I was wondering what is it that bothers me about the universal denunciations and indignation provoked by Trump's xenophobic tweets.
And then I realized that it is the same old German formula being replayed in front of our own eyes. "When they came for Communists, I didn't say anything because I wasn't communist."
For the last several years, the pro-Democratic press was engaged in the most unhinged anti Russian racist campaign imaginable. Russians were everywhere, and always in the worst possible context. Nasty Olympians, nasty trolls, nasty Putin, nasty this and that. Trump meets with Putin ... alone... oh... horror.
That very Trump, replying to the charge that Russians are killers and saying that we are not perfect either, provoked the utter outrage. How dares he to compare. Oh, treason, oh, ignorance!
Anyone with a Russian name became the subject of suspicion. Naive Russian enthusiast of second Amendment, named Maria Butina, is arrested for spying for flirting with some right-winger.
I know for a fact, that American citizens with Russian names are profiled and interrogated at airports. I know for a fact, that when I called NPR and said as the professor and a specialist in the area, I want to comment on the show, their handler, having learned my first name had a gall to ask me, are you Russian, and then put me for 40 min hold till the end of the show.
Articles about backward Russian economy, culture, religion, about tyranny, corruption, gay-phobia, intolerance, became a daily staple. Any electric malfunction in US -- Russians. Any country or person described as evil -- sure enough there would be Russian connections. Were any other group or nation treated this way in mass media?
Yet, the most noble, the most sensitive, the most caring Democrats and liberals said nothing. In fact, they wanted more. And more. And more. More commissions, more investigations, more expose. And now they are outraged. Oh, horror.
Well, let me be as blunt as possible. If you let it slide, if you allow at least one group to be denigrated and mocked and dog-whistled, they will come for you. And don't say, that you've not been warned by history. And don't shove your "noble indignation" down my throat. It is a paper money not backed by anything, and I am not accepting this currency.
Liberteon
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