This is such a wonderful, powerful piece of writing. Reaching the end and seeing how young the author is impressed me even more. I have had the exact same experience but as a middle age person. I voted for Biden and celebrated in the streets when he was elected. But a few days later when I found out that Trump gained in every category except white men I realized my blue bubble was giving me an inaccurate view of that world. I went on a journey to find different voices, such as this Substack, and have humbly had my eyes opened. So much of the rhetoric now reminds me of the rhetoric after 9/11. When the Democrats brought Dick Cheney on the stage during their January 6 melodrama I knew we were sunk. You're either with us or against us. The war on terror is coming home. But don't look at the fact that the Democrats have spent $43 million to elevate the terrorist candidates. I feel relieved and full of gratitude that there are young people such as yourself out there Kiyah. Keep speaking your mind. We need you!!
Kiyah: Joe Biden did not call you a MAGA Republican. The Democratic Party that you left a few years ago is definitely flawed and captured to some degree by loud and proud extremists who are playing the same game with Cancel Culture as the MAGA conspiracists and purveyors of misinformation are doing. The Republican Party of 2022 is wrapped in a leadership stranglehold that bows and scrapes to a dangerous man. Trump is no honest Republican. He is allied with demagogues and he is de facto leading the Republican Party. Biden has flaws and made mistakes in that speech insofar as he leaned into political grandstanding in the second half. But he is not attempting to overthrown the government as Trump is doing and a determined group of his MAGA followers, the most dangerous of which are in the US Congress---some clear to see and others just cowardly and invisible. We are in grave danger as long as we give any credence to Donald Trump and his followers.
" let’s make no mistake that when he spoke about “extremism” in these two speeches, he meant anyone who disagrees with him or his administration"
I think is flatly wrong. You are twisting his words to fit your own agenda.
The threats to democracy are the Republican candidates for state office (governor, sec. of state) who have explicitly said that they would not have certified their state's vote for Biden in 2020.
These Republicans are indeed a threat to democracy. If you back them, so are you.
I'd missed Jean-Pierre's remarks, which are pretty damn chilling. I am reminded (of all things) "Terrorist," a German punk rock song by a band called the Pack:
The part of this that inspires me is the author’s vow to be her own person. By not succumbing to the pendulum effect of swinging across to the other side she shows independence and character. Power to Kiyah.
Thank You Kiyah! Like You I'm politically homeless after voting for Biden. Not likely to make that mistake again. Same with Trump. No good choices it seems.
TY again. Great article. Comments interesting as well. TY FBT.
But don't let the ruling class bullies (and that is what they are) intimdate you into accepting their definitions, their terms, as when you write, "We need to extend to everyone the freedom to express their thoughts, even when they go against the mainstream narrative."
Who defines what the "mainstream" is? is it only the majority view? So are devout Muslims, Hindus and Christians who hold to a traditional definition of marriage "non-mainstream" even though the overwhelming number of people on this planet hold to those views? Do the Western elites really get to redefine their ideology as the only one that is "mainstream"?
Perhaps it is better that we simply state, "We need to extend to everyone the freedom to express their thoughts."
The legacy media's attempts to impose its belief system on the rest of society hardly qualifies those beliefs as solely defining "mainstream" thought.
Yeah, trump called anyone who didn't agree with him an "enemy of the people" or worse virtually EVERY day of his hostile presidency. I'm not sympathetic to this argument considering it's a single speech, even if it was not the way I would have done it.
We all have this epiphany moment at some point or another and I am glad yours came early on. The next step you should make is to stop referring to the United States as a Democracy we are a constitutional republic and always have been. The closest we get to anything Democratic is our elections that's it.
As you venture on what will be a long and arduous journey, know that there are many folks like you who have your back. We all have moments when we realize that to some groups we have very little value beyond our votes. Mine personally happened at 19 in 1996 needless to say I never got to cast my first vote. There wasn't a single Republican responsible for that situation. It was Democrats that looked just like me.
There is an article I always suggest to people written by Zora Neale Hurston. The article is titled "Why The Negro Won't Buy Communism." You will be shocked to find how much she predicted our president day in 1951. There's a book by Manning Johnson titled "Color, Communism & Common Sense." You will be shocked to see what many of us thought was Democrat ideology has its actual roots in communism. Good luck Sis I know great things are ahead of you.
Your creed is one many can get behind. Thank you for your example and now leadership!
This is such a wonderful, powerful piece of writing. Reaching the end and seeing how young the author is impressed me even more. I have had the exact same experience but as a middle age person. I voted for Biden and celebrated in the streets when he was elected. But a few days later when I found out that Trump gained in every category except white men I realized my blue bubble was giving me an inaccurate view of that world. I went on a journey to find different voices, such as this Substack, and have humbly had my eyes opened. So much of the rhetoric now reminds me of the rhetoric after 9/11. When the Democrats brought Dick Cheney on the stage during their January 6 melodrama I knew we were sunk. You're either with us or against us. The war on terror is coming home. But don't look at the fact that the Democrats have spent $43 million to elevate the terrorist candidates. I feel relieved and full of gratitude that there are young people such as yourself out there Kiyah. Keep speaking your mind. We need you!!
Thank you, well done.
Kiyah: Joe Biden did not call you a MAGA Republican. The Democratic Party that you left a few years ago is definitely flawed and captured to some degree by loud and proud extremists who are playing the same game with Cancel Culture as the MAGA conspiracists and purveyors of misinformation are doing. The Republican Party of 2022 is wrapped in a leadership stranglehold that bows and scrapes to a dangerous man. Trump is no honest Republican. He is allied with demagogues and he is de facto leading the Republican Party. Biden has flaws and made mistakes in that speech insofar as he leaned into political grandstanding in the second half. But he is not attempting to overthrown the government as Trump is doing and a determined group of his MAGA followers, the most dangerous of which are in the US Congress---some clear to see and others just cowardly and invisible. We are in grave danger as long as we give any credence to Donald Trump and his followers.
Thanks Kiyah. Well said! Right there with you! Great reminder I’m not alone and going crazy.
" let’s make no mistake that when he spoke about “extremism” in these two speeches, he meant anyone who disagrees with him or his administration"
I think is flatly wrong. You are twisting his words to fit your own agenda.
The threats to democracy are the Republican candidates for state office (governor, sec. of state) who have explicitly said that they would not have certified their state's vote for Biden in 2020.
These Republicans are indeed a threat to democracy. If you back them, so are you.
I'd missed Jean-Pierre's remarks, which are pretty damn chilling. I am reminded (of all things) "Terrorist," a German punk rock song by a band called the Pack:
"My neighbor
Doesn't buy a new car
And doesn't need no pop star
So he's a terrorist.
My neighbor
Keeps talking about freedom
And liberty and justice
So he's a terrorist."
Thank you for such a coherent piece. Like another commented, I too can align with your creed!
The part of this that inspires me is the author’s vow to be her own person. By not succumbing to the pendulum effect of swinging across to the other side she shows independence and character. Power to Kiyah.
Well thought out well said. Concur.
This is excellent.
Thank you for a great read.
Well said.
Thank You Kiyah! Like You I'm politically homeless after voting for Biden. Not likely to make that mistake again. Same with Trump. No good choices it seems.
TY again. Great article. Comments interesting as well. TY FBT.
Great piece, Kiyah.
But don't let the ruling class bullies (and that is what they are) intimdate you into accepting their definitions, their terms, as when you write, "We need to extend to everyone the freedom to express their thoughts, even when they go against the mainstream narrative."
Who defines what the "mainstream" is? is it only the majority view? So are devout Muslims, Hindus and Christians who hold to a traditional definition of marriage "non-mainstream" even though the overwhelming number of people on this planet hold to those views? Do the Western elites really get to redefine their ideology as the only one that is "mainstream"?
Perhaps it is better that we simply state, "We need to extend to everyone the freedom to express their thoughts."
The legacy media's attempts to impose its belief system on the rest of society hardly qualifies those beliefs as solely defining "mainstream" thought.
Yeah, trump called anyone who didn't agree with him an "enemy of the people" or worse virtually EVERY day of his hostile presidency. I'm not sympathetic to this argument considering it's a single speech, even if it was not the way I would have done it.
We all have this epiphany moment at some point or another and I am glad yours came early on. The next step you should make is to stop referring to the United States as a Democracy we are a constitutional republic and always have been. The closest we get to anything Democratic is our elections that's it.
As you venture on what will be a long and arduous journey, know that there are many folks like you who have your back. We all have moments when we realize that to some groups we have very little value beyond our votes. Mine personally happened at 19 in 1996 needless to say I never got to cast my first vote. There wasn't a single Republican responsible for that situation. It was Democrats that looked just like me.
There is an article I always suggest to people written by Zora Neale Hurston. The article is titled "Why The Negro Won't Buy Communism." You will be shocked to find how much she predicted our president day in 1951. There's a book by Manning Johnson titled "Color, Communism & Common Sense." You will be shocked to see what many of us thought was Democrat ideology has its actual roots in communism. Good luck Sis I know great things are ahead of you.