America in Crisis
July 4, 2020
July 4, 2020
If we did not know before, we hopefully know now that this
nation’s descendants of slaves do not generally have the same sense of July 4,
1776 being Independence Day. The day the British colonies of North America (the
land the murderous Italian moron Columbus, his successors and various other
white folks stole from the original inhabitants without so much as a
mother-may-I) became the United States of America.
For those whose ancestors were dragged from their homes half
way around the world in order to be treated like property, animals and
construction equipment (or as Ben Carson called them, “immigrants”), nothing
changed for them on that July day. It would take another 88 years and 50 weeks before
they would technically gain some semblance of independence from their
oppressors – at least on paper.
“There were other immigrants
who came here in the bottom
of slave ships, worked even longer, even harder for less.”
Carson quote (he is the less orange sleeping idiot on the left.)
of slave ships, worked even longer, even harder for less.”
Carson quote (he is the less orange sleeping idiot on the left.)
Nonetheless, America, in a relentless effort to pretend the
parts of our past we should be deathly ashamed of, that many among us would
like to never have to think about or own up to in any way, likes to celebrate
July 4th with all manner of hoopla. For reasons that have nothing to
do with rethinking the meaning of it all in these times of historic racial/civil
unrest, July 4, 2020 will not have the usual degree of gathering and merriment.
America is currently under two ominous clouds – the deadly
coronavirus pandemic with its devastating job loss and general economic
collapse, and the ever-festering madness of King-in-his-own-mind Donald. And
the long overdue Black Lives Matter protests to stop police wantonly killing
black folks and finally allow black people a taste of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness. And the ongoing climate crisis that has become all but
invisible as a result of the devastating virus pandemic, though considerably
more threatening, damaging and ultimately fatal.
It is nice to see that the last state in the union to have
Confederate imagery on their state flag finally remove the stars and bars.
Mississippi has finally decided to stop rubbing the failed war to protect
slavery in everyone’s face. Choose your celebratory phrase: Better late than
never. Or my preference, it’s about fucking time. For an excellent take on
monuments to hate, murder and rape that are all over this country, read this
powerful piece by Caroline Randall Williams.
Naturally, our Racist-in-chief, who recently called the
phrase BLACK LIVES MATTER a “symbol of hate,” is pretending he has the
slightest interest in any of this (other than his deep-seated racism) as he
panders to his race…I mean base, feigning umbrage that such important imagery
of our hateful, disgraceful past is being improperly disrespected.
Speaking of symbols of hate, check out Chrump 2020’s new
campaign t-shirt:
Chrump has no knowledge of American history, no interest in
anyone’s opinions, only what causes people to cheer his ravings. In one of the
great toddler-temper-tantrum events of all time, Der Furor is prepared to veto
the military budget (though his pathetic little veto will almost certainly be
overridden) in order to protect the good names of Confederate traitors despite
the fact that the vast majority of Americans are more than ready to be done
with our nation’s biggest losers of all time Chrump is more “concerned” with
the rights of long-dead traitorous Confederate generals than he is about the
rights of living, or more recently dead people of color.
You can’t make this shit up folks, and neither can I.
You can’t make this shit up folks, and neither can I.
It has been said that war is the health of the state. Chrump
is surely trying to bring back the Civil one. Peace and tranquility, like
democracy, unity and America all are anathema to the malignant narcissism and
toxic sociopathy that is Donald Chrump. He’s a grand old hag, he’s scum-sucking
drag and forever in disgrace may he leave. He’s no emblem of the land we love,
we’re not free, he’s not brave. With any
luck November 2, 2020 will see Republican’ts riding through the streets crying,
“The voters are coming, the voters are coming.” And November 3, 2020 will
become known as Independence From Donald Chrump Day. Either that or America is
over. Literally.
Since it is likely, at least if you are smarter than the
average Chrump supporter, you will not be gathering in large groups, huddling
in masses, yearning to breathe free (from Chrump and his racist minions), we
here at Paying Attention offer a glimpse of a few Independence Days past. If
you’re bored and can’t think of anything better to do with your Fourth of July,
here are some links to ghosts of Independence Days past. Just click on the date
for some painful memories and hopefully some laughs.
Ed Venture
Managing Editor, Paying Attention
Managing Editor, Paying Attention
“There is
nothing more frightening than ignorance in action.” – Goethe
“There is nothing more frightening than ignorance in power.” – Ed Venture
“There is nothing more frightening than ignorance in power.” – Ed Venture
Il Douche continues his abominable pseudo-presidency
– smooching with Putin, cuddling with Kim, and practically blowing bin
Salman. Chrump is clearly more
comfortable with
America’s adversaries than with our friends, and more competent with stagecraft than statecraft.
On this 242nd anniversary of the great
experiment in democracy that is the United States, I am reminded of a day back
in 1976, during our nation’s Bicentennial Brouhaha, when the man who pardoned
the criminal Richard Nixon – unelected president Gerald R. Ford – dared to show
his face in Philadelphia – the birthplace of American democracy (Anyone
remember that?), and right outside
Independence Hall of all places.
First he went after the Mexicans and many spoke out even though
they were not Mexican. Then he went after women and many spoke out even though
they were not women. Then he went after the handicapped and many spoke out even
though they were not handicapped. Then he went after the Muslims and many spoke
out even though they were not Muslim. Now he’s going after the Jews…what the
hell took him so long?
As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 238th birthday a
relatively small, armed and dangerous segment of America is wallowing in a
grotesque and misguided obsession with the Second Amendment to the
Constitution. It’s obvious that these pseudo-patriots have spent little if any
time actually reading the Constitution, even the ones who can read. This is
obvious because they clearly haven’t even read their beloved Second Amendment.
It says, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free
state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
Even the casual reader will notice that the opening phrase refers to the
necessity of a well regulated militia.
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