July 13, 2024 marked a somber, yet, pivotal moment for this politically-divided country. From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee, one ear piercing (literally) shot rang out and somehow brought the likes of moderate Democrats, former Trumpers, and Baptist preachers together all in unison - or did it?
Gone are the days of political sanity, Reagan-like nobility, and sensible liberals. We’re now floating in a dystopian hellscape that will inevitably transcend generations. Speaking of generations, I’d be remiss to say there is no better time like the present for our younger generations to take the gavel and create something good out of this complete and utter turmoil reality we’ve trumped our way into.
The political and fringe establishments cut their tree down quicker than a bolt of lightning, with two geriatric white men at the helm of leading our great nation. One will fall and the other? Cloaked in a holy veil upheld by a working class drowning in the Kool-Aid purchased for $1 at their church’s lemonade stand.
Lilith Grace Davenport
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Ms. Davenport,
I cannot recall reading a local opinion piece composed of such extraordinary language skills. When God blesses a person with a gift, pursue it diligently. I loved the descriptive language of “hellscape” and “cutting down trees,” fantastic.
With that, you described President Reagan and moderate Democrats in terms of stability, and the remaining fringe riddled with chaos. The content failed to differentiate or touch on even basic policy to delineate mainstream from fringe. Instead, the content focused on old age, and a touch of contempt for old leaders. Oh, come on, “Baptist preachers.” What you could have written as a reference is the religious sector. The faithful followers of Jesus Christ should not be subject to ridicule. We are all a work in progress in our faith, please don’t marginalize the faithful.
Then, the “white men,” words, more identity politics. I find it interesting that the diversity people seem to despise white, but proclaim everyone is welcome. That is contradicting, don’t you think?
The founders of our nation that toppled British rule were elite fringe, not populist, with great foreign policy that enlisted the French to intervene. How about that for a radical fringe group?
Debate often escalates to temporary instability, sometimes fist fights between elected. That is the story of the formation of the United States of America; fierce debate in differences of opinion is democracy in full play.
The constitution always wins eventually, how beautiful is that? Even the “fringe” can freely express in words and protest. I love the United States of America and the people that keep us safe on our homeland. Enough of that, I will start tearing up.
Our nation is fine, the Constitution works, and stability will follow after the toxic Marxist left and their communist policies are extinguished by the mainstream called the Republican party that turned out 74 million in 2020.
You stated, “We’re now floating in a dystopian hellscape.” It would certainly feel uneasy to people that do not understand the history of our nation, and are are viewing their nation in literal snapshot of time.
It is the policy of the candidate that should be the deciding factor, not age, gender, color, or religion. Your piece places religious groups, “Baptist preachers” as somehow the lesser of Americans in fringe.
Former President Trump has awakened the middle-class workers that are essential to commerce and the tax base of our nation. The fringe and “Babtist preachers” as you refer to them also rose to President Reagan. I still have my Reagan campaign pin, and was a college student during the early eighties. President Reagan was as tough as Trump. Both had assassination attempts from the disturbed that have always existed throughout American history.
Do you believe that President Reagan would have allowed 12 million illegals to enter our nation without being vetted over 3.5 years? I think not. Don’t confuse “tear down” the communist wall with our border. President Reagan believed in leadership by strength, just as Trump.
A Vote for Trump includes the following policies,
-Sealing the border from illegals and truly adverse origins. 12 million illegals have walked into our nation contrary to rule of law.
-Utilizing energy resources on American soil.
-Protect Israel.
-Deal with source of terrorism Iran, the real enemy.
-Promote American resources.
-Reduce inflation.
-Abolish DEI hiring by sexuality and color. Hire by ability.
Ms. Davenport, the 74 million people voted for Trump in 2020 are hardly fringe. Yesterday was not much different than today.
Again, beautiful wordsmithin of your piece.
Vote Trump 2024.
Be blessed y’all,
April Eidson
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Ms. Davenport, the music has not died, it's only temporarily been silenced by an extreme leftist agenda. However, it's about to come back load and clear, for all citizens of this great nation to enjoy.
There is no way I will attempt to make April Eidson's piece any more or less brilliant, fact filed and written with grace. Thank you, Ms. Eidson. All I will add is that this election has come to a point where it is no longer about voting Left or Right for the direction of our country, rather voting for the direction of Up or Down.
Do we want to rise to the greatness we once had, or do we want to fall into further decline, giving up all of the freedoms our forefather risked their lives to provide for generations to come, as well as other generations who were willing to sign their names to a blank check, for the same reason? I vote "UP" because I want America to be great again.
J. Pat Williams
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I read this opinion piece. Then reread it and reread it again.
Best thing I can come up with is a Kamala Harris wordsalad.
Dennis Wooden
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J. Pat Williams stated that “the music has not died, it's only temporarily been silenced by an “extreme leftist agenda.” He asks, “Do we want to rise to the greatness we once had, or do we want to fall into further decline, giving up all of the freedoms our forefather risked their lives to provide for generations to come, as well as other generations who were willing to sign their names to a blank check, for the same reason?”
What is an “extreme leftist agenda” and how the music has been “only temporarily been silenced” by that agenda? I see no support for that comment, and no such agenda.
What is the “the greatness we once had” and when was that “greatness”? Why has there been “further decline”? How does he know that we are “giving up all of the freedoms our forefather risked their lives to provide for generations to come”? He’s entitled to his opinions, but there is no support for his statements.
For example, economically, the country is still great despite regular ups and downs of any metric. The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides an archive of its press releases. Selections by year, economic category and keyword are sortable. Chose your selections and make your case for “greatness” or “further decline”.
What other categories constitute “further decline”? What is decline to one person is not decline to another. MAGAs likely see gay rights as a decline based, contrary to the 1st Amendment, on the Old Testament, Leviticus 18. I see gay rights as progress toward individual freedom. MAGAs see Christian Nationalism as progress, yet I see it as a decline and also contrary to the 1st Amendment. In the 1950s, my parents thought Elvis was vulgar. In the 1960s, it was the Beatles. Was that “further decline?”
Ms. Eidson’s letter promotes specific MAGA “policies.” For those “policies”, I offer questions, thoughts or disagreement.
“Sealing the border from illegals and truly adverse origins. 12 million illegals have walked into our nation contrary to rule of law.”
What does “sealing” mean? A 2,000+ mile wall costing billions? I believe that we should do a far better job of enforcing existing laws: more judges, more immigration enforcement personnel, more or better detention facilities if needed and a more streamlined path to citizenship. Nobody seems to be complaining about legal immigrants.
The MAGA rhetoric of a high percentage of illegals being drug dealers or criminals is incorrect. In fact, the vast majority of trafficking offenders were U.S. citizens. The drug trafficking enemy is us. The annual percentages of all drug convictions where the felon was a U.S. citizen increased from 81.6 percent in FY 2018 to 86.4 percent in FY 2023.
“Utilizing energy resources on American soil.”
Does this include all resources, or just fossil fuels? The felon-candidate is clearly on record that he is against wind and solar power, both of which are “energy resources on American soil.”
"Protect Israel”
Yes, Israel is our ally. But does that mean that Israel will always be unfettered and that we condone the destruction and killing of innocents ad infinitum? Since 1947, the Israelis have appropriated more and more of Palestine. Why are the Palestinians not entitled to life and land too? Just as the Turks tried to exterminate the Armenians over 100 years ago, it’s not hard to make a correlation between Turkey and Israel today.
“Deal with source of terrorism Iran, the real enemy.”
Iran is a source of terrorism, but not the only “real enemy”. I am far more concerned about a MAGA “respectfulness” (my term) of Russia.
The U.S. should be promoting democracy around the globe. As we support our democratic ally Israel, we should also be supporting our democratic ally, Ukraine. I arrive at the conclusion of Ukraine as a MAGA enemy only because of the Biden’s political or business dealing there. We should not abandon our ally under the pretenses of a political rival’s alleged criminality, or any internal criminality. Yes, we should be sure our military support is not funneled to criminals. But our lack of support is only a victory for Putin.
"Reduce inflation.”
How? Can a President singlehandedly adjust prices or control supply? Nor does a President control interest rates. The Fed is supposed to be independent of political pressures.
“Abolish DEI hiring by sexuality and color. Hire by ability.”
On the surface, a noble thought – in a perfect world.
However, all sources I locate indicate that backlash is because of an unsupported theory that DEI displaces heterosexual whites. (is this racism, sexual discrimination?) DEI has been abolished for State Agencies in some states. Abolishment is a goal of Project 2025. Without credible statistics a case cannot be made pro or con regarding DEI.
“Ms. Davenport, the 74 million people voted for Trump in 2020 are hardly fringe. Yesterday was not much different than today.”
The way MAGAs worship the felon/candidate, thinking him righteous, infallible, and a victim, may be best described as a “cult”. What constitutes a MAGA cult is debatable, but the characteristics of a cult are there. The opinion MAGA is a cult is reasonably supported by a number of recognized and non-partisan cult scholars.
April Eidson and J. Pat Williams could do a better job in their responses. Both letters contain misinformation, or opinions not supported by facts or reasonable assumptions, as do many letters I read on this forum.
Wilson’s letter is just mean (“Best thing I can come up with is a Kamala Harris wordsalad”). It is unworthy of publication by any media. Wilson’s letter continues the common MAGA stereotype of disreputable traits, such as meanness. Ironically, he admits his inability to understand, or lack of desire to understand, which is another MAGA trait. A search “YouTube MAGAs Ignorance” results in multiple examples of MAGAs disreputable traits.
BTW, anger, meanness, hatefulness and retribution are some of the despicable dogmas preached by the felon/candidate. I dare anyone to say my description of that man is untruthful. And what have we come to as a Country when a convicted felon is a Party’s primary candidate for the Presidency, and his campaign is based on what’s best for him (i.e. pardoning himself, his cronies, and insurrectionists)?
Joe Warren