I never imagined over 4 years ago when last I blogged that my life and the world around me would change so much. My own personal journey isn't really what I would like to talk about. No, it is the time I live in that I feel I must document. I'm no journalist, or even a historian, but I think that the world may be entering another of those dark times when we go bad and start killing each other again. I hope that I am wrong, but, to be honest, I'm scared. Anyway, this preface has gone on longer than I intended.
A few days ago, the USA swore in President Trump. I would never have imagined, in my wildest imaginings, him becoming president. A reality show president... However, I have tried to keep myself from judging circumstances before evidence. So, before the swearing in, I tried to keep my mind open, and give Trump a chance. His whole cabinet reeks of corruption, with almost none having any significant or important experience. All have immense conflicts of interest, and it seems very clear that the populist tone of the Trump campaign will be abandoned in favor of corporate interests. But that strays from where I intend to go. I want to give some idea of how it feels to live in this time. Simply put, I'm terrified. While surely no historian, I have studied history, and the parallels between this administration and so many other authoritarian regimes worries me. My kind, the LGBT, have already had all mention of us scrubbed from White House and other Executive websites. Trump may have promised to be friendly to us, but all of his cabinet and all of his suggested Supreme Court picks, are decidedly not LGBT friendly. The White House press secretary has now decided to use "Alternative Facts", which the rest of us know as lies. Gag orders have been issued to all Federal agencies, and all information has to be funneled through the president... Press conferences are packed with loyalists cheering to give the false impression that the president is doing things that are popular.
The recent large Women's Marches have been derided by the Right, saying no rights have been stolen, and there is no reason to march. Protests seem to be on the verge of being called treasonous, but I hope I'm just being paranoid. That's where things are now.
A few days ago, the USA swore in President Trump. I would never have imagined, in my wildest imaginings, him becoming president. A reality show president... However, I have tried to keep myself from judging circumstances before evidence. So, before the swearing in, I tried to keep my mind open, and give Trump a chance. His whole cabinet reeks of corruption, with almost none having any significant or important experience. All have immense conflicts of interest, and it seems very clear that the populist tone of the Trump campaign will be abandoned in favor of corporate interests. But that strays from where I intend to go. I want to give some idea of how it feels to live in this time. Simply put, I'm terrified. While surely no historian, I have studied history, and the parallels between this administration and so many other authoritarian regimes worries me. My kind, the LGBT, have already had all mention of us scrubbed from White House and other Executive websites. Trump may have promised to be friendly to us, but all of his cabinet and all of his suggested Supreme Court picks, are decidedly not LGBT friendly. The White House press secretary has now decided to use "Alternative Facts", which the rest of us know as lies. Gag orders have been issued to all Federal agencies, and all information has to be funneled through the president... Press conferences are packed with loyalists cheering to give the false impression that the president is doing things that are popular.
The recent large Women's Marches have been derided by the Right, saying no rights have been stolen, and there is no reason to march. Protests seem to be on the verge of being called treasonous, but I hope I'm just being paranoid. That's where things are now.
