huckelberry wrote: ↑Tue Mar 19, 2024 12:43 am
This is an interesting opening. I have not studied Eliade though the name has crossed my attention possible connected with Joseph Campbell, area of concern overlapping.
I found myself thinking this might be pointing to areas of human psychology that help generate things like Trump enthusiasm which is a bit of a puzzling subject.
msnobody wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 20, 2024 11:22 pm
Having lived all of my life in the Southeast, I saw great benefit within the African American community here during Trump’s presidency. Benefit that I have never seen in 50-ish+ years. I, strikingly, have seen what has been in my lifetime an oppressed community, now thriving, upwardly mobile, and finally in possession of a long overdue rightful sense of dignity. Much of that oppression coming from our own U.S. government. For this reason I can focus on Trump’s positive aspects and the benefits of his presidency and not get caught up in persuasion of others who in self-righteousness are quick to point out the speck in someone else’s eye, while ignoring the plank in their own.
I have puzzled over just what could have possibly have created the idea that Trump provided for black Americans a long overdue sense of dignity and upward mobility. I do not see any reason for that idea and pointed to objective information hoping fro clarification. Perhaps the idea is not one of objective details but of vision and hope. Clearly Trump provides hope for some people and black Americans certainly may share those same hopes. That some should see hope in Trump is no more mysterious than the fact many white Americans find hope there.
In Terrestial Kishkumen posted a relevant discussion about Nibley, Eliade and extremist hopes for reestablishing a sacred past for the country. Such a hope perhaps not fully articulated may be energizing Evangelical energy for Trump. Perhaps the lack of details in the hope helps it to spread and continue. It may not need evidence, specifics or achievements. Expectation may be stronger.
Is there another explanation for tacking the word "again" on the slogan?
Great post, huck. I think we can bring Trump into the mix here. The Trump movement is a fascist movement, for sure. I don’t intend to hurt anyone’s feelings here. Many people I know and love are into Trump, but Trump’s movement is anti-democratic, authoritarian, and it does exploit the idea of a mythical past of greatness. All considerations of Trump must be contextualized within these facts. They are not opinions.
The question is whether we believe in a form of government that is republican or a form of government that is fascist. A fascist government CAN benefit certain groups, and that is why people are drawn to it. They think about how Roe v. Wade was scrapped, lower taxes for the wealthy, or how people they know felt more hopeful, lives were transformed for the better, etc. I don’t really question any of that.
The trouble is that it is irrelevant. At the end of the day, you either have a republic or you do not. In a republic, people vote for their leaders in free and fair elections that have real competition between differing viewpoints. The rule of law is respected. That does not mean that elections are perfect or that everyone is following the law to our satisfaction. It means that the system as a whole succeeds in preventing things like the demonstrably proven theft of elections. In fascism, on the other hand, the leader decides, the leader determines the truth, and the leader determines what is legal and whom the laws, such as they are, benefit.
Trump has proven time and time again that he believes that he and his followers are above the law, and that he intends to use the law as a cudgel to destroy his enemies. His rhetoric is directed at excluding immigrants on the grounds of their being a “taint” on the blood of real Americans, and punishing liberals because they are “vermin.” This rhetoric comes straight out of Hitler’s playbook.
There is no valid reason to vote for Trump if you want to live in a republic come January 2025. If you want to reverse the gains of the American experiment, destroy civil rights and religious liberty, and let Trump & co. decide your fate instead of law and democracy, then vote for him. It is definitely true that he managed to pack the court with right wing Christians who were eager to take away a woman’s right to choose. He definitely promises that he will weaken the separation of church and state and make some Christians feel more secure at the expense of everyone else who disagrees with their agenda.
Personally, I would rather have democracy and the rule of law, which is much better suited to preserve real freedom for all, not just the freedom and comfort of the followers of one leader and his party.