Mirror, Mirror

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/jojo-rabbit-mocks-maga-extremism

Worth reading, and don’t miss the embedded “public service announcement”. > “Trumpism has broken taboos of civility, of respect, and of decency, and therefore bigots feel they are empowered, legitimized,” he said. “The 200 neo-Nazis in Charlottesville were not created by Trump. They were there before. All he did was make it possible for them to have the arrogance or the chutzpah to surface. They feel this is a time when it’s okay...” <

During the days of the Bush administration (Junior, that is) we legitimized torture and other crimes against humanity. We made them quasi legal official actions taken by our government. No one seems to remember this these days, but at the time this was an extremely controversial issue. I was making the same point as this movie back then.
I referred to those Bush supporters as the good Germans of the US. Those decent ordinary folks who nevertheless supported Hitler and his atrocities. This despicable action by otherwise moral people has always been regarded as a great mysterious puzzle, but it really isn’t and never has been. It’s just people accepting that their government is their country and they must be loyal to it. Accepting that their society is their home and they must go along with its norms.

The question really isn’t why so many Germans passively went along, the question is why so many were able to resist the urge is to conform, to fit in, to meet the expectations of daily life.

Back in the Bush days I was saying if you ever ask yourself how good good Germans went along with Nazi horrors, then first ask yourself if you supported torture when Bush was legitimizing it. If the answer is yes then the answer to your question about how did good Germans go along with these monstrosities is: Look in the mirror. The face you see is the face of a good German.

This is so true today as well. The crimes and the betrayals of Trump and his administration have been open and clear. He really has made no attempt to hide them. All he does is say well yeah but what about those other guys? Yeah I am a crook but so are other people like (fill in the blank with whatever political personality you don’t like).

Do you believe Q anon? Do you think everyone’s picking on poor, pitiful, glorious, holy Trump? Do you justify his crimes and his betrayals? Do you think he’s the victim of a great conspiracy? Then look in the mirror. The face staring back at you is that of a good German.

I want to end by emphasizing once again that Trump is no Hitler. He’s not even a Mussolini. Instead, he is the bad apple in the barrel who is spreading his rot throughout our entire governmental and social system. He’s no Hitler, but he’s laying the groundwork for one.

Kids!

Posted on Facebook but worth re-posting. There is a serious lesson to be learned in this mess, and I hope no one overstates or misinterprets the seriousness of the situation. As serious as it is, this is nontheless simply a situation of a foolish, impulsive child doing a foolish thing which had serious consequences in the real world. Now it’s time to correct the error and for everyone to heal. That’s really all there is here.

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/09/30/us/virginia-girl-fake-story-about-cut-dreadlocks/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fapple.news%2FAE-eIecOlQeiVG9LKMTi4Lw

Facebook post:
I feel sorry for everyone who was hurt by this, including her family. Which leaves the question, is there any deep lesson contained in this? If there is one, it would be that you should always remember when listening to stories by kids is that kids are notorious for making up stories and for doing really foolish things without any consideration of the consequences. As I said so many times, kids are idiots. The good news is, they tend to grow out of it.

I will repeat the story that was told to a group of us intern teachers by our superintendent as we started our first job. He recalled when he was a young teacher he was told the story as well. There was, once upon a time, a long long time ago, a teacher who started every year by sending a note home for parents which said, “I won’t believe everything your children tell me about you if you won’t believe everything your children tell you about me.“ Good advice.
😏

Facts Need Not Apply

The question has been asked on a number of platforms by a number of people, “How can anyone still support Trump?”

The answer is very complicated but to illustrate just how fanatic a true believer can become, Let’s take a look at the most extreme of extreme focuses. By looking at the most extreme situation which you can imagine, you can carry back the lesson which is clearly demonstrated there and apply it to the not so extreme situation in which you find yourself.
Let’s go to April 20, 1945. The German army is shattered. The war is largely being fought by sick old men and little boys. In less than two weeks Hitler will kill himself in despair. Yet, on his birthday it was possible for true believers to be excited and inspired by Goebbels speech. Here are some excerpts. As you read them, ask yourself again the question, how can anyone look at reality and still believe in…name your corrupt leader.

> ...Our enemies claim that the Führer’s soldiers marched as conquerors through the lands of Europe — but wherever they came, they brought prosperity and happiness, peace, order, reliable conditions, a plenitude of work, and therefore a decent life.

...The perverse coalition between plutocracy and Bolshevism is collapsing!

...the German people bore him. It chose him, it by free election made him Führer. It knows his works of peace and now wants to bear and fight the war that was forced upon him until its successful end.

...But if we achieve our goals, the project of social construction begun in Germany in 1933 and was rudely interrupted in 1939 will be taken up again with renewed strength.

...(Hitler) will go his way to the end, and there awaits not the end of his people, but rather a new and happy beginning to an era in which Germandom will flourish as never before.

...Germany is still the land of loyalty. It will celebrate its greatest triumphs in the midst of danger. <

Reality is meaningless to true believers. That’s how.

Humpty Trumpty

My friend Susan posted a photo of a group of individuals climbing and sitting on the top of Trump’s unclimbable wall. I reposted it. The following conversation ensued:

Me: This is not a tourist stunt. These are professional chefs who are frying eggs on the top of the wall. It’s a new reality TV show to see who can fry the best eggs in the shortest time.

S: I hope Trump sees the reference to fried eggs. It would make him so proud.

Me: By Trump I assume you mean our president, Humpty Trumpty.

S: Yeah. Wasn't he bragging about how you could fry an egg on his fabulous, unbreachable wall?

Me: Humpty Trumpty fried eggs on a wall
Humpty Trumpty had a great fall
All these king’s horses and all the king’s men
Tossed Humpty into a jailer’s pen

S: Can't wait.

Me: Change that last “Humpty” into a “Trumpty”. Sounds better. Also the jailers’ pen. Scans better.

Not in the original Facebook exchange but I add this additional comment:

As Trump is so fond of saying, “Walls work!“
As proof, look at this Wikipedia expert regarding the most famous wall in human history:

>Although a useful deterrent against raids, at several points throughout its history the Great Wall failed to stop enemies, including in 1644 when the Manchu Qing marched through the gates of Shanhai Pass and replaced the most ardent of the wall-building dynasties, the Ming, as rulers of China.<

Yes. It’s a matter of historical fact. The most determined wall builders of all time were invaded and conquered by the Manchus, who crossed the incredible working wall.

Bicycles And The Junior Anti-sex League

From a Facebook post. Short, but important enough to re-post here.

https://quillette.com/2019/09/10/in-praise-of-renoirs-male-gaze/

Me: It has come to this? A female scholar must defend Renoir against the anti-sex, anti-male attacks of radical feminism. How sad.

B: Quillette is a magazine I've come to really appreciate right now. They've become the center of cultural controversy: they are routinely castigated as a fascist mag. It's bizarre. The CEO is Claire Lehmann; she's a smart thinker who seems to love jumping into the vitriolic fray of social commentary.

Me: They do tend to have too much of a conservative slant for me to enthusiastically support them, but they often make excellent points. I do notice that if you disagree with them on even minor matters it’s common for you to be instantly labeled a Marxist. Not all the contributors practice this unusual ritual, but too many of them do.

For any of you out there asking, the Junior Anti-sex League??? I include The following link and quote.

> The Junior Anti-Sex League in 1984 is a group that advocates "complete celibacy for both sexes." They are pushing the agenda of the Party, the group that rules the country. According to the Junior Anti-Sex League, children should not be conceived through sexual intercourse. <

https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-junior-anti-sex-league-1089836

Or, put another way, “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.” Oh sorry, that’s not an accurate quote. Let me correct that, “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a mate.”

Artificial Stupidity Rules!

https://www.fastcompany.com/90399280/aristo-ai-passes-science-test-for-8th-graders?partner=rss&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=rss

Smarter than an eighth grader? Well… In terms of taking standardized tests yes. But standardized tests are absolute garbage measurements of anything of any serious real educational value except the ability to regurgitate mindless facts. And yes, computers are really good at regurgitating mindless facts. Other reports on the same topic of noted that the computer is a total dolt in other areas. In fact it’s not even as smart as a human preschooler in areas such as creative problem solving, social skills, and other abilities important to functioning in human society.

However, when taking standardized tests it’s a genius. Which just goes to show that giving standardized tests to our students is the act of an incompetent.

Fake...News? No, Meat

https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/19/20869271/impossible-burger-foods-gelsons-markets-southern-california-meat-free-plant-based

Me: Susan, the times they are achanging.

S: Are you going to try it? Just because it's plant based doesn't mean it's healthy. Check the ingredients. Personally, I hope it is good stuff.

Me: I usually buy already prepared meats. Even simple cooking like making a good spaghetti sauce and browning my own meat etc. is just beyond me right now. I’m willing to try it though. And honestly I’m not concerned so much about it being healthy as I am concerned about the effect on the environment and reducing cruelty to animals.

S: I started on this journey back in the 70's when I was horrified to read how veal calves are treated. So I agree with you on both points, especially reducing cruelty to animals, only wish it could be eliminating instead of reducing.

Me: I won’t argue. I am not a hypocrite but I do admit I make something of a bargain with the devil when I continue to eat meat. But I’ve also always advocated for laws insisting on the most humane treatment possible for animals even if it meant greatly raising the cost of meat at my own economic expense.

And if you need to smile today:
https://www.eater.com/2019/9/19/20873805/stephen-colbert-impossible-burger-commercial

B: I haven't tried one yet but *everyone I've asked about it who's had it, like it. The ingredients don't seem particularly weird. "Impossible" is mostly soy and "Beyond" is mostly pea protein. Let me know if you try it!

Me: Will do.