Trump Wields Fascism's Most DANGEROUS Weapon & Only One Thing Can Defeat It! - Thom Hartmann

[Rhiannon12866]

Fascism has man weapons in its arsenal, but Trump and his MAGA Republicans are using one of the most dangerous... Thom Hartmann explains what it is and how to defeat it. - Aired on 11/22/2024.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Truth and Gospel.

In a microcosm, I understand this concept well.

Our father was a relentless authoritarian. While he never hit us, he kept us off balance with fear and unpredictability. The fear was real; it wasn't paranoia. The threats weren't explicit, but they were easily extrapolated.

At our nadir, I had quit my job to enter law school. I didn't apply for a scholarship b/c Dad assured me he would pay the tuition. But two weeks before school commenced, Dad got mad at me for something I didn't do. He took me out to dinner to tell me he wouldn't be paying the tuition. So, no job/salary and no law school. And he smirked at me. Smirked!

Long ago, I learned that fear was the enemy. Even if I were taken aback, never EVER show fear to your adversary. One step after another after another. That was courage without overt gestures.

BTW, my father backed down and paid for the law school. He never apologized but then again, I wasn't expecting one.

My point: You don't have to necessarily stand up to a bully. You simply don't give any ground. Sometimes that's enough.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I'm so sorry about your Dad, though he must have been proud of you

I had issues with my Dad, too - first he sent me away to summer camp and then to boarding school, though I realize now that those were really my grandmother's (his mother's) idea. I got to like camp, made some lifelong friends there, but I was miserable at boarding school. It was an all female school, established 1879, and pretty strict, Plus, my first year there I broke my foot and had to use crutches to get around in deep snow. The result was that he never weighed in on my choice of colleges, my grandmother took me for interviews. And my Dad did pay for my college since he started saving up when I was a little kid. He had to work his way through college after losing his own Dad at age 12, sudden heart attack, and my grandmother was a teacher so education was important to her, she expected all 4 of her children to attend college. As for my Dad, I appreciate all that he gave me and I hope he knew that.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. In hindsight, I kind of regard my past with my father as a variation of

A Boy Named Sue.

My father inadvertently taught me valuable lessons to apply to future situations, some more dire. The lessons were painful, but necessary.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Looking back, I was very lucky. I was the first born and my Dad took being a father seriously

And I'm sure that the places I was sent, my Dad thought of as advantages. And my Dad was also a workaholic, but being the first born, he always paid attention to me, not that I always appreciated it. But I do now. *sigh*

[RVN VET71]

4. "You need your soul." Right on, Thom

True. It's the one thing we have that they do not. Henley's poem stands as a proud declaration of individuality, freedom, and integrity.

"It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."

There is not a single MAGA fascist who can lay claim to that statement. All of them have sold their souls outright to Donnie Fatso.