dagblog - Comments for "Donald Trump, American hero"

Thanks, your points well made

NCD — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 21:37:47 +0000

In reply to Not sure what Spengler thinks

Thanks, your points well made. We can be sure Trump has never read that poem, as he only watches TV! Not that he wouldn't think it was a perfect description of himself!

Not sure what Spengler thinks

EmmaZahn — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 21:02:44 +0000

In reply to Spengler has either a

Not sure what Spengler thinks of Paul Bunyan or blue ox Babe but he says outright in his concluding paragraph that he never liked John Bunyan. ;D

I am almost sure Spengler was not being sarcastic and neither was I. I specifically said Trump lacks the character strength of the classic American hero who I think is best described in Kipling's poem 'If ---". My entire eighth grade class had to memorize and recite that poem at our graduation. The poem sets a high bar of a person's character for middle schoolers. But then one's reach should always exceed their grasp....

if i recall correctly, we

artappraiser — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 20:19:12 +0000

In reply to You, too, artappraiser. I

if i recall correctly, we both always liked being jogged out of the same old same old by writers with odd libertarian bents, and he is certainly that.

"Spengler" was always special to me though because of sophisticated sarcasm and wit (The use of the pseudonym was to be able to practice that with abandon.) Plus he's pro-globalism and anti-fundy.

You, too, artappraiser. I

EmmaZahn — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 10:09:14 +0000

In reply to Emma! So good to see you're

You, too, artappraiser. I confess I don't always get what Spengler is saying but he usually makes me think about things from a different perspective. In this case, seeing my own culture through the eyes of someone from a different one. Been getting a lot of that lately but not much (any?) of it nearly as interesting as Spengler's.

I only skimmed the article

LULUDUDE — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 04:38:34 +0000

In reply to I agree completely. If trump

I only skimmed the article because it just didn't catch my interest but I did get an impression. I thought Spengler was trying to establish that there is an American myth of the nature of a hero. He described it in a way that he could then plug in characteristics of Trump that fit the myth so as to explain of why he got the following that he did. That could be different than actually saying that he is a hero. I may be totally wrong cuzz like I said, I didn't really read it.

I agree completely. If trump

CVille Dem — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 04:09:13 +0000

In reply to He doesn't. The article is

I agree completely. If trump is a hero, up is down; good is bad; etc, etc, etc. That was the dumbest article I (almost finished reading) or ever saw actually published somewhere.

Spengler has either a

NCD — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 03:57:30 +0000

In reply to Donald Trump, American hero

Spengler has either a sarcastic sense of humor, or shows a decided disrespect for Paul Bunyan and Frank Capra. Is the poem meant as satire too? If so good work.

The record on Trump the last 18 months shows he doubts reality, lies constantly, hates everyone who fails to give obeisance to him, twists the truth like a knave, cannot bear to hear protest, needs constant adulation and brings a collection of paid acolytes to applaud him wherever he appears, pledges fealty to himself above all, takes a heap of his winnings and then some from the pockets of investors, little people contractors and naive real estate student entrepreneurs, blows gales of words about his feelings and disappointments, can crassly harangue crowds with racism and hate and, when he says he is smart and had an uncle at MIT, expects his smartness is established beyond suspicion.

He doesn't. The article is

ocean-kat — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 01:59:18 +0000

In reply to For all our sakes, I hope

He doesn't. The article is garbage. I could go though it point by point but I'll choose just one. " they don’t exploit the weak." Trump as a business man exploited everyone. He ripped off the little guys, the contractors that worked for him. He scammed his investors. He even scammed the banks that loaned him money. It's been reported that none of the major American banks will loan him money after the Atlantic City casino fiasco. If he has a moral code it's Me First.

Emma! So good to see you're

artappraiser — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 23:44:33 +0000

In reply to Donald Trump, American hero

Emma! So good to see you're still around. And Spengler, too! Spengler is like: almost created to be a reactor to Donald, way ahead of his time.

For all our sakes, I hope

EmmaZahn — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 21:42:39 +0000

In reply to Donald Trump, American hero

For all our sakes, I hope Spengler is right that Trump at least has the moral code of familiar pop culture icons. Even if, Trump does not appear to me to have the strength of character they project. You know, the one Kipling described in 'If ---'

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
  But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
  Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
  And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
  If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
  And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
  Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
  And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make a heap of all your winnings
  And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
  And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
  To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
  Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
  Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
  If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
  With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
  And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!