Derangement

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I guess they think the tax bill is like the Holocaust.

Gay people should be ashamed that this publication, on display in news boxes throughout the Washington, D.C. area, purports to represent our views.

7 Comments for “Derangement”

  1. posted by Tom Scharbach on

    The Washington Blade’s Trump as Hitler year-in-review cover trivializes the existential evil of Nazism.

    That’s exactly right, Stephen. When the Hitler/Nazi card is flippantly tossed on the table (and it too often is, even on IGF), reason has left the room, and the deaths of millions of Holocaust victims are trivialized.

    I guess they think the tax bill is like the Holocaust.

    You might want to read the article before you jump to unwarranted conclusions. I did, and the article doesn’t suggest that. I realize that the cover offended you, and properly so, but you don’t need to make ridiculous assertions to find reason for offense.

    Gay people should be ashamed that this publication, on display in news boxes throughout the Washington, D.C. area, purports to represent our views.

    No, gay people should not be ashamed “that this publication … purports to represent our views”. Because it doesn’t.

    Should homons be ashamed that simplistic, hate-mongering fools like Milo Yappiopoulos purport to speak for homocons? If you are, you shouldn’t be, because Milo’s a mindless jerk, and most homocons are not.

    Collective guilt/responsibility is the mantra of morons. Don’t fall into that line of thought.

    • posted by Jorge on

      Should homons be ashamed that simplistic, hate-mongering fools like Milo Yappiopoulos purport to speak for homocons? If you are, you shouldn’t be, because Milo’s a mindless jerk, and most homocons are not.

      That’s why “homocons” should be ashamed of him (notwithstanding that I have a soft spot for him). I’m a firm believer in these sort of collective guilt integrity tests.

  2. posted by David Bauer on

    Nazi, or fascist, is indeed a label that gets tossed around too often by people (left and right and center) who know better or ought to.

    President Trump did back a US Senate candidate who “probably” believes that homosexuality should be illegal and that constitutional rights need not apply to gay citizens. While the State Department is putting sanctions on a big wig in Chechnya…because he was backing his countries policy of rounding up/killing people for being gay.

  3. posted by Jorge on

    Nothing good ever comes from talking about sensitive subjects as if it’s easy to do. Too much talk of boogeymen and goblins and people start thinking it’s cute to dress up as them.

    Glancing through the issue doesn’t tell me anything. I think it’s just a splashy cover being used as an excuse to do a dozen petty drive-bys. This is a shame. I think the comparison is reasonable, but not really for any gay-specific reason (yet!). A lot could have been done to point to Trump’s totalitarian warning signs rather than just tallying up all the LGBT demerits he’s accruing by accident. The idea that the Trump presidency heralds or threatens a wave of persecution of LGBTs similar to that which gays experienced in Nazi Germany is narrow-minded self-interest at best and extreme ignorance at worst.

  4. posted by Tom Scharbach on

    I think the comparison is reasonable, but not really for any gay-specific reason (yet!). A lot could have been done to point to Trump’s totalitarian warning signs …

    I don’t think that a comparison to Hitler is reasonable.

    Trump demonstrates authoritarian/totalitarian instincts. No question about it.

    But he is no Hitler.

    Unlike Hitler, Trump lacks a coherent political philosophy, his one-sided dialog with the American people is shapeless and nonsensical. Like Hitler, Trump stokes the fires of racial/ethnic/class resentment, but unlike Hitler, Trump stokes those fires without definition, discernment or distinction. Unlike Hitler, Trump does not understand the levers of power and lacks the discipline to yield power at effectively.

    Hitler had a coherent ideology, well-organized political institutions supporting his ideology, and a broad base of popular support. Trump has none of those things. Trump is propped up by sycophants in Congress and Cabinet, men and women who have raised fawning to an art form but who are no more competent or disciplined than Trump himself, and sharply divided in almost everything except the raw pursuit of personal political power.

    Trump is dangerous because he is undermining the checks and balances on president power to the best of his limited ability. The work he and his sycophants are doing to undermine and demonize the rule of law and those charged with enforcing it, the courts, Congress and the press will create longstanding damage, and will be hard to repair, as will his persistent efforts to create resentment along racial, ethnic and class lines.

    Trump is inept, a farce, a braggart, a buffoon.

    Hitler was none of those things, and millions died as a result. Trump may yet kill millions, if he stumbles into a nuclear exchange with North Korea. But there will be no plan to it.

  5. posted by Tom Scharbach on

    Ah, one of the President’s chief sycophants is retiring.

    Long since time, according to friends in Utah. “[T]he greatest presidency we’ve seen not only in generations but maybe ever”, indeed. If Senator Hatch believes that, he’s crossed over into senility.

  6. posted by Jorge on

    At the risk of belaboring the matter, Tom, I see similar things you do. I simply value or prioritize things differently.

    Ah, one of the President’s chief sycophants is retiring.

    Long since time, according to friends in Utah. “[T]he greatest presidency we’ve seen not only in generations but maybe ever”, indeed. If Senator Hatch believes that, he’s crossed over into senility.

    And I’m told the New Year’s Eve celebration in DC was the biggest, the best New Year’s Eve celebration we’ve ever seen. (And half of the reason was because Trump was in Florida.)

    Also you’re misquoting. I for one have no problem with fighting to make this the best presidency we’ve ever seen. The most fearsome opponent is Trump himself; it’s tempting to let your guard down once you realize that.

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