I no longer feel safe to speak or act freely in a country where people are being arbitrarily detained and killed and where the truth is becoming whatever Trump says it is, reports Alexandra Hall Hall
As someone who follows US politics closely I can only agree with all that you say. Ive also worked and travelled extensively in the US, worked for a couple of US corporations. Im not naive about the US's failings over the years - Im in my 70s so remember Vietnam, Chile, Iraq and various other dark US actions but nothing remotely like this, either internally or externally. Trump showed who he was and was still re-elected. Leaders across America - politics, administration, business, religious et al have failed dismally to stand up to him with rare and honourable exceptions. I have no doubt that the regime will gerrymander the mid-terms in their favour using the violence of ICE to impose their will.
Americans in general in my experience have always been dismally ill informed, especially about the rest of the world. That combined with an arrogance sense of exceptionalism. One local friend has just come back for good after 20 years. Others due back next month. America is not a place for civilised people.
The parallels with Iran are eerie, both with authoritarian governments using militias to impose their wills, controlling the media and deeply corrupt. Russia closer still as a parallel. And Ive been through Project 2025 so know what they have in mind. What will it take for Americans to wise up, get off their backsides and fights back...?
I have had the great privilege of hearing you speak and I have read your articles for the last couple of years, always incisive, intelligent, witty. This is different. This seems to be written with such force - perhaps tear-stained frustration - it leaps off the page as coming from your inner being. I hope I am not putting you in any jeopardy by sharing it, but I won't put it on FB. I too am bi-national and while I have no plans to travel to the US...Stay safe. We must keep the faith, but pessimism is good. It is not denial. La lutte continue...
We have a photo of my mother-in-law as a teenager on a beach in Germany in 1936. She was on an exchange with a middle class German family and when you look closely you see all the swastika flags on the sandcastles. A source of some amusement in the family but she was no fascist. Not remotely. And my father in law fought in the artillery during the war.
All during that time, critics of Hitler’s regime were being rounded up and sent to camps like Dachau. Along with Roma, gay people, and of course Jews. Whilst Jews and others were blamed for Germany’s problems. And middle class people kept their heads down. It won’t affect us. Until war broke out and their world collapsed. That middle class family did not survive the war. My mother-in-law who was an old fashioned one nation Tory and would have hated today’s Tories (and Republicans) tried to find them.
And that is where Americans are today. Business leaders, politicians, religious leaders, lawyers, academics and the rest mostly just going along out of fear and greed. Or apathy. It is those who should be leading who should be subject to most criticism. With all too rare exceptions.
Courage! Very sadly, I agree with everything you say. I don't think it's pessimism but a cold hard read of the facts and trends. From outside the US it looks to be out of control. I can't imagine living through it. I've added the US to my personal short list of countries I won't visit for practical and moral reasons.
I was surprised when I read some time back that you had decided to move to the US. I admire your honesty and fortitude but it reads a bit like a letter from the bunker.
It does read like a letter from Anna Frank's house. I feel that you will become less pessimistic with time but it is different when one is not in the whale's stomach.
As someone who follows US politics closely I can only agree with all that you say. Ive also worked and travelled extensively in the US, worked for a couple of US corporations. Im not naive about the US's failings over the years - Im in my 70s so remember Vietnam, Chile, Iraq and various other dark US actions but nothing remotely like this, either internally or externally. Trump showed who he was and was still re-elected. Leaders across America - politics, administration, business, religious et al have failed dismally to stand up to him with rare and honourable exceptions. I have no doubt that the regime will gerrymander the mid-terms in their favour using the violence of ICE to impose their will.
Americans in general in my experience have always been dismally ill informed, especially about the rest of the world. That combined with an arrogance sense of exceptionalism. One local friend has just come back for good after 20 years. Others due back next month. America is not a place for civilised people.
The parallels with Iran are eerie, both with authoritarian governments using militias to impose their wills, controlling the media and deeply corrupt. Russia closer still as a parallel. And Ive been through Project 2025 so know what they have in mind. What will it take for Americans to wise up, get off their backsides and fights back...?
Education
I have had the great privilege of hearing you speak and I have read your articles for the last couple of years, always incisive, intelligent, witty. This is different. This seems to be written with such force - perhaps tear-stained frustration - it leaps off the page as coming from your inner being. I hope I am not putting you in any jeopardy by sharing it, but I won't put it on FB. I too am bi-national and while I have no plans to travel to the US...Stay safe. We must keep the faith, but pessimism is good. It is not denial. La lutte continue...
Thank you
Just listened to your conversation.
We have a photo of my mother-in-law as a teenager on a beach in Germany in 1936. She was on an exchange with a middle class German family and when you look closely you see all the swastika flags on the sandcastles. A source of some amusement in the family but she was no fascist. Not remotely. And my father in law fought in the artillery during the war.
All during that time, critics of Hitler’s regime were being rounded up and sent to camps like Dachau. Along with Roma, gay people, and of course Jews. Whilst Jews and others were blamed for Germany’s problems. And middle class people kept their heads down. It won’t affect us. Until war broke out and their world collapsed. That middle class family did not survive the war. My mother-in-law who was an old fashioned one nation Tory and would have hated today’s Tories (and Republicans) tried to find them.
And that is where Americans are today. Business leaders, politicians, religious leaders, lawyers, academics and the rest mostly just going along out of fear and greed. Or apathy. It is those who should be leading who should be subject to most criticism. With all too rare exceptions.
Fascinating story and very disturbing.
And I met your sister picking grapes in our local vineyard!
Courage! Very sadly, I agree with everything you say. I don't think it's pessimism but a cold hard read of the facts and trends. From outside the US it looks to be out of control. I can't imagine living through it. I've added the US to my personal short list of countries I won't visit for practical and moral reasons.
Very sensible, Alan
I was surprised when I read some time back that you had decided to move to the US. I admire your honesty and fortitude but it reads a bit like a letter from the bunker.
It does read like a letter from Anna Frank's house. I feel that you will become less pessimistic with time but it is different when one is not in the whale's stomach.