I was going to write about something else but a tweet from a journalist I like has destroyed my equilibrium. Brian Stelter shared a threat he got from a disgruntled Trump supporter:
What inspires a person to take the time to insult and threaten a complete stranger?
When you take this kind of rabid free-floating rage and hatred and you multiply it by ten million, you’ve got a real mess. Slobbering, irrational defenders of some twisted ‘ideal’ are everywhere, finally getting their chance to do some damage however minor. It all adds up.
It adds up and it spreads like a virus. I am part of it. When Ivanka Trump tweets some simpering crap about motherhood, I taunt her. It makes me feel better. However, I’m going to rethink this. I don’t want to be part of any social media hate mob.
I blame Trump for inciting misguided rage and hatred, but it began with the tea party and before that by American meddling in the Middle East. Trump harnessed it and exploited it after half of America went berserk about having a black president. And now, we look at our neighbors and Facebook friends with unease; are they one of Us or one of Them?
Look how easily fear changes people. The forces in charge want to generate fear because it grooms us for manipulation. Fear of perspiration, dandruff, dingy teeth, a limp dick, high cholesterol, cancer, malware, identity theft, militias, drug companies, pesticides, poverty, terrorists, and nuclear destruction.
Now we’ve turned on comedians. How dare they! Me, I don’t want to suppress free speech. If you don’t like a comedian or Ann Coulter, don’t listen. But people seem primed to be outraged. The smallest things set them off. Maybe the big picture is too overwhelming?
Thinking about terrorists and the death cult that seduced them, I imagine how they’ve been groomed to become suicidal martyrs. That’s a lot of hardcore grooming. You probably have to start with a vulnerable person who feels bitterly cheated and immutably insignificant. Dying in a blaze of glory becomes more appealing that a lifetime of being a nameless dishwasher somewhere.
Poverty, hopelessness, lack of education, plus the systematic instilling of fear – is that the recipe?
Here in the US, Trump has used that recipe with the instincts of a mad savant. The sooner he is revealed as what he is to his deluded followers, the better we can think things through.
I’m not preaching Let’s All Be Nice and Love Each Other: just slow down and decide what kind of person you want to be. Start with compassion and you can’t go wrong.
Instead of tweeting “Shut up you stupid whore” to Ivanka, I’m going to remember that she is a victim of … I don’t know, incest? She too is a human being. I’m not so sure about Jared though.
Aren’t people getting tired of hate and fear? It’s old, it’s boring. Move on people and try to be more enlightened. For the sake of the whole goddam world.
“Maybe someone will show the baby a fake head of you one day”……what does that even mean Proud Trump Supporter? Why would someone show a baby a fake head? Is this a new American trend? (we’re very behind here in the UK, we tend to show our babies Tedddy bears and the like). I too, am all for free speech but Christ on a bike, if you have something disparaging to say, at least make it sound vaguely credible………you gigantic moron.
Certainly food for thought. I always try to remember that there’s a human behind every public persona. It can’t be easy for them to read certain things, as it isn’t easy for us to hold in our reactions.
Such a great piece, Sis. Your writing is always a pleasure. Thank you.
When trump was first elected, I answered all his tweets with ” Fuck you” or “STFU”. After a while my rage lessened and I no longer do that, I just say ” liar”. Silly, I know, he doesn’t see it.
I don’t waste my time on daughter wife, she is a poser and her time will come.
I am tired of being called a “libard”, by people whose grasp of spelling and grammar is nebulous, at best, so I no longer engage.
Anyway, invisible cloud being, help us all.
Thanks for listening.
I loved reading this. It makes perfect sense. It seems that the situation is so serious that save for slam-dunk evidence emerging from the ongoing investigations, our best hope is to stay focused on strategy, not ideology. Hard to do, for certain. Maybe scream into a pillow or whatever, then find a way to be heard w/o becoming a distraction from the message. I’d love to see a big rally where women don simple “non-confrontational” clothing, tote protest signs that exclude Trump’s name, and just stick with the issues (plenty!) – no hair, hand or Cheetoh-inspired slogans. The pussy hats and ovary outfits were awesome, but it felt like we were just handing the 45-ers undetonated bombs to lob back at us. Thanks, Sister.
An idea perhaps?
http://www.headlineoftheday.com/2017/06/08/show-your-rump-to-trump-plans-nationwide-mooning-during-presidents-uk-visit/
I’ve always thought of tweeting as something 13 year old girls do..”did you see Suzy staring at my shoes, bitch”, “did you let Bobby feel you up?” “You’re a slut!” You know, jabs and gossip. Just like our potus. I’m tired of knowing what every numbskull has on their mind, their opinions, needs, slights. Enough. Tweeting, good god…frankly, if I lived anywhere other than the U.S. I would be scared to come here and rather disgusted by the culture. Tweet that!
Do you think Trump could be ‘on the spectrum’?
Madame Restora – I do. Experts I have spoken with agree. But you know, that’s not his actual problem as a person or President!
Observing the way he conducts himself as President, Sister, I have to respectfully disagree with you on that one.