The very first essential for success is a perpetually constant and regular employment of violence. The great strength of the totalitarian state is that it forces those who fear it to imitate it. Adolf Hitler
When somebody challenges you, fight back. Be brutal, be tough. Donald Trump
Meditation: Intimidation and violence are the principles of a totalitarian regime. Democracy at its best is built on the principle that people agree to disagree and allow the majority to make decisions in dialogue with and in consideration of the minority. Calling democrats who do not clap for him “treasonous” is the behavior of a despot and not of the president of a democratic country. While Hitler took violence to an extreme physical level, this president employs constant and regular emotional and verbal violence. He daily publicly shames certain people or organizations and bullies them in his Twitter tweets. A comedian was taken off air after she “went too far” mocking the president. When an infuriated president took to twitter, the network took her off the air fearing the President’s words of degradation. GOP members lie about what the president has said/done or did not say/do. They want to remain in good graces and fear professional retribution. And so the great “strength” of our president (according to Hitler) is that he forces those who fear him to imitate him. Even his supposedly level headed high ranking military chief of staff is beginning to use derogatory language towards immigrants. What recourse and protection does our democratic country have against the employment of totalitarian principles?
Prayer: God, we are sickened by the constant use of violence that is being strategically used by the president of this country. We laugh about the obvious lies and ridiculous behavior of his imitators, but we really feel sickened watching them. The media either promotes his violent behaviors and words or tries to overcome them by rational argument. God, show this country that democracy as an “intellectual and educated form of government” will not withstand these new principles built on pure instincts, violence and emotions. God, make us passionate about our democracy, so we can save it. Amen
Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place. Jeremiah 22:3 (NRSV)
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