Based on suggestions from many paid subscribers, I have removed the paywall from this post so anyone can read and share it with their networks, given the importance of the anniversary of the bombing of Tokyo, which occurred 78 years ago today. It’s a reminder about the power of democracy.
Steve, this is a great history lesson. As you write about each Chinese incursion I think about Sarah Huckabee Sanders trying to eliminate the requirement of age verification for child labor, MTG and her ilk planning to visit incarcerated J6 ‘tourists’, Tucker spewing his spin on TV nightly and the rest. China and Russia are trying to expand their roles in the World order, so many here in the US are eroding ourselves from within.
Also spend a minute thinking about Steve Bannon. When I read this I thought of him:
“ These are the nations that are joining together in vituperative calls to dismantle the world that was forged from the collapse of their predecessors’ evil ambitions and imperial designs”
This man remains one of the top 3-4 most dangerous men in America. He’s an avowed “Leninist”. Wants to burn everything down and won’t stop until he does.
He doesn’t have the “charm” of Carlson, he of the $5K suits and coiffed hair. And he might not have Tucker’s reach. But he’s an admitted nihilist and he’s capable of stoking another J6.
Bannon is black mold. He’s a nuclear core of rapidly breeding vermin.
Russia and China love that we are imploding. The fact that so many dangerous and unhinged leaders have access to nukes is very scary. Why is mankind so bent on destroying our planet and each other? This convinces me more than ever that there isn’t a God. If so, now is the time to save us before we destroy ourselves. Otherwise, we need to figure something out and fast!!
We think about August 6 not about March 9/10 1945. Glad you reminded us of the horrors. Out of the ashes came an economic and cultural powerhouse. We can say the same for Germany
I know Russia is challenging the Western order now and China will shortly after they see the Ukraine outcome. May we be up to the challenge
I thought I was frightened before, but these words just brought that feeling to a new height!
I'm 73, and after many years of being politically active, I am experiencing an internal pull to join the many who throw up their hands and walk away from the turmoil. I fantasize about a peaceful life in Costa Rica or some other country, and getting rid of this knot in my stomach.
Is it any wonder that so many people, with their extremely busy lives, where both parents have to work, while at the same time deal with raising their children, are overwhelmed and have become apathetic about what's happening around them? (If you've ever canvassed door to door, you know how uninformed most people are)
I'm starting to lose hope...and that is what has kept me motivated all these years.
I’m right there with you (74 to your 73). It is so terrifying to see that most people are not even paying attention to the most serious global threats that are mounting everyday. Steve has scared us so often—and for good reason. But I do wish I could crawl into a hole somedays after reading what he writes. Since you have been active politically all your life (as have I) we need to keep at it. Sorry, but we can’t just quit. Let’s keep reading and supporting each other so we don’t give up. My heart is open to you.
I know what you mean. I have done the door to door thing — also got in arguments with strangers in restaurants!!— and get so frustrated/appalled by the ignorance. Then I look at people being interviewed in Ukraine and how brave and determined- and CLEAR they are. Also- I talk to young people here who are clear and get what’s going on. It’s hard. I think I still have hope— I know what u mean, that is what keeps me going.
Be afraid, very afraid. The childish narcissism of today’s America is spoon-fed entitled grievance by the Fox machine and social media, selling out democracies core values for money and power.
Agreed, one of your best Steven, although it leaves you feeling solemn afterwards. (Your essays sometimes counter-balance my “caffeine-lift” in the morning). It solidifies our determination to have the Democrats in power and not this ultra-maga insanity. MTG thinks that if we’re not “America First”, - then we’re “America Last”. I believe that if the United States ignores these global threats and turns our back on NATO and Ukraine, then it’ll be “America-GONE”! Who knows what will bring our country down: nuclear bombs from afar or the insanity of the Right-wing mob that worships Orban, Putin, and al-Assad within our own borders and wants to turn its back on international affairs. Yes, we are living in scary times indeed. Things MAY turn a bit more rosy for us if Dominion wins and beats the crap out of FOX, - the purveyor of lies in our country. We must all start by recognizing once again that TRUTH MATTERS!
With the toxic mix of Xi and Putin, the world’s democracies have a tremendous job cut out for them. Hope we can continue to have leadership in the US to get through it.
Thank you, Stev. And today's piece on compromise and reconciliation in Vietnam is also excellent. I feel like a light is shining on the path out of this mess....
As your articles frequently make clear it is important that we as a society grapple with our past decisions and deeds. The events of March, 1945 must be remembered and deplored. I hope that as we approach August 6th and 9th you will implore your readers to recall and think about Hiroshima and Nagasaki and what we did to those cities and their people.
Sobering words for the morning. Thanks for the courage to tackle what most won’t, the impending trouble. Our domestic horror show is it has been said, a distraction, meaning trouble that keep us busy with a local “fire” when the greater problem is forming. The task is enormous. It’s up to us all to do what we are able. I’m hoping we as a world can avoid the worst scenarios.
“Our domestic horror show is it has been said, a distraction, meaning trouble that keep us busy with a local “fire” when the greater problem is forming” ... YES!!!
Thank you, Steve. I agree with another comment here- this is one of your best. What I experience while reading it is a … wake-up call. Like another commenter, I’m in my 70s. (78 to her 73!) And I’ve felt the same weary fatigue. I just sent this piece to my daughters, read it aloud to my husband, felt the truth of it—but as much as I’d like to go back to my pleasant life, where news and insights about the news are just an interesting part of it— it feels so strongly that we are in a war, no less than Ukraine, and it us up to all of us— in ways I don’t quite know how to articulate. I just saw Malcolm Nance talk about the 8 (I9?) months he he spent fighting in Ukraine. He said above all it was a joy to be that directly fighting for democracy. We see interviews with so many different types of people in Ukraine, all expressing the same feeling: we will fight for freedom whatever it takes. It has taken center stage in their lives (which were as pleasant and interesting as ours!)- And this fight must somehow now take center stage in all our lives. How to get this across, snd how each of us can do that?
Steve, I believe this is the best, most important piece you have written since you joined Substack. Could you make it shareable to all as a gift? I think you would gain subscribers who would follow you after reading it.
Steve, this is a great history lesson. As you write about each Chinese incursion I think about Sarah Huckabee Sanders trying to eliminate the requirement of age verification for child labor, MTG and her ilk planning to visit incarcerated J6 ‘tourists’, Tucker spewing his spin on TV nightly and the rest. China and Russia are trying to expand their roles in the World order, so many here in the US are eroding ourselves from within.
Also spend a minute thinking about Steve Bannon. When I read this I thought of him:
“ These are the nations that are joining together in vituperative calls to dismantle the world that was forged from the collapse of their predecessors’ evil ambitions and imperial designs”
This man remains one of the top 3-4 most dangerous men in America. He’s an avowed “Leninist”. Wants to burn everything down and won’t stop until he does.
He doesn’t have the “charm” of Carlson, he of the $5K suits and coiffed hair. And he might not have Tucker’s reach. But he’s an admitted nihilist and he’s capable of stoking another J6.
Bannon is black mold. He’s a nuclear core of rapidly breeding vermin.
Here's another extremely dangerous American
https://www.propublica.org/article/leonard-leo-teneo-videos-documents?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=feature
Leonard Leo. He is a Catholic cancer. And he has an unimaginal amount of money to use to force his ideas on others. He thinks like Thomas or Alito.
Important to read this recent article from ProPublica! It is absolutely frightening.
Inform yourself and see what lies ahead!
Bannon is a toxic hate filled traitor hell bent on destroying our democracy.
MTG is Bannon's whisperer and that terrifies me to no end.
Worse, she's basically the Speaker of the House.
Yeah, there's that too.
yup!
Russia and China love that we are imploding. The fact that so many dangerous and unhinged leaders have access to nukes is very scary. Why is mankind so bent on destroying our planet and each other? This convinces me more than ever that there isn’t a God. If so, now is the time to save us before we destroy ourselves. Otherwise, we need to figure something out and fast!!
We think about August 6 not about March 9/10 1945. Glad you reminded us of the horrors. Out of the ashes came an economic and cultural powerhouse. We can say the same for Germany
I know Russia is challenging the Western order now and China will shortly after they see the Ukraine outcome. May we be up to the challenge
I thought I was frightened before, but these words just brought that feeling to a new height!
I'm 73, and after many years of being politically active, I am experiencing an internal pull to join the many who throw up their hands and walk away from the turmoil. I fantasize about a peaceful life in Costa Rica or some other country, and getting rid of this knot in my stomach.
Is it any wonder that so many people, with their extremely busy lives, where both parents have to work, while at the same time deal with raising their children, are overwhelmed and have become apathetic about what's happening around them? (If you've ever canvassed door to door, you know how uninformed most people are)
I'm starting to lose hope...and that is what has kept me motivated all these years.
I’m right there with you (74 to your 73). It is so terrifying to see that most people are not even paying attention to the most serious global threats that are mounting everyday. Steve has scared us so often—and for good reason. But I do wish I could crawl into a hole somedays after reading what he writes. Since you have been active politically all your life (as have I) we need to keep at it. Sorry, but we can’t just quit. Let’s keep reading and supporting each other so we don’t give up. My heart is open to you.
I know what you mean. I have done the door to door thing — also got in arguments with strangers in restaurants!!— and get so frustrated/appalled by the ignorance. Then I look at people being interviewed in Ukraine and how brave and determined- and CLEAR they are. Also- I talk to young people here who are clear and get what’s going on. It’s hard. I think I still have hope— I know what u mean, that is what keeps me going.
I have canvassed door to door and you're not exaggerating. Millions simply aren't voting at all either.
I’m with you on La Pure Vida!
I may be dense this morning, but whatcha mean by "La Pure Vida"?
A simple life or literally a pure life. lt’s something people often describe as life in Costa Rica😎
Ah. Thank you.
Be afraid, very afraid. The childish narcissism of today’s America is spoon-fed entitled grievance by the Fox machine and social media, selling out democracies core values for money and power.
Agreed, one of your best Steven, although it leaves you feeling solemn afterwards. (Your essays sometimes counter-balance my “caffeine-lift” in the morning). It solidifies our determination to have the Democrats in power and not this ultra-maga insanity. MTG thinks that if we’re not “America First”, - then we’re “America Last”. I believe that if the United States ignores these global threats and turns our back on NATO and Ukraine, then it’ll be “America-GONE”! Who knows what will bring our country down: nuclear bombs from afar or the insanity of the Right-wing mob that worships Orban, Putin, and al-Assad within our own borders and wants to turn its back on international affairs. Yes, we are living in scary times indeed. Things MAY turn a bit more rosy for us if Dominion wins and beats the crap out of FOX, - the purveyor of lies in our country. We must all start by recognizing once again that TRUTH MATTERS!
With the toxic mix of Xi and Putin, the world’s democracies have a tremendous job cut out for them. Hope we can continue to have leadership in the US to get through it.
Thanks for this important piece.
One of your best, Steve.
Well written and the parallels run deep. Thank you, Steve. This is a "must share" piece.
Thanks, Karen.
Based on suggestions from several paid subscribers, I've removed the paywall. Please share away!
Steve
Thank you, Stev. And today's piece on compromise and reconciliation in Vietnam is also excellent. I feel like a light is shining on the path out of this mess....
Bob Fuchs - Rochester Michigan
As your articles frequently make clear it is important that we as a society grapple with our past decisions and deeds. The events of March, 1945 must be remembered and deplored. I hope that as we approach August 6th and 9th you will implore your readers to recall and think about Hiroshima and Nagasaki and what we did to those cities and their people.
Sobering words for the morning. Thanks for the courage to tackle what most won’t, the impending trouble. Our domestic horror show is it has been said, a distraction, meaning trouble that keep us busy with a local “fire” when the greater problem is forming. The task is enormous. It’s up to us all to do what we are able. I’m hoping we as a world can avoid the worst scenarios.
“Our domestic horror show is it has been said, a distraction, meaning trouble that keep us busy with a local “fire” when the greater problem is forming” ... YES!!!
Thank you, Steve. I agree with another comment here- this is one of your best. What I experience while reading it is a … wake-up call. Like another commenter, I’m in my 70s. (78 to her 73!) And I’ve felt the same weary fatigue. I just sent this piece to my daughters, read it aloud to my husband, felt the truth of it—but as much as I’d like to go back to my pleasant life, where news and insights about the news are just an interesting part of it— it feels so strongly that we are in a war, no less than Ukraine, and it us up to all of us— in ways I don’t quite know how to articulate. I just saw Malcolm Nance talk about the 8 (I9?) months he he spent fighting in Ukraine. He said above all it was a joy to be that directly fighting for democracy. We see interviews with so many different types of people in Ukraine, all expressing the same feeling: we will fight for freedom whatever it takes. It has taken center stage in their lives (which were as pleasant and interesting as ours!)- And this fight must somehow now take center stage in all our lives. How to get this across, snd how each of us can do that?
Steve, I believe this is the best, most important piece you have written since you joined Substack. Could you make it shareable to all as a gift? I think you would gain subscribers who would follow you after reading it.
Agree this is among the best and most crucial essays Steve has written so far
Diane,
The paywall has been removed, so please feel free to share it.
Thanks,
Steve
Shared to my fb page, thank you Steve
Trudy,
Thanks for the suggestion. I've done just that -- the paywall has been removed, so please feel free to share.
Steve
Thank you, Steve, for this thought-provoking message. Stay safe as you travel,
Thought provoking and scary. But important information.
Thank you Steve, God this is sobering to say the least.