Absolutely horrible what these Republicans are saying. Except for Native Americans we're all descended from immigrants. And the fact that your family has been here since your great-great-grandfather's time doesn't change that. These people lack basic human empathy and should be nowhere near the levers of power.
Beautifully written, Terry. I have long thought the same thing about Donald Trump: that he is not the cause of the hatred but the revealer of it. No previous Supreme Court would have taken this case because, duh, according to the Constitution, anyone born in America (with noted exception of children of foreign diplomats or children of invading armies) is an American citizen. Every lower court was able to read the Constitution, but four justices made up their own Constitution. I expect that the anti-immigrant wing (or maybe the DOJ) will soon file a case based on Kavanaugh's wink in his opinion. People, we must win this election by taking both the House and Senate. That is the only way we can protect the Constitution from the radical six on the Supreme Court.
Terry, this is a magnificent opus dedicated to what we SHOULD be, and the horror of what we CAN be if our worst angels are triggered. Thank you. You have a poetic soul and really should write more.
And goons like Troy Nehls should be primaried ASAP. What he said would be construed as "treasonous" if a Democrat had said it during this administration.
The fundamental problem is right wing social media. It cults hatred. It foments division. I don't really believe that people's worst angels can be that easily stirred. But hours upon hours of drumming hatred into Americans psychologically attuned to it will cult almost anyone.
Read Prof. Altemeyer's studies about authoritarianism. We are either "high" or "low" authoritarian-minded. We need a little of both, but the "highs" tend to follow the herd. We "lows" have the obligation to lead them in the right direction because they are easy followers with hyper-dominant leaders. Very dangerous, if indulged.
Too little civics education and too much latitude from these pathological "leaders." THEY encourage our worst angels.
I have been saying the same thing since Trump came down that elevator - we have lost the sense of shame. He has given everyone permission to say out loud what earlier they were ashamed to say. And also, Terry, you were of course right last summer when you said that Miller is filled with hate. He does eat his hate. That was accurate reporting, not opinion. The hate this administration shows for others, in whatever context, has grown among us like a cancer. None of it is healthy for our democracy.
It reminds me of a scene where a shy, circumspect individual is persuaded to join an orgy. He steps tentatively into the room, fully-clothed, reticent. He takes a sip from the punch bowl, a whiff of something dope-like in the air; his inhibitions begin to slip away. He strips, joins the fray, and all he was falls away. MAGA's that kind of transformation -- more mental and emotional than physical -- one in which there is no room for cognitive dissonance, for comparing in the mind the ethos inside and outside the door to that room.
Trump's MAGA has been an orgy of hate and cruelty, fear transformed into faux omnipotence, resentment transformed into contempt, existential angst resolved into triumphant nihilism. It is no wonder that getting any among this writhing horde to leave that room has proven so difficult. Truth/reality simply cannot compete with body heat, constant psychosexual stimulation, and belonging. I don't know how orgies end -- in violence or in exhaustion?
Do those idiots ranting about the ruling of the court realize that the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868?! That it has been the law of the land for 158 years?!
Good Lord. And this regime has gutted the Department of Education, too. <sigh>
I served in the army, as an officer....and deployed to Iraq and Kosovo. I am a dentist, pay taxes, vote....but I would not be here if my italian grandmother was not born in Colorado. Her father died in a mining accident and she returned to Italy with her mother and sister...then came Mussolini...she was able to bring her family to the US because she had birthright citizenship. She was a wonderful, kind, well loved woman...who are these awful men calling children born here, vermin?
For whatever reason my Italian grandparents left Canada and came to the US and had two children, my mother and aunt. They then returned to Canada. My mother, as an adult decided to stay in the USA and had me. She worked as a waitress, dealt Black Jack and eventually owned her own businesses. All this with a 4th grade education.
I went to college, worked since I was 16 years old, paid taxes and vote. Over my almost 80 years I have met so many people whose children have contributed to the American way. It is shameful that the current day immigrants, legally here or not, are discounted.
Terry thank you for the spot on article. 2016 was my wake up call to this very fact that all around me were actually narrow minded “hate the other” and “people not in their tribe” folks. That the right (I almost put far right but that would be wrong now wouldn’t it?) has come so far to want to deny birth on our soil as the amendment was very purposefully made for and not some bloodline test, is truly a very bad sign for our pluralistic democracy. The closeness of the vote 5-4 and reaction by the right openly making both racist and misogynistic (against Amy Coney Barrett) statements is horrifying and even more reason to vote them to a minority.
Absolutely horrible what these Republicans are saying. Except for Native Americans we're all descended from immigrants. And the fact that your family has been here since your great-great-grandfather's time doesn't change that. These people lack basic human empathy and should be nowhere near the levers of power.
sigh
Me too from my toes with tears in my eyes
Agreed
Beautifully written, Terry. I have long thought the same thing about Donald Trump: that he is not the cause of the hatred but the revealer of it. No previous Supreme Court would have taken this case because, duh, according to the Constitution, anyone born in America (with noted exception of children of foreign diplomats or children of invading armies) is an American citizen. Every lower court was able to read the Constitution, but four justices made up their own Constitution. I expect that the anti-immigrant wing (or maybe the DOJ) will soon file a case based on Kavanaugh's wink in his opinion. People, we must win this election by taking both the House and Senate. That is the only way we can protect the Constitution from the radical six on the Supreme Court.
So clearly explained. Thanks
Wonderfully written, Terry. Write every day if you can.
Shame for those 4 SCOTUS Justices. Shame for the men quoted in your essay. Thank you for the light you are shining on the darkness.
So eloquently and truthfully said. Really appreciate what you do.
I'm glad you're back Terry.
Trump, Musk and the "dis"like are symptomatic of Social Media which does the dredging.
Terry, this is a magnificent opus dedicated to what we SHOULD be, and the horror of what we CAN be if our worst angels are triggered. Thank you. You have a poetic soul and really should write more.
And goons like Troy Nehls should be primaried ASAP. What he said would be construed as "treasonous" if a Democrat had said it during this administration.
The fundamental problem is right wing social media. It cults hatred. It foments division. I don't really believe that people's worst angels can be that easily stirred. But hours upon hours of drumming hatred into Americans psychologically attuned to it will cult almost anyone.
Read Prof. Altemeyer's studies about authoritarianism. We are either "high" or "low" authoritarian-minded. We need a little of both, but the "highs" tend to follow the herd. We "lows" have the obligation to lead them in the right direction because they are easy followers with hyper-dominant leaders. Very dangerous, if indulged.
Too little civics education and too much latitude from these pathological "leaders." THEY encourage our worst angels.
I have been saying the same thing since Trump came down that elevator - we have lost the sense of shame. He has given everyone permission to say out loud what earlier they were ashamed to say. And also, Terry, you were of course right last summer when you said that Miller is filled with hate. He does eat his hate. That was accurate reporting, not opinion. The hate this administration shows for others, in whatever context, has grown among us like a cancer. None of it is healthy for our democracy.
It reminds me of a scene where a shy, circumspect individual is persuaded to join an orgy. He steps tentatively into the room, fully-clothed, reticent. He takes a sip from the punch bowl, a whiff of something dope-like in the air; his inhibitions begin to slip away. He strips, joins the fray, and all he was falls away. MAGA's that kind of transformation -- more mental and emotional than physical -- one in which there is no room for cognitive dissonance, for comparing in the mind the ethos inside and outside the door to that room.
Trump's MAGA has been an orgy of hate and cruelty, fear transformed into faux omnipotence, resentment transformed into contempt, existential angst resolved into triumphant nihilism. It is no wonder that getting any among this writhing horde to leave that room has proven so difficult. Truth/reality simply cannot compete with body heat, constant psychosexual stimulation, and belonging. I don't know how orgies end -- in violence or in exhaustion?
Do these folks think Melania should go back to Slovenia?
You bet. Elon back to S Africa as well.
Melania was not a U.S. citizen when Baron was born, or so I read. Hmmm....
My thoughts exactly.
Do those idiots ranting about the ruling of the court realize that the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868?! That it has been the law of the land for 158 years?!
Good Lord. And this regime has gutted the Department of Education, too. <sigh>
They are not happy with the outcome of the Civil War - how could they be ok with the 14th, which consolidated the gains of that war?
I served in the army, as an officer....and deployed to Iraq and Kosovo. I am a dentist, pay taxes, vote....but I would not be here if my italian grandmother was not born in Colorado. Her father died in a mining accident and she returned to Italy with her mother and sister...then came Mussolini...she was able to bring her family to the US because she had birthright citizenship. She was a wonderful, kind, well loved woman...who are these awful men calling children born here, vermin?
For whatever reason my Italian grandparents left Canada and came to the US and had two children, my mother and aunt. They then returned to Canada. My mother, as an adult decided to stay in the USA and had me. She worked as a waitress, dealt Black Jack and eventually owned her own businesses. All this with a 4th grade education.
I went to college, worked since I was 16 years old, paid taxes and vote. Over my almost 80 years I have met so many people whose children have contributed to the American way. It is shameful that the current day immigrants, legally here or not, are discounted.
Your story makes me teary! How fortunate our families have been...I do not understand this hate emanating from the trump minions.
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/essays/mexicans-making-america
The section that begins after the map pretty much sums up the fears of many white Americans.
This was interesting! I am retired army and MOST of my patients were Latino, or from Africa.
Terry thank you for the spot on article. 2016 was my wake up call to this very fact that all around me were actually narrow minded “hate the other” and “people not in their tribe” folks. That the right (I almost put far right but that would be wrong now wouldn’t it?) has come so far to want to deny birth on our soil as the amendment was very purposefully made for and not some bloodline test, is truly a very bad sign for our pluralistic democracy. The closeness of the vote 5-4 and reaction by the right openly making both racist and misogynistic (against Amy Coney Barrett) statements is horrifying and even more reason to vote them to a minority.