Evil is a moral term; but one that has metaphysical resonances which transcend the purely human sphere and invoke the notion of another dimension of reality. Its semantic root is in the Old English word yfel, which literally means full of awe: awe-full. True evil breaks the boundaries of our human experience and carries the whiff of the infernal. While I am not a believer in the traditional concepts of the divine or the demonic, there is something so grotesque in Trump that pushes the boundaries of moral categories and psychological explanations.
I HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT QUESTION MIKE - WHY ARE ANY OF US TOLERATING THIS UNFATHOMABLE VULGARITY - WHY AREN’T WE ALL SCREAMING AT THE TOP PF OUR LUNGS FOR HIS OUSTER??,
Because we know that we'd just hurt our throats. At this time, until November 3rd, there is *nothing* -- nothing lawful anyway -- that we can do towards reducing his ability to do harm to the nation.
The many court cases (like the one about the Kennedy Center), the protests, the work of the independent journalists, commentators and content creators here on Substack and YouTube, the push for the Epstein files, the pushback on the concentration camps and the data centers and even Jimmy Kimmel—I would argue that all of these have had a cumulative impact in eroding support for the madness. The election is heading in the right direction in part because of all of these efforts and the sacrifices of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good.
I could not agree with you more. We need to hold the line and push back hard in any and all directions (as you have indicated). And, of course, we have to push hard to get out the vote - no apathy to be tolerated this time around. I have thought this twice before, but these may be the most consequential elections. And we must have a landslide to combat his rigging attacks. So, much to be done before 11/3. We owe it to our children and our grandchildren.
I don’t just want it asked of every person who has bent the knee, been extorted to donate, voted against their true beliefs and against the people, I WANT ACCOUNTABILITY! I WANT EVERY ONE OF THESE FOOLS TO BE PERSONALLY HELD LIABLE. Without personal responsibility and accountability they all will get away with their corrupt acts against this country. People behave much different when they are personally held responsible legally, not morally because they have no morals.
Why? Because they have made a moral calculation and they believe that Trump advancing their goals is the lesser evil. For example, if abortions are murdering babies, it women are not living in submission to their husbands, if people are changing genders, each group that believes one of those, has made a moral calculation. Death of democracy versus death of babies? Easy choice. Death of democracy versus becoming rich? Easy.
Mike, you're being way, WAY, too easy on all of these "individual human beings making individual human choices to participate in something they know to be wrong."
Turns out capitalism has experienced serious crises over the past few decades, including the catastrophic financial meltdown of 2008, the direct (and predictable) outcome of financial deregulation. The Biden administration tried to address the fallout of globalization, massive loss American industries and jobs. Hence build back better and taxes on corporations. Hence Trump, a puppet for the banks, the top corporations, and the MIC. The economic elites needed a Republican to generate big profits and mollify an angry working class. Trump the angry white racist criminal had the authenticity to carry the white working class in elections. He’s necessary, reprehensible, but necessary.
On the question of why the media avoids the word 'evil,' besides their dedication to euphemism-making, there is another unwritten rule: if the voters chose the president, their decision must be honored as correct, or else we are questioning the very basis of our system.
To political journalists, such a suggestion would be career-ending. If I were cynical (haha), I might even suspect that advertisers would have a conniption if a network suggested that the voters (their customers) have elected an evil man, and are therefore in favor of evil.
Dude, if it was ONLY as simple as one evil guy and a bunch of "careerists". The same could be said of the Third Reich. America was based on an evil it has never admitted fully or atoned for even a little bit. There are alot of wonderful, accomplished Americans- but there are also alot of americans who wear their heartbreaking darkness on their sleeve and lack any sense of remorse. And the poorly educated MAGA class is the manipulated front for an educated and highly privileged ruling class that is rotten to the core.
Most Germans have definitely admitted that Hitler and the Third Reich were evil. The Nazi flag is banned in Germany. Strangely the Confederate flag is not banned here. I guess we are not yet that clear about completely 100% recognizing the evil of owning slaves. Too soon since 1865 to ban the Confederate flag? This was not just "the other side" with a different take. The Confederates defended slavery. What does it mean to fly the flag? If you what to have a flag to promote the South, find another flag without the stench of slavery in its fabric.
I’ve been berating Democratic . cough cough, leadership. . .cough. . since the end of last year for not calling this man and his Party exactly what they are; Fascists. he’s not a King he’s a Fascist dictator, he’s not unprecedented he’s a Fascist. You cannot fight that which you cannot name because without the proper name of the threat it cannot be fought adequately with the appropriate tools. The man is a gawd damned Fascist. For Christ sake Democrats, call him what he is, what they are; Fascists.
Evil is a moral term; but one that has metaphysical resonances which transcend the purely human sphere and invoke the notion of another dimension of reality. Its semantic root is in the Old English word yfel, which literally means full of awe: awe-full. True evil breaks the boundaries of our human experience and carries the whiff of the infernal. While I am not a believer in the traditional concepts of the divine or the demonic, there is something so grotesque in Trump that pushes the boundaries of moral categories and psychological explanations.
I HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT QUESTION MIKE - WHY ARE ANY OF US TOLERATING THIS UNFATHOMABLE VULGARITY - WHY AREN’T WE ALL SCREAMING AT THE TOP PF OUR LUNGS FOR HIS OUSTER??,
Because we know that we'd just hurt our throats. At this time, until November 3rd, there is *nothing* -- nothing lawful anyway -- that we can do towards reducing his ability to do harm to the nation.
The many court cases (like the one about the Kennedy Center), the protests, the work of the independent journalists, commentators and content creators here on Substack and YouTube, the push for the Epstein files, the pushback on the concentration camps and the data centers and even Jimmy Kimmel—I would argue that all of these have had a cumulative impact in eroding support for the madness. The election is heading in the right direction in part because of all of these efforts and the sacrifices of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good.
I could not agree with you more. We need to hold the line and push back hard in any and all directions (as you have indicated). And, of course, we have to push hard to get out the vote - no apathy to be tolerated this time around. I have thought this twice before, but these may be the most consequential elections. And we must have a landslide to combat his rigging attacks. So, much to be done before 11/3. We owe it to our children and our grandchildren.
Horsenlose. Its called impeachment that is inderd legal. I am someone will curse and/or say its impossible. Its not. Sorry
Did you just now realize that?
No.
I didn’t think so 💗
Ive been waiting a long while for someone to articulate the OBVIOUS.
The Dems shoulda been there publically a long time ago.
Yes, obviously. Most of us knew that in 2016.
... if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws – he would make a Trump.
And a remorseful Dr. Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish:
‘My God… what… have… I… created?
https://thehobbledehoy.com/2019/03/08/british-writer-pens-the-best-description-of-trump-ive-read/
I don’t just want it asked of every person who has bent the knee, been extorted to donate, voted against their true beliefs and against the people, I WANT ACCOUNTABILITY! I WANT EVERY ONE OF THESE FOOLS TO BE PERSONALLY HELD LIABLE. Without personal responsibility and accountability they all will get away with their corrupt acts against this country. People behave much different when they are personally held responsible legally, not morally because they have no morals.
I agree. Lack of accountability is a step towards tyranny. And by all indications, accountability is not present anywhere in the Executive branch.
He is evil. He is hateful. Those that serve him become 2 things.
Outward facing - they become like him with the degrading language, lies and name calling.
Inward facing- they have (for different reasons) submitted to being owned by Trump.
I do not find the naming him evil out of bounds. People who find it wrong have not seriously checked their moral compass.
Evil is absolutely exactly what he is. You are, however, being too kind in not extending that word to cover others you must know are evil, too. 🤲
Trump is the living, barely breathing, definition of evil. He is the very, very, worst of humanity.
True but they found a buffon when they wanted a competent hegemon. Sadly this is just the beginning, in time they'll find their man.
Why? Because they have made a moral calculation and they believe that Trump advancing their goals is the lesser evil. For example, if abortions are murdering babies, it women are not living in submission to their husbands, if people are changing genders, each group that believes one of those, has made a moral calculation. Death of democracy versus death of babies? Easy choice. Death of democracy versus becoming rich? Easy.
Not only that, but they believe WE are evil.
Mike, you're being way, WAY, too easy on all of these "individual human beings making individual human choices to participate in something they know to be wrong."
The fact of the matter is, they're evil too.
Turns out capitalism has experienced serious crises over the past few decades, including the catastrophic financial meltdown of 2008, the direct (and predictable) outcome of financial deregulation. The Biden administration tried to address the fallout of globalization, massive loss American industries and jobs. Hence build back better and taxes on corporations. Hence Trump, a puppet for the banks, the top corporations, and the MIC. The economic elites needed a Republican to generate big profits and mollify an angry working class. Trump the angry white racist criminal had the authenticity to carry the white working class in elections. He’s necessary, reprehensible, but necessary.
Good idea to write this, Mike Brock. It can never be said too much. I myself took a crack at the topic of evil last October in this post (https://citizen99.substack.com/p/stare-into-the-vacuum-of-his-eyes?r=2sauq).
On the question of why the media avoids the word 'evil,' besides their dedication to euphemism-making, there is another unwritten rule: if the voters chose the president, their decision must be honored as correct, or else we are questioning the very basis of our system.
To political journalists, such a suggestion would be career-ending. If I were cynical (haha), I might even suspect that advertisers would have a conniption if a network suggested that the voters (their customers) have elected an evil man, and are therefore in favor of evil.
Good article. Thanks for sharing.
Dude, if it was ONLY as simple as one evil guy and a bunch of "careerists". The same could be said of the Third Reich. America was based on an evil it has never admitted fully or atoned for even a little bit. There are alot of wonderful, accomplished Americans- but there are also alot of americans who wear their heartbreaking darkness on their sleeve and lack any sense of remorse. And the poorly educated MAGA class is the manipulated front for an educated and highly privileged ruling class that is rotten to the core.
Most Germans have definitely admitted that Hitler and the Third Reich were evil. The Nazi flag is banned in Germany. Strangely the Confederate flag is not banned here. I guess we are not yet that clear about completely 100% recognizing the evil of owning slaves. Too soon since 1865 to ban the Confederate flag? This was not just "the other side" with a different take. The Confederates defended slavery. What does it mean to fly the flag? If you what to have a flag to promote the South, find another flag without the stench of slavery in its fabric.
I’ve been berating Democratic . cough cough, leadership. . .cough. . since the end of last year for not calling this man and his Party exactly what they are; Fascists. he’s not a King he’s a Fascist dictator, he’s not unprecedented he’s a Fascist. You cannot fight that which you cannot name because without the proper name of the threat it cannot be fought adequately with the appropriate tools. The man is a gawd damned Fascist. For Christ sake Democrats, call him what he is, what they are; Fascists.