Betrayed by My Fellow Americans

 

As citizens of the United States, we share so much. We were born in the light of greatness, or have voluntarily chosen to adopt this country as our own. We are the beneficiaries of a great tradition of freedom, men and women who risked their lives to sever ties with England and start anew. It was a daring task, a risky endeavor that is unique in human history. The men and women who took these steps knew that the establishment of a Republic would be fragile, that it would be subject to the whims and power grabs of people who care little for liberty and only relish and are obsessed with the opportunities to expand their own personal power. Those people have betrayed the Founders and affronted the sacrifices that were made to create a new nation.

Even worse, they continue to betray all of us in growing numbers. They hide behind the curtains of false compassion, virtue, and honor. They are violent, evil, and arrogant. And they care nothing about the welfare of blacks, other minorities, and the future. Instead, their goals are to lay waste to every human heart, to any remnant of human achievement and wisdom. Not a shred of decency should be left.

The tactics of the anarchists have been insidious. They have slowly transformed public education into propaganda; students at all levels have been props in their dark drama. The very people who have committed themselves to protect us, from those in local law enforcement to those in our military organizations have been brainwashed at their upper levels to believe they are serving the future. Our legislators have likewise either been programmed from the start or have been persuaded to join the ranks of the anarchists. They are feckless, foolish, and greedy.

So where do these conditions leave our country? I don’t know. What will it take for people to wake up and realize how much is at stake?

Will their recognizing that they’ve been betrayed be reason enough to try to take this country back? If so, how?

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  1. Mim526 Inactive
    Mim526
    @Mim526

    Susan Quinn:

    What will it take for people to wake up and realize how much is at stake?

    Will their recognizing that they’ve been betrayed be reason enough to try to take this country back? If so, how?

    That’s the key question, isn’t it?  I think there are plenty of Americans who do not like the anarchy billed as ‘peaceful protests’.  Do those people like them more or less than they like Donald Trump?  To me, that should be a no brainer … personality vs. anarchy.  And it is just that basic a choice because no Democrat has the will to stop the anarchy.

    • #1
  2. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    People are unwilling to fight back for fear of being labled racist. 

    The entire globalist elite are nakedly willing to sell us all out. That is clear. I thought Kingsman was silly that so many people would sign on, but it is now clear the elites would be happy to wipe us all out. 

     

    • #2
  3. Mim526 Inactive
    Mim526
    @Mim526

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    People are unwilling to fight back for fear of being labled racist.

    The entire globalist elite are nakedly willing to sell us all out. That is clear. I thought Kingsman was silly that so many people would sign on, but it is now clear the elites would be happy to wipe us all out.

     

    Other than encountering God which changes the heart, I’m not aware of much that changes a Leftist.  It’s those who don’t like what Leftists do but seem to despise President Trump even more that I can’t fathom.  And I’m not of a mind to let them off the hook about it given what’s at stake :-)

    • #3
  4. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    All I know is that they are coming for us all.

    • #4
  5. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Susan, good post.

    Does this not explain the election of Donald Trump?  For all of his flaws, he was one of the few people who actually fought the anti-Americanism of the Left.  He did so in a way that came across as insulting, with brilliant slogans like Make America Great Again.  MAGA reveals the Left’s hatred of America, because they don’t love America.  They love the hypothetical neo-Marxist utopia that they want to create in America.

    Revealing this is inherently divisive.  Now we’ve seen Gen. Mattis vilifying the President for being divisive.  I think that this is because Gen. Mattis is quite wrong, and does not see or understand the insidious and anti-American nature of the Left.  I think that this is because he does not want to believe it, because he does not want to question the patriotism of the political opposition.  This is actually a good impulse.  But sometimes what appears to be the enemy within, actually is the enemy within.

    • #5
  6. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):
    People are unwilling to fight back for fear of being labled racist. 

    I’m not at risk of losing a job, Bryan, but I think I could put up with being called racist. Unfortunately others have a lot more at stake.  I wonder if a person could sue a company for being called racist when he or she isn’t?

    • #6
  7. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Mim526 (View Comment):
    It’s those who don’t like what Leftists do but seem to despise President Trump even more that I can’t fathom. And I’m not of a mind to let them off the hook about it given what’s at stake :-)

    Neither do I. I mean, for pete’s sake, he’s been president for three years. If you so wish, vote him out the next time around!

    • #7
  8. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Revealing this is inherently divisive. Now we’ve seen Gen. Mattis vilifying the President for being divisive. I think that this is because Gen. Mattis is quite wrong, and does not see or understand the insidious and anti-American nature of the Left.

    I agree! Mattis is an example, Jerry, of letting one’s emotions override one’s good judgment. As I said earlier, Trump is president. What possible help is it to the country to tear him down?

    • #8
  9. DonG (skeptic) Coolidge
    DonG (skeptic)
    @DonG

    Socialists and commies have taken over many organizations.  They have always been the enemy of a free people and they are well-funded and organized now.  The free people are weak, because the socialists have been quiet for a generation.  It is time for all free people to redouble their efforts and defending this last, best hope for liberty.

    • #9
  10. Mim526 Inactive
    Mim526
    @Mim526

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Mim526 (View Comment):
    It’s those who don’t like what Leftists do but seem to despise President Trump even more that I can’t fathom. And I’m not of a mind to let them off the hook about it given what’s at stake :-)

    Neither do I. I mean, for pete’s sake, he’s been president for three years. If you so wish, vote him out the next time around!

    Not before they explain just how Donald Trump is worse than the hooligans terrorizing parts of the US right now.  And no “not all Democrats agree with that” nonsense, either.  No well known Democrat is willing to step up and speak out against it.  Only Donald Trump and those not afraid to agree with him.

    Time for some truth telling in this country I think.

    • #10
  11. M. Brandon Godbey Member
    M. Brandon Godbey
    @Brandon

    Much of what you see going on is what I call “kicking down the ladder.”

    As societies have hierarchies, essentially competitions within competitions for success in life.  America’s hierarchies are far more fair than other cultures.  It helps that we have lots of ladders to success to climb.  If one ladder is too steep, you can step over to another ladder that might be more in line with your personal traits.  

    There are, however, people at the bottom of the ladder, for whom success seems unattainable, or they would have to adopt a series of traits that they find distasteful.  For the rioters at the center of this particular travesty, the top that that ladder seems out of their reach for their current talents and attitudes.  So they’ve simply decided to kick the ladder down. 

    “If I can’t make it to the top, no one will.”  

    • #11
  12. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Mim526 (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Mim526 (View Comment):
    It’s those who don’t like what Leftists do but seem to despise President Trump even more that I can’t fathom. And I’m not of a mind to let them off the hook about it given what’s at stake :-)

    Neither do I. I mean, for pete’s sake, he’s been president for three years. If you so wish, vote him out the next time around!

    Not before they explain just how Donald Trump is worse than the hooligans terrorizing parts of the US right now. And no “not all Democrats agree with that” nonsense, either. No well known Democrat is willing to step up and speak out against it. Only Donald Trump and those not afraid to agree with him.

    As far as I am concerned, they do agree, because like you said, they won’t dennounce the mob. They stand by as demands of ever greater amounts are made. They support what was done to Kavenaugh. Sorry, they are for tbis. They are for telling half the nation we have no right to speak. 

    • #12
  13. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    M. Brandon Godbey (View Comment):

    There are, however, people at the bottom of the ladder, for whom success seems unattainable, or they would have to adopt a series of traits that they find distasteful. For the rioters at the center of this particular travesty, the top that that ladder seems out of their reach for their current talents and attitudes. So they’ve simply decided to kick the ladder down.

    “If I can’t make it to the top, no one will.”

    A profound observation, @mbrandongodbey. I think you’ve got something there. What to do, what to do?

    • #13
  14. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    I feel betrayed by the media.

    I feel betrayed by the ideologues among us (including those in the media)

    I feel betrayed by gutless corporate chieftains.

    I don’t feel betrayed, for the most part, by my fellow Americans to the extent that they are none of the above.  For me, true betrayal requires an element of calculation.  IMO, the vast majority of those that are either tacitly approving of the recent occurrences, or going along by rote with virtue signaling, aren’t really responsible.  Most, in fact, are “very good people” when one leaves aside politics.  It’s they who have been betrayed by those mentioned above and our educational system.

    • #14
  15. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Hoyacon (View Comment):
    I don’t feel betrayed, for the most part, by my fellow Americans to the extent that they are none of the above. For me, true betrayal requires an element of calculation. IMO, the vast majority of those that are either tacitly approving of the recent occurrences, or going along by rote with virtue signaling, aren’t really responsible. Most, in fact, are “very good people” when one leaves aside politics. It’s they who have been betrayed by those mentioned above and our educational system.

    In one sense I agree with you, @hoyacon. But if we let other Americans off the hook, who will ever take responsibility? We are in danger of treating those who have been duped as children. At what point are they responsible for the decisions they make? If any of us make foolish decisions based on bad information, are we not responsible?

    • #15
  16. M. Brandon Godbey Member
    M. Brandon Godbey
    @Brandon

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    M. Brandon Godbey (View Comment):

    There are, however, people at the bottom of the ladder, for whom success seems unattainable, or they would have to adopt a series of traits that they find distasteful. For the rioters at the center of this particular travesty, the top that that ladder seems out of their reach for their current talents and attitudes. So they’ve simply decided to kick the ladder down.

    “If I can’t make it to the top, no one will.”

    Aa profound observation, @mbrandongodbey. I think you’ve got something there. What to do, what to do?

     

     

    That is the great conundrum, isn’t it?  One of the reasons for the existence of wealth inequality (a fact which exist across all economic systems) is that people with advantages use those advantages to procure more advantages.  Think of it as “compound advantage”, successful people build upon their success.  That’s why it’s so difficult for a kid growing up in a rough environment to build himself into something.  On what success does he build? 

    I was born poor as dirt in eastern Kentucky, and I was taught from an early age that successful people were “liars and cheaters.”  The poor were intrinsically noble because the “system” was rigged, and the rich took advantage of that system.  This was, of course, pure poppycock.  But I had to get very far away from home and meet people that were truly successful to see that they weren’t the black-hearted villains I had been warned about.        

    I think the way forward is the assertion of the dignity of the individual as a cultural norm.  We have to ditch this notion of group identity.  It is pure poison to the soul.  Identity politics allows us to see other people as group members without individual rights.  It also allows us to view ourselves as group members without responsibilities.  Pure poison.    

    • #16
  17. CarolJoy, Above Top Secret Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Above Top Secret
    @CarolJoy

    I keep wondering what happened to the Left’s commitment to the immigrants? Are there no immigrants south of the border these days?

    Weren’t we told for at least 18 months that before we stop to do a thing, we must make sure that no immigrant mom with child was standing and crying at the border?

     

    • #17
  18. Weeping Inactive
    Weeping
    @Weeping

    M. Brandon Godbey (View Comment):
    I think the way forward is the assertion of the dignity of the individual as a cultural norm. We have to ditch this notion of group identity. It is pure poison to the soul. Identity politics allows us to see other people as group members without individual rights. It also allows us to view ourselves as group members without responsibilities. Pure poison.

    • #18
  19. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    M. Brandon Godbey (View Comment):
    I think the way forward is the assertion of the dignity of the individual as a cultural norm. We have to ditch this notion of group identity. It is pure poison to the soul. Identity politics allows us to see other people as group members without individual rights. It also allows us to view ourselves as group members without responsibilities. Pure poison.

    This makes sense to me. I’m going to think about it. Asserting the dignity of the individual–in other words, also saying that each person has a soul and is created in the image of G-d–could be a fundamental place to start. Thanks. You might consider writing a post!

    • #19
  20. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Revealing this is inherently divisive. Now we’ve seen Gen. Mattis vilifying the President for being divisive. I think that this is because Gen. Mattis is quite wrong, and does not see or understand the insidious and anti-American nature of the Left.

    I agree! Mattis is an example, Jerry, of letting one’s emotions override one’s good judgment. As I said earlier, Trump is president. What possible help is it to the country to tear him down?

    I agree that it’s counterproductive, but to discuss Mattis’ conduct without mentioning Trump having calling Mattis “the most overrated general in history,” is omitting a relevant part of the story.  

    • #20
  21. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Revealing this is inherently divisive. Now we’ve seen Gen. Mattis vilifying the President for being divisive. I think that this is because Gen. Mattis is quite wrong, and does not see or understand the insidious and anti-American nature of the Left.

    I agree! Mattis is an example, Jerry, of letting one’s emotions override one’s good judgment. As I said earlier, Trump is president. What possible help is it to the country to tear him down?

    I agree that it’s counterproductive, but to discuss Mattis’ conduct without mentioning Trump having calling Mattis “the most overrated general in history,” is omitting a relevant part of the story.

    I’m not sure what you’re talking about.  There were reports of President Trump having said something similar to this last October, in a private meeting with members of Congress, from an anonymous source.  There may be more to it.

    As Victor Davis Hanson has pointed out, President Trump tends to be the one retaliating in these exchanges.  VDH noted this in connection with John McCain.  I now that Gen. Mattis made unfavorable statements in his resignation letter.  So it’s hard to know who threw the first punch, so to speak.

    • #21
  22. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Revealing this is inherently divisive. Now we’ve seen Gen. Mattis vilifying the President for being divisive. I think that this is because Gen. Mattis is quite wrong, and does not see or understand the insidious and anti-American nature of the Left.

    I agree! Mattis is an example, Jerry, of letting one’s emotions override one’s good judgment. As I said earlier, Trump is president. What possible help is it to the country to tear him down?

    I agree that it’s counterproductive, but to discuss Mattis’ conduct without mentioning Trump having calling Mattis “the most overrated general in history,” is omitting a relevant part of the story.

    I’m not sure what you’re talking about. There were reports of President Trump having said something similar to this last October, in a private meeting with members of Congress, from an anonymous source. There may be more to it.

    As Victor Davis Hanson has pointed out, President Trump tends to be the one retaliating in these exchanges. VDH noted this in connection with John McCain. I now that Gen. Mattis made unfavorable statements in his resignation letter. So it’s hard to know who threw the first punch, so to speak.

    This is what I’m talking about.

    https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/10/17/trump-blasts-mattis-as-the-worlds-most-overrated-general/

    It was widely reported, but, in order to deflect the obvious objection of MSM=biased, I thought I’d go with a different source.

    • #22
  23. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Revealing this is inherently divisive. Now we’ve seen Gen. Mattis vilifying the President for being divisive. I think that this is because Gen. Mattis is quite wrong, and does not see or understand the insidious and anti-American nature of the Left.

    I agree! Mattis is an example, Jerry, of letting one’s emotions override one’s good judgment. As I said earlier, Trump is president. What possible help is it to the country to tear him down?

    I agree that it’s counterproductive, but to discuss Mattis’ conduct without mentioning Trump having calling Mattis “the most overrated general in history,” is omitting a relevant part of the story.

    I’m not sure what you’re talking about. There were reports of President Trump having said something similar to this last October, in a private meeting with members of Congress, from an anonymous source. There may be more to it.

    As Victor Davis Hanson has pointed out, President Trump tends to be the one retaliating in these exchanges. VDH noted this in connection with John McCain. I now that Gen. Mattis made unfavorable statements in his resignation letter. So it’s hard to know who threw the first punch, so to speak.

    This is what I’m talking about.

    https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/10/17/trump-blasts-mattis-as-the-worlds-most-overrated-general/

    It was widely reported, but, in order to deflect the obvious objection of MSM=biased, I thought I’d go with a different source.

    OK, even in this article, it’s a private meeting, according to anonymous sources.

    • #23
  24. Sweezle Inactive
    Sweezle
    @Sweezle

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Revealing this is inherently divisive. Now we’ve seen Gen. Mattis vilifying the President for being divisive. I think that this is because Gen. Mattis is quite wrong, and does not see or understand the insidious and anti-American nature of the Left.

    I agree! Mattis is an example, Jerry, of letting one’s emotions override one’s good judgment. As I said earlier, Trump is president. What possible help is it to the country to tear him down?

    I completely disagree. The military should never be used for any partisan purpose. I am 100% in support of Trump and for his re-election. But he was wrong to use General Milley in the photo op and I agree with the push back from military leaders. 

    • #24
  25. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    Asserting the dignity of the individual–in other words, also saying that each person has a soul and is created in the image of G-d–could be a fundamental place to start.

    Nowadays many people find their “individuality” by joining an identity that’s set apart from other identities in a series of competitions and alliances. They find personal elevation in a higher purpose. Personal flaws, which might require work, are washed away by subscription to the modish pieties. They confess the sins that others have ascribed to them, then turn their new zeal on the sinners who refuse to repent. 

    • #25
  26. Mim526 Inactive
    Mim526
    @Mim526

    Sweezle (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Revealing this is inherently divisive. Now we’ve seen Gen. Mattis vilifying the President for being divisive. I think that this is because Gen. Mattis is quite wrong, and does not see or understand the insidious and anti-American nature of the Left.

    I agree! Mattis is an example, Jerry, of letting one’s emotions override one’s good judgment. As I said earlier, Trump is president. What possible help is it to the country to tear him down?

    I completely disagree. The military should never be used for any partisan purpose. I am 100% in support of Trump and for his re-election. But he was wrong to use General Milley in the photo op and I agree with the push back from military leaders.

    High ranking military is rife with politics; you could say it is all about politics.  They have been and are on display frequently throughout past decades.  Hence the terms military brass, military parade, military honors, military review, etc.  With a few exceptions these high ranking guys have all posed with past presidents ad nauseum. 

    What I’ve noticed different in past decade or so is the military’s vocal insertion into civilian life, particularly commenting publicly about the current and past president’s policies.  It is not a trend that should be allowed to continue.  The more they violate regulation without penalty (not talking trumped up criminal penalties Flynn faced), the greater the vocalization through on the record comments, op eds, etc. will be.  They need to get hit where it hurts:  the pocketbook. For active duty like Milley, he should be relieved regardless of whether he’s right or wrong.  Appropriate thing to do if he feels something is serious enough to vocalize would be to quit and keep your mouth shut to the civilian population.

    He’s posturing.  If he’d said something like, “Respectfully, sir, I don’t feel that would be appropriate” at the time, Trump would have gone ahead without him and that would have been the end of it.

    • #26
  27. CarolJoy, Above Top Secret Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Above Top Secret
    @CarolJoy

    Sweezle (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Revealing this is inherently divisive. Now we’ve seen Gen. Mattis vilifying the President for being divisive. I think that this is because Gen. Mattis is quite wrong, and does not see or understand the insidious and anti-American nature of the Left.

    I agree! Mattis is an example, Jerry, of letting one’s emotions override one’s good judgment. As I said earlier, Trump is president. What possible help is it to the country to tear him down?

    I completely disagree. The military should never be used for any partisan purpose. I am 100% in support of Trump and for his re-election. But he was wrong to use General Milley in the photo op and I agree with the push back from military leaders.

    The military is often used for partisan purposes.  Wars distract people from a slagging economy; that has been true since at least the Spanish American war.

    Presidents have often turned to visiting military bases in order to garner positive press when some policy they decided is back firing.

    I think a far larger issue for Trump is in his not having the military march into Chicago or LA or any of the other places where entire neighborhoods have been demolished by rioting. Trump definitely is not siding with the protesters. But he also failed to protect the people in cities who needed him more than ever, and they did not get any relief from him. When their mayors failed them, when their governors failed them, he was the last hope and last refuge. Prior to these riots, African American males were supporting the President. I wonder if that will remain the case.

    • #27
  28. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    Asserting the dignity of the individual–in other words, also saying that each person has a soul and is created in the image of G-d–could be a fundamental place to start.

    Nowadays many people find their “individuality” by joining an identity that’s set apart from other identities in a series of competitions and alliances. They find personal elevation in a higher purpose. Personal flaws, which might require work, are washed away by subscription to the modish pieties. They confess the sins that others have ascribed to them, then turn their new zeal on the sinners who refuse to repent.

    This is very well assigned. 

    • #28
  29. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Susan Quinn: What will it take for people to wake up and realize how much is at stake?

    A damn good question I’ve asked of never-Trumpers.  Do you care about the country so little you put your vaunted “principles” ahead of doing what’s right?  Don’t you know what’s at stake?  Some of you actually recommended voting for Hillary (and now Biden) because millions of people rejected your analysis of Trump and actually like what he’s done in office.  Sadly, aiding and abetting Democrats is not a crime.

    I believe voters will take the country back, which is why the left is going all out with preparations for massive election fraud this November.  Watch for a year 2000 repeat in local races all over the nation, possibly even the Presidential race . . .

    • #29
  30. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Mim526 (View Comment):
    What I’ve noticed different in past decade or so is the military’s vocal insertion into civilian life, particularly commenting publicly about the current and past president’s policies. It is not a trend that should be allowed to continue.

    We’ve had discussions about the appropriateness of public comments. It seems that once a military person retires, he can pretty much say and do as he wishes. That obviously doesn’t mean that he must, but I think we’ve seen enough partisan comments from retired military to know that they believe they can justify this behavior.

    • #30
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