In years gone by, residents of nations around the world took notice of the boorish ignorance of travelling Americans. Now we can see "Ugly" without ever leaving home. Sadly, millions saw what "Ugly" looks like, and voted for it ... three times. And(!) they still think "Ugly" is cool.
The best metaphor for what has happened to the US under Trump is the crater of destruction around the White House. It follows that our closest neighbors are going to suffer because proximity begets exposure. US, Canada and Mexico are like long time homeowners who have been friends for so long they get into each other’s yards. Then, one day the guy in the middle goes bananas and the rest is history.
President Trump’s treatment of Canada is another example of the diplomatic malpractice, geopolitical foolishness, and economic quackery this president and his sycophantic administration are inflicting on the United States and our democratic allies.
Jay, I posted this article to the Facebook discussion group I administer (shameless plug) - Intelligent Conversations Between Liberals and Conservatives - https://www.facebook.com/groups/536346089874417 - and thought you might be interested.
My point was not so much the viewpoint of this article, as I have found in my group that most everybody gets that Trump is nuts, and though I enjoy this piece because of its good humor, invariably our few MAGAs will defend Trump as the most dogmatic cultists will, and for the rest it is hardly provocative pointing out Trumps 100,000th idiocy.
But the point of my piece was that the issues in the modern liberal/conservative divide, whether we spend 10% more or less on social welfare, or defense, are much less crucial than the defense of liberal democracy whether threatened by Trump and the populist nationalist right or the socialist left. Trump has essentially decided to utilize the old left dictum of "by any means possible" where the ethos is only to prevail and not be bound by tradition or fairness.
Trump's behavior is unbecoming, certainly, but it's tit-for-tat, isn't it? The Left has been waging a war of historical erasure for decades. I live in Washington, a one-party state on the Canadian border. Democrats have held executive office since 1980. In 2017 my city voted to rename Canada Island, a major feature of our downtown park, to "snxw meneɂ." That, apparently, is the Salish spelling of the island's name according to a tribe of people of whom less than five—FIVE—people speak the language. Greater Spokane is a city of nearly half a million people. How would you pronounce "snxw meneɂ"? Anyone? Where was the Left to complain when this name was adopted? They were thrilled, of course, because it elevated a minority population and humiliated the majority white population that in naming it "Canada Island" decades ago had sought to honor our friends to the north.
I'm sorry this example does not resonate as being at the same level or scope of damage being inflicted since 2017, on the USA itself as a nation, on Canada and other countries around the world, by what you call tit-for-tat and a "war". Speaking of historical erasure, I'm curious as to whether any progress has been made in Spokane on learning the pronunciation?
No, it is not tit for tat. Stupidity is not monopolized by either side and either side should be condemned. I am nominally on the liberal side if wanting universal healthcare, less CO2, and higher taxes on the wealthy qualify, though I am no progressive. Jay is a traditional conservative and so I think it is more fitting to criticize your own side, as perhaps Bill Maher and Jeff Maurer do on the left, than to just rail against your enemy. Kind of like the Biblical admonition about the mote and the beam.
The type of woke stuff you are reporting, I agree is stupid, and there are plenty of people on my side of the aisle who condemn that but not quite as much meaning to most is a city council vs the president of a country.
My general rule of thumb is not to change names or words for political reasons. Now Idlewild to JFK airport I give a pass to because nobody remembers Idlewild but the Kennedy/Trump center - two presidents whose only likeness is that they were both adulterers, is just one mans vanity. We should have rules that no president should be involved in naming things after themselves.
In years gone by, residents of nations around the world took notice of the boorish ignorance of travelling Americans. Now we can see "Ugly" without ever leaving home. Sadly, millions saw what "Ugly" looks like, and voted for it ... three times. And(!) they still think "Ugly" is cool.
The best metaphor for what has happened to the US under Trump is the crater of destruction around the White House. It follows that our closest neighbors are going to suffer because proximity begets exposure. US, Canada and Mexico are like long time homeowners who have been friends for so long they get into each other’s yards. Then, one day the guy in the middle goes bananas and the rest is history.
As long as the fat, petulant baby rules, ugly is all anyone is going to see who isn't in on the grift.
President Trump’s treatment of Canada is another example of the diplomatic malpractice, geopolitical foolishness, and economic quackery this president and his sycophantic administration are inflicting on the United States and our democratic allies.
We are, or should be, better than this.
Very well said. Thank you!
Great article, Jay.
This is essential work, and very timely.
We burnt the White House to the ground a few years ago, and then established a wonderful intercontinental relationship.
That relationship will survive Donald Trump as well.
My best to you.
Jay, I posted this article to the Facebook discussion group I administer (shameless plug) - Intelligent Conversations Between Liberals and Conservatives - https://www.facebook.com/groups/536346089874417 - and thought you might be interested.
My point was not so much the viewpoint of this article, as I have found in my group that most everybody gets that Trump is nuts, and though I enjoy this piece because of its good humor, invariably our few MAGAs will defend Trump as the most dogmatic cultists will, and for the rest it is hardly provocative pointing out Trumps 100,000th idiocy.
But the point of my piece was that the issues in the modern liberal/conservative divide, whether we spend 10% more or less on social welfare, or defense, are much less crucial than the defense of liberal democracy whether threatened by Trump and the populist nationalist right or the socialist left. Trump has essentially decided to utilize the old left dictum of "by any means possible" where the ethos is only to prevail and not be bound by tradition or fairness.
Thanks for calling him the Ugly American. I have called him this but the media won't
I think Carney overreacted to the talks and was wrong to abandon them in a huff. Childish. American negotiator Greer explained why
Carney overreacted??? To an ultimatum from a crybaby wannabe tyrant???
Trump's behavior is unbecoming, certainly, but it's tit-for-tat, isn't it? The Left has been waging a war of historical erasure for decades. I live in Washington, a one-party state on the Canadian border. Democrats have held executive office since 1980. In 2017 my city voted to rename Canada Island, a major feature of our downtown park, to "snxw meneɂ." That, apparently, is the Salish spelling of the island's name according to a tribe of people of whom less than five—FIVE—people speak the language. Greater Spokane is a city of nearly half a million people. How would you pronounce "snxw meneɂ"? Anyone? Where was the Left to complain when this name was adopted? They were thrilled, of course, because it elevated a minority population and humiliated the majority white population that in naming it "Canada Island" decades ago had sought to honor our friends to the north.
I'm sorry this example does not resonate as being at the same level or scope of damage being inflicted since 2017, on the USA itself as a nation, on Canada and other countries around the world, by what you call tit-for-tat and a "war". Speaking of historical erasure, I'm curious as to whether any progress has been made in Spokane on learning the pronunciation?
No, it is not tit for tat. Stupidity is not monopolized by either side and either side should be condemned. I am nominally on the liberal side if wanting universal healthcare, less CO2, and higher taxes on the wealthy qualify, though I am no progressive. Jay is a traditional conservative and so I think it is more fitting to criticize your own side, as perhaps Bill Maher and Jeff Maurer do on the left, than to just rail against your enemy. Kind of like the Biblical admonition about the mote and the beam.
The type of woke stuff you are reporting, I agree is stupid, and there are plenty of people on my side of the aisle who condemn that but not quite as much meaning to most is a city council vs the president of a country.
My general rule of thumb is not to change names or words for political reasons. Now Idlewild to JFK airport I give a pass to because nobody remembers Idlewild but the Kennedy/Trump center - two presidents whose only likeness is that they were both adulterers, is just one mans vanity. We should have rules that no president should be involved in naming things after themselves.
Nope.