After reading this
editorial, please express your own thoughts. At
the bottom, please click on the word "Comments" below the copyright and
type your remarks in the
box. When finished, please
click on the word "Publish." Please
also share a link to this
column with others in your e-mail directory and on social media.
Donald Trump has caused Republicans to turn
against Democrats. Meanwhile... Democrats are a united force of powerful people who are sharing with our country - and the rest of the world - that which is good and proper for the
United States of America.
I recently was threatened with the following lines by one of my readers. "If you don't like it here, why don't you pack up your un-American agenda and leave. America would be better off without you and your socialist un-American friends. America doesn’t need haters like you. Please leave and see if you like it better anywhere else. There are countries that would put you to death for writing things like you do about the President. One of the ways to make America great again would be for you to leave."
What kind of an American embodies such hatred? I...certainly am NOT...a hater.
The person who wrote the aforementioned vicious and venomous vulgarities ...apparently has a short memory. Since the individual hides in the shadows of the name "anonymous"...I am unaware whether the person is male or female. Therefore ...he or she...seems to forget that the majority of people who cast their ballots in the 2016 Presidential election...voted for Hillary Clinton and not Donald Trump. So... if I'm "un-American"...I'm in good company - including every Democrat in Congress (present and past)...and most Independents and many Republicans...who oppose everything that Trump represents. All that being said...the reader who I'm referencing in this commentary...chastised me...with an arrogance that practically ordered me...to stop writing about the popular vote. But I keep alive the fact that Hillary Clinton received nearly 3-million more votes than Trump...to prove that more people in our country wanted Mrs. Clinton to be President...than Donald Trump. That is a fact. Nobody can dispute it.
The unidentified person called me a "socialist." So be it. America IS a socialist country, in many regards. And that is the truth. Those of you who argue the validity of that fact, heed the following. Social Security...is socialism. Medicare and Medicaid...are socialism. The United States Veterans Health Administration and the medical departments of the United States Air Force, Army and Navy also fit the bill as examples of socialism. And the U.S. Armed Forces, as a whole, meet the definition of socialism, as our military is mostly funded by taxpayers' money.
To dig our nation out of the hole of the Great Depression..."Uncle Sam" sponsored more than 30-thousand public works programs...thanks to efforts by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Although those projects may not have been labeled a form of socialism...that's what they were.
Have you ever lost a job? Have you ever filed for unemployment insurance? What do you think that is? It's socialism.
The same individual, who I noted at the outset of this editorial, also blames Democrats for being "the Party of handouts and giveaways." I believe that is one of the many reasons that should make Americans proud. Despite what Republicans may think - or do think - America was built on the rich helping the poor. It is the way it has been. It is the way it should be. FDR realized that it's much easier for those who are rich...to make more and more money...and, therefore, become even wealthier. As our 32nd President is quoted as saying..."The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much...it is whether we provide enough...for those who have little."
Any American who makes a contemptible remark...browbeating another U.S. citizen to "leave" the country he loves...the country I love...is beyond reprehensible. It is disgraceful for any American to terrorize another U.S. citizen...warning him... warning me...that "there are countries that would put (me) to death for writing things like (I) do about the President." As such...it is obvious that anyone who feels that way...knows NOTHING about the United States of America...knows NOTHING about the United States Constitution...and knows NOTHING about the First Amendment.
At MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida...then-President Barack Obama noted in his final national security address on December 6th, 2016...that we are a nation that gives its citizens "the right to speak your mind and to protest against authority ...to live in a society that's open and free...that can criticize a President without retribution." I think it's worth emphasizing Mr. Obama's accurate statement of facts. "The RIGHT...the RIGHT...to speak your mind." "The RIGHT...the RIGHT...to protest against authority." "The RIGHT...the RIGHT...to criticize a President without retribution." Nobody can debate the former President's words. If you do...you go against the Constitution of the United States of America.
This column outlines just some of the reasons why America has ALWAYS been great. And for Donald Trump...and others who call themselves Americans...to think and communicate differently...is a stab in the heart of every U.S. citizen who could never...would never...shame our nation...by belittling it...and disparaging it...as not great. The love, passion and devotion for the United States of America must be unconditional. Therefore...it disgusts me...and sickens me...when so many people... who reap the benefits of freedom...liberty and justice for all...don't feel that our country is the best on Earth. Because no matter what...it is.
I recently was threatened with the following lines by one of my readers. "If you don't like it here, why don't you pack up your un-American agenda and leave. America would be better off without you and your socialist un-American friends. America doesn’t need haters like you. Please leave and see if you like it better anywhere else. There are countries that would put you to death for writing things like you do about the President. One of the ways to make America great again would be for you to leave."
What kind of an American embodies such hatred? I...certainly am NOT...a hater.
The person who wrote the aforementioned vicious and venomous vulgarities ...apparently has a short memory. Since the individual hides in the shadows of the name "anonymous"...I am unaware whether the person is male or female. Therefore ...he or she...seems to forget that the majority of people who cast their ballots in the 2016 Presidential election...voted for Hillary Clinton and not Donald Trump. So... if I'm "un-American"...I'm in good company - including every Democrat in Congress (present and past)...and most Independents and many Republicans...who oppose everything that Trump represents. All that being said...the reader who I'm referencing in this commentary...chastised me...with an arrogance that practically ordered me...to stop writing about the popular vote. But I keep alive the fact that Hillary Clinton received nearly 3-million more votes than Trump...to prove that more people in our country wanted Mrs. Clinton to be President...than Donald Trump. That is a fact. Nobody can dispute it.
The unidentified person called me a "socialist." So be it. America IS a socialist country, in many regards. And that is the truth. Those of you who argue the validity of that fact, heed the following. Social Security...is socialism. Medicare and Medicaid...are socialism. The United States Veterans Health Administration and the medical departments of the United States Air Force, Army and Navy also fit the bill as examples of socialism. And the U.S. Armed Forces, as a whole, meet the definition of socialism, as our military is mostly funded by taxpayers' money.
To dig our nation out of the hole of the Great Depression..."Uncle Sam" sponsored more than 30-thousand public works programs...thanks to efforts by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Although those projects may not have been labeled a form of socialism...that's what they were.
Have you ever lost a job? Have you ever filed for unemployment insurance? What do you think that is? It's socialism.
The same individual, who I noted at the outset of this editorial, also blames Democrats for being "the Party of handouts and giveaways." I believe that is one of the many reasons that should make Americans proud. Despite what Republicans may think - or do think - America was built on the rich helping the poor. It is the way it has been. It is the way it should be. FDR realized that it's much easier for those who are rich...to make more and more money...and, therefore, become even wealthier. As our 32nd President is quoted as saying..."The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much...it is whether we provide enough...for those who have little."
Any American who makes a contemptible remark...browbeating another U.S. citizen to "leave" the country he loves...the country I love...is beyond reprehensible. It is disgraceful for any American to terrorize another U.S. citizen...warning him... warning me...that "there are countries that would put (me) to death for writing things like (I) do about the President." As such...it is obvious that anyone who feels that way...knows NOTHING about the United States of America...knows NOTHING about the United States Constitution...and knows NOTHING about the First Amendment.
At MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida...then-President Barack Obama noted in his final national security address on December 6th, 2016...that we are a nation that gives its citizens "the right to speak your mind and to protest against authority ...to live in a society that's open and free...that can criticize a President without retribution." I think it's worth emphasizing Mr. Obama's accurate statement of facts. "The RIGHT...the RIGHT...to speak your mind." "The RIGHT...the RIGHT...to protest against authority." "The RIGHT...the RIGHT...to criticize a President without retribution." Nobody can debate the former President's words. If you do...you go against the Constitution of the United States of America.
This column outlines just some of the reasons why America has ALWAYS been great. And for Donald Trump...and others who call themselves Americans...to think and communicate differently...is a stab in the heart of every U.S. citizen who could never...would never...shame our nation...by belittling it...and disparaging it...as not great. The love, passion and devotion for the United States of America must be unconditional. Therefore...it disgusts me...and sickens me...when so many people... who reap the benefits of freedom...liberty and justice for all...don't feel that our country is the best on Earth. Because no matter what...it is.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
Now, please express your personal opinions by following the instructions above. And thank you for reading The Controversy.
Copyright 2017 Gary B. Duglin and TheControversy.net. All Rights Reserved.
Part One of Two: GBD, I really don’t understand your opening statement, I don’t see where President Trump has caused Republicans to turn on Democrats. It has been the Democrats that have turned on Republicans and the President and in my opinion turned on much of America. Slow walking the President’s Cabinet, knowing they can’t stop any of them, just making harder for the White House to do its job and could put America at risk. Next, I have read what was written to you and don’t see how that constitutes a threat. The person said if you don’t like it here why don’t you leave, he or she were giving you an suggestion or an option to maybe make yourself a happier person. His or her statement about being put to death seemed to be just a reminder of what you have here and if you decided to move, which many people of the left claimed they would do if Trump was elected, was as I said just a warning of what you would lose. After reading many of your columns I can see where most conservatives would feel you are filled with a lot of hate, your writing does not show love but it does show a lot of hate and name calling. I did vote for President Trump but know many people that didn’t and I would say 90% of them accept Trump as their President and will disagree with him on many things (maybe everything) but say at the end of the day he is the President. I would agree with you that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are socialist program; all three are in major financial difficulties and if not bailed out will fail. You are very wrong when you say the US Military and the VA are socialistic, it dishonors the men and women who serve to claim they are getting something for nothing, the US Military is anything but socialistic, these are hard working brave men and women protecting our way of life. Just because the Federal Government funds something from taxes doesn’t make it socialism! The military is one of the few things the Federal Government does that it has the right to do and does well. Much of what our national government does it does not have the Constitutional right to do and much of what it does it does poorly. End of part one.
ReplyDeleteMy column stands for itself. But I will respond to a few of your comments.
DeleteIf you don't think that the other reader's remarks were a "threat" then your interpretation of the English language is different than mine. And for any American to give another American "an option to maybe make yourself a happier person"...by leaving the country...by leaving my homeland...is just as disgraceful as the remarks earlier written by that other reader.
It nauseates me to have to write this again, as I have emphasized it 'til I'm blue in the face...but I am NOT "filled with a lot of hate." I am not filled with ANY hate at all. What Republicans don't seem to understand is that Donald Trump beating Hillary Clinton in the electoral voting has NOTHING to do with my editorials...or the reactions of most people who voted for Secretary Clinton. It has to do with Trump not having the temperament to be President. It has to do with Trump not being fit to be President. It has to do with all the other comments I have made over the last 20 months in response to Trump's offensive, rude and disrespectful behavior towards other Americans who did not in any way deserve to be treated in such fashion. It has to do with Trump's reckless behavior. It has to do with what Senator Bernie Sanders said today (Sunday, February 12th, 2017) to NBC's Chuck Todd on Meet The Press. Senator Sanders called Donald Trump "delusional and a pathological liar." It has nothing to do with Hillary Clinton not being President of the United States. Republicans continue to think that we are being "sore losers." That is NOT the case at all. Nobody protested in huge demonstrations - all across the country - when Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush became President. Although Democrats were disappointed with those three individuals and did not agree - for the most part - with their decisions, as President...they were/are honorable men who - generally speaking - could be respected for what they did as Presidents and as human beings. I said..."generally speaking." But still...they didn't cause the turmoil that Donald Trump has caused. I don't know how ANYBODY can respect Trump as President aftter all his insults and offensive demeanor throughout Campaign 2016. You must know what I am referring to so there's no need for me to repeat them now.
For you to say that you know many people who didn't vote for Trump, but that "90 percent of them accept Trump as their President" only indicates to me that you don't know a lot of people. But then...nobody really knows a lot of people, in the grand scheme of things. The fact is...a recent DLCC poll states that 46 percent of Americans want Trump to be impeached. And that's just 3 weeks after Inauguration Day.
The U.S. military is indeed a form of socialism. But that does not in any way mean that I am "dishonor(ing)" those hardworking, brave men and women of our Armed Forces. It merely proves - along with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and many more services in our country - that America is IN MANY REGARDS...a socialistic nation.
I totally disagree with your statement that "Much of what our national government does...it does not have the Constitutional right to do...and much of what it does...it does poorly." When Democrats are in power...in The White House and in both chambers of the U.S. Congress...I truly...genuinely...and honestly believe...that America moves forward in a continuing path that is excellent for the well-being and the success of all Americans and for our country as a whole. The only thing better would be for 9 liberal Justices to be sitting on the U.S. Supreme Court. I realize that the Supreme Court will more than likely never have 9 liberal Justices. But I can hope. Even if it is only a dream.
GBD
Part Two of Two: I don’t know where you get the idea that America was built on the rich helping the poor, that is not how America was built. America was built with hard work and determination. Neighbors helped neighbors, communities helped and religious groups helped, but it was never the Federal Government. Long before FDR and his “New Deal” America was great. Much of our greatness was due to the strict honoring of our founding documents, most importantly our Constitution, over the last decades we have stopped honoring that great document as it was written and that has caused much of our downfall. Liberal Courts have taken away much of what the Constitution guarantees, one of the biggest is States’ Rights. Check out the Tenth Amendment, liberals have limited our Second Amendment rights and our First Amendment Right to Freedom OF Religion not FROM Religion. How can you claim someone telling a fact that in other countries you could be put to death for saying things about their president, how is that terrorizing an American? It says the opposite of what you stated, it show how much that person does know about America, the Constitution and the First Amendment. It says he knows how thankful you should be to have those freedoms and rights. All Americans have the right to peacefully protest without the fear of retribution but you do not have the right to infringe on other people’s rights. You don’t have the right to start fires destroy private property as was done at Berkeley and at NYU and many, many other places. The protesters want to stop free speech unless they agree with them. As for those that say let’s make America Great Again, they have the love, passion and unconditional devotion to the USA but they are also realistic to know we are not as great as we once were. We don’t stand-up for our friends (take the Israel vote in the UN), for many years we have cared more about being politically correct then caring about what is right. Those who say “Let’s make America Great Again”, do feel we are the best country on earth, but we are not as great as we once were, it is time to make ourselves that GREAT AGAIN! End of Part Two.
ReplyDeleteAgain...my column stands for itself. But I will emphasize a few points in response to your remarks.
DeleteAmerica was indeed built on the rich helping the poor. As I stated in my column..."FDR realized that it's much easier for those who are rich...to make more and more money...and, therefore, become even wealthier. As our 32nd President is quoted as saying...'The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much...it is whether we provide enough...for those who have little.'" Whether before President Franklin Delano Roosevelt or after him...Americans who "HAVE"...help Americans who "HAVE NOT." It is why our nation is jampacked with charities...and why some people...some people...are willing to help others. Whether it's the federal government...any of our 50 state governments...municipal governments...our families...friends...neighbors...co-workers...or strangers...some Americans...some Americans...have always been willing to help those in need. My hope is...that someday...everyone will feel the same way.
I do not stand for violence or destruction in any way. But you pinpoint only a couple of instances out of many, many peaceful demonstrations since January 20th, 2017 that Americans have exercised their freedom of speech.
Donald Trump's campaign slogan, which he has carried through to The White House, is an abomination. I have thought so since Day One of Trump's campaign. He - and others like him - are basically saying that America is not great. You can spin it, as you did, but I don't agree with you. It was a punch in the face to President Barack Obama...to every Democrat in Congress...and to every Democrat throughout the United States...by saying "Make America Great Again." That clearly indicates that Trump - and that those who say those words - believe that America is not great, but that you wish it to be great again...as it was in some past historical period. America has ALWAYS been GREAT! And no matter what...we always will be.
GBD