The Military and Trump: Questions for Dr. Cam

[Dr Exiled]

Hey Doc, so, I've represented a bunch of military personnel over the years. People don't realize that Las Vegas is a military town. I've represented ordinary enlisted clients, drone operators out at Creech, and special forces clients that were first in after 911. I've represented a ton of Iraq vets and Afganistan vets. I just finished up on a probate for a Afganistan vet who just finished a 3rd tour. All of them are pretty humble about their service, regardless if they are Trump supporters or Obama supporters or none of the above. Is that your experience for the most part? I know there are the stolen valor political assholes, but the people I know are of the lower economic strata that just want to get out of there with their body in tact.

[Moksha]

I'm trying to think how Jersey Girl would respond to you. She expresses her indignation well.

Since you asked...I might be tempted to simply cop an attitude of "Stick it, yo" but in this case,...

No, I'm pretty sure you would go with "stick it" rather than a philosophical discussion that included a song lyric (which was not from Springsteen or Sinatra!)

It is easier to write what I see of the world rather than imagining I am Eric Sevareid and writing a balanced measured commentary, even if it spares the world from future Trumpanista reprisals (like that could happen).

Trumpistry exists beyond my meager power to add or subtract. I would rather my J'Accuse...! and I object is listed here rather than an empty register of pleasant words.

Trumpistry is driven by the call of fascism. Aviator Charles Lindberg saw that as the inevitable scum on the sea of the future. I think we can filter the water and perhaps desalinate it for human consumption.

[Jersey Girl]

So just before going to bed I decided to read through the lengthy post I made about honor and Moksha here. I realize now how kind of disjointed it was but I wanted to give myself a chance to restate where I think honor was coming from or more to the point where I am coming from. Which could be at least similar viewpoints.

The rhetoric needs to stop. It's neither meaningful or productive. Now, I know that we here take opportunities to pop off just to discharge our angst. That's true and everyone takes a turn. But if we're unwilling to engage in meaningful communication we will see no meaningful change in society. If we continue resorting to the same types of rhetoric as Trump does (best and most glaring example at the moment) we are destined to drown in our own divisiveness. What I am saying and clumsily so, is that Covid isn't the only pandemic we're dealing with right now. The other pandemic has to do with constantly slinging crap at each other. It's corrosive. It's corrosive to us as individuals and to a greater extent, the society that we're a part of.

There's an old country song that goes something like...I'm rolling downhill like a snowball headed for hell.

That's what we're doing as a society right now and we need to stop. We need to stop it in our interactions on this board. We need to stop it in our in real life one:one interactions. We need to stop it when children are in ear shot. We just need to put the breaks on and tone it down.

Want a healthier society? Then strive to be a healthier individual in word and deed.

I better go to sleep I'm rambling on again.

[Moksha]

That's what we're doing as a society right now and we need to stop. We need to stop it in our interactions on this board. We need to stop it in our in real life one:one interactions. We need to stop it when children are in ear shot. We just need to put the breaks on and tone it down.

Want a healthier society? Then strive to be a healthier individual in word and deed.

Okay, I'll give it a try just for you Jersey Girl. Kumbayah all around!

[dantana]

Well, I for one have both Moksha and Honorentheos as MDB. first ballot hall of fame inductees. I've been a fan of Honor since I first encountered him on the MAD board in 08.

Moksha has the innate ability to mocks ya without you even knowing you've been mocked. Which I find entertaining enough. And that coming from a guy whose favorite peeve is when people talk snotty to you with that fake half smile thing.

[Some Schmo]

That's what we're doing as a society right now and we need to stop. We need to stop it in our interactions on this board. We need to stop it in our in real life one:one interactions. We need to stop it when children are in ear shot. We just need to put the breaks on and tone it down.

Want a healthier society? Then strive to be a healthier individual in word and deed.

Yeah, I don't think it's healthy to ignore what's happening.

I'm sorry, but it's not up to me to make Trump supporters come to their senses, or grow a conscience. When they act a certain way, we should point it out, not act like it's not happening in hopes that it will disappear.

People can't spend all their words and energy talking about what a great world this would be if we could just come together, but they're asking for a happy marriage of oil and water. Some crap ain't realistic.

[honorentheos]

I'm sorry, but it's not up to me to make Trump supporters come to their senses, or grow a conscience. When they act a certain way, we should point it out, not act like it's not happening in hopes that it will disappear.

People can't spend all their words and energy talking about what a great world this would be if we could just come together, but they're asking for a happy marriage of oil and water. Some crap ain't realistic.

I don't disagree with calling out inaccuracies and misinformation. Efforts like Res is putting in to document and track issues with the Trump team's litigation is essential. I'm not personally asking anyone to join a drum circle. I probably don't want to hear any one here sing, either. Except maybe gunner.

My prior comment about the partisanship in the US leading to Mad Lib-like conversations didn't include examples of people discussing core socioeconomic principles or the value of plurality in a society for good reason.

If someone relies on stereotypes and extreme examples to justify their worldview while behaving like the thing they are criticising because of cosmetic difference, that person is part of the underlying problem and contributing to the turbulence shaking us apart.

[Some Schmo]

If someone relies on stereotypes and extreme examples to justify their worldview while behaving like the thing they are criticising because of cosmetic difference, that person is part of the underlying problem and contributing to the turbulence shaking us apart.

I absolutely agree. I just don't think moksha fits that description.

by the way, this isn't a defense of moksha. I think he's perfectly capable of doing that on his own. It's a defense of using humor to avoid insanity.

[Jersey Girl]

That's what we're doing as a society right now and we need to stop. We need to stop it in our interactions on this board. We need to stop it in our in real life one:one interactions. We need to stop it when children are in ear shot. We just need to put the breaks on and tone it down.

Want a healthier society? Then strive to be a healthier individual in word and deed.

Yeah, I don't think it's healthy to ignore what's happening.

I'm sorry, but it's not up to me to make Trump supporters come to their senses, or grow a conscience. When they act a certain way, we should point it out, not act like it's not happening in hopes that it will disappear.

People can't spend all their words and energy talking about what a great world this would be if we could just come together, but they're asking for a happy marriage of oil and water. Some crap ain't realistic.

Show me where I said we should ignore what's happening.

[honorentheos]

Well, I for one have both Moksha and Honorentheos as MDB. first ballot hall of fame inductees. I've been a fan of Honor since I first encountered him on the MAD board in 08.

Moksha has the innate ability to mocks ya without you even knowing you've been mocked. Which I find entertaining enough. And that coming from a guy whose favorite peeve is when people talk snotty to you with that fake half smile thing.

Thanks, dantana. We can be a salty bunch but I think we all want similar things and each make board a place worth coming back to.