For those of you who regularly follow my blog, my apologies for the rather light posting over the last few weeks. I have some serious writing to do regarding my graduate project and so my time will be taken for a few weeks more.
But I noticed several days ago that some members of the supposed "alternative", non-mainstream, "non-Empire" blogosphere have been endorsing a particular Presidential candidate. They have taken a few of his statements over the last several months - especially his statements regarding foreign policy - as some sign that this man is some sort of genuine alternative to the narcissism and imperialism that characterizes those who want to be the President of the United States.
I don't think so. Consider the statements which this man made very early on in his campaign - statements directly threatening certain ethnic groups, Latin American nations, and adherents to a certain religion (namely, Islam) - and consider that he made such radical statements in order to gain popularity. Consider also the kinds of people among whom he immediately became very popular. One may say, "Well, he had to say such things in order to become noticed, but he really didn't mean them..." For those who say that, consider Anton Chekhov, who is reputed to have said, "If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off..."
Consider also that some of those now endorsing this man previously advised us to "...show disrespect for [the] liturgical actions of..." those who currently run the electoral process. To me, that includes disrespecting every last one of those who run things, because the only way to become prominent in American national politics nowadays is to have lots of money (and to be a fantastic liar). So Donald Trump is supposed to be financing his own campaign. So what? Anyone with access to that kind of money is part of the system, even if he claims to be fighting the system.
So I don't buy those who - wittingly or unwittingly - have become sheep dogs for a wolf. I hope I don't hurt anyone's feelings by saying this, because I hope rather to engender constructive dialogue. But sometimes hard things must be said.
If anyone wants to know whom I have endorsed for the Presidency, he or she can find out here.
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