Below is from a speech written by Rod Serling and delivered by Dick Van Dyke at a civil rights rally in 1964:
“Hatred is not the norm. Prejudice is not the norm. Suspicion, dislike, jealousy, and scapegoating — none of these things is the transcendent facet of the human personality. They are the diseases. They are the cancers of the soul. They are the infectious and contagious viruses that have bled humanity over the years. But because they have been and are, is it necessary that they shall be?
I think not. If there is one voice left to say “welcome” to a stranger; if there is but one hand outstretched to say “enter and share”; if there is but one mind remaining to think a thought of warmth and friendship, then there is also a future in which we will find more than one hand, more than one voice, and more than one mind dedicated to the cause of man’s equality.”
Rod Serling was the writer and producer of “The Twilight Zone”.
It feels like we are living in one of those episodes.
I agree with Noah that for Trump hatred is a tactic and a goal. I'd also say it's an accurate expression of the man's inner nature. He hates anyone who he thinks might oppose or even disagree with him. It's not as noticeable and obvious as is his greed and titanic self regard but I'd say it's been in plain sight from the moment he came to public attention.
Today, I read something about a Somalian resident of Wisconsin who went to Cinnabon who wanted a treat from there. She wasn't getting good customer service at all for the product. The server called her the "n" word. The Somalian recorded it. The result -- the owner fired this server which was only right as the service sounded "unacceptable".
Someone actually started a Go Fund Me to support the server. (There's also a Go Fund Me to support the Somalian woman.
I read about it, too. That interaction sounded awful and shockingly racist. A 19-year girl screaming the N- word and calling an adult woman an ‘effing bitch’ in a place of business. Who raised this girl? The hate is apparently the point.
The Trump administration termination of programs that provide legal education to those in ICE detention facing removal is a another critical issue that needs more discussion. Two of these programs are the Unaccompanied Children's Program (UCP, ended in March 2025) and the Legal Orientation Program (ended in April 2025). UCP funds critical legal and social services for unaccompanied immigrant children. While there is a temporary restraining order providing some funding until July 2026, advocates have been limited by this termination of programs to accept new cases providing legal orientation and pro se assistance to adults that is often the only protection available. As you know, without legal support, many of the thousands of immigrants in detention face unjust deportation. This includes children who often face immigration judges without support. What is needed now is demanding that elected officials restore funding for immigrant legal services.
CG, I had been thinking of us boycotting our 2025 Federal Taxes. That would put this nonsense to a stop pretty quickly. Trump's cronies are too cheap to chip in the rest. However, since they are still funding programs for people, I do not know how to do this.
I said two years ago this was looking like a Nazi regime. That was before I had read Ruth Ben-Ghiat's book "Strongmen," where I learned even more about what Trump was up to in his first regime. I had people tell me I was using the word too lightly. I happen to have studied German history and the Holocaust, with a focus on Black Germans, since I am one. In any case, I grew up hearing about Nazi stuff, and I know what Nazi thinking is too. There is plenty of it in the US, one does not have to have German family members to understand or recognize it. This regime is destroying the US as a global power, and hopefully. I was naive enough to think that it is good for Trump to have less power as he makes our country less powerful, but unfortunately I now realize that Putin told him that he could have the Western Hemisphere while Putin gets Europe and Xi gets Asia. However, I recognize that now that Trump has made us a Satellite State of Russia with his foreign policy document, that after Russia has absorbed us they are going to divvy the Western Hemisphere with Xi. Then Xi will probably take over everything, so it might be good to invest in the Yuans now.
Here is Julie Roginsky telling us what Trump owes Putin.
Yes. Autocracy, Inc is a good book too. I recommend "Money, Lies and God" by Katherine Stewart. Really looks at the policies and the money of the religious far right and their international network, so different networks than Applebaum talks about.
Thank you for sharing this, Linda. I can’t think of a more important document to keep handy whenever a question arises as to, “why on earth is Trump’s administration doing _________ “
I think I had probably read a couple of hundred or more different articles over the past decade that detailed just about every data point of this article that you provided, but not one that so cogently assembled all of the steps taken in one, salient piece. The article probably should have been titled, “How Russia destroyed the United States of America”…. It truly struck me that, “The Manchurian Candidate” was not a work of fiction.
I agree that their work is brilliant. I am glad you appreciated it.
During Trump's first campaign, at dinner I would tell my husband and daughter that Melania was a deep cover Russian spy whose job was to marry a wealthy, connected American, get him into the White House so he could wreak havoc with the US. On other times I would say they were both deep cover Russian agents. My husband and daughter would tell me that I had been reading too many Spy books. I know it is true. After the wall came down I read a book on the Stasi and read other spy things.
Recently Dean Blundell and Lev Parnas were discussing how a lot of the Eastern European women coming into the US as models were spies. They say they don't know with Melania but it is possible. I look at her relationship with Trump and can see it. She has accomplished her mission, unless he is to stay on.
Trump has always been a racist hater and millions share his odious views. He rallies them and provides talking points to elites like House Majority Whip Emmer who reiterates that some immigrants (often black people like Haitians) are a serious threat. Yes, they lie but some people hear “Somalis are dangerous!” And of course that includes Congresswoman Omar. Hitler used his leadership position and that of Nazi allies to spread racist messages of hate and fear. Trump admires how Hitler and other tough demagogues achieved total control and eliminated opposition so he imitates their methods.
Shades of fascism, yes … also much mental deterioration.
Below is from a speech written by Rod Serling and delivered by Dick Van Dyke at a civil rights rally in 1964:
“Hatred is not the norm. Prejudice is not the norm. Suspicion, dislike, jealousy, and scapegoating — none of these things is the transcendent facet of the human personality. They are the diseases. They are the cancers of the soul. They are the infectious and contagious viruses that have bled humanity over the years. But because they have been and are, is it necessary that they shall be?
I think not. If there is one voice left to say “welcome” to a stranger; if there is but one hand outstretched to say “enter and share”; if there is but one mind remaining to think a thought of warmth and friendship, then there is also a future in which we will find more than one hand, more than one voice, and more than one mind dedicated to the cause of man’s equality.”
Rod Serling was the writer and producer of “The Twilight Zone”.
It feels like we are living in one of those episodes.
I agree with Noah that for Trump hatred is a tactic and a goal. I'd also say it's an accurate expression of the man's inner nature. He hates anyone who he thinks might oppose or even disagree with him. It's not as noticeable and obvious as is his greed and titanic self regard but I'd say it's been in plain sight from the moment he came to public attention.
WWJD? Love thy neighbor?
Sounds like the only difference we have with Somalia is that we have water.
Today, I read something about a Somalian resident of Wisconsin who went to Cinnabon who wanted a treat from there. She wasn't getting good customer service at all for the product. The server called her the "n" word. The Somalian recorded it. The result -- the owner fired this server which was only right as the service sounded "unacceptable".
Someone actually started a Go Fund Me to support the server. (There's also a Go Fund Me to support the Somalian woman.
I read about it, too. That interaction sounded awful and shockingly racist. A 19-year girl screaming the N- word and calling an adult woman an ‘effing bitch’ in a place of business. Who raised this girl? The hate is apparently the point.
The Trump administration termination of programs that provide legal education to those in ICE detention facing removal is a another critical issue that needs more discussion. Two of these programs are the Unaccompanied Children's Program (UCP, ended in March 2025) and the Legal Orientation Program (ended in April 2025). UCP funds critical legal and social services for unaccompanied immigrant children. While there is a temporary restraining order providing some funding until July 2026, advocates have been limited by this termination of programs to accept new cases providing legal orientation and pro se assistance to adults that is often the only protection available. As you know, without legal support, many of the thousands of immigrants in detention face unjust deportation. This includes children who often face immigration judges without support. What is needed now is demanding that elected officials restore funding for immigrant legal services.
CG, I had been thinking of us boycotting our 2025 Federal Taxes. That would put this nonsense to a stop pretty quickly. Trump's cronies are too cheap to chip in the rest. However, since they are still funding programs for people, I do not know how to do this.
I said two years ago this was looking like a Nazi regime. That was before I had read Ruth Ben-Ghiat's book "Strongmen," where I learned even more about what Trump was up to in his first regime. I had people tell me I was using the word too lightly. I happen to have studied German history and the Holocaust, with a focus on Black Germans, since I am one. In any case, I grew up hearing about Nazi stuff, and I know what Nazi thinking is too. There is plenty of it in the US, one does not have to have German family members to understand or recognize it. This regime is destroying the US as a global power, and hopefully. I was naive enough to think that it is good for Trump to have less power as he makes our country less powerful, but unfortunately I now realize that Putin told him that he could have the Western Hemisphere while Putin gets Europe and Xi gets Asia. However, I recognize that now that Trump has made us a Satellite State of Russia with his foreign policy document, that after Russia has absorbed us they are going to divvy the Western Hemisphere with Xi. Then Xi will probably take over everything, so it might be good to invest in the Yuans now.
Here is Julie Roginsky telling us what Trump owes Putin.
https://open.substack.com/pub/saltypolitics/p/epilogue-russias-return-on-investment?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Strongmen is a really good book. I also recommend Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum.
Yes. Autocracy, Inc is a good book too. I recommend "Money, Lies and God" by Katherine Stewart. Really looks at the policies and the money of the religious far right and their international network, so different networks than Applebaum talks about.
I agree and highly recommend that book as well.
Thank you for sharing this, Linda. I can’t think of a more important document to keep handy whenever a question arises as to, “why on earth is Trump’s administration doing _________ “
Yes Timothy, Julie Roginsky and Olga Lautman are really laying it out there.
I think I had probably read a couple of hundred or more different articles over the past decade that detailed just about every data point of this article that you provided, but not one that so cogently assembled all of the steps taken in one, salient piece. The article probably should have been titled, “How Russia destroyed the United States of America”…. It truly struck me that, “The Manchurian Candidate” was not a work of fiction.
I agree that their work is brilliant. I am glad you appreciated it.
During Trump's first campaign, at dinner I would tell my husband and daughter that Melania was a deep cover Russian spy whose job was to marry a wealthy, connected American, get him into the White House so he could wreak havoc with the US. On other times I would say they were both deep cover Russian agents. My husband and daughter would tell me that I had been reading too many Spy books. I know it is true. After the wall came down I read a book on the Stasi and read other spy things.
Recently Dean Blundell and Lev Parnas were discussing how a lot of the Eastern European women coming into the US as models were spies. They say they don't know with Melania but it is possible. I look at her relationship with Trump and can see it. She has accomplished her mission, unless he is to stay on.
I am so proud of my fellow citizens in Minneapolis, our police chief, our mayor and our governor.
Trump has always been a racist hater and millions share his odious views. He rallies them and provides talking points to elites like House Majority Whip Emmer who reiterates that some immigrants (often black people like Haitians) are a serious threat. Yes, they lie but some people hear “Somalis are dangerous!” And of course that includes Congresswoman Omar. Hitler used his leadership position and that of Nazi allies to spread racist messages of hate and fear. Trump admires how Hitler and other tough demagogues achieved total control and eliminated opposition so he imitates their methods.