(Trump walks past protest graffiti in Lafayette Park, near the White House, on his way to take a photo op at St. John's Church on Monday after protesters were dispersed with tear gas. Photo by Patrick Semansky, via AP.) As Trump took to the Rose Garden to give a speech on the state of unrest in America, law enforcement began tear gassing non-violent protestors across the street at Lafayette Park and deploying flash-bang explosions with very little warning. Some of those protesting who were gassed had been out several days in a row, for eight or more hours that day, and the shocking behavior by police began just before the city’s 7pm curfew went into effect.
Sadly, I see that you have come around to my way of thinking, which is that Trump will not leave office regardless of what happens in November. Period. Yes, I too fear that we are on the brink of another Civil War, and the problem is that one side is vastly more heavily armed than the other.
Meanwhile, overseas, the Russians, Chinese and Iranians are collectively watching with delight as this country tears itself apart.
I moved to the United States in 1991 and became a citizen in 2008. I have never been more dismayed or saddened (and scared) to be an American.
So glad you are saying this out loud. That 2nd amendment reference was so obviously out of place, as was the way he held the Bible up. Pure photo op/dog whistle. No comment, no speech. Clearly a signal to the people who know what it means!
You are correct. It's a civil war. These riots/protests are the culmination of events set in motion since Reagan. Racism, Gender, Income inequality, unemployment, debt, and now a pandemic. I actually pulled out some guns last night and made them ready. (Been in storage for at LEAST 10 years). I AM worried. Trump is not going anywhere now by any method except forcible removal. I don't expect there to be elections in November, or if there are, he won't honor the results anyways. There are no remedies, judicial or legislative, that will remove him from office unless a large group stand up to him and force the issue. I looked at the Declaration of Independence, it is as relevant now as it was in 1776. We have a tyrant and ineffective government. We need to declare our independence from trump and this government and rebuild it. You are correct, this will be a long term problem, the current generations are either too dumbed down or polarized to be trusted with anything. Start from the bottom up with education systems, science, respect. If climate change gives us the time maybe we can make a change for the better.
PS. Thanks for the posting site, I may not make much sense but it does let me vent a little!
It's gravely sad that current conditions make this article true. Setting that aside for a moment, this is a wonderfully stated perspective, and in such brief form. Excellent selection of photos, too, with the loudest being the image of the church in the bg of the tear gas smoke.
"Trump would not enact the War Powers Act of 1941 in the name of protecting citizens from the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic, but he was quick to use the concept to dominate innocent people who were peacefully protesting inequality, as he was simultaneously saying he was focused on protecting them in his Rose Garden Speech." - poignant call out.
I'm glad I have the opportunity to read your work. Yes, I'll be contributing.
No doubt. He has already declared war on this country when he purposely let COVID run roughshod over it. Now with the country already in such a vulnerable state he is using these protests to make his final move. Anyone who thinks an election can save us is dangerously naive. We have to physically fight our way out of this nightmare.
Remember, the White Supremacist’s only language is violence. They WANT violence. We cannot give them that except as a last resort of self defense. What we must do is reform all our laws to expunge all the inequality that exists there. And shutter any business still practicing discrimination, no matter how large they are.
Amee, thank you for this beautifully written, smart and cohesive article, you have done a wonderful job, compliments! I hope you can continue to find time to write here, few of us have the ability to write as well. Best!! ^ _^
Trump cannot subjugate the law, if he tried pull such a stunt, inside-r police forces will mandatorially remove him, physically. This is not a tin-pot, third-world country, people will respect the enforcement of our laws. It's beyond imagination to think he would actually try make his stay -- one minute longer than is prescribed by law.
Granted Trump - is a damn fool - the pertinent question is "do rational people believe he's this much a fool or is he just a blowhard who stupidly plants that seed for his base?"
I'm confident it's the latter. Trump thrives on commotion, and he's causing a lot of commotion by nursing the thought along, inadvertently. Trump has only 'grazed' this idea, he knows it raises huge concerns, and, here we are buying into his lame psychology. Don't let this grow legs, doing that diverts attention from more immediate and pressing issues, new issues will emerge on a daily basis - the closer we get to the election.
This is the Donald Trump way to run a nation.
A similar event happened when the US had an 'almost equally' bad president, Richard Nixon, who resigned when barbarians were at the gate. Shortly after abdicating his seat Gerald Ford was inducted, the newly installed President Ford, whom no one had voted for in a general election, had this to say. Quoting: "I have not sought this enormous responsibility, but I will not shirk it. Those who nominated and confirmed me as Vice President were my friends and are my friends. They were of both parties, elected by all the people and acting under the Constitution in their name. It is only fitting then that I should pledge to them and to you that I will be the President of all the people."
Clear enough - "they gave me, Appointed President Ford, the Captains Chair."
Ford continued: "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here, the people rule. But there is a higher Power, by whatever name we honor Him, who ordains not only righteousness but love, not only justice, but mercy....let us restore the golden rule to our political process, and let brotherly love purge our hearts of suspicion and hate." -- Gerald Ford, August 9, 1974.
The USA has "a government of laws and not of men. Here, the people rule..."
No one ever said the best and the brightest would rule, at times turds also rise to the top, this is one of those times - we have to flush it with votes. As Trump creates new commotions, those will need to be dealt with as his "fake emergencies". Gaining control over the various protests and/or bad actors is for the hosting municipalities and States, Trump just sticks his nose in for attention.
Without the adulation and attention of his evangelical MAGA's, Trump is a toothless tiger.
1992 during the unrest around the LAPD acquittal...things looked similar. Thousands of us were arrested. I along with them spent 3 nights at Santa Rita prison. This is a long haul fight but there are MANY MORE of us people who will march for justice than there are of the small men with big guns. BE BRAVE AND GET OUT THERE. The only way to prevail is to deepen our organizing and commitment to justice and peace.
I actually just read a Danish article the other day, which also talked about a possible Civil War in USA. I've had that thought since Trump came into office, when I had an American flatmate who told me of the hatred between left and right. Obviously I do not hope it will end in war, but the fact that the turnout in 2016 was only 55% you kinda deserve that orange man.. Why Americans are not automatically eligable to vote from the day they turn 18 is beyond me. Here we just get our ballot by mail automatically and need not register. But there are so many things I don't understand about USA. Gun control (or the lack of it), death penalty, racism, gerrymandering, the flawed democracy, religion...
Good article, as usual. Small point but I believe that Trump spoke of invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807 (not the War Powers Act) last night when he threatened to send the military into states if the local national guard didn't suppress the protests.
I appreciate your article, but using the words “Civil War” or “war” in the headline plays into a white nationalist fantasy of starting a race war that has existed for decades and only gives those who want violence a reason to commit it. These people are in positions of power, cannot wait for a race war, and neither can their supporters. They are possibly even inciting violence across state lines for that very purpose. Please refrain from unwittingly fanning the flames and please consider changing your headline.
Great article Aimee. I too am worried about this. All of the right wing militias have been preparing for this. I am afraid that they will embark on the very enterprise our constitution is designed to avoid; a violent transfer of power or an outright war to protest the result of an election.
Sadly, I see that you have come around to my way of thinking, which is that Trump will not leave office regardless of what happens in November. Period. Yes, I too fear that we are on the brink of another Civil War, and the problem is that one side is vastly more heavily armed than the other.
Meanwhile, overseas, the Russians, Chinese and Iranians are collectively watching with delight as this country tears itself apart.
I moved to the United States in 1991 and became a citizen in 2008. I have never been more dismayed or saddened (and scared) to be an American.
So glad you are saying this out loud. That 2nd amendment reference was so obviously out of place, as was the way he held the Bible up. Pure photo op/dog whistle. No comment, no speech. Clearly a signal to the people who know what it means!
You are correct. It's a civil war. These riots/protests are the culmination of events set in motion since Reagan. Racism, Gender, Income inequality, unemployment, debt, and now a pandemic. I actually pulled out some guns last night and made them ready. (Been in storage for at LEAST 10 years). I AM worried. Trump is not going anywhere now by any method except forcible removal. I don't expect there to be elections in November, or if there are, he won't honor the results anyways. There are no remedies, judicial or legislative, that will remove him from office unless a large group stand up to him and force the issue. I looked at the Declaration of Independence, it is as relevant now as it was in 1776. We have a tyrant and ineffective government. We need to declare our independence from trump and this government and rebuild it. You are correct, this will be a long term problem, the current generations are either too dumbed down or polarized to be trusted with anything. Start from the bottom up with education systems, science, respect. If climate change gives us the time maybe we can make a change for the better.
PS. Thanks for the posting site, I may not make much sense but it does let me vent a little!
Trump is making sure that he is the cause of civil unrest, so that he can impose Martial Law.
It's gravely sad that current conditions make this article true. Setting that aside for a moment, this is a wonderfully stated perspective, and in such brief form. Excellent selection of photos, too, with the loudest being the image of the church in the bg of the tear gas smoke.
"Trump would not enact the War Powers Act of 1941 in the name of protecting citizens from the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic, but he was quick to use the concept to dominate innocent people who were peacefully protesting inequality, as he was simultaneously saying he was focused on protecting them in his Rose Garden Speech." - poignant call out.
I'm glad I have the opportunity to read your work. Yes, I'll be contributing.
No doubt. He has already declared war on this country when he purposely let COVID run roughshod over it. Now with the country already in such a vulnerable state he is using these protests to make his final move. Anyone who thinks an election can save us is dangerously naive. We have to physically fight our way out of this nightmare.
Remember, the White Supremacist’s only language is violence. They WANT violence. We cannot give them that except as a last resort of self defense. What we must do is reform all our laws to expunge all the inequality that exists there. And shutter any business still practicing discrimination, no matter how large they are.
Why is fighting to be treated equally so controversial
Amee, thank you for this beautifully written, smart and cohesive article, you have done a wonderful job, compliments! I hope you can continue to find time to write here, few of us have the ability to write as well. Best!! ^ _^
Trump cannot subjugate the law, if he tried pull such a stunt, inside-r police forces will mandatorially remove him, physically. This is not a tin-pot, third-world country, people will respect the enforcement of our laws. It's beyond imagination to think he would actually try make his stay -- one minute longer than is prescribed by law.
Granted Trump - is a damn fool - the pertinent question is "do rational people believe he's this much a fool or is he just a blowhard who stupidly plants that seed for his base?"
I'm confident it's the latter. Trump thrives on commotion, and he's causing a lot of commotion by nursing the thought along, inadvertently. Trump has only 'grazed' this idea, he knows it raises huge concerns, and, here we are buying into his lame psychology. Don't let this grow legs, doing that diverts attention from more immediate and pressing issues, new issues will emerge on a daily basis - the closer we get to the election.
This is the Donald Trump way to run a nation.
A similar event happened when the US had an 'almost equally' bad president, Richard Nixon, who resigned when barbarians were at the gate. Shortly after abdicating his seat Gerald Ford was inducted, the newly installed President Ford, whom no one had voted for in a general election, had this to say. Quoting: "I have not sought this enormous responsibility, but I will not shirk it. Those who nominated and confirmed me as Vice President were my friends and are my friends. They were of both parties, elected by all the people and acting under the Constitution in their name. It is only fitting then that I should pledge to them and to you that I will be the President of all the people."
Clear enough - "they gave me, Appointed President Ford, the Captains Chair."
Ford continued: "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here, the people rule. But there is a higher Power, by whatever name we honor Him, who ordains not only righteousness but love, not only justice, but mercy....let us restore the golden rule to our political process, and let brotherly love purge our hearts of suspicion and hate." -- Gerald Ford, August 9, 1974.
The USA has "a government of laws and not of men. Here, the people rule..."
No one ever said the best and the brightest would rule, at times turds also rise to the top, this is one of those times - we have to flush it with votes. As Trump creates new commotions, those will need to be dealt with as his "fake emergencies". Gaining control over the various protests and/or bad actors is for the hosting municipalities and States, Trump just sticks his nose in for attention.
Without the adulation and attention of his evangelical MAGA's, Trump is a toothless tiger.
1992 during the unrest around the LAPD acquittal...things looked similar. Thousands of us were arrested. I along with them spent 3 nights at Santa Rita prison. This is a long haul fight but there are MANY MORE of us people who will march for justice than there are of the small men with big guns. BE BRAVE AND GET OUT THERE. The only way to prevail is to deepen our organizing and commitment to justice and peace.
I actually just read a Danish article the other day, which also talked about a possible Civil War in USA. I've had that thought since Trump came into office, when I had an American flatmate who told me of the hatred between left and right. Obviously I do not hope it will end in war, but the fact that the turnout in 2016 was only 55% you kinda deserve that orange man.. Why Americans are not automatically eligable to vote from the day they turn 18 is beyond me. Here we just get our ballot by mail automatically and need not register. But there are so many things I don't understand about USA. Gun control (or the lack of it), death penalty, racism, gerrymandering, the flawed democracy, religion...
Good article, as usual. Small point but I believe that Trump spoke of invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807 (not the War Powers Act) last night when he threatened to send the military into states if the local national guard didn't suppress the protests.
I appreciate your article, but using the words “Civil War” or “war” in the headline plays into a white nationalist fantasy of starting a race war that has existed for decades and only gives those who want violence a reason to commit it. These people are in positions of power, cannot wait for a race war, and neither can their supporters. They are possibly even inciting violence across state lines for that very purpose. Please refrain from unwittingly fanning the flames and please consider changing your headline.
The commies are going to cr@p nails when Trump wins a clear victory in Nov.!!
Great article Aimee. I too am worried about this. All of the right wing militias have been preparing for this. I am afraid that they will embark on the very enterprise our constitution is designed to avoid; a violent transfer of power or an outright war to protest the result of an election.