At first I thought this was just funny, but the more I think about it, the better it makes me feel about America.The reference here is Pastor Martin Niemöller's statement about cowardice in the face of the Nazi rise to power. The best-known version reads like this: First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.Then they … [Read more...] about Making America Great Again
Deceitful Words: Fast Growing
This is my second post in what I hope will be a series about words and phrases that should warn you that someone is trying to get something past you. (First one here.)[Update: Since originally publishing this, I've rewritten parts of it to reduce confusion, adding context to the first example, and appending a few cautions.]Today I'd like to talk about the phrase … [Read more...] about Deceitful Words: Fast Growing
A Betrayal of Green Card Holders
Apparently, thanks to an executive order by Donald Trump, the United States is betraying its green card holders. The bans affect travelers with passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen and even extends to green card holders who are granted authorization to live and work in the United States, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman. … [Read more...] about A Betrayal of Green Card Holders
Something Missing From Trump’s Inaugural Address
Okay, I'm still up, and I'd like to talk about that inaugural address. It's all gloom and doom, blamed on elitist politicians and foreigners, leading to Trump's usual calls for nationalism, trade restrictions, and border controls.I was planning to tear into the speech line by line, but I'm too far into the rum to keep it together for as long as that would take, so let me … [Read more...] about Something Missing From Trump’s Inaugural Address
The Highpoint of the Trump Presidency
Eight years ago, when Barack Obama had just taken the Presidential oath of office, I wrote that it was "The Highpoint of the Obama Presidency," and I see no reason not to say just about the same thing about the Trump Presidency today.As the most populist presidential candidate in a long time, Trump's supporters have been projecting their hopes and dreams onto him for almost … [Read more...] about The Highpoint of the Trump Presidency