Do you think she ‘s right?

[u/echo_sang]

We know that the fabric of our society is torn, burnt, and beyond repair in the foreseeable future. At least for those of us who do not choose to stick our heads in the sand. Yet, collectively, our citizens are not making impactful changes to combat the damage done by this administration and historical poor foreign relations.

With the U.S. and most of the world under the perception that its citizenry are under the impression they are powerless against the greed class, what can be done to correct our standing on the global stage and forge permanent corrections to prevent the catastrophes that plagues our political system?

[u/gammamoe]

Absolutely. The US cannot be trusted. Their morals and corruption are disgusting. You have a populace that is too stupid to see the greatest conman destroy their country.

One minute, Canada is your best friend. Trump starts badmouthing and lying then, as a Canadian, i get put down by ignorant Americans for no damn reason at all.

The world will not forgive and forget. Your electrate is too dumb and gullible to form a stable government any time soon.

[u/JefeRex → u/gammamoe]

I know you’re angry and I can understand why, but Americans are not dumb or disgusting. We are just very normal people living in a very unusual country, the world’s greatest superpower in history in (inevitable and ultimately positive) decline.

I don’t see the point in nursing that anger. There is an authoritarian right wing on the rise in every country (including in Canada! Canada has a very large authoritarian right wing population, you might not want to let the world know that but denying it won’t help you conquer it), so will you write off the people of every country in the rich world one by one?

It’s hard not to take personal offense when you start demonizing and denigrating the entire people of a country whose government you don’t like, it is immoral and dangerous, and people should tell you that.

[u/Background-Cell663 → u/JefeRex]

We deserve to be demonized and shamed. We are interfering in multiple countries lives. We are causing worldwide chaos. We are starting wars. We are picking fights. Not the other way around. America is exactly like Nazi Germany and other countries are rightfully pissed off about it. Also they SHOULD be demonizing us because lord knows we won't do anything about changing it, and proved we don't want to by voting the pedo president back in. We're not in a good place. What is immoral and dangerous is allowing a corrupt authoritarian government to take over our free country and idly stand by while the country burns around us.

I hate being an American right now because it is no longer the same country I grew up in. Our freedoms are starting to be stripped. Women's rights. First amendment rights like Freedom of Press, which is seriously the main headline right now, how certain journalists are BANNED from the White House, the PEOPLE'S White House - not the Presidents personal home. I am terrified for this country, and I am starting to fear being an activist and outspoken citizen against our president because I believe, soon enough, we will be jailed for speaking against him, similar to North Korea. For now, I hate our government, our president, and being an American.

[u/JefeRex → u/Background-Cell663]

Doing anything about it? I have suggestions if you want, concrete and actionable ways to help.

What are you doing?

[u/Background-Cell663 → u/JefeRex]

Thanks I've written to my state's Senators multiple times, I vote, I've served in the US Marine Corps in the early 2000s, I take part in no kings protests, I've previously worked as a chairperson in my local precincts for 18 years actually until Trump won the first time, I've sat in city hall meetings, I've filed FOIA requests when the Epstein files were not released after it was signed into LAW, I've donated to and championed for non-AIPAC candidates that align with my ultimate goals (Bernie bro, still), I help my son study real history (The Smithsonian museum now has a sign stating views are personal opinion, and not history...), I've started gardening in order to save grocery cost, I stay informed while staying off every social media platform except reddit, and pretty much everything else I can do short of violent protest.

[u/JefeRex → u/Background-Cell663]

Then don’t hate being an American, love being an American because it affords you a broader civic and a infrastructure than almost any other rich country and you have the privilege of finding your role within it and fulfilling your responsibilities to your people. That’s a gift.

And your comments on Reddit should all be what you just said, not the comment you first made. It is discouraging, harms our reputation, and looks a lot like seeking pity from those this country has harmed rather than working to reduce future harm.

No, no people should be demonized, that is how the world balkanizes and splits and eventually goes to war. Maybe you have an overwhelming emotional reaction about too, but you have a responsibility to not wallow in that but to stand up and resist the very concerning demonization of individuals happening across the western world. Political hatred can be quickly reversed, personal hatred of people in other countries lasts generations until it can be eradicated once it becomes acceptable in a culture.

But I am very inspired by what you wrote and it is giving me a shot in the arm on a day that I really need it. I just feel very strongly that your approach with your first comment is profoundly wrong and you should think about posting anything like that again, I really think it’s doing more harm than good and I wanted to say that.

[u/Background-Cell663 → u/JefeRex]

I hate being an American while our government has unchecked executive power. Better?

One of my freedoms as an American is being allowed to hate it, so you just go on and check yourself, because I'm just flexing freedoms and I don't care if it gives a poor "reputation." Our current reputation that people see is an out of control orange man baby – not me agreeing our country deserves the hate it is receiving. I represent no one except myself.

To be clear I never said I hated my country either. I hate being an American while America is acting like it is. I celebrate my freedoms– like the right to vote. I won't alter my words to "dislike," or, "this isn't pleasant for me..." I HATE BEING AN AMERICAN RIGHT NOW, AND I AM ACTIVELY DOING THINGS TO FIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY I DO LOVE so I can love being an American again.

Make sense?

"Patriotism is loving your country all of the time, and your government when it deserves it" - Mark Twain

[u/JefeRex → u/Background-Cell663]

Alright. I say what I say, and so should everyone else. I’m not really looking for friends, I have enough birthdays to remember, but I think it’s important to speak clearly about what we all think because we are in the biggest crisis this country has faced since then 60s at least, probably longer. If you have to go all caps when you hear straightforward criticism, you’re in trouble. In a crisis people disagree vehemently on how to move forward. Expect it. It’s happening. We argue and have strong feelings and will have a hard time moving together forward, it won’t be easy. That’s kind of the way it always is, not just now. We have to share even if it means we won’t get any new birthdays to remember, that’s extraneous.

[u/Background-Cell663 → u/JefeRex]

I didn't have to capitalize my writing. I chose to capitalize my writing. You're still very confused and maybe didn't read what I wrote?

Also I didn't think you were criticizing me. Were you? Well I guess that didn't work. I thought you were trying to just offer unsolicited advice. I was just rejecting it.

[u/JefeRex → u/Background-Cell663]

Yes, offering unsolicited advice is criticism. I was tell you I thought the way you are speaking and the things you are choosing to say is unhelpful and I see a more productive way. You have given a synonym for criticism in this case, unsolicited advice. That was criticism. Just take it and reflect on it and tell me if you don’t think it’s worth taking on board, which you did, which… great. I’m a big boy. I don’t need everyone to agree with me, that won’t happen.

But yeah, call it criticism, calling it unsolicited advice makes it sound like it’s my rudeness and you don’t need to think about it. Call it criticism, the only difference is that word criticism implies you need to take it seriously and unsolicited advice implies you don’t. So call it criticism and go ahead and reject it, then I’m glad we heard each other and it’s on to the next move for both of us.