Never, in modern times, have we heard a sitting president say such a thing.
Who the six lawmakers are that he is referring to does not matter. What he said, does matter.
In World War Two, only one of many deserters was executed. Edward Slovik was shot by a firing squad on 31 January, 1945. He was the only soldier executed for that crime since the U.S. Civil War. It happened days after the end of the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of Auschwitz by the Soviet Army.
Executions of U.S. soldiers did happen during the war. Well over 150, all for crimes of rape and murder. But only one was killed for deserting. And he was a marginal case.
When the six lawmakers were referred to by Trump as deserving execution, what they had done was to call for military leaders to disobey illegal orders to commit violent actions against anyone or any country that we are not currently at war with.
And those six brave and righteous souls are not backing down.
The fact, however, that the six were not joined by other lawmakers is something I find deeply troubling.
The United States has, under president Trump, become a watercooler and dinner subject of conversation the world over, and few speak of us citizens kindly. Not even in our longest standing allies’ countries.
I am sick at that fact, but more sickened-deeply sickened in my heart, at what this country has become, and thus earned the hatefulness and derisiveness aimed at us.
Recently, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation as of the 6th of January. She was a MAGA supporter and a person held in contempt and bitterness by the political left but suddenly broke from the Trump administration. In a statement she claimed to have opened her eyes to corruption by both major parties and, amid death threats, denounced everything Trump had planned.
Others have been less kind, like John Kennedy, who said on the senate floor, “if you weren’t born on American soil, get out!”
This would include Melania Trump.
The problem with evil, and everything that goes with it, like racism and hatred, is that sooner or later it becomes its own worst enemy. It gets ironic and grows tentacles that cross each other. This exclamation also applies to many who are Trump supporters and even to members of our military. In fact, countless war veterans have already been deported. I’m not going to look for statistics, because I can’t trust anything this government does or says.
The holidays are upon us.
Instead of family gatherings, we should all be shut in for safety against those who would take our freedom.
Instead of gifts, Christmas will be a hard day for too many for me to celebrate. Prices are so high that any gifts must be bought by people who are giving up meals to do it, yet a recent statement by Trump claims quite delusionally that prices are lower than ever and getting lower.
And still we face having our military being abused. Given illegal orders to do illegal things. It would kill innocent people no matter the target.
It would start World War Three.
This is not the United States as we have known it. Vietnam was a terrible mistake. The gulf wars were highly questionable with false evidence given as reasons to open fire.
They were a national disgrace.
We have fought justified wars. And World War Two was a nightmare that shook the four corners of the world. But that war was forced upon us.
We’re not supposed to be the bad guys. And we are about to become exactly that.
To all outside of my country, I beg you, forgive us. We were supposed to be better than this.
I don’t know what will happen. All I can do is pray. Please pray with me.
“We have no interest in seeing World War Three. Unless we start it.”– Jack Wade (Joe Don Baker) to James Bond (Pierce Brosnan), Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997
Memoirs of an American Asshole 