to discern for myself what that's all about.

In the meantime, I will continue to be very, very afraid of what is happening here.

Comments

[heartofoshun]

It is very easy to get hysterical! I spent basically my entire adult life engaged in politics at the level I have been engaged in writing and fandom over the last several years. I worked at it. And it's been an uphill battle. I basically consider myself "retired!" But I cannot ignore it or stop thinking about it. And I don't recall it looking worse at anytime in my adult life.

I am interested in hearing what you glean from those works. I just this second re-subscribed to the NYT so I could catch up on all the issues that have been boiling over in the last week or so.

I keep hoping the other shoe will drop and we can get rid of the great orange maniac. But he is not alone in the world when it comes to political crazies in positions of authority around the globe! It is scary.

I still can't believe he communicates through Twitter without consultation or even spellcheck! Even tyrant kings in the Middle-ages had advisers and counselors! Not this guy.

[jenni_blog]

The future looks terrifying from here. I subscribed to NYT also, and the Washington Post, but I'm not sure that total immersion in US politics is good for me! I am also glued to CNN pretty much all morning and evening! But I'm hooked and don't want to miss anything!

The midterms should be very interesting to say the least. I do hope the "blue wave" will become a long-lasting trend, all the way through 2020 and beyond.

The big question re Trump is this, I think? Is he merely a manifestation in the US of what is going on in the rest of the world? Is there a trend toward fascism for the simple reason that people see a horrible fascist regime in one country and feel that to successfully counteract it, they should allow one to take over in this part of the world? It's almost like a disease that's extraordinarily catching!

I feel that most people don't feel that the things I find important are important to them anymore.

[eiffel_71]

There is much to fear from the alt-right both in America and here in Britain. Let us hope and pray that the tide will be turned back.

I have always admired Madeleine Albright. I expect her book will be a fascinating read. x

[eiffel_71]

Hiya Jenni, hope you're well. Have you seen this one yet?

https://turk182.dreamwidth.org/652023.html

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