I’m disappointed that Godwin’s law has been invoked. The Republican Party is inherently problematic in many ways, but they aren’t Nazis. Let’s not go down that road. I’m also disappointed that you think I’m ignoring the abhorrent work that the Trump administration has done - in fact it’s quite the opposite. I’m highly critical of Trump and the divisive atmosphere that he has fostered and furthered both within Washington and in the wider United States. His media campaigns and relationship with the press are my specialist areas, and I’m researching and working(very slowly) on a book* that’ll hopefully shine a light into just how badly Trump has messed the country up. I’d kindly ask you not to jump to conclusions about me when you make a post, Photek. I don’t think I’ve done that to you.
And for what it’s worth, I am not in any way a Republican sympathiser. I find a lot of the party views to be quite the antithesis of my own personal beliefs but I also believe that it’s the duty of every individual who is involved in politics** to educate themselves on the finer points of each of the major political schools of thought and different viewpoints. You can’t learn anything or form a valid opinion without first understanding how both sides think.
Further to this, demonising an entire political class of people leads to resentment. It leads to sloganising on both sides, to propaganda, to lines in the sand and ultimately it leads to Donald Trump, Brexit, division and an irreparable division that needn’t have occurred. It was the demonisation of a country full of people that literally led to the rise of the Nazi party, and there are so, so many historical precedents as to how harmful making crass generalisations can be. A lot of times in this thread people make blanket statements because of, for example, something Mike Pence has said or done, and that basically equates to “Pence is a dick, and therefore all Republicans are dicks and Nazis.” Which is wrong, and contributes to the cycle of hate which is tearing both America and the UK up in recent times.*** We’re better than that on here.
All I’m saying really is that it’s easy to get caught up in justifications and condemnations and anger and risk perpetuating it all for the next generation. Take a step back, condemn the people who deserve to be condemned, and don’t tar everyone with the same brush.
On a final note, It’s absolutely tragic to me that neither democrats nor republicans seem to be able to work in a bipartisan manner in the way that they could fifty or sixty years ago - bipartisanship led to the New Deal, the Great Society and so much good in American society.
*I just need a publisher.
**Everyone. Everyone should educate themselves.
***I can’t reiterate hard enough just how abhorrent I find Mike Pence’s politics, by the way. I’d really appreciate not being told what I am ignoring, because I assure you that I’m not.
Edited for spelling errors and remove repeated use of the words "I think," because of course it's what I think, I made the bloody post.