Trump and Intestines of Hell

[Chap]

I have a fairly wide experience of spending substantial periods immersed in other cultures. The lessons of that are:

(a) The great majority of the human race are basically decent, so long as their life has not been radically messed up by bad things happening to them. Even then, many will continue to act well so long as they have any capacity for independent action. People who regularly do bad stuff are pretty rare.

(b) If you speak to people politely and respectfully (in their terms, which may not necessarily be your own), they are very likely to react in a friendly and helpful way. Of course it helps if you have bothered to learn enough of their language to say at least 'please' and 'thank you'.

(c) At least on an unconscious level, most people find that helping someone without expecting any return makes them feel a little better during the rest of their day, and they tend to act accordingly.

[Gunnar]

(c) At least on an unconscious level, most people find that helping someone without expecting any return makes them feel a little better during the rest of their day, and they tend to act accordingly.

Sometimes all it takes is a kind and sympathetic word. I always try to treat people with courtesy and respect. I particularly remember a time while shopping during a hectic holiday season when I expressed a bit of sympathy and a kind word to an extremely unhappy, short tempered and grouchy cashier who had just been given a particularly hard time for no good reason by the customer immediately ahead of me in line at the checkout counter, and probably by many others all through her day. She immediately brightened up in relief and gratitude and did her best to cheerfully expedite bagging our purchases and checking us through with a friendly holiday greeting. I think I might have made her day, and seeing the sudden turnaround in her attitude helped make mine in turn. Why do so many people feel it is alright to be nasty to service people like store cashiers, wait persons and flight attendants and treat them like inferiors?

[Moksha]

Sometimes all it takes is a kind and sympathetic word.

Perhaps all it will take in this instance is a steady flow of cash from the RNC into the Trump coffers, a steady outpouring of adulation, and letting Trump be the spokesperson and decision-maker for the Republican Party.

By 2024 his supporters will know to raise their hands and voice in the "Praise Trump" salute.

[Gunnar]

Sometimes all it takes is a kind and sympathetic word.

Perhaps all it will take in this instance is a steady flow of cash from the RNC into the Trump coffers, a steady outpouring of adulation, and letting Trump be the spokesperson and decision-maker for the Republican Party.

By 2024 his supporters will know to raise their hands and voice in the "Praise Trump" salute.

Horrors!

[Moksha]

One of the consequences of Trump's white nationalism is a big uptick in the crimes against Asian-Americans. Wish some Republican would stand up like that Las Vegas guy in The Stand and proclaim "We're Americans. This is not how we are supposed to behave". Is that asking too much?

Trump's demagoguery has promoted a lot of hate. Let's rein it in and get back to being better people.